• " Vol. 38, No. 2 38th Year Ie FEBRUARY, 1, 1960 DrIving to Make Go of 72~ 2 National Program EDITORIAL B arne Farm Bureau and Agr"] Education 5 bjectives Nine egion CLARK L. BRODY For 1960 To Det M The new frontiers facing When the farmers of the nation initiated the State farmers and other Americans to- ROGER FOERCH and American Farm Bureaus in 1919 and 1920 they day are no le s challenging than Coordinator of Organization D p' , the frontiers faced by the fore- created an interest in Agricultural Extension far be- fathers, Charles B. Shuman, February is th month for compl tin yond what had existed before. Presiden t of the American Farm Bureau told State Farm Bureau of getting 72,927 memb rs for Michi leaders January 7 at Chicago. I experienced this rapid change toward more Mr. Shuman spoke at the Bureau by March 1, 1960. active cooperation of farm people as County Agri- opening session of the 1960 na- We hav done well to roll up a tot I of 7,7 tional Farm Bureau program cultural Agent of St. Clair County. kick-off. as of January 26. . During the previous four years a few forward Attending the meeting were We need 5,13,1 mor ! looking farmers had worked with me to interest 144 state Farm Bureau officers and staff members. Presidents of For 70 Co nty Farm Bureaus th t m n others in utilizing the results of research recom- 32 State Farm Bureaus attend d. mended by the Michigan Agricultural College and - Iichigan Farm Bureau was rep- renewals or new memb rs for ach of 25 resented by PI' sident Walter W. days in F bruary. the U. S. Department 'of Agriculture. Wightman Clarence E. Prentice, secretary-manager, Dan E. Reed, There are prob bly 2,000 or more of our fri nd Performing numerous W orid War I emergency Farm Bureau Garden Seeds t Greece a isociate legislative counsel, and Mrs. Ma jorie Karker of Women who ha en' t yet renewed their memb r hip by il. services had developed many friendly contacts, but RUSSELL HARTZLER, len, of Michigan Farm Bureau. If you know one, ask him to r new. Ther r the resulting interest in an Extension program was Proposed Constitutional Convention director of Chri tian Rural The two-day confer nce was Overseas Program (CROP) in devoted to Farm Bureau policies many f rmers waiting to be invit d to join r largely passive. Michigan, Dan Reed, center, as- Bureau. \ e enroll d 4,962 new m mb rs in 19591 Only about 100 people had manifested a feeling of responsibility for its continuation by carrying a Advocates Would sociate legi lative MFB, and Philo Rich, manager of the Farm Bureau couns 1 for Services See Related State Article Page 6 Every Farm Bureau member i invit d t Garden Seed Department, look use the pp ication on page 6 of th Michiga 50 cent membership in our informal county farm bureau. Write Own Rules? at a shipment garden seeds for agricultural of Farm Bureau farmers workers in northern and for 1960 and how to get on policy objections. action Farm Nev s to enroll a member. We have a "\Vorld's Series" contest b ing con- Greece. However, we experienced a revolutionary change STANLEY M. POWELL President Shuman listed five The shipment of 10,500 packets ducted by membership workers of the nin m m- when this group of cooperating farmers readily be- Legislative Counsel for Michigan Farm Bureau "new frontiers" which need the c f vegetable seeds and some came the nucleus of the Michigan and American flower seeds is a gift from CROP urgent attention of Farm Bureau bership regions the week of F ebru ry 15-19. N w There has been considerable confusion as to the to assist farmers in the moun- member: Farm Bureaus in December 1919. I-Restoring government to members and rene als count as runs. exact details of a proposal which is being developed tainous regions of northwestern its proper role in agriculture. Greece. County Farm Bureaus and Roll Call m n g r Under their leadership 2,300 members were en': for submission in the form of a petition to amend 2-Building markets. Planted politely at first a few 3-Saving the dollar. will set a certain Clay of that week for their p rt i rolled in St. Clair County Farm Bureau with yearly the constitutional convention article of the Mich- 4--Preserving s elf - govern- years back because they were the Membership World Series. The te ms: igan Constitution. gifts from friends, the superior ment, dues of $1 0 pledged for three years. They con- vegetable seeds from the United 5-Reinforcing and strength- verted our small Extension County Council into I had supposed that this thing was pretty def- erring Farm Bureau. American League vs ation I L ague States were a great improve- ment on native varieties. They The national kick-off meetin an incorporated unit of the state and national Farm inite although various radio and newspaper reports on Farm Bu eau policy was to Am erican Leagu rave been replacing the hom Bureaus. didn't hang together too well as to just what is pro- grown seeds. be foll v d at once b similar embe 'sh'p gOon Memb r hip Distribution to farmers in as- meeting in the State Farm Bu- Indians - Thumb Giant vided in the amendment. reaus. This sudden seizure of the reins of farm influ- sistance areas in Greece is by an Wide publicity was given to the fact that Gov- inter - church team stationed Tigers - Northwest Dodgers ence by hundreds of farmers practically drafted the I County Agricultural Agent to work with the mem- ernor Williams several days ago became the No.1 signer of "the petition. Imagine my surprise