Vol 37, No. 3 37th Year MARCH J. 1959 • Both Par ettIng , w--...-.. FARM BUREAU'S EDITORIAL Call e al Administrative Upon Making a New Start Best falfa Board in CLARK L. BRODY For ichega One of This editorial signifies my retirement from the Effect Feb. 2 Steve Dexter of the Farm Crops T staff of the Michigan Farm Bureau January 31, In accordance with action, taken Department at Michigan State 1959. by the Michigan Farm Bureau University says that Vernal al- Board of Directors November 19, falfa is a very good variety which ST Thirty-eight years have not dimmed my memory 1958,the supervision of the man- may solve the problem for farm- L islative Couns 1 for th agement of the Michigan Farm ers looking for a top quality seed of my bewildered and uncertain beginnings on Bureau and associated service for their fields. All i II. i 100 Ii ry I n th n March 1, 1921. Apparently the ninety people in companies has been placed in a Vernal appears to be well a- versial ession of th L gi latur . ith r four man Administrative Board, dapted to Michigan weather con- the old Cedar Street building were just as con- effective February 2, 1959. party c n must r the n ry 5 ditions and outyields the popular fused as I. Members of the Administrative Ranger variety by 10 to 15%. House to pass v n an ordin ry bill. Board are: Waiter Wightman. Narragansett has often been The office space was cramped by storing in the Michigan Farm Bureau president, preferred for northern Michigan, Th two-thirds ot required or as Chairman; Norwood Eastman building over 3,000,000 pounds of wool for which Edwin Steffen, and Leon Mon- even though it has no resistance propo d con titutional am ndm t to wilt. there was no market since the government was sup- roe of the Farm Bureau staff. Mr. Dexter said that with wilt more difficult to obtain. The purpose of the new ar- plying the mills with World War I surplus wool at rangement is to provide close cor- spreading, Vernal is the best se- E ch political party trie to ke p h lection since it yields about the whatever prices it would bring. relation between the programs 0 same as Narragansett. defensive, and no individual m mb 0 the service companies and the The Board of Directors had bought the building membership. Vernal's winter hardiness, high party is an ious to a sum respon ibility for $50,000. The first payment was $2,500 for It is felt that the Administrativr yields, and toleration of frequent Board will provide a means for th. cutting is very satisfactory. De- bill or tax program which would prob hI which the Michigan Farm Bureau had given a note. company managers to obtain grouj mand for the limited supply of popular with the voters. Each of the Directors had personally endorsed the counsel and approval of long Vernal has pushed prie sup. range plans and proposals f01 Even though the cost is a little This sets the stage for long, urbul Farm Bureau's note. recommendation to Boards 01 high, Vernal should more than sibly rather unproductiv legi la iv Directors of Farm Bureau Co's. pay the additional cost when it is Forty carloads of cottonseed meal bought by Farm The chief function of the Ad- used on good soil. The major interest in the State i 1 1 Bureau at $78 a ton were drawing demurrage as ministrative Board will be to sup- Mr. Dexter suggests putting a focused on what constitutional amendm n will ervise the general management or strip of Vernal through the mid- they sat on side tracks throughout the state. While enroute to Michigan the price had dropped from $78 the various companies and to co ordinate the programs with gen eral Farm Bureau policy. Clark L. Brody Retires dle of your field of Ranger or other alfalfa. He believes you will be convinced of Vernal's su- appear on the April 6 election b Hot. To date, 29 joint resolution. mb dyin a ton to less than $40 a' ton. No distributor would periority when you compare the , State and County Farm Bu- \ vice-president in charge of public- ments to Michigan's Constitution, h v b n intr - accept delivery, and the mills wanted their money. reau leaders were among 400 affairs for Michigan Farm Bu- varieties in two or three years. ,The ambitious plans of inexperienced department Michigan 300 friends of Clark L. Brody at a reau. From October 1, 1956 to testimonial dinner given for him his retirement he was counsel U .. duced. managers disturbed me greatly. and more so when I s the New at Kellogg Center, Michigan on public affairs. I .1 .•• -8 ecome Only one of those has now recei d th two-thirds vot of th m mb r - Ie t found that we had the bare rudiments o{an account ... ing system, and little money in the treasury. In State University, Saturday eve- ning, February 21. He is in his 38th and las year as a m~mber of the State Boa.rd Gre ' olitical branches of the L gislature and is thu fact. we learned later that the net worth was minus Corn Hybrid Mr. Brody retired from the of Agriculture. He was chair- Michigan Farm Bureau Febru- man .of the board for 16 years ar Y I-his 80th birthday-after and five mon~hs-January 1, 1932 being placed on the ballot at th comin election. $15.000. 