MICH-IGAN'FARM NEWS THE ACT/~N PUBLlr • OF THE MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU Vol. 42, No. 2 ••y by Michigan Farm Bureau 1, 1964 ..1:!t. -~ . OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE-Eyes of Freedom look out upon to farm. Farm Bureau people have declared that \\man's search a bright American future from the great stone figures of Rush- .for progress should be encouraged by maintenance of op- more's mountain memorial. The light of freedom is reflected portunity, not hindered by illusions of security ... " in the hearts of farmers in their determination to remain free ~ -- - -~ - " -- Challenges of Fre!1dom Issue Remains "Freedom to Farm" The issues that many fanners thought they had buried don't want, in the way of a wheat "Registrations flowing in for the sixth annual Michigan Fann program. under the "No" vote avalanche in the May Wheat Referen- Bureau Freedom Conference suggest an attendance of about Farm Bureau members are 300 people," says J. :Delbert Wells, conference coordinator. dum, are very much alive and now before Congr~ss. urged to write their Congressman It is the old "supply-managemenf' routine allover again. and the President, reminding The Farm Bureau Freedom Conference returns to th.e attrac- The issue very much remains "who shall control the farms them in the words of one resolu- tive Conference Center Building at Central Michigan University, of Americar' can, the entire program of politi- tion: 'We should not go further Mt. Pleasant, for the third consecutive year. The dates are into the thicket of government In the "McGovern" bill, politi- cal handouts, and go it alone - February 13 and 14. cians have quietly presented Con- something that the new wheat controls, but should gradually ments which challenge America work ~r way" toward less regi- Interest in this annual confer- gress with the identical Wheat program is designed to make in- today. mentatIon ... ence has grown steadily. "Three Certificate program which farm- creasingly difficult. A Tactical Air Command group years ago, we had to shift to ers rejected. To gain whatever "benefits" from Langley Air Force Base in larger facilities because of the Virginia will "tet in' to give the The bill, S.1946, differs from the program growing registrations," declared conference a report on the Ameri- what the wheat referendum might offer, the wheat fanner must comply with Telephone Changes Wells. '!his growing interest in- can defense system. offered in that it does not call allotments and. other provisions The long-established tele- dicates that many of our people for a nationwide referendum, and of the old wheat certificate plan phone number for Fann Bu- Dr. Lewis Lloyd, economist of contains a so-called "voluntary" which, in Michigan, was rejected reau Center, Lansing, was still consider freedom to be the the Dow Chemical Co., will dis- clause. It is "perma~ent" legis- by an 80 per cent vote last May changed January 31 to make basic issue in the public affairs cuss the problems created by lotion, and with plenty of CDn- 21., way for improved service at of today." America's dwindling gold re- trol teeth. Gun-shy government officials the big "home office" head- Variety helps to make an in- serves. Under its provisions, fanners did not care to face another em- quarters. All calls for the teresting program -and the Mr. ]. Perez Sabido, instructor who choose not to accept the barrassing referendum turn-down Michigan Fann Bureau, Fann Freedom Conference has it. The of foreign languages of the Lan- controls that come with the bill by farmers. In S.1946 this has Bureau Services, Farmen Pe- scope of interest ranges all the sing Community College, will may do so without penalty - been carefully avoided. This time, troleum Cooperative and Farm talk on Cuba and the Communist other than having to farm in Congressmen, not farmers, will do Bureau Insurance, should now way from experiences of a county threat to Latin America. competition with the government the voting. be made to this new DUmber: chairman of a political party - NumeroUS other features give supports given freely to those Farmers, right now, have a Lansing, ~85-8121 and what it is like to serve on a the program depth and richness fanners who elect to go along. golden opportunity to let Con- Area Code 517 State Central Committee of a They are free to ignore, if they gress know what they want, or party -to international develop- of interest. TWO Editorial ..." " FebJuary 1, 1964 MICHIGAN .President's Column FARM NEWS Pretty Package But Powerful Politics Political Package Strength in Unity When Michigan wheat fanners joined those by Walter W. Wigbbnan, President of the nation in striking down the wheat control ~-lichigan Fann Bureau program in last May's referendum, they may When we stay as close at home as most of us have considered the issue settled for all time. do on our farms, often we are not aware of the Unfortunately this is not the way of politics problems facing us as agricultural producers; or of politicians. The federal fann controllers nor are we aware of the speed \vith which these are back with a new package of fann bills, problems catch up with us. gift-wrapped in fancier language and stream- More rapidly than anybody can predict, we lined in general. are seeing the consolidation of large-scale in- But the red tape holding it together remains dustries. as pennanently adhesive. Nobody knows how far this growth in bigness In the words of one Washington wit: or size can go and still be economically sound. 'The package appears new, There ar~ probably limits to it, as there are in but the contents are old, fanning. Three times as brassy Although it has already been proven that but not quite so bold." pers~>Dalsupervision by the owner is the most Where before Agricultural Secretary Orville efficient and economical type of farm operation, . Freeman boldly announced his brand of com- the individual producer is no longer effective in pulsory supply-management, this time the the market place. watchword is "voluntary." \\There before the If he hasn't already come to this conclusion, approach was made direct through the front he wiU in the near future. door -a softer, back-door approach is now However, much,of our produce is being sold used. Orville has said he does not intend to to processors who, in the final analysis, are be bitten by the same dog twice. - Held out as bait to soften the bite is a num- Committees Help Guide selling the finished product for us. In many cases we are selling to direct market- ber of farm bills that include direct govern- ing enterprises. There is nothing wrong with ment payments to fanners and a voluntary Michigan farmers have written policy statements on 128 subjects this. It is the pattern of the competitive free approach to the wheat certificate scheme. this year. These are supplemented by another 170 resolutions of enterprise system, and is what has made this the AmericanFarm Bureau Federation. But, -what happens when Introduced in the Senate is the McGovern there is no clear-cut policy to give direction on some thorny issue? great country of ours. wheat bill (S-1946) -which would enact the In those cases, the Michigan Farm Bureau board has several Farmers must learn to work together to build same certificate scheme that farmers rejected standing committees to guide them with recommendationswithin their own marketing organization, for this is in the referendum, with one difference; farmers policy or its interpretation. The Commpdity and Legislative Com- number one on the list of problems which who wished to, could try to ignore it. mittees are two examples. fanners must solve. But there are others. Wheat would be supported at from 65 to 90 Last month, the Legislative Committee helped decide a poultry The determination by many outside of agri- per cent of parity when "certificated" while for issue caused by unforeseen problems resulting from last year's new culture to control some phase of the farming non-certificate wheat, the support would be egg law, which Farm Bureau supported. business was never stronger than it is today. related to the same complicated schedule of Before deciding whether or not to endorse changes in the law, Officials in the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture and the committee called upon the Poultry Committeefor further guid- world prices, feeding value of wheat and feed- ance. Actual poultry producers became directly involved. certain members of Congress seem determined grain support levels. This instance is one example of the care taken' by FB leaders to take over control of the total fann operation. There would be no wheat referendum under to assure that the "intent" of each policy statement is closely Labor organizations and the U. S. Dept. of the McGovern bill. Farmers would be eligible followed, and that all policies represent member thinking. Labor are working night and day to get com- for price supports only in compliance with their plete control of all agr i cultural labar, and allotments based on a national wheat acreage "somebody" is always working to control the of 55 million acres. There is really nothing voluntary about a FB Insurance Reorganizes transportation of farm commodities to market. Misinformed "somebodies" are trying to tell program that discriminates against those farm- The reorganization