Vol. 32, No. ••a JANUARY 1, 1954 32nd r A BF Congress Sec'y Benson Said Roll Call MOVI 6 FO ~--.-VE o •••• To AFBF Meeting: I Now at 76% Fa Ezra T. Benson, Secretary of the U. S. Dep'f of Agricu1:ture, made this major farm policy address to the 3Mh annual meet- Of '54 Goal The American Farm Bur at Chicago December 1 -1 7 ing of the American Farm Bureau Federation at Chicago, NORWOOD EASTMAN December 16, 1953. Coordinator, MFB Organization the problems of farm pric Department pluses by: I You are farmers-good farmers-or you wouldn't The Michigan Farm Bureau roll be here. I used to be a farmer myself. And in call for members for 1954 is over I-Bring into effect the Agri ultur 1 the three-quarters mark. The my present role I am still dealing with many of the December 24 report from County of 1949. It provides price support t 75 Farm Bureaus totaled 46,749 parity in accordance ith th supply of th same problems I had as a farmer. memberships. 2-Allow farmer t 0 ye r to redu Here briefly is the situation we face today: THIS IS 76% of the goal of 61,- 310. Last year at the same, date crops now in surplus and to get the urplu 1. Farm income has dropped. the total was 41,118. normal. 2. Farm expenses have gone up. Cheboygan county won the membership trophy for reporting 3-Instruct the f deral government to b in 3. The government has more cotton, wheat, the highest percentage of its goal at home and all over the world the f rm urplu in the state office December 21. butter and corn than it can wear or eat or feed. Cheboygan reported 268 members on hand. Farm' income has dropped from the peak it hit in or 102% of its goal of 262. St. Joseph county was close behind Last ummer Secret ry of gricultu February, 195 1. Farm prices then were 113 per- with 101% of its goal of 1040. In asked the memberships of the Farm Bur u r cent of parity. By the time the new Administration third position came Bay with 95% 'of its goal of 1435. Three counties Farmers Union to di cuss five major proble took over, farm parity had dropped to 94. Today -Barry, Livingston and Alpena- national farm program and to make r comme the parity is 90, although it has averaged about 93 reported more than 90% of goal. for the future. during the year past. TROPHIES for the three win- ners will be presented at the an- Above are the Farm Bureau's recomm nd ti WHAT about rising farm costs Low-interest loans were made nual victory party in March. This -the fact that you must pay your available by the Department of is the December 24 picture: Problem No. 1-"F arm Income Stability nd I rove- Agriculture in May to farmers hired man more, that gasoline, and cribs. A special "use guaran- COUNTY TOTAL % OF GOAL DEC. 24 GOAL' ment," and Problem o. 2-"Production nd M r ti , feed, and machinery cost more'! Cheboygan 262 26 102 The index of prices paid by tee" program followed to encour- St. Joseph 1,040 1,050 101 Adjustments:' The Farm Bureau h ld thou nd age building of new commercial Sanilac 1,969 1,972 100 farmers for goods and services storage. Benzie 219 219 100 Farm Policy Development discussions in th 48 t t has dropped only 13 points from These incentives have made Branch Livingston 1,168 1,681 1,152 1,627 99 97 2721 such meetings were held in Michigan. the record high reached in May, millions of bushels of additional Bay ;. 1,435 1,358 95 1952. Prices received by farmers, storage space available. Under Barry Alpena 575 1,202 548 1,125 95 94 At the AFBF annual meeting, 13 st t s, mo tly i however, have dropped 64 index the use-guarantee provisions Alcona 339 311 92 . points from their Korean War N. W. Michigan 1,007 916 91 the cotton south, favored continuance of f rm pre alone, more than 230 million Huron peaks. And most of that decline bushels of storage capacity have Montcalm 1,865 993 1,678 885 89 89 support fixed at 90 % of parity. occurred during 1952. . This puts been approved. Ottawa 1,437 1,258 88 Kalamazoo 1,152 998 87 agriculture right in the middle Of Ionia : 1,227 1,065 86 We present what we consider one of th be cc u t a crushing cost-price squeeze. FARMERS were offered the Muakegpn 476 406 85 Monroe 1,152 969 84 of the debate on the farm price support re olution: Let's" take a quick look at the opportunity to reseal 1952 loan Berrien 2,275 1,858 82 matter of excessive stocks. You stocks of wheat, corn, and oats. Tuscola 1,738 1,428 82 By GEORGE THEIM to: End the authority of the S c- Mecosta This enabled them to earn a stor- Washtenaw 751 614 82 Farm Editor, Chicago Daily News retary of Agricultur to dater- know the story as well as I: 1,563 1,279 81 age fee for holding 'grain on the Clinton 1,536 1,246 81 The nation's largest farm or- ~in wh n to submit .cr ge CORN: 764 million bushels. farm a second year. Ingham 1,088 860 80 ganization will ask Congres and justrnent and marketing uota Ogemaw ....•....•.•.• 359 288 80 Loans are now being made on The Commodity Credit Corp- Kalkaska ...........• 76 60 79 the Republican admini tration to a farm r vot . millions of bushels from the 1953 oration bought added storage Antrim 440 339 77 crop. This points to a further bins with ,1 capacity of 96 million Cass build-up in government-owned bushels, so it could take prompt K~nt Presque ........•.••.........• . 01 I Ie ...•.. ,~2a 442 6 4 J..O'l 332 76 ts 75 I next month to amend the farm pro ra . They ill recommend a plan Ex-Secr tary of Agricultur Br nn n has b en .d ly criticiz d for iling to mpose acrea corn. Missaukee 421 314 7~ CLARK L. BRODY effective farmer influence This great effort and the mern- 'that puts less empha is on hi h cuts a year a o. delivery of loan stocks. losco 203 153 75 During the first 10 months of Allegan Otsego 115 86 75 Executive Vice-President of service in the councils of ber morale it is developing is very price supports and more on ell- Expand government and pri- WHEAT: We now' have 425 2,033 1,494 74 Michigan Farm Bureau the tate and nation. million bushels in the hands of the year, more than 106 million Calhoun 1,474 1,074 73 heartening to the state Farm Bu- ing surplus crops at home and vate salesmanship in disposing of dollars of "Section 32" funds- Lenawee Saginaw 2,122 1,527 72 The reports coming to the state reau -staff, It makes them feel abroad.. farm surpluses both at home a d the Commodity Credit Corpora- It is the day before Christmas. special funds available from 1,482 1,065 72 Farm Bureau office from the that their work involving many The ultimate aim is to put abroad. tion, acquired at a cost of approxi- Gratiot 1,408 1,016 72 I have been reviewing the first used to Osceola 641 450 71 county Farm Bureaus and dist- mately $1,100,000,000. It is ex- customs receipts-were Eaton 1,388 958 69 draft of the opening chapters of rict organizations indicate a times .long, lat~-at-night drives more butter, dairy products and End the philosophy that it is pected that at least that much bolster prices through direct pur- Oceana 710 492 69 a history of the Michigan Farm ho~e IS appreciated and ~orth- meat.s on consumer tables and the responsibility of government chase. Another 100 million dol- Macomb Charlevoix 356 247 69 strong interest on the part of the while. The strong member inter- less m cold storage warehouses. to guarantee profitable prices to more wheat will be placed under Bureau which the Board of Di- 1,031 701 68 members to renew their member- est being manifested indicates * • • any group. loan from the 1953 crop. Right lars of these funds have been ear- Gladwin Wayne 500 355 67 rectors has asked me to write. ships for 1954. The work of the every as urance that the 1954roll- AMERICAN Farm Bureau dele-. . marked for similar use. 366 244 66 now we have enough wheat in Emmet ,... 281 1 7 66 RECALLING the events in the loyal community leaders is also call will be completed shortly af- gates asked Congress to restore f C~ntl~ue w~rld co-operation St. Clair 1,331 864 65 our stocks to meet the bread and THROUGH the beef purchase Montmorency.... 178 116 65 life of the Michigan Farm Bu- bringing in many new names to be ter the first of the year with the more moderate price props of or ree om an peace. cereal needs of 160 million Amer- program we have contracted for Mason 612 394 64 reau brings to mind that for near- enrolled in the Farm Bureau fam- our full quota of 61,310 Farm the Agricultural Act of 1949. Remove barriers to internation- icans for a full year. Jackson 1,054 671 63 more than 243,000,000 pounds of Newaygo 706 442 63 ly 33 years it has been my great ily and joined with the more than Bureau members. Farmers would be given two al trade. a million and a half Farm Bu- DAIRY PRODUCTS: We own beef to help stabilize the market Genesee Lapeer 1,540 948 62 , 1,3 9 869 62 privilege to be associated with I years in which to cut acreage End monopoly that hurts em- more than 900 million pounds of for livestock men who were Arenac 379 229 60 the farm folks who comprise the reau members in the nation. ONLY the members themselves and get surpluses down to nor- ployment and gouges the con- can bring the roll-call to a sue- mal. sumer. butter, cheese and dried milk, ac- caught in a price-squeeze. Thus, Wexford Oakland ....•........... 1,043 625 59 250 141 56 Farm Bureau membership. more than 850,000 head of cattle Hillsdale 1,444 801 55 It has caused me to scan the cessful conclusion. Theirs is the Then if they glut the market, Continue fiscal policies to main- quired at a cost of $333 million. mo t important work in the Farm government crop loans and price tain stable price levels with th The entire list or government- were taken off the market. Clare 150 83 55 Shiawa see 1,066 578 54 pictures on the wall of the office We have sought broader outlets Midland 564 305 54 I have occupied for 32 Christmas Bureau organization. Michigan supports would drop to 75 percent dollar at about present value. () held surpluses is a long one. It Farm Bureau membership work- instead of the current 90 percent * ,* * adds up to more than 2% billion for our surpluses. To avert Manistee 245 133 54 Van Buren :.. 