Com Growers
Oppose Proposed
Changes In
Missouri River
ST. LOUIS, Mo. The Na
tional Com Growers Association
(NCGA) has re-emphasized its
opposition to proposed changes
in the U.S. Army Corps of Engi
neers Missouri River Master
Manual that would harm agri
culture because of reduced navi
gation and the potential for
spring rises.
The Corps is considering
changes to its operation of dams
on the lower portion of the river
to raise the water level in the
spring and lower it during the
summer. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and environ
mental activists contend this will
protect birds and fish that have
been listed as endangered or
threatened.
“NCGA recognizes the recrea
tion and environmental value of
the river and will work with oth
ers to maintain recreational and
environmental benefits,” stressed
Paul Bertels, Director of Produc
tion and Marketing for the St.
Louis-based NCGA that repre
sents 30,000 dues-paying farmers
nationwide.
“However, we want these deci
sions to be based on science, not
politics. To date, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service has faded to
produce the scientific evidence
that justifies changing the Mis
souri Master Manual.”
The NCGA continues to sup
port the management of the Mis
souri River that places priority
on economic uses of the river
such as flood control, navigation,
irrigation and power generation.
“Keeping the Missouri River
navigable provides competition
to rail rates and keeps and main
tains farm land value,” Bertels
said. “A spring rise could actual
ly threaten another endangered
species; farmers communities
they support.”
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Dairy Farmers Take Concerns To Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C. On
Monday, April 23, several mem
bers of the Progressive Agricul
ture Organization (Pro-Ag) were
in Washington to attend a joint
meeting with the agriculture
aides from the majority of the
Pennsylvania and New York
Congressional delegation.
Vermont’s two senator’s of
fices were represented as was
Congressman Bemie Sander’s of
fice. Aides from Congressional
offices outside of the Northeast
were also present.
The meeting was put together
by Sen. Arien Specter, Rep. Don
Sherwood, and Pro-Ag. The
meeting centered around discus
sions of proposed new dairy bills
that would be based on the aver
age cost of producing milk at the
farm level.
One proposed dairy bill dis
cussed was the proposed dairy
bill introduced last year by for
mer Rep. Ron Klink from Penn
sylvania. This proposed bill
would price milk at the average
cost of production. In addition,
the bill rewards dairy farmers for
keeping their production in line
with the real market needs.
Another key proposed bill was
drafted by Gerald Carlin, a Pro-
Ag member from Meshoppen.
Carlin’s proposed bill is similar
to the bill proposed by Klink ex
cept the language in Carlin’s
proposed bill would not allow
imports of dairy products to
damage prices received by dairy
farmers.
Arden Tewksbury, manager of
Pro-Ag, said “There are various
proposed dairy bills circulating
around Washington, but only the
bills proposed by Klink and Car
lin proposes a new pricing for
mula that would give the dairy
farmers an adequate price.” Pro-
Ag was involved in helping draft
both bills.
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Tewksbury said the two bills
will not only give our dairy farm
ers a fair price for their milk, the
bills are also geared towards sta
bilizing prices to dairy farmers
and consumers Tewksbury said
the majority of consumers are
mystified over the present pric
ing method of milk and are en
couraging immediate action to be
taken by Congress.
Recently, Pro-Ag cooperated
with the Scranton Catholic Dio
cese and several Protestant
churches to deliver 25,000 con
sumer signatures to Sen. Arlen
Specter, Sen. Rick Santonun,
and Rep. Don Sherwood. These
consumers are strongly encour
aging immediate action to be
taken by Congress.
Bishop James Timlin of the
Scranton Diocese has taken a
personal interest in the dairy
farmers’ plight. Bill Reed, a
Methodist minister from Tunk
hannock, has been very interest
ed in the dairy farmers pricing
inequities. Reed was a two-term
county commissioner from Wyo
ming County and he is a former
superintendent of die Wilkes-
Barre district. Reed was recently
quoted by the Scranton Tribune
saying “the milk pricing problem
is a justice issue.” Reed said the
government is systematically
robbing the dairy farmers by set
ting prices less than their costs.
In addition to the 25,000 sig
natures sent to members of Con
gress, Tewksbury has talked with
more than 120,000 consumers in
the last two years. All of these
consumers strongly support the
dairy farmers.
Ken Dibbell, a dairy farmer
member of Pro-Ag from New
York, said “the beauty of the
bills proposed by Klink and Car
lin is the fact that the bills don’t
use taxpayers’ money to compen
sate dairy farmers.” Pro-Ag
strongly opposes proposed dairy
bills that call for any compensa
tion using taxpayers’ money.
Tewksbury said there is plenty of
room in the market place for
dairy farmers to be adequately
compensated we simply need a
new pricing formula to obtain
that fair price.
2001 National Junior
Angus Show Set For
July 9-14 In Denver
DENVER, Colo. Junior
Angus members from all corners
of the United States should be
making plans for the 2001 Na
tional Junior Angus Show.
The annual event, which has
become the biggest week of
Angus activities during the year,
will take place July 9-14 in Den
ver, Colo. The western state
Angus associations have been
planning and organizing the
event, “Under the Western Sky”
for more than two years.
Young Angus enthusiasts from
more than 30 states are expected
to enter cattle in the show that
has grown into the largest single
breed beef cattle show in the
world. In addition to the show,
educational contests and leader
ship opportunities will be held
for all members of the National
Junior Angus Association
(NJAA).
Judges for the cattle show in
clude Jack Ward, Lagrange,
Ind., who will evaluate the
owned females; Eldon Krebs,
Gordon, Neb., who will judge the
bred-and-owned females and
bulls and cow-calf pairs; and
Randy Perry, Clovis, Calif., who
will select champions in the steer
show.
A public speaking contest, in
cluding both extemporaneous
and prepared divisions and team
sales competition, along with
poster, photography and graphic
design contests will be held. The
American Angus Auxiliary will
once again sponsor the Certified
Angus Beef( cook-off. As well,
six members will be elected direc
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RO. Box 187, Myerstown, PA 17067 • (717) 866-2030
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 28,2001-A3l
Joining Tewksbury and Dib
bell in Washington was Gerald
Carlin, Dave Lipe, Kurk Rhone,
and Cy Cochran from Pennsyl
vania and Fred Matthews from
New York.
Pro-Ag may be reached at
(570) 833-5776.
tors of the NJAA board, at the
annual meeting of the NJAA,
which is held during the event.
More than 50 contestants will
vie for the coveted title of “Top
Showman” during the finals of
the 35th National Junior Angus
Showmanship Contest held dur
ing the week. Showmanship
judges include Tim Fitzgerald,
Alderson, W.Va.; Andra Camp
bell, Klamath Falls, Ore.; and
Brian Barragree, Absarokee,
Mont.
In addition to the week of ac
tivities, the Angus Foundation is
conducting its first ever golf
tournament, July 10. The morn
ing-long event will begin at 6:30
a.m., at the Thorncreek Golf
Club.
Exhibitors and contestants
must be a junior member of the
American Angus Association,
and must be nine years old, but
not yet 21, by Jan. 1 to compete
in the activities. Applications for
transfer of the animal to junior
members must be postmarked by
May 15. Applications for regis
tration of bred-and-owned ani
mals and all entries must be
postmarked by June 1.
For entries or more informa
tion about the 2001 National
Junior Angus Show, contact the
junior activities department at
the American Angus Association,
3201 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph,
MO 64506-2997, access the In
ternet at http://www.angus.org/
njaa or www.angus.org/njaa or
call (816) 383-5100.