of the Farm Bureau Insurance Sales us what kind of agricultural chemicals to use in ers who do not choose to go along with the Division which began in December, has two basic objec- our crop production. government. Their "voluntary choice" -is be- tives, said Ivan Allison, sales manager for the insurance Farmers are careful in the use of chemicals tween no program at all, or the same program companies. following directions for their use closely; and they killed in the referendum. "One is to make possible, through a group of highly qual- they work with processors to make sure there Two other fann bills, both dealing with cot- ified Career Agency Managers, the selection and training are no harmful residues present. ton and both bearing broad implications for of more agents to serve FB members," he said. It has been the proper use of chemicals and aU farmers, are now before Congress. They are "Our second objective," said Allison, "is to concentrate 'insecticides that has provided the highest qual- the Cooley cotton bill and the Talmadge-Hum- the time and talent of our staff personnel in more special- ity food ever available to the consuming public. phrey cotton bill. Both contain direct political Our success in preventing legislation that ized ~reas of activity." . eran FB Insurance employees, would be detrimental to rural interests and our handouts to farmers from the Federal treasury A bI~ ~~ange\~as made 10 the both havingserved as agentsprior and grant the Agricultural Secretary much Sales DIVISIOn whIchwas formerly to becomingmanagers. influence in getting beneficial legislation additional authority to set support levels. organized under six .area sa~es Marv Wassenaar,a former Ag- passed, has been unsurpassed by any organ- The old "Brannan Plan" idea of direct sub- managers who supervIsed all 10- ricultural Extensionagent in Gra- ization. sidy payments has been dusted off and offered surance sales activities in the tiot county, joined FB Insurance There is also a serious need for a better in- with such language as: "compensatory payments state. as an agency manager in Bay formation program to keep farmers well in- The division has now been county in 1962, where he re- fonned on the current issues of the day; and to be paid on domestic consumption at such modified into a more Streamlined mained until his recent appoint- we are trying to accomplish this. level as the Secretary determines to be neces- group consisting of three men ment to area manager. sary ... " The farmer's influence in the legislative halls, whose duties lie primarily in the Another important area of re- both state and national, can diminish rapidly. Complicated and catchy is the Talmadge bill field of marketing. sponsibility is Personnel Develop- -There never was a time when the American which also contains direct payments "in cash or The area managers are Al ment. This section will assist Shaver, \Villis Wegmeyer and Career Agency Managers in re- farmer ,needed a strong farm organization to in kind" to all cotton producers, each of whom represent him more than he does today._ would be first assigned a "domestic consump- Marv \Vassenaar. cruiting, screening and training Shaver and Wegmeyer are vet- new men for careers as FB agents. It is too bad that every farmer doesn't recog- tion allobnent based on bales or pounds." nize this as being of paramount importance. Although they sound good to some, the hid- frfaybe we should get farther away from home den evil of these schemes is that production ~- more often. payments destroy the very heart of our market MI'CHIGAN IFARM NEWS The American Fann Bureau Federation is economy, based as it is on prices determined THE ACTION PUBLICAnON O~ THE MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU working to help us maintain the independent by supply and demand. The MICHIGAN FARM NEWS is DIRECTORS: District I, Max K. status of America's most important industry, ag- published monthly.!. on the first day, Hood, Paw Paw, R-l; District 2, Wil- It places a dangerous weapon in the hands by the Michil1;an l"ann Bureau, at its bur H. Smith, Burlington. R-l; District riculture. publication office at 109 N. Lafayette 3, Donald L. Ruhlil1;. Dexter; Dis- of any who would want to destroy or change Street. Greenville, Michil1;an. trict 4, E 1ton R. Smith. Caledonia, That this is well understood by farmers in Editorial and l1;eneral offices at 4000 R-l; District 5. David Morris. Grand our economic system. North Grand River Avenue, Lansinl1;, Ledl1;e. R-3; District 6, Ward G. HodJte, general, is evidenced by some spectacular gains Michil1;an. Post Office Box 960. Tele- Snover, R-I; District 7, Guy'C. Free- Used as bait is the system of bribery with phone, Lansing, IVanhoe 7-5911, Ex- born, Hart, R-l; District 8. Lloyd Shan- in A.F.B.F. membership in recent years, in spite tension 317. leel. Wheeler, R-I; District 9, EUl1;ene of stiff opposition to our principles. federal funds aimed at inducing farmers to Established January 12, 1923. Sec- Roberts. Lalce City. R-l; District 10, "get in line" ... goose-stepping down the ond Class Postage paid at Greenville, Michigan. Edgar Diamond, Alpena. R-2; District ll. Edm'und SaJter. Stephenson. 'Ve have now reached an all-time high in same government control path they sidestepped EDITORIAL: Editor. Melvin L. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Anthony total membership, with more members than the Woell. Advertising and Layout. Paul Kreiner, Brown City; Dean Pridgeon, when they refused the wheat certificate scheme. A. Rivas. Staff Artist, Sam Bass. \Vomen's Material. Mrs. Donna Wilber. Montgomery, R-I; \Valter Wightman, total membership of all other general farm 01- The package is pretty, but to farmers, the OFFICERS: Michil1;an Fann Bu- Fennville, R-1. ganizations-1,628,295. reau; President, Walter Wi I1;htman, WOMEN OF FARM BUREAU: Mrs. billy-club that goes with it is obvious political Fennville. R-2; Vice President, Elton William Scramlin, Holly; FARM BU- We are fortu~ate to have an organization R. Smith. Caledonia. R-l; Secretary- REAU YOUNG PEOPLE: Donald handouts in the form of "product payments" Manal1;er, Clarence E. Prentice, Okemos. Williams, Webberville. with the status and prestige that the A.F.B.F. adding up to more of the same political per- POSTMASTER: In using form 3579, mail to: Michigan Farm News, 4000 N. has at this time, to work for, and protect our petuated poverty for farmers. Grand River, Lansing, Michigan. interests. M.W. Second class postage paid at Greenville, Michigan w.w. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS February 1, 1964 THREE Dependency Handouts For Farmers government payments would grow to the point of necessity. And, while this happened, con- sumers would build up the cCcheap food" habit and attitude. Any Direct payments on farm products from the Federal nate against any group of produc- socialized levelling. It kills op- move to try to restore farm prOd- Treasury may well 'be labelled cCSeductionPayments."'- Se- ers, you know." portunity in agriculture. ucts to a normal market price duction, meaning cCtoentice to surrender." Of course, violations would oc- Labor bosses thought of this would meet with violent public cur. With all farms to watch, an payment scale. They want to help opposition. Such payments are designed to contain a political lure army of government inspectors the marginaL farmer stay on the , Who would be in the ma;ority? aimed at gaining farmer acceptance at the outset. The would have to stand guard. Farm- farm, even though poor. Don't let The clamor would be to "Slap the final outcome:l however:l leads to farmer dependencY:I re- ers would have new government him get away to seek a better- farmers with stronger controls - forms and affidavits to file. paying job in the"city. He would but don't slap us!" duction of farm incomes:I destruction of opportunity and Crackdown #2. Maximum lim- compete for jobs with .union The term "Seduction Pay- strict control.of farmers by central government. its on the amount of payments to workers. "Help the peasant stay ments" should now have clear The idea of producti~n payments has been bouncing back any farm. This is the end of the put." "meaning. The whole scheme is in fann program proposals for 30 years. Such handouts are "gravy train." It marks the be- Through regulated limits on basically a consumer subsidy for ginning of a more painful squeeze quotas and payments, the govern- food. Consumers get the subsidy now part of tht( law for wool, sugar, .feed grains and wheat. than farmers have yet faced. ment would set the limits on "al- - farmers get regulated. A number of bills now in Congress would apply them to The demand for upper limits lowable farm incomes." And to Finally, what of the impact on cotton. for payments to farmers has gone keep incomes at ANY reasonable future fanners? Since marketing on for some years. There are now level, farmers would have to go quotas granted to any farm under CREATING THE \\NEEDII bills in Congress which would to Congress each year, hat in this program would become a per- penalize fanners who have invest- hand, to plead for appropriations. manent part of the farm's value, The efforts of government cCplanners"to gain complete ed and built their production so With growing costs - would a young fanner would have to pay control over agriculture is enduring. If