1,866 850 45 seasons, and the faces of the past ers are making the maximum con- parity figure. "THE GOAL we seek is a con- dollars-twice what it was a year actual famine in the friendly Na- Isabella. 1,144 480 42 presidents in the board room. The ago. It is probable that govern- tion of Pakistan, this Administra- TOTAL 61,310 46,749 76% pictures of the presidents and tribution for saving our free choice, private enterprise econ- dition that will permit farmers to THE IMPORTANT price sup- achieve full parity," the policy ment loans on various farm com- tion made available 37 million directors of the early 1920's bring omy for the farm homes of our port resolution was approved by resolution asserted. modities will total an additional bushels of our surplus wheat to He-Elected memories of their struggles early state and nation. an overwhelming majority after "Farmers have no illusions that 2% billion dollars by the end of that government as an outright in the life of the Michigan Farm this month. gift. President of AFBF Bureau to lay the foundation of Farm Bureau members at the brief but sharp debate. their interests are ad quately Harold Davis, Oklahoma dele- protecte db' y price guaran t ees It costs' fh government $465,- In cooperation with the Nation's the great organization we have annual meeting last November gate, moved to strike out the 000 a day just to pay :the storage food industry, special campaigns today, enacted a strong program for the resolution ending 90 percent alone. bill for these crops. have increased the annual con- Perpetuation of the freedom and "They fully understand that sumption of beef to an all-time NEARLY all of them have long many blessings we are enj oying parity price supports now in ef- the vo1ume so ld an d th e cost s These overall problems of fall- fect at the end of 1954. ing income, over-abundant sup- h~gh of 75 pounds per person. ago passed into the Great Beyond. this Christmas time. that must b'd' e pal are more rm- The success of their efforts and Davis sought to continue high- portant in obtaining parity than plies, pinching costs and loss of Similar campaigns are under way SIMILAR action by the rep- level props under farm prices government support prices. those of the thousands of loyal world markets, are ones this for other farm products. . These resentatives of 48 state Farm Bu- regardless of surpluses. He got "Real farm income cannot b Farm Bureau members over three Administration inherited. They have helped to strengthen the do- reaus and Puerto Rico last week only a few seattered votes. protected by policies which draw mestic market. decades of time constitutes liv- were on the back doorstep when in Chicago makes the Farm Bu- Earlier, Delegate Harry Lane excessive resources into agricul- Special efforts have been made ing evidence that those pioneers we moved in the front door. reau a mo t powerful and con- of Lewisburg, Tenn., sought to ture, create unmanageable sur- to get surplus feed to farmers and in farm organization did not live What are we going to do about } it? ranchers in the drought areas to in vain. ~""'""~;;.;.~=:..._~ structive force for preserving the extend mandatory high supports pluses, or cause artificial pric s Likewise, in the present roll- THIS voluntary action on the values in our nation that make for major crops through the 1&'56 to be capitalized into land Considerable progress has been help save their foundation herds. part of the membership roll-call life interesting and worthwhile. crop year. He spoke for his state values." Even more important, in many call campaign, over 7500 men and delegation. This motion also was made along the road to recovery. teams in their township, county Farm Bureau policies exemplify overwhelmingly defeated. women in 1265 communities in I believe that 1953 has marked respects, were steps taken to ex- and district organizations exemp- the ability and the faith of farm Michigan are carrying the torch the turning point-in the right pand the foreign market for lifies the strength and spirit of people that they can improve their * • • farm products. One such move that was thrown to them by th HASSIL SCHENCK of Indian- direction. the Farm Bureau. It accounts lot and be a constructive in- membership teams of former During the past year your De- was suggested by the American for the growth and influence be- fluence for the national welfare. apolis, president of the Indiana years. partment of Agriculture has given Farm Bureau Federation and ap- Farm Bureau Federation, defend- ing demonstrated by over 60,000 I cherish the great privilege of ed the resolutions committee re- farmers a better opportunity to proved by Congress. A total of THEY, like their predecessors, farm families in 1265 community wishing all our good people a port. take full advantage of price-sup- $175 millions has been earmarked are explaining the Farm Bureau Farm Bureaus in 62 counties of Happy Holiday Season and port programs than ever before. for the purchase by friendly for- a "The point at issue," he said, eign nations of surplus farm program for better farm living Michigan. Prosperous New Year. ~ "is whether you want the govern- HIGH PRICE supports on £\lod commodities' within the United ALLAN B. KLINE of Vinson, ment to run your business with share of their two-million-mem- especially if diagnosed early." and fibre crops have been con- States under this plan. Substan- Iowa, was re-elected president of tinued. In only two cases- ';tial sales have already been com- the American Farm Bureau for cottonseed and flaxseed-have the pleted. two years ~t the 35th annual Farol Bureau ber quotas. increasing controls from Wash- Another boner is the notion that ington, 'or whether we shall be The five high membership "most heart attacks are fataL" free to run our own busine s." states for the year were: Illinois, Untrue. After a heart attack, the support levels been lowered. And it was generally recognized that meeting at Chicago, December THESE are some of the things 14-17. Walter Randolph, AFBF ( the adjustments were sound and that have been done to help re- dierctor from Montgomery, Ala- lieve the plight of the farmer. In bama, was elected vice-president. Has 1,591,777 Davis raked up low farm prices 200,015; Iowa, 136,000; Indiana, majority recover to lead produc- of the '30s to fortify his argument 107,992; New York, 80,150; and tive lives. They earn their Iiv- that farmers need government Kentucky. necessary. ing, often without changing jobs. help to plan their production and In the case of wheat, special working them out we have used "The purposes of the American who needed to finance the build- every law on the books, every Farm Bureau are clear," Mr. Members MIDWEST region continued to "Murmurs, chest pains and economy like manufacturers of lead the rest of the nation in palpitations are sure signs of automobiles and tractors. ing or purchase of additional bins tool at the Department of Agri- Kline said. "We seek a rising Membership in the American total number of members, with heart trouble." Countering fancy "When I had that good old distress loans were made available culture's command. We have even real income for farmers. We're Farm Bureau Federation reached 801,395for 1953. with fact the Heart Association free-choice system," he said, to farmers over a wide area gone beyond the requirements of interested in developing the sort an all-time high of 1,591,777farm po nts out that these "symptoms" "wheat and cotton prices were 0 the law. where available storage was in- of national and international poli- At the same time we have been cies which will contribute to families for the fiscal year 1953, Hear Ass'n do not necessarily indicate heart low I didn't care whether I plant- adequate and wheat was piling trouble. Only your doctor can ed or not." up on the ground. working on an over-all program higher income and better Iiving. it was announced at the meeting of the Board of Directors in Chi- Debunks yths tell. Schenck retorted that the far- to help insure the farmer a fair "We need an imaginative pro- The American Heart Associa- mer' wartime prosperity was Farmers were urged to use the share of the national income. cago December 9. gram to recapture and expand tion asked every citizen to adopt purchased with the blood of price-support loans as an aid to foreign mar kets for American The Illinois Agricultural Asso- this New Year's resolution: India Exporting American boys. orderly marketing, avoiding mar- But I wouldn't be honest with farm products and at the same ket gluts at harvest time. you if I did not also say that it is time drain off price-depressing ciation led the parade with a "Resolved, I will be guided by Whea Four He read off the comparatively total all-time-high membership facts about heart disease, rather For the first time in 12 years, low prices of 1940, after seven the judgment of many farm lead- of 200,015. ABUNDANT crops this year ers that government farm pro- surpluses." than fears and phobias". India is permitting the export of years of government farm pro- made it clear that more storage grams alone will not do this job. THE 1953 membership of the Heading the list is the often- wheat flour. Several shipments of grams, to support his point. space would be needed for grain. 