WASHINGTON, D.C.-The
head of a statewide farm organi
zation called on members of
Congress to take action on some
“tough issues facing agricul
ture.”
Guy Donaldson, president of
the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau,
addressed Pennsylvania’s Con
gressional delegation at a break
fast meeting at the Rayburn
House Office Building attended
by about 200 Farm Bureau
members.
The breakfast meeting was
part of PFB’s annual Washing
ton Legislative Tour. Farmers
from PFB’s 54 county farm bu
reaus had visited with their con
gressmen and U.S. senators the
day before to recommend action
on issues facing agriculture.
Dairymen in Pennsylvania
are in desperate shape, Donald
son tolc) the breakfast gathering.
“They are receiving the lowest
price for their milk since the
19705, which means many dairy
men are not even meeting their
production costs.”
CVC retiring directors, from left, Harry Mohn, 38 years
of service; Paul Hornbaker, chairman; Wayne Craig, 39
years of service; and Raymond Shoemaker, six years of
service.
Cumberland Valley
Cooperative Conducts
Annual Meeting
CHAMBERSBURG (Franklin
Co) - The 70th annual meeting of the
Cumberland Valley Cooperative
(CVC) was conducted recently at the
Lighthouse Restaurant, with approxi
mately 200 members and guests in
attendance
Election of directors was conduct
ed by Nominating Committee
Chairman Conwell Rife, and six
directors were elected. They are
Bobby Commerer, Jr., Shippensburg;
Roger Dice, Chambersburg; Terry
Eiche'berger, Shippensburg; Emory
Hamman, Newville, Harold Myers,
Shippensburg; and Bob Shively,
Shippensburg,
A report on board activities was
given by Chairman Paul Hornbaker.
Retirement ot three long-time direc
tors was announced, and recognition
plaques awarded.
Raymond Shoemaker, Chambers
burg, was honoied for six years of
outstanding service. Harry Mohn,
Newburg, was honored for 38 years
of outstanding service. Wayne Craig,
Shippensburg, was honored for 39
State Farm Leader Calls On Congress
To Help Farm Economy
Donaldson called for expan
sion and extension of the North
east Interstate Dairy Compact,
which has operated in six New
England states since 1997.
“H.R. 1604 and S.J. Resolu
tion 22 accomplish that goal and
include Pennsylvania dairymen
in the compact,” Donaldson
said. “Expanding and extending
the compact would provide an
income safety net and stable
prices to dairymen. This eco
nomically distressed industry
needs this legislation to help
itself.”
Farm Bureau also supports
H.R. 1535 to extend the milk
price support program for an
additional two years. If the milk
price support program is al
lowed to expire at the end of this
year, it will be another devastat
ing economic setback for the
dairy industry, Donaldson said.
“Agriculture’s future success
will depend heavily on its ability
to sell its products through the
international marketplace. It’s
time to release the shackles that
years of outstanding service, includ
ing 17 years as vice-president and 15
yrs as president of the cooperative.
Reports were given on the past
year’s accomplishments by the man
agement team of Rene Lavoie, gener
al manager; Merle Hamish, treasurer;
and Scott Hodgson, marketing and
nutrition manager.
Profits of $241,395 were
announced with the following dis
bursement approved by the board:
$155,461 to unallocated reserves and
$85,934 to patronage refunds with 50
percent of those refunds disbursed in
cash.
This is the fourth consecutive year
that Cumberland Valley Cooperative
has earned a profit and declared a
patronage refund. In previous years,
30 percent of the refund was dis
bursed in cash This year the board
raised the disbursement to 50 percent
because of the decrease in milk price
and low cash crop income. In addi
tion, a recall of 25 percent of the
remaining 1968 preferred stock was
announced.
keep in force antiquated trade
policies,” Donaldson told legis
lators.
“First, we need to grant
normal trade relations status to
China on a permanent basis . . .
not this year-to-year evaluation.
China has agreed to take signifi
cant steps in opening its markets
to agricultural trade. They
agreed to eliminate subsidies of
their farm exports and reduce
import tariffs by an average of
50 percent. It’s time that we are
given access to one of the most
important growth markets in
the world by granting China
normal trade relations,” Don
aldson said.
He also urged Congress to lift
unilateral trade sanctions
against other countries. In the
past five years, 61 such trade
sanctions were imposed on 35
countries. “Right now, U.S. ag
ricultural producers are prohi
bited from exporting their
products to six different coun
tries,” Donaldson said. “It’s
time to take agricultural food
and fiber out of the equation in
our effort to implement political
punishment.”
Farmers need some innova
tive ways to meet the economic
challenges it faces, Donaldson
said. “One of the most ingenious
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risk management tools is the
proposed Farm and Ranch Risk
Management accounts. Farmers
would be permitted to save up to
20 percent of their net farm
income per year in a tax
deferred account,” Donaldson
said. The reserves could be held
for up to five years. “Such
reserves could be classified as
‘rainy day’ accounts, but more
importantly they would encour
age producers to save for years
when prices are down or crops
are poor. This management tool
is a much needed self-help eco
nomic tool for all farmers.”
Donaldson urged support of
H.R. 957 to create the Farm and
Ranch Risk Management ac
counts.
The Food Quality Protection
Act (FQPA), passed in 1996,
changed the way pesticides are
evaluated and registered for use.
It also set a deadline for reevalu
ating all 9,000-plus existing pes
ticide tolerances by the year
2006. “EPA is trying to meet the
deadline by taking shortcuts,”
Donaldson declared. “These
shortcuts could deprive farmers
the use of reliable, older crop
protection products. Further
more, this action directive is de
laying the approval of new
replacements.”
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EPA needs to use actual data
and scientifically sound infor
mation when modifying or re
voking any pesticide tolerances,
Donaldson told lawmakers.
“We in Farm Bureau are call
ing for a Pesticide Advisory
Committee to provide guidance
to EPA and USDA. We also
want Congress more involved in
the process through timely re
ports by EPA and USDA,” Don
aldson said. The changes
supported by Farm Bureau are
contained in H.R. 1592, the Reg
ulatory Fairness and Openness
Act of 1999.
“Farmers need new tools
from off the farm to be able to
compete in the world market
place. It needs assurances from
government that it is going to
provide those necessary self
help opportunities for farmers to
improve their economic situa
tion. Farmers have proven
beyond any doubt that they are
willing to take the necessary
risks to produce safe and whole
some food and fiber. However, it
needs the support of Congress
on these four or five key issues to
curb the decline of a strong,
viable agricultural base in Penn
sylvania and the whole nation,”
Donaldson said.
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