conditions have as to offset the rising costs of the Congress listen? for more than land, buildings, been found unfavorable for legislation of this sort, the times. Ironically, these costs re- livestock and equipment. He cCPlannersin Washington:l'have moved to create the "right" sulted from government-induced AN UNBREAKABLEBOND would have to buy "the right to conditions. - inflation. Could farmers ever shake loose produce and sell." Limits on payments would be from this program? Remember His load is heavy as it now In the late 1950's, both dairy and cotton production were scaled low for the efficiently pro- that fann market prices have hit stands. Would farming remain an getting clear of surpluses under relatively low price sup- ductive farmer and hi g her for rock bottom. As they dropped attractive profession? Would ag- port levels. Open market prices were improving. Exports those with little production. It's lower, farmer dependence on the riculture have a future! for dollars - not for give-away - were increasing. WHAT'S YOUR PART IN Then Secretary Freeman, "at his discretion" and against ll the intent of the Agricultural Act of 1958, raised the sup- port levels both for dairy and cotton products. These high IIGovernment ... By the People supports quickly boosted production. Government surplus Today, in the creeping shadow of expanding government in- sessions, "Township Government" stocks mounted. ----------- and "City and Village Govern- fluence over our lives, we are often at a loss when it comes to By 1962, the Secretary was in HOW THE BOMB defining our role in relation to government, whether it be na- ment" were also high. a position to demand that "farm_ EXPLODES tional, state or local. - On Friday, FebrUary 7th, the ers must accept strict controls on topic of the fourth seminar will To justify the program at its To help Farm Bureau members become better acquainted dairy production." The cry was be the CCLegislative Branch of "too costlyJ" The surplus build- beginning, government payment with the organization and operation of local and state govern- State Government" and discus- up, created by his high supports rates would have to be set at high ment, the Family Program division of the Michigan Farm Bureau sions will again center on the took only a year. But he had the parity levels. There must be an has set up a series of six "citizenship seminars," which began practical rather than the theoreti- basis for his t:laim of "strict con- "opening sweetener." January 17th, at Olivet College. cal aspects of this branch. trols." Farmer reaction at the Fanners would be assured of According to ]. Delbert \Vells, manager, Family Program The "Judicial Branch of State time stalled the move in that di- high rebJrns. Remember - they division, the citizenship committees of fifteen sou.thwestem Government" will be examined, rection. say "No Controls." So it makes Michigan counties are attending the day-long events. February 21st, and will include sense to produce all you can. High such sub-topics as the Circuit After support levels were raised The seminars, set up in cooper- cussions and questions and answ- payment incentives have boosted Court, the Probate Court and the on cotton, it went from a favor- ation with the Community Edu- ers from the audience. total production on many oc- cation Program at Olivet College, The panels consisting largely new Intennediate Court of Ap- able position on the world market casions. peals. to one of distress. Cotton on the and the Education Division of the of selected public officials, also market today can be sold only Will there be surpluses? Yes - Michigan State Association of Su- include at least one representa- The sixth and Iin a I seminar, under an export subsidy of 85~ but in the market! And products pervisors are not designed as "re- tive of the Olivet Political Science March 6th, will be on the "Exec- a hundredweight - it's priced out dumped on the market depress form" sessions, but rather as a Department. utive Branch of State Govern- of the market. Government de- prices faster than products held practical view of what now exists The third seminar of the series, ment," and will include a general cisions created the problem. in storage. That's why fanners and how it runs, said Wells. cc C 0 u n t y Government" was re- discussion, and some rather close do not want CCC stocks dumped Active participation is promot- cently completed and attendance scrutiny of certain selected areas Now Congress is considering a on the market! Under this pay:- ed through the use of panel dis- was about 150. The first two a subsidy to be given to U. S. cot- of operation. ment scheme all production ton mills - to offset the export would be dumped on the market. subsidy which allows foreign mills Open market prices would take a to buy American cotton below the nose-dive. "Cheap Food." price to American mills. Do not expect consumers to eat The government would answer up this production as it grows. one subsidy with another - and Even "dirt cheap" food would not everyone adds to the government cause consumers to buy more and authority to regulate. more. The human stomach and appetite have limits - set by THE SCHEME'S THEME nature. Just what is the heart of the So "the food supply would go plan for these "dependency pay- up, the market prices down - ments?" Farmers saw the scheme and a widening gap would spread well mapped out in the push for between what the farmer received the "Brannan Plan" in 1949-50. from the market and what the In a nutshell, it is this: government must pay. Govern- Any farm product included in ment costs would cCexplode"rap- the scheme would be sold in the idly upward. open market for whatever price Remember - the cry of "Cut it would bring. The federal the CostsJ" has been heard for Treasury would pay the grower past programs. The cry would the difference between the open rise again - but the public would market price (average) and a price have a reason for shouting "Con- set by government "experts" as trolsJ Controls' Put controls on being proper to provide a return the greedy farmers'" The pay- at a high parity level .. ments would be going directly to farmers. So- Politicians now selling the pro- gram say that (1) fanners would Crackdown #1. Strict limits on be "free of controls" and could production and selling rights for grow as much as they wanted to fann products. Limits to the num- grow; (2) that the products would ber of" units the farmer has the move into the market rather than "right to sell" These quotas into government storage and; (3) would be set by government per- that consumers would benefit be- mit - a license to market. Al- cause food prices would be very ready on the public record is the low. proposal that all fanners should be licensed. What WILL happen is as easy to predict as tomorrow. s sunrise. AU farmers? Ah, yes. Govern- And it is not a harmless idea. It ment officials would want all products "IN" so as to make the sets a time-bomb under farm in- comes and the farmer's right to manage his own business. program "equitable" for ~ll. a~- riculture. "You cannot dlScrunl- BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN FOUR February 1, 1964 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Legislative Counsel Praised A letter from Michigan's Governor, George Romney, had high praise for Michigan Farm Bureau's Legislative Counsel, Dan Reed, and other members of the special 21-man Conservation Study Committee appointed by the governor. The committee's report urged the administration to keep the commission form of control in the. Conservation Department and to keep the state's natural resources "off the political block." Modernization of the deparbnent's administrative structure and better communications with both the public and department personnel were also called for by the committee. In his letter to Reed, the'gov- ..------------ ernor said, "Now that you and the The Governor went on to say, other members of the Special "I deeply believe that concerned Conservation Study Committee citizens, like yourseH, have a great have completed your work, I potential for contributing to the "Short Session" at a Glance could not fail to let you know how improvement of their government sincerely I appreciated the fine and the betterment of their com- service which you rendered. "In my opinion, the Committee inunity. "In my view, your work, and The present sessionof the Legislature is intended to be a ular county officials and the Board of Supervisors. did exactly what I asked it to do: the work of the Committee, is a "short session" with adjournment sometime the latter part Both plans, however, provided to take a searching look at the vindication of that conviction. of April. In spite of this, it now appears that 1,000 or more for increased taxes on property. Conservation Department and its Speaking for myseH, and for the bills will be introduced. Of course, it is impossible to give The Wayne plan could, in effect, policies, objectively and imparti- people of our state, please accept proper consideration to such a number. it'3ease taxes 10 mills, the other aUy, and without pre-iudgment." our thanks for a job well done." Farm Bureau's effort will be to do everything possible to 5 mills. Farm Bureau insists that char- assure consideration and passage of those bills that are in the best interest