when there. This is the fourth annual shipment of Farm Bureau den seeds to Greece. . gar- Lesi~a ure ~ Yankees - Southwest White Sox - Central Pirate Brave • Southwe bership in County and State Farm Bureaus. , Simultaneously it multiplied my opportunities to I found that what he signed was only a proof copy of the proposal in a tentative form which had not United Co-op Sales May Renw Cubs. We invite every Farm Bureau membership work- Upper e in. interest farmers in Extension projects far beyond what could be realized und~r former conditions. been accepted and approved by the state Board of Canvassers and the Election Division of the Sec- To 44, 0, 0 Old attles er and every individual member to help finish he 1960 membership campaign in February. Th nk They were soon calling on my office for such a Merritt H. Crouch of Alliance, retary of State's office. Ohio was elected executive vice- STANLEY M. POWELL you for your help. variety of services that little time remained to initi- president and general manager Legislative Counsel, MFB ate projects myself. However, I now have a photostatic copy of the of United Cooperatives, Inc., by latest version of the amendment. the board of directors at the an- The stage i being set to bat- Countie Over Go I tle again over everal of the Even some of the most conservative individuals clning. Only 35 % of the people nual meeting at Atlanta, Geor- Number It proposes to rewrite Section gia, January 9. Mr. Crouch had same issues which were centers Number Numb r became active supporters of the annual appropria- voting in the November 1958 of controversy in the 1959 legis- Over Goal Over Goal Over Go I 4 of Article XVII of the Consti- been manager. tion for the County Agricultural Agent by the tution of the State of Michigan election favored Con. Ten years holding a Con- earlier when Mr. Crouch reported a new lative s s ion. The first bill introduced in the Wexford 30 Missaukee 5 CharI VOIX o Board of Supervisors. which has to do with holding a Constitutional Convention. the question of holding a Con- Con was placed on the ballot by record of $44,648,000 in 1959 for Senate i the same subsidy pro- sales of Unico paints, fence, barn posal for city and suburban Montmorency 8 Emmet 4 Delta o This wraps up in one package the Legislature, over 40 % of the equipment farm hardware, lu- lines we had in 1959. It was the bus Benzie 5 Iron 1 Marqu tt ~ Supervisor John Shepherd who had led strong farmer opposition to the appropriation from the be- several features, which would be undesirable most all from of voters favored the proposal. It would seem that a proposi- bricating oils, farm chemicals, only bill roofing, etc., to 31 regional and spite of Farm Bureau opposition. pa sed that year in Alg r o the standpoint of the policy of state farm cooperative, includ- ginning became my close friend and advisor. tion as fundamental as holding It was vetoed by Governor the Michigan Farm Bureau with a Convention to rewrite Michi- ing Farm Bureau Services, Inc., William in line with our recom- N ed Up to SO for 0 reference to a Con-Con or legis- of Michigan. Patronage refund gan's Constitution should not be mendations to him and efforts However, this sudden affiliation of Agricultural lative reapportionment. to member cooperatives was $1,- Mackinac- Chippewa 23 Ostego 35 undertaken unless a majority of which we made to arou e other Extension, a public agency, with the militant, pri- the voters participating in the 150,750. Sales for 1960 are point- Those two problems are fre- Ed to 50,000,000. substantial groups of highway Luce 12 Houghton 29 losco 48 quently mentioned in the same election at which this matter is users and citizens to take similar vately controlled Farm Bureau was to lead to some submitted favor this idea. Kalkaska 14 Menominee 35 breath because they are so close- action. The Michigan Farm Bu- later problems. ly interlocked. For instance, one 3 The time table for nominat- reau has opposed all raids on Baraga 22 highway funds. It would be un- Soon after I came to the Michigan Farm Bureau staff in 1921 we became engaged in controversial of the objectives of many individ- uals an~ groups . favoring ~on-Con IS to :e.wnte the appor- the ·ina· and electing deleaates to a C;n-Con would be spe:ded up so that this complicated and im- Leg·slative fair to utilize revenue from all motorists collected to subsidize eed 51 to 100 tIOnm~nt. prOVISIOn of the State portant process would be carried bus line serving a few indus- SCID •oars in issues such as the initial 2c gas tax, legislative Constitution so that both the on in not to exceed fou months trial communities. Arenac 52 Cheboygan 73 Gladwin 90 reapportionment and school policies. Senate. and House seats would b.e following the deci ion to hold a Clare apportioned solely on the basis Con-Con. The convention would State Parks. Twenty-one Sen- 57 Presque Isle 74 MidI nd 9 In these battles the Farm Bureau's involved rela- tions -with the County Agricultural Agents weak- of population ~ithout ~ny ot.her factors being given consideration, convene in Lansing on the first Tuesday in October. Fe. March ators introduced would authorize tion Commi sion to issue not to S. 1002 which the Conserva- Alpena Alcona 57 59 Muskegon Wayne 75 78 Oceana Manist 98 100 There is another way in which 4. The basis of electing dele- The annual Legislative Sem- exceed 10 million of revenue ened its influence and invited criticism from our these two matters interlock. If gates would be changed from Mason 63 Atrim 79 inars at Lansing for County bond for land acquisition and opposition. At the same' time this close connection there were a rewriting of the ap- three for each Senatorial di trict Farm Bureau Legislative Com- park improvement pur p o s e s. portionment provision relating to to one for each Senator and Rep- mittees of the nine Farm Bureau This bond issue would be retiree ed 101 to 200 with the Farm Bureau was proving detrimental to Senate districts, that would di- resentative. As there are 34 Sen- member hip regions have been through revenue derived from rectly affect the makeup of any ators and 110 Representatives ch duled as follows: fees charged motorists patroni- Ogernaw 111 Mecosta 142 Clinto Agricultural Extension. 