1954 Dollar AFBF exceeded the 1952 mem- heard fallacy that "nothing can wheat flour have already been "Let's get a constructive pro- The Administration moved Now, I've been told that it's not Your 1954 dollar will go a lit- bership by 99,495.This was a re- be done about heart disease." sent to Burma and the Persian gram," he concluded, "that will promptly to increase such facili- smart politics to say this. But let's tle further than your 1953 dol- cord increase for the past five- This is contrary to fact. Some Gulf areas. India hopes to regain work in these times when w are ties. Farmers must have storage follow these facts together and lars, predict Michigan State Col- year period. Twenty-one states, forms of heart disease can be pre- pre-war wheat flour markets in at peace." in order- to qualify for price-sup- see if they lead to the truth. lege agricultural economists, and including Michigan, reached 100 vented, some can be cured. Your Burma, Thailand, Hong Kong, port loans. (Continued on Paq8 .) careful buying will payoff. percent or more of their 1953 doctor can help almost all ca es, and the Persian Gulf area. THE DEL JANUARY 1. 1954 " Citie Michigan's population shows no founded. By 1950 the birth rate suburbs and only a sprinkling of sign of leveling off. In fact, there in cities was substantially greater farms. may be as many as a million and than for rural areas. a half more people in the state In 1940, people in the lower 2-INDUSTRIAL expansion in The by 1960. conomic level of the rural popu- the 40's attracted people from other states as well as from Mich- Young Wilbur Hicks, Clem Hicks's boy, lives down the street a bit. lation had the most children. But MICHIGAN State College so- by 1950,those in the high income igan's rural areas. Between 1939 We've kn-own him since his new-born cry (and Marthy helped ciologists, J. Allan Beegle and J. brackets were having the largest and 1947, the number of manu- with it). hi F. Thaden, have reached that con- families. facturing establishments increas- His youth and strength are good to see. He's up and on IS way, clu ion after a study of popula- ed by 66 per cent and the number In fact, Wil typifie for me the farmer of today. Other popula ion changes in the tion changes in Michigan from decade which Beegle and Thaden of production workers by 58 per His work is fully mechanized. He never owned, a te~m. He raises crops untouched by hands--and that s no Idle dream. 1940to 1950.They published their term the most significant: cent. findings in an MSC special bulle- 'Only loss in population in the Will came to help his dad cut wood one ?ay ~ast January . tin. I-A GREAT movement of state came to the Upper Penin- PURPOSE OF FARM And I mus tell you hat transpired; to WIt, this commentary. Back in 1940 rural bir h rates people from cities to the suburbs sula and the northern part of the were higher than in the urban -far greater in number than BUREAU WOMEN OF ARM BUREAU He brought a chain-saw in the truck and he and Cl m went out Mr. arlton Ball lbion, R-l Lower Peninsula. All areas to the a year The purpose of this " •• ocl - tion shall be the advancement To that old fence-row hick'ry that I told y-ou once about. population. The increasing migra- people moving from rural areas south gained, the heaviest gain- Repr . enttng [ mb r.. of our member ' interests edu- JUNIOR FARM BUREAU Just out of curiosity I went along to see tion of people from farm to city to the cities. ers being the metropolitan areas. cationa~~y, legislatively, and And what they did with that new saw just flabbergasted me. was believed to be the thing that The vast increase in the rural V/>I.32 January 1, 1954 No.1 economically. Vern Thalmann B rrien nt r Detroit increased its population They yanked the cord. The motor whined. They kicked the snow away would tend to level off the popu- population has led some experts by 257,000.The population of ~he lation. to predict that by the year 2000 And in two minute, more or less, that ~re~ wa~ down to stay. state was increased by one-fifth I guess you know how hick'ry is. The sap IS Just bke gum. the southern portion of Michigan BUT that belief was proved un- will be made up of cities and in the past decade. We used to carry kerosene to clean the cross-cut som~. 'This chain-saw now, hat Wilbur's got, just eats that sticky stuff Freedom, and to get it he mus have a price for his produce that only through organization can this And no one h as t 0 pu 11 and haul nor stop to pant. and puff. segment of our nation gain right- The outfit weighs 'bout fifty pounds, with may?e five horsepower. Community Wexford-Sixteen. garet Dohms. Alcona-Johnston Mrs. Mar- School. Mrs. Co-op Oinies will pay cost 'Of pr duction plus a profit. If this means 100 or 110% of Parity then that is what ful recognition. It drags the shavings all one way and does It by the hour. Do you have a good idea. ~or It takes a man to handle it and the:e'~ a good ~ff-chanc~ olving the surplus commodlh,es That if it binds the least wee bit It lands him on hIS pants. Farm ureau Minnie Campbell. Alpena --Spratt 2, Mrs. Guy an. 15 to 29 I am after. problem? Discuss it in a C~m- A fellow has to learn the trick .. It almost seemed to me' Davis. -. The January series of Co-op Recent figure indica e farm indebtedness is steadily in- cre ing and t e spread between hat munity Farm Bureau dea can be presented to the public with the active support meeting, They worked the job just backward-from . the tree. '.. the wrong end of th ti s Activities Cheboygan .- Ii"~b r 0 Evelyn Kitchen; ~tant. Mrs. Wm. Mrs. Clinics sponsored by the Michigan Ass'n of Farmer Cooperatives, will Include discussion of two subjects of thou and of other farm fam- They started sawing up the limbs, begmm~g. lat e IP MRS. MARJORIE GARDNER Ross; Lincoln Avenue. -Mrs. Har- farmers' income and the prices . of vital interest to managers and ilie. This gives YOU the indi- And dropped a hundred. s ove lengths off m J.ust a ~~ndred clips, Dear Community Farm Bureau old Reiman. paid by consumers is growing directors of farm cooperatives: wide with farm cost going high- Members: I-The new business receipts vidual an important voice in farm Till presently the log rern~med, bl<><:ked~p a bt~~ bit, d short er, while our Farm Organization policy. And that the! just sliced off Iike c eese. ey rna e 100% Ceriificate of Merit Win- tax, Which will be discussed by December 1, the Community people merrily chirp about Free- B nefits such as insurance on work of It. . . ner.' Through an oversight, we Edwin E. Steffen, counsel for the Farm Bureau records indicated dom and make absolute y 0 e - automobile life and hospitaliza- With Wil a-holt the business end and Clem the. handl~dthml~-' g that 1266 groups had submitted failed to report a 100 Percenter MAFC. fort to investigate. If an investi- tion in urance can also be gained Why, talk about your "singin' briar," that briar cou rea y sm . set-up sheets and were reporting in Washtenaw· County. The 2-Business insurance as a vital gati-on i started at any other th:ough Farm Bureau member- I pulled a cross-cut with my dad when I was twelve or so , minutes to the state office. Last group that is qualified is the part of good management. 'Bern- ource it is soon killed by the Southwest Ypsilanti Community ard Brown of the Farm Bureau's hip. The e. however, ~re but a And what he knew of cutting wood was all there was to know. year at this time 1130groups were Farm Bureau with Mrs. Lillian ational Manufacturers Ass'n or small art of the gains ex- Th b z-saw was a handy rig with seven men around recorded. The statistics on the Farmers Insurance Agency will the U. S. Chamber of Comm rce Sheppard as Secretary. lead the discussion. peri~ced by the Farm Bureau e B~: now you just can't get the help-the world is muscle bound. attendance figure in October, and not a single word of protest however, are down from last year FIRST returns on the business arnily. So I am glad that I have seen (and wish my dad could ~ee~ -Due Date on Minutes. We wish receipts tax is due at the end of from the Farm Bureau. MRS. CHARLOTTE K~IPPENE H w Clem and Wilbur chain-sawed up the fence-row hick ry tree. which seems to indicate that al- to call your attention to the fact These are just a ew of the North Branch 0 though we have more gr-oups re- that Community Farm Bureau January. Mr. Ste fen will discuss reasons why I have decided to Dec 14 1953 R. S. Clark porting, the participation on the minutes are due in the office .no what cooperatives must file and keep my ten dollars and u e it to . , 315 North Grinnell Street part of the mem bers is not as later than the 10th of the follow- how. help pay my farm oper ting ex- 15-Grand Rapids at Y.M.C.A. penses. I am sending a copy of e r ck Jackson, Michigan great. The Community Farm Bureau ing month of the meeting in order 19-Lansing at Y.M.C.A. this letter to Jack Yaeger, and to To the Editor: ;;;-ommended measure. The would speak for the farmers if goal for 1954 on a state-wide to qualify the meeting' on our 2Q-Big Rapids at Bowers rest- E. E. Ungren of the Michigan 'A few weeks ago the Detroit League of Women Voters is a very they didn't find out for them- basis is 1607 Community Farm records. We still have a few sec- aurant.· • Farm News, although I m sure Free Press Sunday paper carried worthwhile organization, but pri- selves what they want, and make Bureaus. With our pr.esent records retaries in the state who are send- 21-Traverse City at Park Place they will not dare to print it in a column by Owen C. Deatrick, marily interested in urban prob- this known to the legislature? ing in their minutes tOQ late to hotel. its Lan ing correspondent, under showing a total of 1266 groups,' receive credit.' - ' the paper. lems. MRS. MAURICE OGDEN 22-Boyne City at Dilworth the title "Farm Lobbyists Steer Secretary this means that during the year Sincerely yours, Township government is the hotel'. CARL A. BRODBECK Michigan Lawmakers." only local government rural folks Farm Bureau Discussion Group 341 Community Farm Bureaus Group Rosiers. During the past must be organized if we are to month, Community Farm Bureaus 25-Bad Axe at Cole's Rest- The tone of this • Letter from have, and many injustices would Clarkston, Michigan Lake Ode sa reach our goal. To date 4 groups have been busy formulating their aurant. Lansing" was sarcastic, insinuat- be inadvertently brought upon Clarkston R-2 26-St. Louis at Park hotel. Dec. 7, 1953 have disbanded which were meet- rosters' which are due in the ing to the city readers that the the rural population if the county Dec. 14, 1953 Editor's Reply: Having known ci y readers that the Farm Bureau ing last year and 11 groups have County Farm Bureau office Feb- 27- Ypsilanti at White Gables j would become the smallest unit. Editor's Reply: We liked Mr. been placed on probation for fail- ruary L This has been done to a Restaurant. Mr. Brodbeck for nearly 30 years, lobby in Lansing, although rep- We don't think our suburban Deatrick's piece-salty comments ure to submit set-up sheets by large extent by a Roster Commit- 28-Lapeer at American Legion .