C2-Unc*stef Fanning, Saturday, April 15, 2000 HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) About 100 Pennsylvania state Grangers visited with their federal legislators during the annual Washington Legislative Tour to discuss issues concerning agriculture and rural affairs. Among the issues discussed during the recent visit with U.S. Congressmen and senators were dairy compacts, tax reform, health care, rural transporta tion. and education reform, among others. BUTLER (Butler Co.) - The Northwest Keystone Junior Beef Classic is scheduled at the Butler County Fairgrounds Memorial Day Weekend, May 27,28. This will be the 15th year for the all-breed steer and heifer show that has drawn cattle and exhibitors from five states. It gives youth under 21 years of age and opportunity to enter competition drawn from a larger area than usually seen at the county fairs in which they com pete during the summer Exhibitors do not have to be 4-H or FFA members to partici pate. A friendly, helpful atmos phere, along with a very reason able $l2 entry fee, make this the perfect preview show for begin ning showmen. Preregistration by May 1 is encouraged for inclusion in the show catalog Late entries will be accepted but will have a $4O entry fee The three day Memorial Day weekend allows Monday for rest and recuperation* since the open cattle show is scheduled on Sunday Saturday’s activities begin with the Classic Showmanship Contest at 1 p m An educational program featur ing the use of ultrasound equip ment to analyze cattle will be held later Saturday afternoon. House Passes Freedom To E-File Act PARK RIDGE, 111. The House of Representatives re cently passed the Freedom to E- File Act (S. 777), legislation which would allow farmers and ranchers to file paperwork with the USDA electronically. “As in any other business, ad vanced technologies and the In ternet are becoming increasingly common and important tools for American farmers and ranch ers,” said Larry Combest (R- Texas). “This bill will allow farmers to spend more time in the fields with their crops rather than inside doing paperwork.” The bill requires the secretary of agriculture to establish an electronic filing and retrieval system to enable the public to Pa. State Grange Members Meet With Federal Legislators The Pennsylvania State Grange, with more than 30,000 members in 450 Grange chap ters across the commonwealth, is dedicated to improving the lives of rural Pennsylvanians through legislative action, grass-roots initiatives, commu nity service, and offering mem ber services such as financial planning, a credit union, and insurance programs. Brenda Shambaugh, Pennsylvania State Grange leg islative director, said the Washington tour presents an * Keystone Junior Classic May 27 followed by a pizza party! A trade show featuring businesses that help sponsor the show will be open both days. Sunday brings the real excitement when the steer and breeding classes are judged. In the heifer show, premiums will be paid for all classes, and tro phys will be awarded for grand champion, reserve champion, and bred and owned. Registered heifers will show by breed and commercial classes will be held for unregistered heifers. A prize of $2OO will be awarded to the supreme champion heifer of the show The popular county steer classes will again be offered for any county (from any state) that has five or more preregistered steers County winners will win a jackpot of $lO times the num ber of steers shown in the class. Clubs and county groups can easily coordinate plans for the group to participate, and some one from each county will win the jackpot. Last year nine coun ties had enough entries to have their own jackpot class. There is also an all others division for those not having enough entries for the county class. The county champions will then compete with the all others champion for grand champion steer with a file with USDA all required paperwork electronically. The bill would also allow the public access to information on farm programs, quarterly trade, eco nomic and production reports and other information. “Federal government agen cies must move into the 21st Century and realize the possibil ities of the technology revolu tion,” said Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) who sponsored a similar House measure. “The IRS allows electronic filing, and this year over 34 million Americans will take advantage of the con venience of filing online. Ameri ca’s farmers should be afforded the same opportunity to ease their paperwork burdens when it comes to USDA forms. This legislation will do just that.” HEALTH KtCg opportunity for individual Grange members to voice their position on issued being consid ered by federal legislators. “The visit to Washington is also to speak out on behalf of the National