(Continued from Page A 10) and past Master of the Pennsyl vania State Grange. However, the most important people present were the dairy farmers. One by one, the dairy farmers told the same story con cerning the economic crunch they were feeling on their farms. Under questioning from the chair, they all acknowledged they needed between $l6 and $lB per CWT on an annual basis to maintain their farms. All of them agreed that imports of dairy in gredients and dairy products coming into the U.S. had to be curbed. All but one of the pre senters said they would support Pramimiia Crap iMwnct Pnpnw 'I I PENNSYLVANIA’S AGR-Lite Crop Insurance is Better than Ever! Whole-farm revenue protection with a higher liability limit - $250,000 An additional coverage level/payment rate combination - 75/65 Contact a crop insurance agent today for additional information on the benefits of AGR-Lite. A list of agents is available at www.rma.usda.gov Pennsylvania encourages growers to have crop insurance protection as part of their farming risk management plan. Sponsored by the PA Department of Agriculture with cost share support from RMA/ISDA. ? ❖ Farm Forum ❖ ■* >■' p'Vv-' milk supply management provid ing the dairy imports were limited and a right price was paid to the dairy farmers. The need for a new pricing for mula based on the average cost of production rang loud and clear throughout the hall. The need for a new pricing formula came from all the dairy farmers as well as businessmen who testified, such as Butch Gow, Chuck Place, Eric Emmerich, and Dave Derr from Blue Seal. Also, three consumers pres ented their views to the audience. They exhibited their concern for the injustice that was happening at the farm level. Two Methodist ministers, Rev. Bill Reed from Protections for organic production Enrollment Deadline for AGR-Lite is 4. * *•<■* : &*-\****‘?' * j. Dennis C Wolff Secretary of Agriculture Tunkhannock and Rev. Cheryl Cavalari from Trucksville, were appalled that many dairy farmers were suffering the way they are. Ed Pavilski, a consumer from Scranton, took the stand to talk about the fact that consumers are taking for granted their food sup ply. Pavilski urged all consumers to back the efforts of the local dairy farmers as they attempt to insure consumers of a safe food supply. Gil Gilespie from Corwell Uni versity related to the psychologi cal impact local dairy farmers are suffering from low milk prices. Privately, some of the guests present told me they heard things today that they were not aware of. Certainly everyone knows that one milk hearing, as good as it was, will not solve the dairy farmers’ plight. However, we are confident that other events will be held to keep the ball alive. Al ready, other hearings are being planned for the Syracuse, N.Y. area as well as Bradford or Tioga County in Pennsylvania. January 31.2004 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 13, 2003-A29 The average dairy farmer has had it they want changes! The next editorial will list the dairy farmers who testified. Remem ber, they are the important ones. Attention Dairy Farmers: The dairy market loss payments will begin again on January 2004 pro duction. Pro Ag can be reached at (570) 833-5776. Arden Tewksbury Pro Ag Meshoppen Editor: Do you like green onions and ham? Someone may want to consider revising Dr. Seuss’ popular chil dren’s book, “Green Eggs and Ham,” after the recent hepatitis A outbreaks that have been linked to Mexican green onions. More than 1,000 people have be come ill, and three have died, from the viral disease in Pennsyl vania, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina, and all the ill nesses have been linked to green onions grown in Mexico. Recently, a national re porter asked our organiza tion what consumers should look for at the pro duce counter to protect themselves from food borne illness. Certainly, consumers can thorough ly wash and cook their fresh fruits and vege tables before serving. Be yond that, consumers are not allow e d many other choices. Most grocery stores do not provide information to consumers so that they may dif ferentiate between meat and pro duce grown in the United States or grown in other countries such as Mexico. Although mandatory country of-origin labeling (COOL) cannot prevent hepatitis A or any other food borne illness, it would help reassure consumers and our mar kets. Since the Food and Drug Administration has warned con sumers against eating green on ions, continued uncertainty could hurt the industry. Instead of re acting to all produce when food safety concerns arise, with coun try-of-origin labeling, consumers would be armed with information to make educated decisions in stead of decisions based on fear and doubt. It is a consumer's right to make these choices. In addition, mandatory coun try-of-origin labeling would allow U.S. agricultural producers to differentiate themselves from countries that may have disease or food safety concerns. Manda tory COOL would provide an op portunity for the United States to expand the level of consumer choice, confidence, and knowl edge in the retail marketplace and potentially increase the de mand for U.S. origin commodi ties. Recent events like the hepatitis A outbreak and the case of Cana dian BSE should encourage all consumers, farmers, and ranch ers to stand united to make sure mandatory country-of-origin food labeling is implemented. Be fore the Senate returns in Janu ary to decide the fate of this ben eficial law, your lawmakers need to hear from you. Do you like green onions and ham? I do like green onions and ham. Especially when they’re la beled by Uncle Sam! Secretary Wolff Discusses Dairy Plan In Northwest Pa. HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Secretary of Agriculture Dennis C Wolff met with dairy farmers from Erie, Warren, and Crawford coun ties to discuss the Department of Agricultures new Dairy Action Plan and Center for Dairy Excellence. “Through these regional dairy meetings and other outreach efforts, it is my hope that we can move Pennsylvanias dairy industry forward and make dairy farms more competitive and profita ble,” said Wolff. “Meetings like this one in Erie County help us to understand the challenges and needs of farmers in all areas of the Com monwealth.” Wolff, a dairy farmer from Columbia County, created a 40-member Dairy Task Force in July. The Dairy Task Force developed the Dairy Ac tion Plan, which coordinates existing dairy serv ices to meet the needs of the states dairy indus try. The Department is also creating a Web-based resource library for fanners, containing informa tion about farms for sale or rent, programs for economic development assistance, sample busi ness plans, marketing opportunities, risk-man agement assistance and more. smaller vehicles 1 awarded The Yuppie Wagon Ist Easy to tntdii place in the large product division Dave Frederickson President National Farmers Union Yuppie Wagon™ offers a unique lightweight rotomolded polyetnyl ene shell that won t rust or rot It pulls effortlessly even with small vehicles & the aerodynamic shape of the Yuppie Wagon™ reduces wind resistance The durable shell is available in just about any color even a camou ftage pattern and is supported by a rugged steel frame In fact its so unique and progressive the Association of Rotational Molders
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