of agriculture and the general public, and defeat of those that do not meet this test. ter counties should not be allowed to levy millage above the regular Legislative Seminar allocation, inasmuch as the new A cross-section of expected issues are: Education: As reported in the last issue of the Farm Constitution definitely provides that "each charter county is here- by granted power to levy other Time Again! News, Governor Romney considered the recommendation Michigan Legislators will meet with m~mbers of Coun~ taxes for county purposes." Farm Bureau Legislative Committees in Semmars to be held m of a completely new school aid formula intended to more While perhaps five or six nearly equalize educational opportunity. Lansing during February and March. In the 1963 Seminars, 77 counties might take advantage of members of the Legislature met with more than 200 F~ When it became obvious that the suggested formula the charter provision, there is no Bureau Legislative Committeemen and their guests. would not do this, the Governor called for further study in need to further burden property owners. Committee members will discuss pending legislation and at- the next year and for the coming year proposed an in- tend sessions of the House and Senate in the Capitol. At noon, Taxes: Farm Bureau will make creased present school aid formula from $224 to $234 per every effort to further the tax Legislators will be guests of Fann Bureau for lunch and informal child plus an increase in deductible millage horn 30/8 to program passed by the counties discussions. 4%. Poor districts would fare better than presently. and voting delegates by support .. The schedule for the 1964 Seminars calls for sessions to be A school reorganization bill will training. In other areas, the In- ing legislation designed to (I) held at Dines' Restaurant on E. Michigan Avenue, about two and again be pr~posed this year to termediate School District might lower personal property taxes; (2) a half blocks east of the Capitol, on the folloWing dates: provide a K-12 program in every have the responsibility similar to improve assessments and equali- local school district. This year's the present special education pro- zation procedures; (3) place the proposal is expected to be some- grams. state equalized valuation on tax SCHEDULE OF 1964 LEGISLAliVE SEMINARS what different but also similar to County Horne Rule is provided statements; (4) provide other DATE REGION - COUNTIES last year's bill which passed the for in the new Constitution and sources of revenue in order to Senate and was narrowly de- implementing legislation will be lower property taxes; and (5) pro- February 18 SOUTHWEST REGION - (Allegan, Barry, Berrien, feated in the House. proposed. Two plans have been hibit taxation of non-residents. Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren Coun- Legislation proposing greater suggested ~ne by the Wayne The predicted pattern of city ties) emphasis on community colleges, County Board of Supervisors and income taxes is proceeding. Flint February 25 WEST CENTRAL REGION - (Kent, Mason, Mus- vocational education and special- one by the United County Officers has now adopted an income tax kegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa and Mecosta ized training programs is expected Association. on both reside~ts and non-resi- Counties) -all in an effort to prevent school In. testimony before the special dents. Under present law, over Also - Ionia and Montcalm Counties dropouts and train young people committee, Farm Bureau called 180 cities could impose income February 26 EAST CENTRAL REGION - (Bay, Clare, Gladwin, to qualify for the job opportuni- attention to the fact that the taxes. Gratiot, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw Counties) ties available today. Wayne County proposal would Since the death of "tax re- Vocational education is much permit the elimination of elected February 27 SOUTH CENTRAL REGION - (Branch, Calhoun, form," many people are having more expensive per pupil than county officials and also might Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson and Lenawee second thoughts, belatedly recog- academic programs. In some abolish the Board of Supervisors. Counties) nizing that perhaps the best op- areas, community colleges and The l!nited County officers' pro- Also - Clinton County portunity for an equitable tax high schools can provide such posal would continue to elect reg- structure is now gone. March 10 SOUTHEAST REGION - (Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, 'Vashtenaw and Wayne Coun- ties) 1__ A_s_l_t_L_O_Q_k_s_F_r_o_m_H_e_r_e __ March 11 Also - Shiawassee County NORTHEAST, NORTHWEST, BRIDGE and UP- PER PENINSULA REGIONS - (Alcona, Alpena,. AFL-CIO leadership never fails to plug for "One Man- It is safe to bet that the 1964 Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Benzie, Charlevoix, Che- One Vote." This appealing slogan offers an adding-machine session of Congress will not last boygan, Chippewa, Delta, Emmet, Houghton, approach to the problems of government. as long ac;the marathon 1963 ses- losco, Iron, Kalkaska, Mackinac-Luce, Manistee, A good way to arrive at a decision on a question is to t~ke sion. National political conven- Marquette-Alger, Menominee, Missaukee, Mont- a vote - and the majority vote detennines the answer. We do tions and the election campaigns morency, Northwest, Ogemaw, Osceola, Otsego, make that certain. The Republi- Presque Isle and Wexford Counties) this on the adoption of amendments to our Stat~ Constitution, cans will meet in San Francisco on bonding issues, and in deciding on Fann Bureau policies. in July and the Democrats will March 12 THUMB REGION - (Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, But the purpose of election districts in our form of govern- convene in Atlantic City in Sanilac, St. Clair and Tuscola Counties) ment is to secure the selection of qualified men and women of August. TIME: 10:00 A.M. - (Coffee and Rolls, 9:30 A.M.) high character ~o serve in our legislative bodies and as ad- In 1960, Congress reconvened PLACE: DINES RESTAURANT - 321 East Michigan Avenue, ministrators and judicial officers. after the national conventions had Lansing. Located in third block east of the Capitol and An "adding machine" calculation does not assure this result! been held, but accomplished about a half block west of €edar Street (which is U.S. * * * A collection cost of a little less than 1% was predicted for little. 'l:l southbound). If President Johnson is a can- PARKING FACILITIES: Free parking in Dines' parking lot- the State income tax included in the fiscal reform package. didate for the top office, he may located north of the rear entrance to the restaurant. Clarence Lock, State Revenue Commissioner, said the tentative be able to exert more pressure figure covered the 2% personal income levy, the 31h% on cor- than could President Eisenhower, porate profits and 51,2% on financial institutions' profits. Elim- ination of the business activities and intangibles taxes would also who was serving out his last months in office. A iame duck" - Wool, Sugar Not Precedents save the present $265,000 cost of collection of these levies, Lock session leaves much to be desired. -rhe present wool and sugar programs of direct payments are says. sometimes pointed out as examples of the way compensatory * * * * * * payments would work in cotton, wheat and other commodities. Two issues which will probab- Tentative figures indicate 1963 The situation, however, is as different as night and day. Both ly stir the Michigan Legislature squirrels, raccoons, beaver, dogs, milk production was down about wool and sugar are commodities in which we are deficient and in 1964 - (I) the continued muskrats, skunks, woodchucks one billion pounds from 1962 - which must be imported. payment 'of bounties, and (2) the and deer all topped the fox in nearly a 1% cut. The politics of Wool payments were adopted by Congress as a defense problems caused by the rapid in- number of damage cases. Strong election year might tempt Wash- measure to encourage increased production of wool. crease in the southern Michigan support has developed for the ington to increase price supports elimination of bounties, which above the present 75%. It hap- It is hardly reasonable to use the same approach to problems deer herd. Complaints to the Conservation now cost Michigan nearly a quar- pened before, to the detriment of of commodities which are in surplus and which we must sell Deparbnent in 1962 showed that ter million dollars per year. the dairy industry. in -the world market. " Daifyme invited ,0 ADft Annual Market Development Program Expands " For ine twpnty-strotid year, the at Michigan will hold its ann Diipy m:-efing — a n d all dairymen a r e invited to attend. T h e rr.jtrfin.ii- set for February 7th. d a r i n g Farmers' Week, \ltviie-, :w Anny (-, ^ e c , , , e e „ N c v , . « , , u i , i ; - . ^ " ' ^ - l'•' ! ' :: "" : i ! "! ' will start at 10 a.m. nt Kellogg O n t e r , Michigan State University. According to Boyd Rice. ADA S e c r e t a r y the clay will he Association's program for increasing sale% of urvA ,•!•.-. p ( e a ' - n r ^ p h - u e c i e e c c ^eX y e ' - e c ; . ; ce.'..aN;:c ! • ••: ' - X:-.•_.