• we regret very much his deci ion re enting a minority of Michigan's voters, has a firm hold on State population will have any. quarrel and all-as a veteran political re- November 1. tee set up in the group to take ha"tl. to leave Farm Bureau. with the Farm Bureau viewpom porter's shrewd appraisal of the Fourteen new groups were re- I care of' this responsibility. It is .. 29-Coldwater at Grange hall. In reply, we say this: That the legislature; that the farmers dic- on school bus laws; their children importance of the thinking of the corded during the month as fol- most important that the rosters Farm Bureau program in all tate what laws shall pass, which benefit as much as farmers' child- Michigan Farm Bureau member- lows: submitted. to your County Farm fields, and its presentation by our should be rejected. Buy Farm Bureau Feeds. ren do by regulations which make ship (resolutions) when state Bureau are an accurate and com- employes, reflect the will of the Our Farm Bureau Discussion Kalamazoo County - Onagin for greater safety. legislation is being considered. Community Farm Bureau Group, plete listing of the membership of majority of the membership. Is group of Clarkston, Michigan, it approved generally? Perhaps feels it is deplorable that Mr. City folks, as much as farmers Mr. Deatrick is a friendly person, your Community Group, since no use the highways and are inte and in our opini n is not writing Mrs. Margaret Lu ke, secretary. changes or additions may be the growth in, member hip' a De trick in t' a sets the ed in proper maintenance of those to set one segment of the popula- Calhoun-Albion III, Mrs. Rex made on the roster after it is once air measure. In the pa t ten urban opulation against the years the membership in Mich- farmers. We all should strive to roads; both groups of peopl~ will tion against the other. He knows Rosenau, Tekonsha. Mrs. Harry submitted .. igan has grown from 20,539 to better the relationship between favor fines collected from Illegal how to spice an article to make Brewer. STAR AWA'RDS - Gold Star 59 287 families. The American city folk and country people. loads to be used for reparation of it interesting reading. This is a the roads those loads destroy. good follow-up on Mr. Deatrick. Clinton-Clark-Chandler, Mrs. Award winners for the month of F~rm Bureau membership has Let's examine what Mr. E. E. UNGREN Betty Geisenhaver. October are as follows: * grown from 687,499 to 1,591,777 Deatrick claims, and what it Certainly the speed limit PATENTED Ma.comb-Centerline, Leo Wan- , ••• Down Trees at Ground families. means: The resolutions of the question is not primarily an agri- ALPENA COUNTY - Bolton CJe¥s Land Quick aRd Easy •• ~~_ •• cultural or rural one; the prob- Plant Diseases cour. Saws Up Logs and Brandaes E. E. UNGREN Farm Bureau rule the lawmakers, Community Farm ~ureau Group. A sensational new -md better he claims. The important question lem has been discussed in the The U. S. Department of Agri- Tuscola-Group 5. Mrs. Merrill Mrs. George, Pilarksi, Secretary. ft~~r s~~ri~!. t~?:re~1:! fast. safe sawin&,. AiJ- light of known statistics, past ex- culture's 1953 yearbook on "Plant Birdsall. Why Farm Bure 7 is "Why?" and not "Which resolu- tions." Because those resolutions perience and the desire to favor Diseases" may be obtained-for HILLSDALE - Allen. Mrs. ;Lustable to ln~Tl' a-,gles. Quickly attached to Ford. Flirguson Cas.. ~ Ills-Chalmers and J. Deere Tracton. A _ •.•• t W~{k i••• d Ti_ S."erl Fells trees fastl ZiPlt To the Editor: what is most beneficial to every- . 2.50-from the Superintendent Kent-Fruit Ridge. Mrs. Ed- Yenni~ Watts. UP 1"- ;9") "f $I ronf'., " , ju I farm values properly. The •.•hHHy T •.•1,.,".(:(0:-11 "nn ;n••. "ll.rrl ••••• th<> "1>1 nf ()" •.• lItv 7,lnl' I'O ing is thoroughly demon- at Chicago December 14 as a part the group. of the program of the American Since 1933 they have literally What are the fadS? strated and established by Following are the workshops to Farm Bureau Convention. She thrown the law book at the farm problem. But all of this farm FACT NO.1: Acreage controls thousands of miles of such be conducted at the Institute and spoke on the topic, "Self Govern- pavement now in use. PORTLAND CEMENT the discussion leader and record- ing secretary for each: Presidents-Keith ment is My Responsibility." Miss Pidd competed with young people Tanner, dis- from 27 other states. Eugene legislation has not stabilized farm .do not always reduce supplies. In income! Do you remember what hogs many instances production actu- ally goes up. A farm editor from Kansas told FARM BUREAU INSURANCE ASSOCI TIO sold for in 1939? That was after 6 me last week that he thought you cussion leader; Don Kilpatrick, Dewsnak of Utah was the winner. Miss Pidd had won the state years of farm programs and leg- Kansas farmers could reduce Olds Tower Bldg., Lansing 8, Mich. sec'y. Talk Meet at the Michigan Junior isl~tion to raise prices. Hogs .that acreage 30 percent, and still raise A national organization to improve and extend the uses of portland cement and concrete ... through Public Relations-Donald Kin- convention. She competed against year sold for an average of 6V-i as big a wheat crop as before. You SCientific research and engineering field work. sey and Clare McGhan. cents a pound. Corn was only 57 could do it with more fertilizer winners from nine districts. cents a bushel. Cattle brought 7 and summer fallow. ents. Hogs were actually 61 You Corn Belt farmers know percent higher in 1930 than they what can be done by pouring the were in 1940. fertilizer on corn-you've made Some may contend that costs 100-bushel corn land out of what were also lower before the war. grew 50 bushels before. E E That is true, but keep this in mind: Prior to the outbreak of FACT NO.2: What will you World War II-after seven years plant on the idle acres? Large- of all-out price support effort- scale acreage control creates a The writer was at the Kick-Off Banquet farm prices were only 78 percent new large-size problem. of he Huron County Farm Bureau on of parity. FACT NO. 3 is this: Even if BUT HOGS are higher than a acreage controls do reduce sup- November 30. It was a thrill to see the nickel a pound today. Farm prices plies, that does not mean it will have gone up. So have all other raise your farm income. scores of men and women. all of them prices. But, it was WAR-not Price per bushel isn't eno.ugh. government farm programs that It's price times volume that makes young in spirit and belief. ready to go out raised farm prices after 1940, farm income. WAR, and inflation that comes and help their county build a stronger with war, caused the general I was interested recently in the price level to go up. observations of Melvin Gehlbach, Farm Bureau. After World War II, we gave an Illinois farmer, who gave the away large quantities of food to House Agricultural Committee hungry millions abroad. And then these four indictments of our in 1950, the Korean War again present grain support program: VE T E TATE gave farm prices another sharp boost. 1. High price supports on feed grains encourage farmers to raise IS PREFERRED PROTEC.TION Now, just as farm programs corn to sell to the government By far the biggest name in auto mobile insurance to Farm Bureau did not raise farm income-neUh- rather than to feed to livestock. All over the state sU~h meetings were held-not all on the same day but on some chosen day. er did farm programs prevent members is the name of their own organization. the Farm Bureau Mutual 2. High support prices have The race is on! These followers of the Golden Rule will call on friends and neighbors, to tell the farm income from dropping when Insurance Company of Michigan. story of progress, strength, and satisfaction that comes with the greater membership in the Farm led to even greater acreages of prices started down in 1951. soil-depleting crops. Bureau. M mbership is built through such efforts. Instead of seeking a new ap- More member families carry F arm Bureau auto insurance than carry proach to a new problem, the 3. Support prices have helped These good prospects that were visited, have been told of the work the women do in the government attempted to hold up the farmer most who needs the all other kinds of auto insurance combined. County Farm Bureau-of the Junior Farm Bureau and the excellent job it does-of the growth farm prices with laws born of help least. And supports have in organizational knowledge and interest that the Community Farm Bureaus bring to the county war-time necessity. hardly helped the little farmer at For your farm vehicles there is no better protection than Farm Bureau m mber . all. THAT is how the 90 percent insurance. The have been told of their own Farm These good prospects (many of whom are of parity supports, which had 4. Since 85 percent of all feed 3m au Life and uto Insurance-of Blue now full-fledged Farm Bureau members) were been designed to stimulate ur- grains go into livestock, Mr. Gehl- The cost is low. 10 s-o the 0 vital legislative program to told that the Farm Bureau Team is made up gently-needed production, were bach said we are really robbing of these factors, given above, plus the F. B. turned around in an