DOIHII FARO^B IN1EW THE ACTION PUBLICA r THE MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU Vol. 43, No. 1 Publish by Michigan Farm Bureau January 1, 1965 196 Membership "Roll-Call" Passes Half-Way Mark January February March Spurred on b y a year-end report of an all-time high in membership reached by t h e American Farm Bureau Federa- tion, Michigan Roll-Call volunteers have more than passed the half-way mark toward their goal of 68,612 Farm Bureau mem- bers for 1965. According to late membership reports tallied by the Field Services Division of the Michigan Farm Bureau, nearly 40,000 members have already been signed for 1965. Of this number almost 1,000 are new members. Glenn Sommerfeldt, Division Manager, reports that member- ship work appears t o b e well a h e a d of last year at this time with a steady 5 % lead over last year maintained for most of the sign-up period. Meanwhile the 60 Michigan Call Manager Rudy Larson offers delegates attending the 45th an- 50 pounds of his fine Upper nual meeting of the American Peninsula potatoes to any worker Farm Bureau Federation in Phil- signing a new member. adelphia, were inspired in Mid- Those who join have not been MEMBERSHIP ROLL-CALL FREEDOM CON WASHINGTON TOUR December by the r e s o u n d i n g forgotten, for b o a r d m e m b e r membership gains recorded in 38 Harold Tikkanen will p r e s e n t April May June of 49 states. each new member with a dozen These gains raised the 1965 fresh eggs! membership in the American In the Northeast region, Al- Farm Bureau to 1,647,455, an pena, Alcona, Iosco and Cheboy- all-time high, and a gain of 19,- 'gan counties used the "turkey 160 over last year. for Christmas" idea this year, in Two of the most impressive a promotion that brought a large gains were made by states bor- turkey to each community group dering Michigan — Indiana and which scored a 100% member- Illinois. The Hoosier Farm Bu- ship r e n e w a l , "plus two new reau reached its m e m b e r s h i p members" — 0*»3 farkey to be quota and went on to record the used by the group in a Christ- largest n u m e r i c a l gain of any mas or New Year's dinner meet- state, 4,422 families more than ing. Four t u r k e y s have been last year. Illinois also reached earned in both Alcona and Iosco membership quota and produced — and contest results were not its seventh consecutive year of yet available in other areas. growth. Montcalm County, which has Such gains were termed "the issued "first-to-reach-goal" chal- one best answer" to critics of lenge to the rest of Lower Mich- WOMEN'S SPRING MEETINGS MICHIGAN WEEK SUPPORT A.O.A. organized agriculture according i g a n , r e p o r t s 57%, of goal to American Farm Bureau offi- reached, with 50 new members August September cials who called for renewed ef- signed. fort by all farmers in reaching Other high-ranking counties in- an eventual two million member clude Arenac, now at 6 5 % of goal. goal, in the S a g i n a w V a l l e y Determined M i c h i g a n mem- region, Sanilac with 6 8 % in the bership volunteers are continu- Thumb, and Newaygo with 70% ing these efforts and a variety in the Western region. of methods are being used to Cheboygan county appears to help shade the serious work with top the Northeastern region with overtones of fun. 70.7% of goal, while Clare coun- For example, Houghton Coun- ty in Northwest M i c h i g a n at ty Farm Bureau l e a d e r s have 70'; holds the l e a d for t h a t offered * membership i n c e n t i v e s region. ranging from cash awards to their Allegan c o u n t y , at 6 6 % of best farm p r o d u c e . C o u n t y goal, appears to hold the advance president Joe St. Amour has an- position in the Southwest region nounced a cash "bounty" paid while 6 7 % for Wayne county to workers for each new member places it in top position in the secured. Not to be outdone, Roll- Southeast. FARM BUREAU PICNICS FAIR TIME MACMA SELLS APPLE! October November December Coming Events Calendar Important Farm Bureau activities of weeks ahead in __ •:&'££^^a the New Year include: "nj< JANUARY 5-6-7 —Young Farmer Conference, Lan- sing. JANUARY 22-29 — February 5-12-19-26 (six consec- utive Fridays) "Economic" Seminars for ten-county area near Olivet College. FEBRUARY 11-12 — Freedom Conference, featuring Dr. Walter Judd, at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant. MARCH 14-17 — Washington Legislative Air-Tour — flying trip to the Nation's Capitol, sponsored by Farm Bureau Women. ANNUAL MEETINGS-COUNTY ...MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU ...AMERICAN FARM BUREAU TWO January 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Editorial President's Column Majority Control Buy Food Chain? At