• X. ••: ' •"-• mile anil . d a w pf&aticfs the consumer. Speakers will include* y n e - . e c urr :.d! e X c n c X X [,-; Aeec M i ; , , ' ; i ( i ^ a ! ^ : d iN - = - - . . x . < . : y •<.:._•, ; V - -I- in this field. «,e,-1,->«*. ,„-.,-*.«, - ^ -. " " uate of Michigan State Umversitv. "Dairymen interested in tit- l#firflng the 'ti#oti'' Ii4ftcfa#f|. should Cvm-ntOj, the ADA of Mich- evident cost-price squeeze, , . ? » . , t. v - igan is spommimg # Michigan- T - - i - » where ne maioreu in horticulture, fe$0ce{ flifjfr JlhfaSt fiiif; htfet- than 4 fchrw.uy 'A' said Rice, and he Slaif ;llii^ mgg###tf, thai bee&t$e cf: fJte -Icste'f*fffesi '##«« 100 young m^mem • 'piibi^atmn • dfefir. of 'the Michiggw,' f#fc;'.:-ff«f '.'In; f i f " : : A f t f ^§§9§M ;:li.yj r> e -} , •••' •, ., ijeii/ie Cojuitv i'ajTn hiireau. Call Russell Mawby, state 4-H Club ''(foe in I.Mn$inz. director, will speak on the com- ing educational conference for the ct;<>rymrT) will hear Miktm Iluif. first group s c h e d u l e d for this president NN.tiov.a' Dairy Oeun-- spring- ••••• .! STAP- EXPANDS efforts. Division of the Michigan Farm Pidklmg Ciicutober growers in Bureau plans to enlarge Its stiff several areas of Michigan have and add more direvt grower serv- servetf notice that they will be- ice m the year ahead. come much more aggressive \%% According to Donald Moore. seeking "adequate"" contract-? with division manager, a well-known those producers they now supply, former Benzie county fruit grower Mmm- cm I ' "~~~" ~ ^ _ , — Wit concrete tilt-up. we sa->ed money and got a barn that's really fire-safe:' Saj-s OR. BERTMND S. DIONNE, V.M.D., Brunswick, Maim **We lost one barn by i r e . So our choice for the new one was concrete—one building material that can't* bum. When we heard about the new lilt-up method, we found we could have concrete and, save money, too. Wall panels were cast right on the floor, so forms were easy to build. Two men and a tractor tipped the walls Into place. We figure we saved a good $5,(1(1© on our 44-head bam. "And the barn is designed just the way 1 wanted i i We even ha¥e heating coils in the concrete floor to keep bedding warm and dry. With concrete, there's no worry about rust or rot. Disinfecting is simple. Regular hose-downs kc-pp the whole pisce clean and .WITHOUT THE PHONE? sanitary. "Upkeep on the barn itself is no problem, either. I: CSCA; *:\A> ;: : y«'.v!= . . . I t pays to check on concrete tilt-up. Write for free , , ; . ^ a — N . . - , . . ] ; • : . y - ? - . , •: u : a )••'•••••• \-/••:•••-. information using the coupon below. y e ; . -y»- -x-e-'r. W'.-u e Ale ey ;•":-' ..-:.; c a n do in >wf>iwf«.*« with a telephone .:."t-:: 't'"5, •.: -.v:. :h. . . ;••»• -:ci ; ):c;.; ;. ;c; '.•• C - -" V I _ " C D A - w h a t o t h e r w i s e would t a k e h o u r s - o r eall he!p f a s t if a n e m e r g e n c y a r i s e s . PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION S'olcc.-i ;C.i!'.C.v.:, Lrt«er.o. -MkHc-cn 4C933 even d a y s - t o accomplish. All these t h i n g s t h e phone d o e s - - f o r Ny.^vfiiiiiji^ A n d t h e phone helps in so m a n y a •. orv .-real; pi'ier :.;vh;-ed. f*i«AS# s e n d free information o n c o n c r e t e tiH-up, A l s o send mat**iai an other s u b j e c t s I've listed ; . ..lipiippp^ey sr. on R, NO «*scm jetmt* SIX February 1, 1964 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Improve Our Marketing System-Shuman YOUR FARM BUREAU DEALER In an address to the Illinois Canners School banquet in Ur- to the field of fruits and vegeta- bana, Illinois, American Farm Bureau Federation president, bles for processing." Charles B. Shuman, singled out the farm products marketing system as the most important single factor affecting the future He said that this area had been selected because of its past history IS YOUR prosperity of agriculhue. of production contracts with proc- .lraditionally," improving said Shuman, '.farmers have concentrated production, responsibilities:' but have neglected their marketing H e point~d out that it was this vacuum that has provided the on essors, but that further expansion into other fields would take place as needs and demands dictate. Michigan, one of the first states to organize a marketing associa- CENTER excuse for government programs. tion, the Michigan Agricultural "As these programs are eliminated," he said, "it is imperative Cooperative Marketing Associa- FOR that the marketing power of farmers be strengthened." tion (MACMA), has also taken The AFBF .president went on the lead in apple marketing. to say that agriculture is one of In reviewing t~e AFBF's past Most recently, MACMA and • Michigan Certified Hybrid Seed Corn the few businesses which delivers efforts in the mar k e tin g field, the MFB Market Development • Certified Oats • Mixed Fertilizers its product to market with little Shuman pointed out that in 1960, Division have concluded a suc- or no advance assurance as to the American Agricultural Mar- cessful apple season. • and Your Proven Best Buy price or the quantity that buyers keting Association (AAMA) was Plans are already underway for will accept. Said Shuman, established to assist state Farm MACMA's Asparagus Division's "The farmer Bureaus in carrying out their mar- marketing program and grower FARM BU~EAU'S IMPROVED wants and needs a system by keting programs. information service for the com- which his production can be guid- The AAMA also helped them ing season. ed by cohsumer needs, and not set up new projects to cope with In his closing remarks, Shuman SPECIAL directed by unrealistic ment programs." Farmers can and must develop their marketing programs govern- the many revolutionary marketing said that the greatest asset in any changes now taking place. marketing program is knowledge "At the present time," said the - knowledge of the market, sup- to national farm leader, lethe AAMA ply-demand and all other factors. CORN match the technological advances includes some 25 state Farm Bu- "Farmers must use a marketing made in agricultural production reau marketing associations. Ef- program as a business tool," he and specialization, he said. forts to date have been confined said, "and not as a weapon." STARTER IICrl-me Does Not Pay" office in mid-November and at the end of the first day, 35 re- FERTILIZER sponded -all wishing to partici- Especially in Lapeer pa~ere is no charge for the FOR A lelephone Relay Alerting System" has been set up in Lapeer as a public service of the Lapeer County Farm Bureau in cooperation with the local police department. service, explains Mrs. Alice Ab- bott, Secretary and Office Man- ager of the Lapeer County Farm Bureau ---;)nly the time it takes MORE IMPROVED Sh.oplifters, bad check passers, short change artists, thieves and forgers will not find this town "easy pickings" where mem- bers of the Chamber of Commerce are serviced by this unique to make two phone calls, It is certain that the Lapeer County Farm Bureau will create PROFIT TO PRODUCE protection. good public relations with this 1. FASTER START Whenever a crime, such as shoplifting, is reported to the unusual project. Merchants re- - WITH 2. DEEPER GREEN Lapeer Police .Department, they in turn will call the Farm port that it was of special value COLOR Bureau office. Then, the relay network goes into effect. The Lapeer Farm Bureau calls ------------ two business firms; these two in Notices of this service were turn relay the message to two sent out from the Farm Bureau more predetermined business firms -------------------------- to them during the Christmas rush, when shoplifters and bad check passers seem to be operat- ing in "full force:' LESS 3. EARLIER MATURITY and so on. The relay continues until all are called to warn them against the valuable possibility toofa losing merchandise shop- l1uscola Contl-nues Its Formula for Succ.ess LABOR 4. MORE PROFIT PER ACRE Michigan Certified Hybrid Seed Corn and Certified Oats lifter. can increase your yield. They are developed for and Training sessions to determine "How otticers can best carry adapted to Michigan soils and climate. Use the partners out their respective duties" were held in Tuscola county recently. for profit ..