38 years of service. through April 1, 1938 and Jan- Farmers will' have a new hy- At that time he announced uary 1, 1948 through De mber, This is SJR A, which is intended to Disappointed members were not paying th~ir brid corn available to them fo: that he would not be a candidate 1957. The American Farm Bureau tinuity of government. It authori dues, and business departments were running at a planting this season. for reelection to the State Board overnor Williams. Pr .den.t told the State Farm BUleau at It's Michigan 300, a hybrid de of Agriculture, governi bo I John Hannah f ic igan State hi a e e k ago: a re 0 rovi e ry succeser loss in the period of falling prices after the war. veloped by farm crops scientists for Michigan State Unive -ty., Univer ity, and Charles Figy, "The election of ovember and d ti 0 li At the close of my last day, Friday, January 3 J, at the Michigan Agricultural Ex- periment Station. A good suppl) board since 1921. I He has. been a member of the of the U. 8. Department of Agri- 1958 demonstrat d that in the culture, and others paid tribute last ten years labor unions have • by nemy attacks. of seed is available this year. J 959, I walked through the spacious Fa:rm Bureau President Walter Wightman to Mr. Brod~ for his. work. in become an overwhelming politi- nother propo ed amendment which h Center, through the offices of Michigan Farm Bu- Elmer Rossman, corn breeder at said that Mr. Brody came to state. and ~tlOnal p~~ affal~s, cal power;. the Station, said the new corn Michigan Farm Bureau March 1, , for. his ~erVlcesto MIChig~ Stale 'This was the labor unions' approved by both the Hous and S nat , but in reau, Farm Bureau Services. Farrners Petroleum is rated at about 90 days' relative 1921 as executive secretary, and Umver~~, and as a builder of record in the November 1958 slightly different forms, is HJR I, whi h would maturity. It is midway between general manage of the mem- the. M~chIgan "!'arm Bureau or- elections: Cooperative, Farm Bu;reau Mutual and Farm Bu- Michigan 250 and 350 in maturity bership organization and its ganization of I~,OOO fann fam- change the name of the State Bo rd of Agricultur "U.S. Senate-25 of 32 Senators reau Life Insurance Companies. Nearly 300 people Michigan 300 has the best yield business services. lilies. or candidates for Senator who to Board of Trustees of Michigan 5t te Univ .. record of competitive hybrids of The farm supplies business was Blaque Knirk of Quincy an- had labor union support were who had used the offices during the day had left. the same maturity date. incorporated as Farm Bureau nounced tha~ the state, coun y elected. ity. In 38 years, we certainly would expect great im- Since it has a better yield rec- Services in 1929. Michigan As- and. community F~r~ ~ureau or- tho c voting last Novemb x- ord than Michigan 350, Rossman sociation of Farmers Coopera-I gamza.tIo~ and individuals are "U.S. Senate--8 or 14 U.S. Sen- The point at issue b tween the pressed their support of th c n- provement. yet I stood for a moment,-filled I with thinks fanners might want to tives was established in 1945. establishing a Clark L. Brody ators opposed by labor unions for Senate and House is whether there con idea. consider using it to get the ad- Farmers Petroleum Cooperative scholarsbi? f~nd at M~chigan re-election were defeated. should be added to this title the appreciation and thankfulness; and again I thought vantage of the shorter growing words "of Agriculture and Applied This proposal has now and Farm Bureau Mutual Insur- State Universitv. He said that of the scene on Cedar Street which had met my season. ance Company were organized in it is well along toward $25,000. "House in Congress-70% of the Science." Those words were in further compUcat d by an a m nt, sponsored by th Democ atic eyes the first day of my association with the Farm The corn is recommended for 1949, and Farm Bureau Life In- Mr. Brody said that he and candidates for lection or re-elec- the resolution as passed by the floor leader in th House. It pro- general use in north central Mich- surance Company in 1951. Mrs. Brody will continue to make tion to the House in Congress who House, but were dropp d in th Bureau. The contrast was indeed impressive. igan and for farmers in the south Mr. Brody retired from active their home in Lansing. He is had labor union support were Senate. What the ultimat.e de- vides that the delegat s to a on- management of those organiza- writing a book on the history elected. cision in this regard will be re- con would