NCGA
Jeffery Werner
Vice President, PCGA
This past year I participated in two
NCGA Leadership Academies. These
were professionally conducted, first
class events sponsored by the National
Com Growers Association and Syn
genta. The purposes of the academies
were to develop improved and new
leadership and to teach effective lobby
ing skills.
We Can Handle The TOUGH STUFF!!
• Pen Packed Manure * Sand Bedded Manure • Sludge Products
• Liquid Manure • Poultry Litter • Municipal Wastes
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See Your Local Dealer Today.
OPTION 2 OPTION 3
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OPTION 1
PAYMENT
WAIVER TILL
Sept. 1,2004
[WE HAVE THE COMPETITION BEAT!! J
BINKLEY &
HURST
BROS., INC
133 Rothsville Station Rd
Lititz, PA
HISTAND’S
FARM & HOME
RD 1. Box 231
Rome, PA
IPIfCC
FARM SUPPLY
Route 869 West
Osterburg, PA
MESSICK
FARM
EQUIPMENT
Rt 283, Rheems Exit
Elizabethtown, PA
FARM EQUIPMENT BUYERS TRUST THE NAME MEYER!
Leadership Academy
The first event I attended was con
ducted Aug. 21-24 in Greensboro, N.C.
Twenty farmers from around the na
tion participated. The organizers were
especially excited to have a representa
tive from Pennsylvania attend. Many
years have passed since Pennsylvania
was represented. Grant Troop was the
last in recent memory. In the Midwest
there are local county grower’s associ
ations that take turns selecting attend-
MEYER’S
IMPLEMENTS,
INC.
400 N Antrim Way
Greencastle, PA
MIFFLINBURG
FARM SUPPLY
Route 45 East
Mifflinburg, PA
DEER CREEK
EQUIPMENT,
INC
6600 Limestone Rd
Oxford, PA
720 Wheeler School Rd
Whiteford, MD
LONE MAPLE
SALES &
SERVICE
RD 2
New Alexandria, PA
SANDY LAKE
IMPLEMENT
CO., INC.
RD 3, Sandy Lake, PA
WALTEMYER’S
SALES &
SERVICE, INC.
RD #3, Box 43-Bm,
Red Lion, PA
ees. In Pennsylvania there is only one
state organization.
Leadership personnel and workshop
leaders were provided by NCGA, the
Soybean Association, and Syngenta.
The following areas were covered: as
sociation leadership, lunch etiquette,
building presentation skills, thinking
in the future tense, media training,
and persuasion skill. There was also a
tour of Syngenta and their research fa
cility.
All Manure Spreads Evenly On Your Field -
None on Your Tractor! Easy Cold Weather
Clean up. Low Loading Height - 581/2”. No
Leaking on roads or driveways. Automatic
oiler for roller chains (optional). Heavy
Duty Double Augers!
260 Bu. 1355 Gallons
320 Bu. 1694 Gallons
M 360 Bu. 1745 Gallons
M 390 Bu. 2033 Gallons
Sizes 450 Bu - 2189 Gallons
. 540 Bu. 2617 Gallons
vaiiaoie 700 Bu _ 3400 Ga n ons
When only the best will do!!!
Fast • Simple • Dependable
30-SECOND UNLOADING
• Full 8’ wide Inside • PTO or Hydraulic
Boasts 25 Ton Drive
Capacity • Our system is more
Also Available In: stable when
Tandem Trailer unloading because
Mount with Flair the load stays low
and Wagon Mount and moves fast
with Roof
NOT JUST A STANDARD FORAGE
BOX ON A TRUCK
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 1,2003, Corn Talk-El 9
Update
On Jan. 26-28, I met with the same
group of com growers in Washington,
D.C. There we were briefed again on
the important issues facing growers
today. A lobbyist panel consisting of
the National Pork Producers Council,
American Soybean Association, Na
tional Cattlemen’s Beef Association,
National Farmers Union, and the
American Farm Bureau Federation
made a presentation. Their topic was
when everyone works together, great
things can be accomplished legisla
tively.
Even though Pennsylvania is a rela
tively small corn-producing state, it is
important to maintain a rapport with
our Congressmen. I visited with Sena
tor Santorum’s legislative correspond
ent, Christopher Walters. I also met
with Senator Specter’s aide, Michael
Oscar. Lastly I met with Rep. Tim
Holden, who is a member of the House
Agricultural Committee. This conver
sation was followed by a productive
discussion with Nona Darrell, the sen
ior legislative assistant to Pennsylva
nia Rep. Holden.
All visits were productive and in
cluded a discussion of the Energy Bill,
the renewable fuel standard (RFS),
and our part in supplying dependable,
clean, and economical fuel. Unfortu
nately, the majority of the groups I vis
ited with suggested that an approved
Energy Bill would not be forthcoming
this year.
Also discussed was disaster assist
ance. The NCGA believes that aid
should be targeted to those who had
the greatest loss and not spread un
iformly whenever there is regional loss.
Congress is considering a $3.1 billion
Disaster Aid Package. President Bush
is opposed to the package.
Transportation is also an important
issue for farmers that was discussed.
The outdated and controversial locks
and dams on the Upper Mississippi
Basin cost American farmers lost sales
because of increased freight costs. A
study is being done on the impact of
the Jones Act. Currently foreign grains
are being imported into some states,
most noticeably North Carolina, be
cause of economic factors. The feeling
is that the U.S. is not the low-cost sup
plier because of noncompetitive freight
systems. The study will determine if
there is an American shipping indus
try left to protect. Other factors also
come into play in this situation.
The academies were well worth the
investment by NCGA and the com in
dustry. Whenever there is an opportu
nity for positive-minded farmers who
are interested in improving the lot of
all farmers, I consider it time well
spent.
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