• plant the best and fertilize with the best Water Management Under the direction of the Community Croup Committee, ••. Farm Bureau. Mr. and Mrs. Ford Boyne, Mr. and Mrs-. Charles Hoist and Mr. and Land Resources and Mrs. Orlin Lotter, the officers of each Community Farm SEE YOUR LOCAL FARM BUREAU DEALER FOR OTHER POPULAR ANALYSES AND A COMPLETE LINE OF FARM Bureau were invited to meet and discuss their common problems. CHEMICALS AND SEED•. Water management is getting The first session brought group more attention, both nationally and in Michigan. The Legislature must consider secretaries and chairmen to learn Family Program Division; Mar- about leadership and meeting pro-' jorie' Karker, Coordinator of the cedures, and the importance of 'Vomen's Activities and Lester .NDWrFIRST from FARM BUREAU at least two measures. One pro- good minutes. Farm Bureau Bolfwahn, Young People's coordi- vides some protection to the Women's representatives learned nator. shorelines of inlands lakes and about the structure of their com- "We feel these instructional streams against dredging, filling mittee, its programs and projects, meetings will get our officers off and unauthorized structures. The and the importance of participa-" to a good start, enable them to definition includes the St. Clair tion. recognize problems, find solutions and Detroit Rivers and Lake St. Providing and presenting infor- and carry out a better program," Clair. mation to members was stressed said Mrs. Clare Carpenter, Tus- Another bill, similar to the in sessions with discussion leaders, cola County reporter. measure supported by Farm Bu- minute men and package reporters. Small wonder that it was this reau in 1963, would legalize the Assisting with the training from county that won the 1963 "Most . impoundment of surplus water, the Michigan Farm Bureau were: Outstanding County Farm Bu- during high-flow periods, for later J. Delbert Wells, manager of the reau" award I use. Regulation and licensing of well drillers will also be consid- ered by Lansing lawmakers. Last year, in October, it was estimated that the world popula- ***************** FIELD IDENTIFICATION SIGNS Now you can ec:-sily maintain more complete records and tion had reached 3,180,000,000, or over six times that of 1600 A.D. KEEP FREEDOM have what a key to corred fertilizer use. No guesswork as to analysis you used last year. Available in numbers It is now estimated that by the year 2,000, only 36 years away, the world population will reach IN YOUR FUTURE 1 to local 12, colorful, heavy duty metal, easy to read. See .your dealer for complete' details. 6,000,000,000. Are we doing what we should to assure the best WITH use of our land and water re- sources? General land and water prob- lems will be considered at a na- U.S. SAVINGS BONDS tional' conference s c he d u led by the American Farm Bureau Fed- eration in Wi chit a, Kansas on ***************** March 23-24-25, 1964. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS February 1, 19~':-:. SEVEN flDm, Dm, W(UJt &ut fh Mtdfmt, 8t'l'f - By Paul A. Rivas Infonnation Division If the Michigan Department of Conservation is right in its estimate, southern lvfichigan farmers may well be singing this tune as a potential deer herd of 90,000 descends on their croplands and orchards in 1969. According to David Jenkins, Department of Conservation Game Biologist, the southern Michigan deer herd is now about 45,000, but recent indications are that the herd will lAST FAll MICHIGAN HUNTERS brought home abaut 7,000,000 pounds of venison, double in size within the next five years! and Michigan motorists "bagged" another 300,000 pounds the hard way - on' their car bumpers and grills. In 1962, southern Michigan farmers lost over $300,000 in 'crops, destroyed fruit trees and trampled plantings. "That's about one out of every ten farmers in the area sutfering some losses ranging from negligible to serious," said the biologist. "Dnfortunately for the fanners," said Jenkins, "not even the record number of hunters in this are~\will keep the herd from its leap-frog population explosion." A recent conservation publication counted over 53,000 area. Jenkins said that although auto hunters stalking the southern deer herd last year - with traffic has increased in southern over 5,400 bucks taken. In some areas, one hunter in five Michigan only 27 per cen~ since got his buck rivaling some of the best northern hunting. 1954, the number of deer killed What effect did this hunter by cars has jumped by 316 per army have on the deer popula- The Michigan Farm Bureau cent in that time. tion? A letter from a fanner liv- continued to recognize the po- "The Conservation Commis- ing not more than a half-hour tential danger of a too-large deer sion does not now have the au- drive from Lansing wrote: herd as delegates to last year's thority to provide for antlerless "Last fall we did not get all annual meeting approved the deer shooting to reduce the high- of our corn picked. Last winter resolution urging the Conserva- way hazard," the biologist ex- while the snow was on, noticed tion Commission to regulate the plained. "But the problem is tracks as if a herd of sheep was "rapidly increasing Southern dangerous and it's growing. there. \Vhen picking this corn Michigan deer herd through the Legislation will be needed soon." this spring there was scarcely any use of special seasons:' "Grilled venison is out of this left in this 17 acres. Some people The resolution further stated world," said Jenkins, "but venison figure about $500 damage was that if practicable means could be 'grilled' on the front of your car done here bfj the herd ... ~ found, it would be justifiable to is nothing but trouble-and And this letter came from an give resident landowners some dangerl" orchardist whose orchard is less than 40 miles from downtown Detroit. "I am a fruit grower in Livings- ton county, and I have tried everything to keep the deer out of my orchard. This year alone the deer have caused me a loss of CONCFNTRATFD DAMAGE [!J seA TTERED DAMAGE fruit in the amount of $12,000, Fa INSURANCE REPORTS: also a damage to the trees I can't estimate. Other fruit growers in this area are suffering a com- parable loss. Over $40,000 in Deer-Auto "The deer population has ex- ploded in this area. There are now close to 1,000 deer which A"ccident Claims in 1963 means 2,000 or more next Farm Bureau Insurance claims ansmg from deer-auto col- year ... " lisions and accidents in Southern Michigan so~ed over the The only error Jenkins could $40,000 mark last year, according to the Claims Division. find in this letter was that the Leading the southern regions in losses reported was the Kal- farmer's estimate of the herd was MOST FARMERS WON'T COMPLAIN about a deer in the orchard, but a herd amazoo Claims office which recorded the highest number- probably too lowI around a tree is a different story. 80! The average-cost-per-accident was $150 giving the region a total claims-paid of $12,000. .. Coming in a close second in the number of deer-auto acci- dents was the Lansing Branch Claims office which recorded 60 accidents last year with an average-cost-per-accident of $175, one of the highest averages in the Southern Michigan area. Included in the 'Branch's territory is the area referred to by the state's conservation personnel as the "Bloody Triangle"- the Brighton-Howell area. Michigan Conservation Department figures show that more accidents have occured in that small area than any similar area in Michigan. Kalamazoo and the Lansing Branch accounted for over fifty per cent of the total amount of claims paid out to Southern Michigan drivers insured by FB Insurance. Third in the total amount of damages claimed was the Sag- inaw region with a total figure of $7,500; an average of $150 for 50 accidents. The next highest region in total damages claimed was Grand Rapids. According to the Claims Division, Grand Rapids had the highest average-cost-per-accident of aU the southern re- gions - $225, but only 25 accidents were recorded. The Oakland district had 15 accidents and averaged $150 per claim, and Ann Arbor reported 12 accidents averaging $180 per claim. Failure to slow down when passing deer standing along the highway caused the ma;ority of accidents in 1963, said the WHITETAILS ARE BEAUTIFUL when seen from the air, but a herd such as this when seen in an orchard or corn field is more than beautiful- it's downright expensivel Claims Division. EIGHT February 1, 1964 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Washington Air Tour Set for March 1- 4 Plans for the annual Farm Bureau Women sponsored Washington Air Tour are taking shape and hold promise of an exciting, informative three days in the nation's capitol, March 1-4. Housing at the famous, favorably-located Willard Hotel will be just one of the many outstanding features of the tour, which leaves Detroit on Sunday evening, March 1 by Northwest Airlines, and returns Wednesday evening, March 4. Cost of the tour is $101.57. This includes air transporta- tion between Detroit and 'Vashington, three nights at the a "Villard Hotel, Monday luncheon at the hotel, and an alI- With Gavel and Horse day sightseeing trip with lunch on Wednesday. Also included are tips, trans- ment of Agriculture in the after- portation to the hotel and back noon ..... to the airport, and oinners Sunday Meetmgs WIth .~IchIgan Con- The women of Michigan's largest farm organization She has served on the county and \Vednesday nights, s~rved on gressmen and a VISItto Congress elected 'a new chairman and vice-chairman in November, board of directors and many the plane. is on the agenda for Tuesday. county committees, and on the < ••• \Vednesday will be spent visiting 1963. Although the two elected officials are well-known Tour particIpants. wIll be ex- such historical spots as Mt. Ver- state Resolutions Committee. She to many of the state's Farm Bureau Women, there are has acted as Women's county pected to pay for theIr o.