be chos n from Repr - The only sound in the building was made by the central part of the state who mains to be seen. s ntativc districts 'ath r than 'want an early variety or who tions August 1, 1952 to become ot the Michigan Farm Bureau. "Governors--l7 of 23 Governors Of the proposed constitutional from Senatorial districts. janitors as they went from room to room, emptying plant late. or candidates for Governor who amendments still pending, thos If that amendment s ould re- waste baskets and cleaning up for another week .. Michigan 300 is a clean picking had labor union support were arousing the greatest inter t have vail, it would give th m t 0- hybrid. Ears come out of the elected. picker with a minimum of husks to do with the State's financial politan areas of Michigan 1.1:- I would not be there. "The resources of men, money and tax situation or with the hold- mendously incr as d voic ' and ill because the husks are loose and and organization that labor unions ing of a constitutional convention. fluencc in a constitution' 1 conv n- open nicely, Rossman says. can throw into any campaign far Out of the side and rear windows, I looked at The new hybrid has a high exceed the resources of men, House Joint Resolution B, as tion. There ar e also bills pendin in the 200 x 240 ft. Farm Bureau Services warehouse, shelling percentage and the grain money and organization available origianlly introduced, would have both the Hous adS nat, } . 94 dried out rapidly in the field to either political party ... or both changed the vote nece ssary to with more than an acre of floor space, and the after it is mature. The board of delegates of large member hips have reduced of them." order the holding of a constitu- and S. 1064, which would pro- The corn was nine years in de- Michigan Farm Bureau made their delegate bodie for various tional convention from a majority vide for placing th u tion of towering seed plant that looks over US-16 and car- velopment. All new hybrids must Farm Bureau Recommenda ion: of those participating in the lee- calling a constitutional conv ntlon three decisions at an all day reasons. Th Michigan delegates ries high above ground a neon sign FARM BU.. be tested at least three years be- on the April 6 '1 ction ballot. All meeting at Michigan State Uni- said February 24 that the bene- Realize that the labor union drive tion to a maj ority of those voting fore they can be released. of this agitation relativ to a on- REAU in letters five feet high. To the right I could versity February 24. The Cre- fits are great from coming to the for political control can be dealt on this particular issue. That with only by public 'opinion and would make considerabl differ- con seems a little strang and dentials Committee reported 620 state annual meeting. untimely wh n that i su f II about see the Farmers Petroleum Cooperative warehouse arm Burea Life delegates present. The first vote on this que tion votes in t e ballot box. ence. 350,000 votes short of approval For instance, if the proposed last Novemb r. and garage, with big petroleum transports nearby. 1 - Dues. They authorized the was a tie 284 to 284. On the ser- I glanced over some of the 42 acre tract that onors Harry Steele Michigan Farm Bureau Board of ond 324.. ballot it wa YES-223. NO- The world's first lighthouse, was basis of determining the results 445 feet tall, and used an open' had been in ffeet last Novembe , Harry Steele, Tuscola county Directors to increase Farm Bu- fire on a platform at the top for we ~ould find ourselves holding a provides a setting for these facilities, and realized agency manager for Farm Bu- reau dues from $10 to $12 a year, 3 ~ Insurance. The board of light. Place? Alexandria, Eg.ypt. constitutional convention this fall, reau Insurance Companies, has effective for the membership delegates adopted a resolution to It served for 1,600 years. despite the fact that only 35% of that these are only a part of the Michigan Farm been named Farm Bureau Life's year of 1960. authorize the Farm Bureau Mu- Bureau and its subsidiaries. "Man of the Year" for 1958. He They said that all of the $2 in- tual Insurance Company to offer was top man in total life in- crease is to go to the state or- fire insurance to farm and urban I thought of the fertilizer plants, warehouses, and surance production in the Farm ganization to apply on rising costs people not members of Farm elevators a Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Bureau agency force for the year. and for program purposes. The Bureau. Mr. Steele has won many other remaining $10 will be distributed No change was made in the Traverse City and elsewhere, and of the interstate honors during his career as a to MFB, County Farm Bureaus policy of limiting automobile in- Farm Bureau agent. He received and American Farm Bureaus