172 subsequent Con-Con because a that would make a convention of Feb. 9-Upper Peninula and zing certain designated state The situation led to the setting up of County provision of the Con titution calls 144 memb rs. Southwest membership regions. parks. The rate would be $2 per Oakland 114 Gratiot 147 Genes e 179 for the election of three delegates year or 50c per day per vehicle. Advisory Councils for Extension forces in place of from each Senatorial district. The cost of the election at F b. 10-Thumb region. Newaygo 120 Ingham 153 Montcal 185 Last rear there was a similar That is one of the f atures which these proposed changes Feb. ll-Central region. Cass 126 NW Mich. 154 Wash n w 1 ~7 the County Farm Bureau, and discontinuing the bill, only the bond issue wa which the backers of the new would be ubmitted to the voters, Feb. 16-We t Central region. limited to $5 million. It was Osceola 137 Monroe 170 payments of any portion of County Extension sal- petition want to change before the decision whether or not to Feb. 17-Southeast region. vetoed by Governor Williams. any Con-Con is decided upon. have a Con-Con, the nomination aries from Farm Bureau funds. Feb. 25 - Northwest and The Governor at that time back- and election of delegates, pay- The proposed amendment volves five basic changes in the in- ment of salaries of d legates and Northeast regions. ed a $30 million so-called "faith e d2 03 We welcomed the change and it in no way staff, printing, rental of space March 3-East Central region. and credit" bond issue for park procedure for bringing about and for meetings of the Convention Place of meeting is the Fa- expansion and improvement. H€ St. Clair 206 St. j os ph 231 I ab II disturbed our friendly cooperative relations. carrying on a Con-Con. is again supporting that proposal and its committees, publication mous Grill at the corner of US- Calhoun 208 Kent 238 Kal m 0 of documents and submission of which has been introduced in 1. It proposes that the question 27 (Larch Street) and Michigan The Farm Bureau's strong interest in agricultural of holding a Con-Con would be its report to the voters for adop- avenue, Lansing. The program the House by four members ot Barry 217 Bay 240 Lap r his party. It is HJR "F". research and education was reaffirmed by the 41 st submitted to the voters at the tion or rejection would make thi is: Eaton 219 Jackson 245 M omb an extremely costly procedure. As these bonds would be spring el ction in 1961, although 10 a.m.-Review of state and "faith and credit" annual convention of the American Farm Bureau they defeated such a proposal in rather than Tuscola 220 Shiawassee 250 Ioni This do s not give recognition national legislation, Stanley M. revenue November, 1958. bonds they would be- to the fact that holding a Con- Powell and Dan E. Reed. I ill d I In December, 1959 when the delegates said: come direct obligations of the Con would throw individuals and 2. The vote required to carry substantial 12 noon - L u n c h eon with S tat e and a Constitutional organizations into un- "An adequate agricultural research program the Con-Con issue would be re- certainty memb rs of Michigan Legisla- amendment would be required and confusion over a due d from a majority of those period of many month ture for counties in region as (Continued on Page 7) is one of the vital needs in American agri- and dis- voting in the election to a major- rupt the orderly guests. ity of those voting on this par- government functioning of Allegan 302 Saginaw 37 culture today." and our economy. 2 p.m.-Members of Farm Bu- ticular que tion. r eau Legislative Committees This Edition 74,285 Livingston 337 Ottaw 380 It would appear that interest 5. The date for convening the will attend sessions of Michigan copies of the Michigan Farm The delegates from 49 states unamm u ly re .. Branch 347 }-luron 8" orr the part of th Michigan citi- Con-Con would be s t for the State Senate and ouse of . p- N ws were rnai d to sub crib- (Continued on Page 2) zens in having a Con-Con is de- (Continued on Page 8) resontativcs. ers. • • i • n i t' 01 lr tl t I u. it ., a tl 1 U 1 i h ay cia a ent olumn Let's not get the id a that in- come taxes are th ain source of Federal income. Hidden tax- and Talent Find in the county organizations. State will go to the AFBF convention wmners a subordinate street is to con- tinue to vi ld the right-of-way until trarr"ic is clear on the main es are by far the greater part of at D nv r in Dec mber. highway. I What we as individual xpay- our tax load. Over half the cost The Resolutions Committee is The Supreme Court rules ers soon must realize is that we of many items that we buy is