\vnbreak- non, Arlington Cemetery, the others to whom "Mrs. Scramlin" and "Mrs. Topliff' are chairman, district chairman, state fasts on Monday, Tuesday and White House the Bureau of just names. vice-chainnan and now in her \Vednesday, dinners on Monday Printing and Engraving and Am- Those who voted for them at the annual meeting knew latest role -state chairman. Mr. and Tuesday, and luncheon on bassador Row, -with luncheon Tuesday: at the famous Seaport Inn at of their outstanding leadership qualifications, but did they Scramlin, also an active Farm Bu- reau member, was county pres- A meeting with American Farm Alexandria. know, for instance, that their new chairman has a '3-year-old ident for two years. Bureau Federation staff members Airlines require early reserva- grandson who is her pride and ;oy? ... Or that her hobby is Maurine Scramlin looks for- has been set up for Monday tions -so send the attached cou- raising registered quarter horses? ward to the next two years of morning and a trip to the Depart- pon today! "Just the plain facts, mam" may be enough for the hero service as state' chairman of the of the TV detective show ... but it's not sufficient for the Farm Bureau Women "as a chal- Return to: Mrs. Marjorie Karker, Michigan Farm Bureau lenge to do what I can, in an'y knowledgeable Farm Bureau Women who like to have the way I can, to better our organiza- 4000 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing, Michigan "inside story" of their leaders. tion." As FB Women throughout the A busy woman, this new chair- I am interested in participating in the Washington Air Tour, state plan activities for their on the township and county levels' man, who has many interests and March 1-4. Please send detailed information. "best year yef.' ... it is important and extension work (she has re- "loves them an" -especially that that they feel a close, working ceived her 25-year pin) find a grandson. Name:: _ relationship with their elected place on her busy schedule, too. Maurine's Farm Bureau "foun- (Next month: ~ice-chairman Address:: . _ leaders. Because it is impossible (much dation" is deep and strong. Maxine Topliff) County:_:....- -:-- _ as they would lilPIC',~, , . "spoiled" in its attitude toward our food supply? Too much and too easy? .. Such a book as Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" could have been written only in America and in our age - when here, and here alone, we enjoy the "curse" of a temporary abundance. Temporary? Yes. The facts of population trends point to an inevitable problem. Populations today do not add - they multiply .. Their increase is at a torrid rate. Scientists deny that, even in America, we can keep pace in food pro- duction to match the increase in population - even with the best of fanning methods. The world today has nearly 3 billion peOple. S'ome areas are already over-crowded. Nearly four out at five people in the present world die directly Of' indirectly from the effects at starvation. At present rates of increase, America's 185 million people will reach 400 million by 2000 A.D. Our farms will be hard- pressed to feed those within our own borders. Let those who ,vould reduce or destroy the productivity of American farms take a look ahead and remember that "an empty belly knows no law." . Th f "d' . so that the speCIes cannot repro- ti d uce. Ch'emlca I ste rilants h ave lture use . 0 pes C1 es mb' agn- cu . e IS a n~cessary amer been found effective for some ag~mst starva !Ion. even .now. varieties. Sterilized males of the WIthout them. Insects. fungI . ty and Sl.'rew worm fly h ave rue ed ced th diseases wou ld d estro y rune per- 'ty f thi . . ultural od capaCI 0 s msect to repro- cen t 0f our agnc pr uc- d . th th '. ti.on. W.th t th f uce In e sou west plaIns. I ou emh a armer Ch emIC . al st'len ants h ave bee n uld . co no t raISe sue 'truscrops frui as use d to cur b th e sprea d of the app Ies. t oma t 005. C1 ts, boll weeVl'1' In th e cotton sou th . its mass movement. It is like government controls. Always this use. Laws can place responsibil- po t at oes-an d th e multitud e 0f B th thods trying to check a forest fire. Pop- ghost hangs in the background. ity for care in preparation and 't oth er food I ems th t a orm f- th e b dl ut ese me U • 1: are not all' ular opinion was twisted to a posi- Some provisions of laws de- testing - or even penalties for b.3SlS 0 f our di et . G rlUflS . ? The roa y euective lor lDsect manded for pesticides would have carelessness in manufacture and tion that became dangerous to . new 1n00Sl0fJ . of the cerea I leaf pests . Eod h ac vane cti' . ty 1: II 1 .10 ows Its Expe' . the system of modern agricultUre paralyzed both manufacturer and use. Farmers and manufacturers own repr u ve eyc e. n- b eet Ie and the Japanese beetle ts.th st 'li ti' . - a productive system whi~h it farmer in the use of them. A should welcome sound laws to could "do f or " the se crops, t 00. men Wl en za on are In th.elr ear Iy st ages an d h ave yet to has taken our agricultural colleges. provision of one bill- "the De- govern such things. It should be Durin g man 'hist s I ory p agues 0 f .. h th " experiment stations and farm peo- laney Clause" - even attempted recognized that there is a moral . cts h t tall destro ed th scratc e surface. To ask for mse ave. 0 y y e control of all species by this ple nearly a century to build. to throw a cancer scare into the obligation of the first order when food crops In. some areas of the me thoo - an d su dd en Iy - IS . t0 The attacking forces used half- picture as a reason for drastic producing or handling such sub- world - leavmg the people to .m dul ge m .. WlS hful thinki ng. truths and scraps of evidence. control legislation. The American stances. st arve. Counter evidence was pushed Medical Association declared that Research goes on constantly in PREJUDICED IDEAS aside. The case presented was the Delaney Clause was unjusti- the chemical companies to pro- EXPLOSIVE CAPACITY totally out of proportion to any fied and would make no demon- duce products that are selective When dealing with an issue TO REPRODUCE like this matter of pesticides. there possible or actual damage in- strable contribution to public -.fatal to insects and other pests In the United Stat~ 6,500 is an element of forgetfulness- volved. safety. But the efforts went on. - and harmless to human beings. species of insects and 2.500 kinds a failure to look at human his- Laws were asked far which The search is constant to find of ticks invade our crops and at- tory. Insects do not attack crops UNREASONING FEAR- would have required absolute substances which will leave no tack our livestock. Seven hun- and livestock only - they attack "proof of public safety" by pesti- toxic residues on marketed prod- EXTREME REACTION cide manufacturers and users of dred species alone cause a dam- man. And it is not merely the ucts. age of billions of dollars yearly. sting. Small and isolated incidents. the chemicals. Such, laws would Contrary to public opinion. Let them go? Forget your insec- For ages insects have transmit- these days. touch the nation's "hot have put the whole' program into there, is no ruthless dumping of ticides? ted diseases to mankind - ma- button" of hysteria. An isolated a straightjacket. ~There is not a dangerous chemicals onto the Why do insects pepper your laria. yellow fever, sleeping sick- case of food poisoning can throw single phase of man's existence market without adequate tests for windshield like rain as you drive? ness. typhoid. Rats also have such the nation into a panic. One .bit in which all risks can he removed. safety. This search for safer prod- Scientists state that insects can a history - removed in modem of food becomes involved - so To hope to do so by law makes ucts never stops. multiply faster than any other liv- times by the use of chemical ALL food of the kind takes on the fools of those who try. They had The "Rachel Carson Incident" ing thing. Consider the reproduc- poisons. In ancient and medieval mask of a "d~ath's head." People better not drive an automobile! proves one thing. H there be tive capacity of the common fly. times. rats carried the bubonic depending for their livelihood on If it comes to a matter of "pub- farmers who use pesticides and Suppose that all of the offspring plague. In 1348, this plague the products involved are faced lic safety" and threats to life and other chemicals carelessly, their of a single. pair of flies were to killed 90 % of the population of with ruin because of the shout of limb. why the public complacency action threatens the security of survive. H this pair started re- Rome. "calamity!" and apathy toward traffic deaths all agriculture. The incident production in April, they could In all this airing of the prob- Remember the cranberry inci- due to drunk driving? Some of should alert them to use the great- h a v e 191.010.000.000.000.000,- lem of agricultural pesticides, the dent? It left the cranberry grow- the risks could readily be removed est necessary caution. 000 offspring by August. American public has been given ers broke. Remember the single in this area. And thousands die If all survived, they would can of tuna fish that missed the annually from this cause. The But to say that no farmers can no broad understanding of the cover the earth with a mass 47 cooker when a packing worker public is prone to "strain at a have pesticides to use because role of those chemicals in pre- feet deep. Fortunately only a got careless? The public quit all gnat and swallow a camel." one or a few have been careless serving the food supply and pro- small percentage survives. Some tuna fish cold. Then came vac- The future food needs of Amer- is like saying that no citizens may tecting health. The seH-styled scientists have warned that insects uum-packed smoked fish. Yes. ica and the world would suggest drive a car because some drive reformists who attacked the use can inherit the earth. the packers should have tested the that Rachel Carson is worrying recklessly. of these tools of agriculture took Tbese pests are travelers. They little notice of the whole truth. product before marketing it. But about the wrong kind of "Silence." Let's abandon the Age of Anx- move on their own wings. on the There was no balancing of reason public reaction spread to all fish It can become the silence of chil- iety and return to the Age of wind and by "hitch-hiking." They against the use of agitation and - and the fishermen's boats had dren wasting away from starva- Reason. get into automobiles. ships. air- fear. to be tied to the wharves and tion. Without pesticides this si- planes - into food packages or The obvious intent of Miss Car- packing plants closed down. lence could creep upon us rapidly. even the crevices and fabric of son's "Silent Spring" was to out- Workers lost their \jobs. Public The REAL public interest is QUESTIONS cartons. It becomes almost im- law the manufacture and use of hysteria is a thoughtless thingf threatened by her own proposal. 