the' scene of mob action, the mob takes The announcement by tl1C press, radio and ach-antagc of the fact that it is a majority. It television that "Farm Bureau intends to buy \\"as a majority vote when Pilate asked the the A & P chain of retail markets" startled the assembled mob to choose between the execu- public in October of 1964. It certainly set off tion of Barabas and Jesus. Their choice sent a flurry of chatter, pro and con, among Farm CI,dst to Calvary. Bureau members across the country. A majority once lmew the world was flat. The newsmen really jumped the gun, of A majority of the people once opposed the course. They made a complete blanket out of American Revolution. a. small piece of cloth. I would not criticize them for it. They like to find a story that is 111 Philadelphia, in the year 1787; patriotic startling. Americans decided that in this new nation, But if we want to get the true situation IIllder God, they could form a more perfect down pat, we have to back up a hit and see IIl1ioll. Those writers and signers of the just what did happen. I saw it all unfold. Declaratioll of Independence created a new Late last summer, the Marketing Division of COllstitutioll for the central government of a the Ohio Farm Bureau came up with the idea lalld lchich was to be both a TUltion and a Con- that if Farm Bureau purchased control of a federation of States. large national chain of retail markets, it would Thev created a Representative Government, have a means of increasing its bargaining rather' than a democracy based upon "one man- power with processors and distributors of food- one \'ote'," a Republic of representation. stuffs. There is a lot of detail behind that :\Iost recently in Philadelphia, of 1964, patriotic American farmers met for in our year Deadly Skid Reaction - idea that we can't cover here. The Ohio Farm Bureau began "talking it up" the annual meeting of the American Farm By Robert Bunker last fall. They had their marketing people Bureau Federation. \Vhere in 1787, the patriots Skidding has become a serious prolJlem on lllichigan cover many meetings explaining their ideas to were smarting under the arbitrary nllings of roads. state Farm Bureau Boards alldstaff people. the King of England, this time our patriots were Skid chain-reaction mish:;lps form a spectacular illustra- They had a pretty well developed plan worked angry at arbitrary Supreme Court rulings call- tion of motordom's mosf frightening peril- treacherous out, with costs and 4'1veshnent programs set ing for all state legislatures to be apportioned skid5 that send automohiles swerving out of control and up to finance the plan. strictly on the basis of population. into trouble. Thousands of drivers through the winter The Ohio folks felt that a prompt decision months experience this frightening sensation. was necessary if the plan was to he set in mo- F or nearly 200 years of American history, it Drivers all too often jam on brakes in a skid condition tion to gain the best results. The idea certainly has been common for states to apportion their HOllse of Representatives on a population basis instead of "pumpin{!." them to bring the car to a qu;ck, safe, had scope enough to tickl{' the imagination of and their Senates on a geographical basis - stop. people, and a lot of ~olks were ready to go for hy counties. In this they have followed the Interest in skid hazards has been whetted by recent dis- it right off. coveries that an automohile traveling at speeds of 50 to 60 Enou,!!,h interest developed to bring the pro- federal system as spelled out in the Constihl- miles an hour on wet pavements tends to "hydroplane" posal before the delegates at the American tion where each member of the Lower House much the same as a water-skier as he skims the surface of Farm Bureau Convention last month. It gen- of Congress represents about the same number the water; thus causing a loss of steering in the automobile. erated as much discussion and excitement on of constituents, while every state, regardless of The typical "dry road" skid s~arts when a motorists sees tTw floor of the convention as any matter before size, is alhw~d +wo Senators. a stop sign or stalled vehicles just ahead and slams on the rlcle{!.ate body. One of these senators, George Aiken of his brakes in a panic stop. The wheels lock. The rear I think that the idea emphasizes an important \'ennont, speaking before the American Farm end breaks away in a tail-wagging skid. The tires get hot point that we should not overlook. It means Bureau Federation convention, said: "'Ve are when they skid and begin laying down a slick trail of thclt Farm Bureau is ac~vely looking for ways ellgaged in a struggle between the powerful