Grange’s Blueprint for Rural America,” Shambaugh said. “The 10-point plan is designed to revitalize and enhance rural America in prepa ration for the new millennium. The blueprint is part of the National Grange’s program called, ‘A New Century, A New Beef 28 prize of $250, and reserve cham pion steer with a prize of $lOO. The next planning meeting for the classic will be April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mercer County Extension Center. Any interest ed persons are invited to partici pate. Entry forms will be mailed to past participants. For more information or entry forms, con tact your county extension agent or Beth Wingard, e-mail sun rise@usachoice.com or (814) 782- 3992, or write Northwest Keystone Junior Beef Classic, do Bob Calvert, Mercer County Extension Office, P.O. Box 530, Mercer, PA 16137. Solid advantages*- - lISM placement. < Primary Seeders • Choose from front or end wheel model • Vacuum sealed acremeter • Dual cast iron packer wheels-16” front and 12" rear • Removable tongue for storage or 3-point operation • All welded weatherproof seed box with 15 or 30 bushel capacity • Ideal for alfalfa or sod farmers Betts Equipment 3139 Windy Bush Road.Rt 232 New Hope, PA 18938 215-598-7501 Hoober, Inc. Mam Street Intercourse, PA 17534 717-768-8231 - Hoober, Inc. East Mam Street McAlisterville, PA 17049 717-463-2191 Deerfield Ag & Turf Center, Inc. RR 2 Box 212 Watsontown, PA 17777 570-538-3557 Detlan Equipment, Inc 141 East Mam St Silverdale, PA 18962 215-257-5177 Thomas L. Dunlap Rt 220, Mam St Exit Jersey Shore, PA 17740 570-398-1391 Grange”. The Grange believes Congress should authorize the formation of regional dairy com pacts to provide a more stable pricing structure for producers and consumers. Reducing the number of milk marketing orders will lead to a more streamlined system of pricing, marketing and distribution of dairy products, as well as better regional accountability. “Like New England’s success ful Northeast Dairy Compact, other dairy-producing regions can benefit from the establish ment of similar compacts to pro mote cooperative pricing and marketing systems,” Shambaugh said. “The North east Dairy Compact, which the Pennsylvania State Grange dili gently helped to get created, is a proven success for our neighbors to the north, and we seek the same for Pennsylvania produc ers.” Shambaugh said the National Grange believes Congress should reform the fed eral tax system to assure preser vation of family farms and busi nesses through the elimination of estate and capital gains taxes, and institute user taxes to offset costs of federal programs. National Grange officials pre sented statistics that show that it takes $3 in costs to collect $1 of estate tax following an indi- v* NS Pennsylvania Eckroth Bros Farm Equip Rd 2, Box 24A New Rmgold, PA 17960 570-943-2131 Eckroth Equipment Co. 4910 Kernsville Rd Orefield, PA 18069 610-366-2095 Hines Equipment RT 220, Betwood, PA 814-742-8171 Keller Brothers R 7 Box 405 Lebanon, PA 17042 717-949-6501 1950 Fruitville Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 717-569-2500 M.S. Yearsley & Sons West Chester, PA 610-696-2990 Pikeville Equipment Inc RD 2, Oysterdale Road Oley, PA 19547 610-927-6277 vidual’s death “A new system is needed to assure that all wealth bears its just and equal payment to the government,” Shambaugh said. “A family farm is a family busi ness and plays a key role in the economic well-being of rural areas across America. The Grange also seeks immediate 100 percent deductibility for health insurance premiums paid by farmers and other self employed individuals.” Another blueprint issue is the revitalization of rural schools through federal partnerships. The National Grange sup ports using federal resources to revitalize rural schools by form ing federal/state partnerships to renovate them. The revitaliza tion project should include the provision of federal funds for rural school districts seeking assistance, and could include buying down interest rates on local bonds to finance school con struction projects. “Such partnerships should protect and retain local control, since traditionally, school con struction and renovations have been the sole province of state and local governments,” Shambaugh said. “Federal part nerships will help improve the health of rural economies, which are often dependent upon a quality learning environment.” landDride.com Stoitzfus Farm Service Cochranvtlle, PA 610-593-2407 Stouffer Bros Inc. 1066 Lincoln Way West Chambersburg, PA 17201 717-263-8424 Rodio Tractor Sales North White Horse Pike Hammonton, N J. 08037 609-561-0141 Warren County Service Center 228 Route 94, Blairtown, N J 908-362-6916 Frank Rymon & Sons, Inc. RD 3, Box 355 Washington, N J 07882 908-689-1464
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