1. What sort of laws govern- possible to set up an "iron .cur- pesticides. In too many cases so-called ing the manufacture and use of tain" against them. 1962 saw a wave of propa- "public information" today is doc- pesticides would you consider PROBLEMS CALL FOR It seems little wonder that only ganda surge through all the news tored to feed such attitudes. We necessary - but which would in those areas of the world where media of the nation - scare prop- saw it done in the "documentary RESEARCH not destroy their development pesticides and other tools of mod- aganda aimed at agricultural and presentation" of farm labor prob- Where problems exist in the and use? em agriculture are used - there other uses of pesticides. It stirred lems -"The Harvest of Shame" development and use of pesti- and there only are starvation and a rising public resentment amount- - designed to twist ahd distort cides. their solutions call for em- 2. What public obligations disease not an immediate danger. ing to mass anxiety. It built re- public attitudes. Isolated inci- phasis on research and not merely does a farmer have when us- sentments against fanners who dents are played up sensationally. for regulation by law. Laws can ing pesticides or other agricul- CONTROL WITHOUT use such chemicals. They are pure gossip - but the tural cheruicals? do nothing but freeze action. Re- POISONS? There was some "airing" of public thrives on gossip. Alarm search explores for solutions. 3. Should certai~ of the more Research has made slight ad- both sides of the questions in- hells ring in Congressional halls. Intelligence recognizes that volved - but, once agitation is poisonous chemicals be re- vance in controlling the spread of set off by the public emotional every possible action must be insects by methods of sterilization begun. little can be done to check clamor. They call for .sharper quired to have official super- taken to make pesticides safe to vision when being applied? MICHIGAN FARM NEWS February 1, 1964 FIFTEEN THIS IS NOT FOR YOU Sugar Company to Expand Processing Facilities IF YOU'VE GOT MONEY TO BURN! Every single day in the United States, day in and day Here are some more fire safety of multiple outlet plugs that could An expansion program in ex- cess of one-half million dollars for Michigan Sugar Company's Cros- out, over 1,000 fires occur in homes across the nation - checkpoints suggested by the Na- over-load wiring. well and Carrollton sugar beet and three-fourths of them are the result of carelessness! tional Board. When your television set cc goes processing plants was recently an- 1. Be careful with matches and on the blink," call a qualified re- nounced by the company's pres- They never should have oceured. smoking. This accounts for al- pairman. There's a lot of electric- ident, Ernest Flegenheimer. Are you one of those families with money to burn? most one-fourth of all fires. ity lurking behind a "blacked out" The expansion program, de- Keeping a home fire-safe is as simple as common sense A still lighted cigarettet tossed ~screen. signed to increase the daily proc- and good housekeeping. into a wastebasket ~r dropped'on 3. Have your heating plant essing capacity of both plante; ap- To help protect your home from fire, the National Board a.n upholstered chaIr can start a serviced regularly by an expert; proximately twenty percent will fIre that. could de~troy a home every seventh fire is caused by be completed prior to the 1964 of Fire Underwriters has made up a list of important check- and pOSSIblytake h,,:es. defective heating units chImneys sugar making campaign. points for potential fire hazards. To minimize the possibility of or flues. ' The Croswell plant's daily av- 1. The attic. It should be kept free of old newspapers fires caused by matches and 4 I h Ii .. I erage will be boosted from 1,100 smoking, keep large, non-com- . n t e vmg r~m, a ways and magazines, discarded clothing and other combustibles tons per day to approximately bustible ashtrays in every room keep. a metal scr~en In front of on which a hungry fire may feed. 1,400 tons every twenty-four and urge smokers to use them. the flIeplace~ Flymg embers and hours. Expansion plans at the 2. The basement. Old paint cans, oily rags and other Never use plastic coasters for carp,ets don t make good com- Carrollton plant call for increas- trash should be thrown out .. ashtrays, and when emptying ash- ~antons. ing the daily capacity of 1,600 trays make sure that the ashes 5. Good housekeeping and tons to about 2,000 tons per day. 3. Your heating plant. Take care of it, and have it serv- are cool. good sense is good advice for the iced regularly. These are only basic potential hazards. Keep The expansion' program at the A good habit to acquire is the kitchen. Grease-free ovens and use of a flashlight - not matches. broilers can't catch fire, and two plants is expected to increase in mind that the major cause of fires is carelessness! the daily capacity of Michigan Most fires in the home are or candles, when looking for neither can curtains and towels Sugar Company's four-plant op- caused by such thoughtless acts ing sensible fire prevention steps. things in closets or attics. which are hung away from the eration approximately ten percent as t.ossing away a lighted match Perhaps the most tragic cause 2. Keep appliances and other -burners. in 1964. or neglecting a lighted cigarette, of fires is leaving little children electrical equipment in working According to the National letting rubbish accumulate, over- at home unattended. While in order; one out of every five fires Board, if you rate "A-OK" on loading electrical wiring, neglect- many cases the damage to the is caused by misuse of electrical these checkpoints, you've taken Dairy foods are a prime source irig to keep the heating plant in home is slight, the fire almost al- equipment. Use proper size fuses a big step toward having a fire- of protein, essential to human pro~er working order, or not tak- ways injures or kills the child. in fuse boxes, and avoid the use safe home in 1964. health, and they are economical. DAIRY FARMERS ARE HELPING THEMSELVES The saYing goes, "If you want it done ri~ht, do it yourself". Nowhere is this more true than among Michigan dairy farmers. There is a job to be done selling Michigan dairy products, and A.D.A. of Michigan is doing it. The A.D.A. is a total-selling prograf7l. It con- ducts year-round, and seasonally-timed programs in advertising, merchandising, public relations and research all designed to sell milk products. It's a big job. Michigan dairymen are helping them- selves to big dividends. american dairy association of MICHIGAN 3000 Vine Street La.!JSing, Michigan /' / Be Sure You Are Supporting Your Total Selling Program SIXTEEN February 1 , 1964 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS You can benefit from a FAMILY SECURITY PLAN FAMILY SECURITY PLAN As a family man you carry great responsibilities. Naturally, you want to give your can do this for you family the very best. But to do this requires a plan . . . and it must be based on facts. 1. Determine your Responsibilities: • How much your Social Security benefits are worth to you and Estimate final expenses, mortgage FACTS YOU NEED your family. or rent payments, education costs, emergency funds . . . and income TO K N O W • How much cash is necessary to pay large debts, such as a for your family. mortgage, plus providing for a monthly income for your family. 2 . Analyze your Assets: Social Secur- ity benefits, your life insurance, This information is extremely important to your family. Farm Bureau Life's your home, your savings, and all Family Security Plan will give you a clear picture of your family's financial future. other assets. You may be worth more than you realize! All Farm Bureau agents have the training and experience to assist you with a 3 . Determine where you are now: Family Security Plan. See your local Farm Bureau agent Look at your strongand weak points. today; no obligation but, he'll be pleased to serve you. See what your present assets will do for you and your family. 4 . Make definite future plans: With the facts, you decide what should be done to give your family the security you want them to h a v e . . . FARM BUREAU INSURANCE with a Plan that you understand. C O M P A N I E S OF M I C H I G A N Farm Bureau Life • Farm Bureau Mutual • Community Service