effort to Peter to pay Paul. The service you receive as a policy-holder is the very best. iv protection to agriculture-of the Petro- Supply Services handling Seed, Paint, Ferti- prop up farm income. ANOTHER of my farmer um o-op rative and Farm Equipment. lizer, Feed and other farm supplies. But these supports did not do friends told me the other day There are special advantages in your Farm Bureau insurance policy. the job, as you well know. That's that he was not happy with the "ou new member are cordially invited to buy Farm Bureau feed for poultry, hogs, cows, why I say farm programs alone present program. He said: "I'm aUI . better feed is made. These feeds are open formula-highly fortified-rich in cannot guarantee your farm in- afraid we are digging a grave of Your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent will be glad to give you the de- 1 a tOI. The get results-and they are yours for 'VALUE-IN-USE' on your farm-day come. controls for ourselves. Maybe we tails without obligation to you. If you do not know his name. any Farm are prolonging the day when YOU hog raisers know what we'll have to face the facts. BUT Bureau, office or store will explain how you can reach him. then the Team that belongs to us. happened to hogs last year. They labor is protected. Industry has were selling for 16 cents a pound its tariffs-so why shouldn't the 'Farm Bur au Complete Calf Ration' (for heifers until they go on the herd a year ago-only 77 percent of farmers get theirs?" UFE SUR CE THE FIP PROTECTED SAVINGS PLAN r hening Feed' for your dry cows are available to your F. B. feed dealer. parity. There was some agitation I agree, farmers do need some for hog supports then. But Sec- sort of program to put them on a AUTO DTRUCK SURANCE FARM UABIUTY INSURANCE retary Brannan at that time did par. Farming is very diverse and not think supports were feasible. hazardous. Farmers don't have nc. At least, he didn't put them into collective bargaining except to a effect. Perhaps because of the limited extent through their own dismal failure of attempts to sup- organiza i~ns. But that's just part CE 1 Lansing. MichlgaD port live hog prices in the 1940's. of the story. ve. Lansing 4, ichigan --------------_ ...•.~---_._-_•..•._-------- What did farmers do when they knew there would _be no price IF U IONS price their labor too ~ ~_-:-~_---------_ ••.•• ~-------:----~~:-:'- e • .And Reference to rendermg other services. These dedicated funds show as unex- pended balances. Legi atu e Mich. Farm Bur PART of the reason for town- ships carrying cash balances is simply because rural people have not learned the many "advant- Co vene Mr. Warren Zaiss, Editor Inside Michigan Magazine ages" of living beyond their in- comes. Balanced budgets and reason~le reserves are still re- Jan ay 3 gard.ed as assets in Michigan's STANLEY M. POWELL 944 Free Press Building rural areas. Legislative Counsel for MFB. Detroit, Michigar The burden of the article indi- The Michigan legislature w111 cates that "Inside Michigan" feels convene for the 1954 session at Dear Mr. Zaiss: Lansing on Wednesday, January that state tax moneys should be Your article in the September issue of Inside Michigan diverted to local units of govern- 13. This is the second time in ment on the basis of "need." Michigan history that a regular entitled, "The Farmer in the Dell" contains so many Rural people believe that it is session of state legislature has inaccuracies in addition to the very unfair and deceptive difficult to distinguish between been held in an even-numbered "needs" and desires." A new city year. Until 1952 the legislative reference to Michigan Farm Bureau that we feel some auditorium or swimming pool or sessions were held only in the odd-numbered years. Special ses- corrections are required. township hall or fire equipment sions were held at the call of the may be a "need" or a "desire," as In. using material which was provided for Michigan Governor and could consider only the individual looks at it. matters submitted by him. Farm Bureau members to aid them in discussing trends THE SALES TAX fund is col- WESLEY S. HAWLE'Y> WARD G. HODGE of Snover, lected from Michigan citizens' on SINCE adoption of the sales tax CoordiJt,ator Community Farm Bureau Activities Sanilac county, was re-elected in taxes and township government, you neglected to diversion constitutional amend- ~ an equal-contribution basis. To Fortunateiy we have in Farm Bureau a family organization. presid nt of Farmers P ~roleum carry the statement which preceded these discussion aids ment, it has been necessary for Cooperative, Inc., at the fifth an- place this money in a large "pie" the legislature to meet annually We work on itn1>ortan matters such as citizenship, international re- and which is as follows: which is then divided into very nual meeting at Michigan S at to fix the amount of the state aid Iaticns, public t .latiorts',and community better:nent as well as many College, D cemb r 3. Thomas unequal portions for distribution appropriation for public schools. other things. 'Women have the same interest m al.l phases of •arm "To those interested in keeping township government, violates a principle of fair play. Also, the state's financial situ- Bureau activities as any member of the family. Koning of Marne, Ottawa county, Where sales tax money is used was elected vice-president. it is well to be familiar with the viewpoints that are ation has been so acute and baf- In .Farm Bureau the women have been taking a very active Rex Talladay of Milan was to finance local government, it fling that the legislature has been developing against it. The following statements are can well be considered a local tax part in their community, county, ~tate. and ~a~ional Farm Bureaus. elected to the board of directors. adopting appropriation bills for Their .influence is very far reaching m building a well balanc d, which, for convenience sake, is only one year. OTHER farmers and Farm Bu- not necessarily the viewpoint of the writer nor of Farm collected through a state agency. closely knit organization. Those are some of the reasons reau members re-elected to the Bureau." Women, it is very important that you continue to your knitting board are: William Bartz of St. CERTAINLY, such tax money why the people voted to amend TH QUESTI of ho p in Farm Bureau. There is much to be done. The ne d. I~ great Joseph, Thomas Koning of Marn , Without this preface, you have listed the discussion should not be paid back to local the Michigan Constitution so that for more Community Farm Bureaus and for greater participation, for the farm rs has cr .at d mol' the legislature would hold a regu- Fred King of Blissfield. than one argum nt. But it mu t government on the basis of city if we are to have a real grass roots Farm Bureau. Nominated by the Farm Bureau aids as bearing the stamp of approval of the nearly residents as first-class citizens, lar session annually, beginning in be obvious that no on ·m. p ial 1952. and re-elected to the board: for farmers unl ss farmers fit st 60,000 family-members of Michigan Farm Bureau. village residents as a second-class Sec'y Benson Said Blaque Knirk of Quin s, Ward speak for th mselves. h I' could citizens and township residents AT THE 1951 session, the law- G. Hodge of Snover, Kenneth These were points to be considered in the discussions, as third-class citizens. makers decided that when they To A BF Meet-ng: Johnson of Freeland, Mart n be no b tt r sounding board than This would be the effect if the met in even-numbered years they Continued from page 4. this convention for th e 'pr ssion and were not the conclusions reached at those community Garn of Charlotte. Russell Hazel of grassroots thin ihg n om ag- Michigan Stale Aid Survey recom- could rush things along and com- where we can and when we can. was nominated by the Michigan meetings. - This certainly is a violation of the ethics of mendation is followed, This press their deliberations into a Farm Bureau and elected to the ricultural problems. WE WILL continue to empha- I challenge you to mak th editorial prerogatives. survey from which you quote shorter period of time than that size research-for it must, of board. recommends sales tax distribution involved for a regular session in most of this opportunity. All pos- Let's look at some of the errors and half-truths in- to local government on the fol- an odd-numbered year. course, be the basis of any sound We shall str ngthen soil con er- sible assistance you can giv in lowing basis: farm program. Research is the vation. We hope in the years this crisis is needed-now. cluded in your article: In the session during an even- tool that has given us higher ahead that we not only cons rve $9.00 per capita to cities numbered year there are the You may be assur d that un- IT IS sometimes. stated that $4.00 per capita to villages yielding crops, better-doing live- the soil, but improve it through damental basic principl , nev I' I. A STATEMENT is made that, cities pay the maier part of the same members in the Senate and stock, sprays to protect us against proper land use. $1.00per capita to townships House who served the year be- selfish political xp di incy, will "There is no longer an excuse for sales tax. Farmers are heavy pur- insect enemies. Our cotton yields PRODUCTION is only half th guide us. N v r will I knowingly tolerating the expensive, selfish chasers of taxable items of SUCH a diversion of tax money fore. They have the same seats more, our hogs grow faster, our job. We must market our pro- do anything or recommend any and politics-rid?,en township fo:-m capital outlay, such as roofing, would encourage spend-thrift and committee assignments. broilers gain more on less feed, ducts. I pledge to you we will policy which is contrary to your ?f governr~ent. It IS a question fencing, building materials, auto- government and discourage econ- Under rules