as surance and -farm liability in- feed and paint plants at Hammond. Indiana, and Farm Bureau Life's "Pace Setter" before. surance to member of the Farm Alliance, Ohio. The phosphate mine in Idaho in trophy in 1956 and has been a The delegates provided that Bureau. member of many Farm Bureau members in the Upper Peninsula which Farm Bureau has an interest came to mind. Insurance All-American teams. President Blaque Knirk of may be allowed a lesser annual Farm Bureau Mutual said that Farm Bureau has over 900 employes today. membership dues than $12.00 opening of the fire program to Members of the organization did nearly $30,000, .. Michigan Week through 1965. They pay $10 dues accept risks having more fin May 17 to 23 now. protection would benefit the 000 of business with their Farm Bureau Companies Products of Michigan is the This action was taken by a- Company financially and in other theme of Michigan W eek, May mending the by-laws of Mich- ways. in 1958. igan Farm Bureau. The vote was 17 to 23. The theme will draw at- This proposal carried by a t ntion to Michigan's industries, YES-332. NO-246. voice vote indicating a large ma- It came to me that these things, important as businesses, agriculture and all 2 - Election of Delegates to jority. they are, are not the real Farm Bureau. The soul • their products. Michigan Farm Bureau annual The board of delegates was of Farm Bureau lies in the hearts and minds of its meetings. The board of delegates called together to consider rais- members. . Ri er. rejected a proposal to have each ing dues from $1'0to $20 a year, About 95% of rivers of North County Farm Bureau delegate to as recommended by the MFH America flow south or southerly. future annual meetings of MFB State Study Committee, which In the early days of its history, a few devoted The St. John's of Florida is the' represent 200 Farm Bureau mem- has been working on the Farm ron Coun farm people had a vision of a Farm Bureau organ- only important one that flows ber instead of 100 members as Bureau program and finance IRON COUNTY Farm Bureau MFB member hip work r, had ization working for the betterment of the world by north. at present. situation since 1957. was organized. January 29 as the charge of the organization work. The Michigan Farm Bureau The Committee reported that in 8th County Farm Bureau in the Pictured above is the ir t improving the lot of the farmer. board of delegates of 720 for a 1957 and 1958 Michigan Farm Upper Peninsula and the 71st in board of directors left to right: Thi I membarship of 72,000 is thalar.- B sau expenses have exceeded the Michigan Farm Bureau. It Arn P tilla Crystal They had faith to work and to sacrifice to make eat In the nation. Illinois Iadiana, its lbare on the membership dol- has a membership of 60 families. chairman' Elmer rckl r (Continued 011 p, 3) low and oth r . <"tat hav' (CO UM 0 2T Eino .T. Kaski of Cnr. tal Fallc;, Rivp.r; Art wnrski,.ro ' o '-' Ichiga m eau money allotted to each of programs. It woul be a highly undesirable ers Petroleum of Michigan. The familiar Unico trade-mark The world's largest artesian well is near Roswell, New Mexico. It President W. thing to have a lump sum grant flows 13 million gallons of pure appears on paints, petroleum pro- tor the University, the Experi- water per day. ducts, barn equipment, farm J ment Station and the Extension chemical, farm hardware, elec- Vice, vith no as urance as to trical quipm nt, steel and as- MI. Vernon what ultimate division of this phal t roofing, fence and other Mt. Vernon, home of Washing- at its pub- money might result. product. ton, was in the area of some of the ~. Lovett 't., Quite a bunch of bills of defi ... Iowa Farm Supply Company heaviest fighting during the Civil Many olks have done e avors nite farm interest were worked became a member at the 28th a - War. Both sides refrained from Jut by the various general farm nual meeting of United at N damaging the locality. Tha Inver q ite epaid Orl an January 9 and 10. Jrganizations and commodity And to them I stand a debtor- .roups, in cooperation with the I have often felt dismayed IIichigan Departm nt of A icul- MICHIGAN FARM EWS DIRECTORS AT LARGE At the need for some expression ure 1 t 1all Daily newspapers are print d in Herb rt Fierke................ aglnaw, R-6 obert Eo L ml h FowlerviIl R-2 Of the gratitude that' due They we later channel d off 19 languages in New ork City. 2 March 1, 1959 "alt r 'Vi htman FenJ'lYill: -1 To a kindly benefactor. Has nto the Governor's office and, PURPOSE OF FARM Repr nting It not been. so with you? , nus far, none of them has been " BUREAU WOMEN OF FARM BUREAU ntroduc d in the L gi lature. We The purpose of this Assccla- Ir-s, Al K nnedy Po n, -1 I have thought, and most sincerely, /Ill hope that they will find their tion sh II be the advancement Repr nting If the chance should ever rise yay int th S ntate and Hou e Limit d to j arm Bu can ternb rs. of our member' interests edu- cationally, legi latively and FARM BUREAU OU G PEO E I'll restore to him with interest n the very near future. Vol. 37 March 1, 1959 No.3 econom ically. Harry Fo. ter Yile , R-3 ........................• Though it means some sacrifice: But the chance so seldom rise , ra lar And the best thing. that I can do r . Is to pass' along the ndness (Continued from paqe 1) And my credOt fhu enew. ar. Meanwhile, services to mem- Then aga-n it sometimes happens -ers have own .. The MFB has ieen dipping into finan ial re- That some ord or act of mine erv . Off rs someone .d or comfort The proposal was to divide the Somewhere dow he line. I do not expect repayment ~20 at $10 to MFB, $9 to the ;ounty Farm Bureau and $1 to r But I like to think that he he American Farm Bureau. Will just h lp me other fellow The 2 proposal was imm di- And perhap remember me. rtely am nded by a proposal From Oakland county to make ~he dues 12, with the additional "2 to go to th state, and continue .he $10 di tributio as before. Brien county offered an a- '1lendrnent for 15 dues with the -'xtra 5 to go to the state Farm Bureau. It lost by a wide mar- n, gin. Bay county proposed $15 dues with $4 to th state and $1 to th~ county. It lost. YES-263. NO- March 18 is the County Di- the 334. 30 million for i Oakland county's proposal for State pa k and i e full faith $12 dues carried. YES-332. NO- and credit b nd ther for. 246. p oposal that the Sta borrow State wide tests in Michigan have proved not to exceed 1 0 million, to be that the use of Farm Bureau Fertilizer is used for t e construe ion of uni- versity b ildings to be paid by profitable. Users get back, on the state ow -Jud on plants availabl to student tuition notes to become Merritt H. .Crouch, general commercial gro ers, Top profits frmn top due and payable two years after rna ager of. United Cooperatives, average, $3 for every $1 spent on fer .. quality plant ~-Iud on plants are sand In discussing h m mbership graduation, va voted down in the grown 0 d v lop heavy, vigorous root situatio , the pr ident of Fatm Inc., of AllIance, Ohio said that tilize;. Are you one of the raTmers who House. nation-wide sales exc~eded $38- sy tem. PIa ts arc grown in fumi lried il Bureau compani s and the chair- to eliminate nematod . R erve plants! man of Women of Farm Bur u Then there is HJR O· w ich 000,000 in 1958, with patronage are getting that kind of return? You can I'd r now! Pick or dir ct de iv ry. wond r .which group in Farm would aut orize State bonds up to dividen s of $793,000 to member Bureau can get the most m rn- 100 million for underwriting bor- cooperatives. _ be, by ordering your fertilizer require- . Grown from virus-free planting stock bers in one day. rowings by industries. Governor United Cooperatives is a manu- Williams is sponsoring a proposed ~ac~ing and purchasing organ- ments now! Pr sid t ightman thinks F. O. B. Bristol, Indiana-Spring 1959 County Board Members bond i ue of Ht) million for new ization for 31 state 'and regional construction and 0 her capital ex- farm coperatives, inc ding Farm since th yare more clo SO TEST FIRST! June-bearing Midse on 1 volved and know more abou Robinson ••••••••••••.•• $13.CO Early Varietie 000 *Ca skill ..••••.•••••••••• 15.00 organization. Find out. what your land needs to grow the *Blak more ....••••••.... $12.50 Emprre •.•••••••••••••••• 15. r sident Knirk of Farm Bu- crops you want. Pick up a supply of the Premier .......••.......• 15.00 *Armore .•••.•...•.•.•.•• 15. 0 *Sparkle ••.•..••••••.•••• 15. reau Mutual Insurance, President FREE soil sample bags at your Farm Bureau Red Glow ...•..........• 17.00 Dunckel, of Farm Bureau Li e *Tennessee Beauty .••...• / Early Midseason *Vermilion •••••.••••••••• 15.00 Insurance, and President Konin t dealer and follow the simple' instructions *Dunlap ....•.••••••••.••• 12.50 • Surecrop .••..•....•••••• 17. o Farmers Petroleum Coopera- it will pay you. "'Paymaster .•••••••.••.•• 17.00 tive, think the Insurance a d B llmar .•.•.....•••..•.• 13.00 *Jumbo ..•••••••••.••.•.• 23. Direct Di tribution Agents can Fairfax ....•..•.••..••••• 15 0 Hou e Rep blicans worked hard Fairland ...•••••.••••.•• 15.QO be write the most becau e of their r HJ H, which ould have FARM BUREAU BULK *Pocahont s ...•........• 15.00 British SOy reign........ 1 sal experience and ability. Wisconsin 214 ...••.•.•.. 11.00 *Plentlful ......•.•.......• 17.80 alIo ed the people to vote on April is available fr.om both plants, Saginaw and Mrs. Al x Kennedy, chairman 6 on a constitutional amendment of the Farm Bureau Women, is which would have raised the sales Kalamazoo. Here is the real way to save Everbearing sur that the women could -do tax to 4