adopted during the our cows give more milk, our use every r ource in coop ration interests. At the same tim , any in the mmds of rural people mobiles and many other items omy in operation. It would pen- 1951 session, members are per- hens lay more eggs as a result of with industry to find new mar- farm program must be in th b st whether township governme~ts, as well as the usual household alize the provident unit of govern- mitted to prepare bills in advance research. interests of the Nation, as well as I are more e~p:nslve~ more selfish supplies. Few of these purchases ment simply because it did not and they are referred to the ap- or more polI~IcallYmvolved th~n are made in rural townships. A over-spend its income. propriate committee by the duction-more net profit. kets for farm products, to re- Research spells efficient pro- capture, insofar as possible, over- It seas markets we have lost. the farmer. Great decisions lie ah ad. L t an.y ~ther units of g~}:,ernr~entm farmer does his buying in' cities You ask whether the payments Lieutenant Governor and Speaker helps a farmer better meet his Your future prosperity, I be- us approach them with intelli- Michigan, be .they cities, VIllages, and villages for the simple rea- to townships are not subsidies of the House and printed so that co petition. It makes him less lieve, is going to d p nd largely gence-let us approach them in counties or the state itself. son that stores are located there. and you question Webster's def- they are ready for consideration vulnerable to the price squeeze. on two thinas: the spirit of m n who valu free- 2. The article refers to pay- His sales tax payments represent inition. The definition of sub- as soon as the session gets under dom and recognize th r sponsi- TEAM MATE of research is ed- FIRST, how good a job you do ments to townships made under a substantial part of city and vil- sidy is, "A gift of money or way. bilities that go with it. property made by one person to ucation. I think our Extension on your own farm. the requirements of the tax di- lage collections. TO INSURE that the session Service has done a good job. But SECOND, I believe your farm another by way of financial aid." during 1954 will be a relatively MARTEN GARN was elected this I know, it can do a still better income will be high only it the The best time to mov dis- version amendment passed in 7. SEVERAL paragraphs are 1947 (~he amendment. Was devoted to showing that the town- IN VIEW of the above-men- short one, the lawmakers have president of Farm Bureau Ser- job. Nation a a whole. is prosp rous. eased poultry from a flock is no . adopte~ I~ 194?!- You pomt o~tl ship is a one-man show. "The only tioned distribution of State Aid of adopted a schedule to hurry along vices, Inc.,: at the 24th annual that Michigan pa!S out $6.13 In important figure in the township $13.03 per capita to cities, $10.77 the consideration of bills. The meeting at Michigan State Col- cash f~r ~ach .re~Ident of e:rerYIis the Supervisor who is usually to villages and $6.13 per capita session opens at noon, January 13. lege, December 2. Ivan Pars.ons township In Michigan as a direct chairman of the township board to townships, it seems .as though From then until February 10 bills of Grand Blanc was elected VIce- form of state aid." .. ' . He runs a one-man show, a subsidy is involved and that will be introduced and started president. These. farmers and Farm Bur- You neglected to point out that contrasting sharply with the vil- township residents are helping through the legislative process. eau members were elected direct- I Michigan also distributes $13.03 to' lage council where everyone has to pay that subsidy. Any bill introduced after Febru- Such tactics as you have used ary 10 will not be printed. That ors for their first term: Peter H. cities for each resident and $10.77 a chance to speak up for what he DeWeerd of Hudsonville, Phillip means that there will be no to villages for each resident. These wants." Members of township in misrepresenting the position of chance of its enactment. Holzhausen of Corunna, and El- figures are all taken from the boards, I am sure, will take issue Michigan Farm Bureau can only ton R. Smith of Caledonia. Ivan same table in the Michigan State with you on this question of add to the confusion and mis- During the 21 days beginning Parsons of Grand Blanc was re- Aid Survey of 1953 which you expression. understanding of Michigan's tax February 11 and ending March 3, problem. It might be fair to Senate committees will consider elected to the board of directors. quote as a source of information in your article. . 8. Nearly a column is devoted point out that Michigan Farm Senate bills and House commit- FOUR farmers and Farm Bu- to a comparison between "prop- Bureau, Michigan State Grange tees will take up House bills. Any eau members were re-elected to 3. THE POINT is made that erty tax" and "school tax." In and the State Association of bill not reported from committee represent Michigan Farm Bureau under the present sales tax diver- the first place. school taxes are Supervisors were the three or- by March 3 will be dead. During on' the Services board: Carl E. sion formula, townships receive property taxes and anyone qual- ganizations which spear-headed the seven days beginning March Buskirk of Paw Paw; Ward the per capita payment' of ,$6.13for ified to discuss this question the fight to prevent the adoption 4 and ending March 10, no bills Hodge of Snover, Blaque Knirk all "wards of the state who hap- should not erroneously indicate of the sales tax diversion amend- will be reported from committees. of Quincy, and Albert Shellenbar- pen to be in residence at places that school taxes are other than ment which you are currently During that week the Senate ger of Lake Odessa. > like prisons, hospitals, asylums, property taxes. Property taxes criticizing. must dispose of all Senate bills Directors of all' Farm Bureau reformatories and children's also include township tax, county WE HOPE these facts may be and the House must dispose of all companies> are now farmers, by homes." tax, drain tax and other levies. of assistance in any further ma- House bills. actions taken at recent annual You failed to mention that In 1950, the article states, only terial which you may prepare. We DURING the two weeks begin- meetings. Three co-operative cities and villages in which such one dollar in property tax was would welcome the opportunity ning March 11 and ending March ass'n managers retired from the institutions are located have re- collected for each eleven dollars to talk with you about possible 24 committees must report out FB. Services board December 2 ceived the same per capita pay- of school tax. As presented, the improvements in local self-gov- bills previously passed by the with the thanks of the share- ments. Rural people have been figure me,ans nothing. ernment and more efficient use holders for their long and able of state-collected funds. other branch of the Legislature or among the most critical of these 9. IT IS pointed out that "no those bills will be dead. All of service, They are: Thomas Berg- Sincerely yours, provisions. ~ matter how: rich a township be- this schedule leads up to com- house of Cadillac, 24 years' ser- The 1952-53per capita payment comes, the state literally forces MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU pleting the main part of the ses- vice, formerly .manager or Fal- (Signed) sion on April 9. The lawmakers mouth Cooperative Co., now man- under the sales tax diversion form- extra tax money down its official ula was $6.82.This amount was re- gullet." Examination of the re- STANLEY M. POWELL will then recess for thirty-four ager of Michigan Potato Growers Legislative Counsel Exchange; Alfred Roberts of Pig- ceived by each city, village and ports of 1,233 of the 1,266 town- days and return to Lansing to DAN E. REED eon, U) years' service, manager township according to the popula- ships in Michigan made by the wind up the session on May 13 Ass't Legislative Counsel of Cooperative Elevator Co. at tion listed in the 1950 census. Municipal Finance Commission of and 14. That will give them a Pigeon: Paul Kaechele of Cale- the 1951-52township returns show chance to act on any veto mes- donia, 4 years' service, manager 4. Several specific examples of that townships spent nearly $20,- questionable use of township 000,000 during the year and car- funds are cited. These are iso- ried over a balance of nearly Canada Res sages and take up any other ap- propriate final business. of Caledonia Farmers Elevator Company. lated and extreme cases and sim- $17,000,000. This would indicate A STUDY of the foregoing ilar expenditures are found not that townships have considerably only in townships. Supporters of less than one year's normal ex- CUstome makers will be in session a little MARTEN GARN has one of schedule. shows that the law- the best herds of Yorkshire hogs in Michigan. He farms near Char- local self-government are opposed penditure of funds on hand. The less than three months. to misuse of public funds wher- following figures compiled by the ever found. Municipal Finance Commission For U. S. tion of the program adopted by lotte, Eaton county. Mr. Garn That means that in the promo- started in Farm Bureau 20 years ago as one of the first members the voting delegates at the an- of Junior Farm Bureau. He is a 5. THE ARTICLE says that, also show that the balance carried Canada imports from the Unit- nual meeting of the Michigan director of Michig~n Farm Bur- "You, who are one of the 67% of over from year to year is rather ed States nearly 20% of all of our Farm Bureau last November we eau and president of the Farm Michigan's population residing in stable, instead of growing by trade with the outside world. Not must all get busy without delay. Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. only did Canadians purchase This applies especially to mem- cities and urban areas, pay your leaps and bounds as you indicate: Balance on Hand at Clo nearly 3 billion dollars worth of bers of County Farm Bureau local propertv taxes and the farm- our products in 1952, but they Legislative Committees and to IVA P ARSONS is engaged in ers' too ... 'You, the city dweller, of Year (Cash 8t Investments) bought $629 million worth more Farm Bureau Minutemen. dairying and general farming pay the township politicians, the of goods than the United States near Grand Blanc, Genesee coun- constables and the others, and Expenditures bought from them. ty. He has been a member of the pay $6.15 beside to every resident 1948-49 $13,969,195 $14,476,491 To continue to be our best cus- HOWEVER, each member of Farm Bureau since 1919. He has (l the Farm Bureau has a very been a director of Grand Blanc of everv township. You never 1949-50 13,922,937 16,937,555 tomer, they must sell goods in definite influence and responsi- heard of anv of these people and 1950-51 14.417,081 17,639,216 America. And this applies to ag- bility. All of us should give care- Coop for 36 years and is its presi- they never did anything for vou, 1951-52 16,728.679 19,688,408 ricultural products. In 1952 Cana- ful consideration to legislative dent. but your tax monev keeps their da imported from the United J. F. YAEGER, executive sec- But you'll always appreciate the comfortable fe lin you'll g township ~oin~." The errors in IT SHOULD be mentioned that States $381 million worth of our issues and keep our lawmakers before sales tax diversion pay- currently informed as to how we retary, told representatives of the preceedinz quotation are farm products. They shipped to feel regarding these matters. That 16,000shareholders at the annual from your FIP Savings Plan. FIP is the asy way to s t m evident. According to the above- ments beaan. a number of town- us 348 million dollars worth. is the appropriate and effective meeting that their organization mentioned State Aid Survey table, ships in Michigan had amassed Every dollar which they collected way to get our resolutions trans- distributed $20,060,900 worth of aside. It combines real savings with a program off ring pro ion, the total per capita State Aid to large balances 'due largely to was more than matched by what dividends, coupons that can be clipped and cash nd townships was $6.12. severance tax pavments. These they spent in American markets. lated ments. into definite accomplish- farm supplies for the year ending August 31. were townships in which were As a matter of self-interest, valuable features. Discuss this Farm ur au p ogram f 8. The article claims that 67% located oil fields and mineral de- both of our countries must con- Several thousand of FB Ser- of Michif!an people live in the posits. Many of these balances tinue to do all they can to move Keep Out of D t vices nearly 50,000patrons invest- ed close to a million dollars in Bureau families with your Farm ureau Insuranc Ag cities and that they, "together are- carried forward and are still goods over our international Farmers who are establlshed Service securities in 1953 to fi- with their industries, pay 95% reflected in the totals. boundaries. Trade Agreements and solvent are advised by Michi- nance the fertilizer plant now of all the taxes raised in Mich- Frequently townships build re- must be kept favorable to both. igan" and that the 33% Iivinz in serves to carrv out proiects which gan State College agricultural buildinf, at Kalamazoo. At the Canada has not required any economists to keep out of debt, same tune, FB Services retired townships pay about 5%. The are beyond the possibilities of a form of American loans with modernize homes where needed several years in advance of the F R u source of these figures is not single year's income. This may which to buy American agricul- and protect their properties with retirement date some $996,000 of quoted and we would be inter- be for the purpose of buildin, tural oods. They bouaht them insurance. securities issued in 1946 to build S07 SOUTH GRAND AVINU L St ested to know how you have ar- community hall, purchasing fire wi h dollars earned and created the fer t II i z e r manufacturin, rived at the conclusion. equipment, b·' lOa in their own econoIDJ. B~ Farm B pt· w. _ MIC JANUARY 1, 1954 y w--.--.e Lan In five years Farmers Petrol- PX M ·e tID as To gear the whole Michigan eum Cooperative, a Farm Bur- eau company, has become one of 39th Farme ·8 b Farm Bureau legislative team in- to action, a series of district meet- Discussion Topics the largest independent suppliers . of petroleum products to Michi- gan farmers. They have over Week at MSC Set f or ings are planned for January 25- 26~~t;~~~0~~.~ January 26 DONALD D. KINSEY ehruary 1-5 Lezisla I·On 800,000invested in the company. District 2 January 26 Coordinator of Education and R arch They were chosen by your State Discussion Topic Shareholder patrons have receiv- District 3 January 25 Committee from the results of the questionnaires ed in five years 370,000 in pa- ~.. District 4 January 25 The early days of Michigan- returned by the Community Farm Bureaus. tronage dividends in cash, and U District 5 ,. January 25 The homestead days-the careless days! $102,000in stock di idends. Thousands of Michigan farm DAN REED District 6 January 26 The days of axe and saw and plow- folks will "go to college" at the Ass't Legislative Counsel District 7 January 25 They cleared the "dirt-cheap" land, till now Jan. The Problem of Publicly-owned Attending the annual meeting 39th annual Farmers' Week at were the representatives of 61 "The debating is over. Farm District 8 January 26 We still find fields where waves no grain, Lands and Local Taxation. Michigan State College February Bureau members have spoken District 9 January 26 Nor even forest evergreen has yet returned farmers oil companies and quite 1 to 5. through resolutions. The job now District 10 January 25 To Michigan! a group of individual share- Feb. Our Community Farm Bureaus and holders. THEY will "take over" class- is to put our full weight behind COUNTY legislative commit- The fallen house, the slanting shed, the policies established," said tees will then have the responsi- The apple tree, so gnarled and dead- . the Service-to-Member Program. rooms and stadium, dining halls Jack Lynn, legislative director, bility of bringing the nearly 1,~00 and laboratories, auditoriums following adjournment of the Minutemen into active participa- These are the signs of tortured land Mar. A State Plan to Regulate the Financ- Cheboygan Is First and farm buildings. It's the an- AFBF convention at Chicago on I tion through county meetings to Not long to stay nual MSC "open house" for far- In Michigan I ing of Drainage Projects Within December 17. J be held about February 1. mers and homemakers. The pro- THE MICHIGAN Farm Bureau Legislative Seminars are also God put his beauty in the land. and Between Counties) grams will offer many things for Institute scheduled for Kellogg planned to bring the members of Again let noble forests stand the entire family. Center on the MSC campus at' the county legislative committees And dew-wet grasses gently blow Information will be given on East Lansing, will be the kickoff to Lansing for a day to get an up- Be sure to read your discussion topic articles on this production-from dairy barn Where idle lies the prairie sand on Michigan's program. Mr. Lynn to-the-minute view on state and page of the Michigan Farm News. Attend your ventilation to wilt problems in will speak at the evening session national legislation and to attend In Michigan! Community Group Meetings! mint, on new developments-like on January 5 and will meet Wed- a session of the legislature. Yet may our learning, bright and new, bulk milk handling, and on nesday morning, January 6, with 'I Wednesday, January 13 the Turn sand and dune to fertile field! prices, government programs and chairmen of county legislative J &'54 session of he Michigan New farms may flourish 'mid the dew human relationships. committees. legislature will co vene. And shadow of the pines, - SOME of our County Farm that fatten local incomes. This Bureau resolutions asked that all usually benefits the entire area. SPEAKERS on the program With golden yield, will incl de these and others: In Michiganl state properties be taxed for local purposes at the same rate as FEDERAL Lands are different. Michigan has national forests. The Dean of Agriculture J. O. Christianson of the University of ( \ private property in the area. fir government has public buildings Minnesota, at Dairy Day, on Mon- Landscape and Taxes. "Sure Mister we've got a I wonder if we really would want this? It might be a bad in most every community. The day, Feb. 1. LOW COST - ax predicament here in our township-and the law has federal government pays no share Dr. William Alexander, Okla- bargain, at that! The state has to get its income out of the people. of the local tax load directly. The homa City pastor and one of the COMPLETE COVERAGE I got s over a barrel I Some other townships, a lot like only concession to local treasuries most popular young people's It owns numerous big buildings us, are getting a better break in terms of the money in our cities, where property is a payment of 25% of any sales speakers in the nation, on Tues- they get to hell? run their local affai s. I'm not just values are high. It has offices, of timber or of surface minerals- sand, gravel, marl, etc. that may day, February 2. John Davis of Washington, D. FIRE and WINDSTORM INSURANCE state hospitals, colleges and uni- OF FARM PROPERTIES bellyaching I It's a fact. be made off such land. Local C., assistant secretary of agricul- versities, etc. They cut into the governments do get that 25% JACK SAVELLA of Cheboygan ture, on Wednesday, Feb. 3. • lands that could otherwise bring "Let's look at the map of the township, and you will lee what I mean.' We've got four district schools that tax revenues to the cities. Should they be taxable at the same rate share. Most of the federal lands are not productive agricultural was delighted to learn that Che- boygan County Farm Bureau Dr. John A. Hannah, M.S.C. president and assistant secretary IN ONE POLICY lands, however, in the sense of was first to make its goal in the of defense, on Thursday, Feb. 4. as other similar lands and prop- Michigan Farm Bureau's 1954 Dr. L. E. Casida, University of are struggling along. They average only eleven pupils. erties within the cities? Where being proper for cultivation. They Wisconsin geneticist, on Friday' Folks hereabouts like those chools. They want to keep would we draw the line-or who are mainly forested areas. ,. Roll Call for members. "The cap- tains and workers deserve the February 5. ' ,ely on FREMONT MUTUAL would draw it? We might think Questions: There will be luncheons and them. They kind of bind the neighbors together, and a little on that one! credit," said Roll Call Manager banquets each day. Many organi-' seem a bit like home to the folks. 1. Do you think that some Savella, a ransplanted Finnlan- der from Hancock. He farmed in zations will conduct annual meet- Michigan lolles have ••• FROM a broad point of view, change should be made in Act No. "There' I one school down here on the south road. the idea of the state paying local 5 of the Public Acts of 1946 so as Oakland county until 1937 when ings in conjunction with Michi- lor 11 years taxes can have value only to help to overcome some of the unfair- he bought 620 acres in Cheboy- gan's biggest rural life event- Only three farms left in that neighborhood. Land's Farmers' Week. equalize the tax load for areas ness in it? If so, what should these gan county. Now he has 180 acres just fair. but the folks are making it produce up to snuff. where state-ownership creates a changes be? of general farming and timber. Young Farmers hardship on a locality. Otherwise 2. What local tax problems are Mr. Savella and his wife are part-. Young farmers getting started "Over here in the northwest is another. Four families it is like taking money out of one ners in a rustic furniture manu- created by the presence of public- are ad ised by Michigan State In that neighborhood. Biggest school we've got. pocket and putting it into an- ly-owned lands in your area? Iacturing business in Cheboygan. College agricultural economists other-except that we have to add Thirteen kids I bookkeeping costs. Mrs. Savella, formerly Nora that any farm short on land, live- Tucker of Sandusky, Sanilac stock, machinery and credit will "The one here in the center talks about closing. Only nine kids there-and three more farms along the road, The individual that gets rather "thin" deal in the matter is the township treasurer. The Petro • Co-op county, was active in the Cheboy- gan Roll Call and keeps an eye on Farm Bureau activities in her have a rough time in the period ahead. two south of the school and one west. • "Then we have a cluster of small farms-four of state pays no collection fees, so the treasurer has to do this work "for free." A. Big Fellow home county. Buy Farm Bureau Feed. ,. hem-over here toward northwest. small, but about average for the township. This school IS "That begin to tell the S ory. The rest of the land is SOME points on the "plus side:" In some cases the taxes paid by the state are actually higher than would be justified by the true val- 11 5 ears Earl Huntley, manager of the c:»~kElh-.:..-t,-t. atate-owned. This is near marginal land around here and folks had a rough time back in the thirties. Now, ue of the land. North of Townline 16, the 10c an acre is sometimes higher than the actual tax rate Farmers Petroleum Cooperative Inc., told shareholders at the 5th annual meeting at Michigan State College, December 3, that their ~..&..S ~::EE:EI J.WE ..&.i::L:L on privately-owned land. Where organization distributed 26,579,- lots of townships in Michigan have state-owned land. that is true, local folks like it. 000 gallons of automobile and But they usually get a better break. Folks north of While assessing land at only tractor fuels to farmers the past Big tracto!,s powe~ed for big lobs and small ••• ones for speed r ownline 16 get 10c an acre regularly from the state 50% of its valuation (as it done South of Townline (16) and this year. and economy on light work ••• all with those years.cahead to help support local opera ions. is less than 100%, economists THROUGH recent purchases of point out that no state is compell- oil wells in Illinois and Indiana features that make farming easier, safer and more profitable. "But, we are south of Townline 16, and we come ed to make payments to local the Farmers Petroleum Coopera- tive now has an interest in 200 under a different part of the law. Our law was written units. Willingness to pay at all is a oil wells in Michigan; Indiana and generous gesture, from this point Illinois. The organization owns in 1946, and it sure doesn't treat everybody alikel It of view. It is an effort to over- just happens that a lot of the land in this township was come local handicaps created by urchased by the state in that distaster year of 1934. state possession of the land. or controls a daily production of about 1,800 barrels of crude oil. Mr. Huntley said that Farmers Cocksh:u:t,'f:, The "50" give. you big 4-' "'50" C OCKSHUTr offers tarmers tour basic tractors in 26 different models. And there's a full line of plow capacity At recent Some of the state-owned recrea- Petroleum Cooperative had paid official te,ta it provided 51.5 "IF YOU will look up the law, and others may gain. And to fix tion areas in southern Michigan, in cash $119,000in patronage di- hp on the drawbar, 57.8 on designed-for-the-job implements you will see that it says that all the level f r v r at either a high while paying a reduced local tax, vidends to patrons who are share- the b.1t • • • 01 lowe.' fuel co., pe, honepowe, hou, ever to 10 with them ••• to give you the lands that the state purchased or low point seems scarcely fair do bring many tourists into the holders for the year ending Au- recorded. Power.packed Ilx- • complete range of power and in this area after 1933 can be nor wise. areas. Tourists spend dollars gust 31. cylinder gasoline or Die,eI capacity to meet all your farm'. taxed only at a severe reduction tor some of us. I'll show you what =======================:..:=====::::;;:::============ enginlt with overhead valves. Six-speed transmluion. Self energizing double disc brake,. requirements. I mean. lin PTO and live hydraulic .Yltem. 4 front endl. Big Her. in anyone of these 26 "The value of our land around tir •• ond extremely ruvve4 hew model. are the extra value conltruction. her land that the state got-had to go down on the assessment features you have alwaY' wanted rolls at its worst level in history. In a tractor-greater stamina- The law reads that such state land smoother 'power-greater econ- ust be valued on the basis of omy. Cockshutt has them all-and the average value of the five they're all yours when you choose years just before it was taken Cocksh-u.'f:,'f:, "4:0" over. And you can't ever change a Cockshutt. Just compare Cock. hat value! Here'. full 3-4 pfow capactty ••• shutt features with any other with 40.1 hp .t drawbar, 4'.6 of belt. Some delign, conltruetton ond tractor. Better yet, have a Cock. OW, those five years just sure put a crimp in 'eature •• 1' the "50". Same choice of eOloltne or Oielel overhead·valvo shutt demonstration on your own value of the land here. I engine. Oeligned right-built rlght- farm where the facts )Vill speak priced right. See and try • "40" f. ues there wer n't five poorer a·~ for themselves. •..._,-_ ..•._-.- lop plow elictencr oM ecOftOlQ. ears in the century! So the base on this land was set Why not arrange your demo~ wfully low to begin with. 8tration soon with your Cockshutt "But the law bites still deeper Dealer ••• right now if field r U , because that land can be I • conditions permit! ed to the state at only half the te for other land in the town- ip, This means that nearly nty p rcent of the land in I I I e • lhree plow copacity In mOlt Ion •••• with 28 ..•• drawbar hp on" 32.9 .t bel" Choice of .••·cylinder, over"-ad-volve go •• oline or Diesel engine. Rugged 4'1~ ur township just i n't helping to A valuable FARMBUREAUSERVICESdealer agreement is ,available if your area is not served by transmission plul on optlonol cre.pe, ----- --_.-._--- y its ay! nd the folks who .ear that gives 0 range of eight forwor4 a Cockshutf dealer at the present time. ond two reverie speedl. 'CHW front end., , e on the rest of the land have o bear 1 ad." e lion' hare of the - 'iv" PTO and Jive hydraulic Iylt •••• Th,••• point hItch or .tandord drowhor. Ma,,", """"el not .,cMno,ily foun4 ••• •• flIlu",·,i,. ".ctora. W re particularly interested in getting dealer applications for the fol- lowing areas: Kalamazoo, Mt. Pleasant, Saginaw, Grand Blanc, Chesaning and Fremont. A substantial quan~ity of Co-op and Cockshutt equipment has been old in these areas in past years. Cocksn'U."t"t ,.20" This ill assure the new dealers a large volume of parts and service bus i- 1Ws It ~u'y the etant among ImoI1 trocton ••• with full two· plow capacity tn ony lOll. n s Orewbar hp I. 26.7, belt I. 30.4. Rugged "ellgft plu. omozlng economy put It f • • Mod of other 2.plow equipment. like .11 For further information call or write: .thor Cock.hu" troctor. it offerl no -"' live h,.drou'ic IYltem, ••ew Improve" , c. '·polftt hitch, plus • choice of f,ont eftcI 4-cyllnder easollne ..,glne. Stonclar4 •• ~.,peocl tron'miuion. F R EQUIPME T WHOLESALE DIVISION FAR J BUREAU SER ICES Inc. 38 r nd iver vee Lansing 4, Michigan FARM EQUIPMENT WHOLESALE DIVISION 3800 • Grand River Ave. Lansing 4, -----------