molten rubber. \Vhen this happens, motorists instinctively and means to build a broad-hased, effective political machines of the great cities and the do the right thing. They let up to a point, thus allowing approach to this tough problem of marketing people of the United States. "Afake no mistake them the opportunity to steer their automobile. and the improvement of fann in <....,omes.I do about it, this is a battle for the political con- There arc a few basic fundamentals which can he not say that the Ohio idea is the answer. I trol of thc nation and with that control goes followed by all good drivers to help reduce the skid want more information before I ck....;ide. the power to tax, the power to spend and the tendency and still keep the car under control: True el1ough, farmers tc1lO invest(~d in sucTl p('Iu:er to cnact programs that will affect the 1. Never apply the brakes on a skid. (/11 idea would not lrse the valtie Gf their in- livcs and welfare of every living person for vestment. The stock wOlild alwalls have a /!,enerations to come ... " 2. Disengage a clutch if the car has a standard trans- sale vallie. But that is not th~ pornt: mission. If it has an automatic, leave it in drive but take In the words of Dr. John Carew, of !\iichigan The delegates found too many unanswered YOllr foot off the accelerator. State University: "Under Ollr present system questions in the proposal to justify any im- many state senators are farmers or small-town 3. If the rear coo starts to swing around, steer in the mediate decision for action. For one thing, direction of the skid. Straighten the front wheels instantly, they were not so sure that this approach would businessmen whose personal way of life is then {chen the stCinging st01)S, counter-steer if the rear do the job they wanted done - to provide a intimately associated with that of their rural end starts to swing the other way. method for improving farm incomes in the neighbors. They are generally conservative, economy-mindcd, 1JOSSessed with a strong feel- 4. In a front !»keel skid, straighten the whe6ls if they market. Costs would he more than just the ing of right and wrong, alert to the le{!.islative are angled so they u:iU roll instead of skid. money that farmers invested. needs of agriculture and suspicious of their By making the drivers more aware of skids and how to It would take a complete mobilization of freer-spending liberal city colleagues. Their cope with them, more people will be able to handle one of all Farm Bureau forces to collect the financing voting records reflect their way of life." the great treacherous highway killers. funds. Such programs require a lot of money One {)f the latest devices is a medwUsm to pump the to promote and carry through. Would the \Vhen reapportionment is accomplished, car's ixakes and 'COnsequently reduce t~ 1?Q65ibility of results justify such time and expense? We Carew suggests, these men will lose out to politicians who will more likely be lawyers or dangerous skids. ~, unit is hooked into me ~obile.s would really have all of OUT eggs in that tr8QSfflissiooanQ" be attachet¥J'{Y the car tn; a .,natter basket if we decided that the word was "Co.- wealthy businessmen rather than fanners.. et....~ely ~ ~th ~ ~ ~~ .. :~ The delegates also recognized that. a lot of To prevent this, voting delegates to 'the stud y is needed before Farm Bureau ~ -I:€ady Arperican Farm Bureau annual meeting have- .~ to jump such a big,lhurdle. Possiule l~al'"tiUe»~ caUBd for a Con~al Amendment. In .:. ~ ~~ I ..:tiOnt mUit be anSw~~,'Can :'liMp, J»'dduCtit~' policy ~lutions they wrote: MICHIGAN aFARM NEWS leFfpUy go into the rct-ailing business •. be pro- "Our time-tested and stlcccisfui pattern of THI! ~TIOIW .-ueLlCAnoH Of' THI£ MICHIGAN MIUt eultl!AU ducers and retailers. too, without '1 u1ming afolll legislative representation on both an area and Tho M1CHlCAN FARM KEWS i~ DIRECTORS: District I, Max K. of tT,c anti-trust laws? rmhlished monthly. on the first day, Hood. Paw Paw. R-I; District 2. Wil- a population basis provides a workable system by the Michi\!an Farm BUTeIlU. at its hur H. Smith. Burlinsrton. R-l; District The final decision at the convention was to puhlication oflke at 109 N. Laf8vett~ 3. Donald L. RnhH~. Dexter; Dis- of checks and balances. It assures a republic Stref't. Grf'enville. MichiJ,8n .. trict 4. E It 0 n R. Slnith. Caledonia, give the proposal careful ~1:udy in the im- Editorilll and ~~nernl offices at -WOO R-I; Dutriet ,S. David Moms. Grand mediat(' future. The American' Fann Bureau that is truly representative form of govenunent :\'orth Grand River Avenn~. Lan~in~. LedJ;te. R-3; District 8. Ward G. Hodllt'. with consideration for minority and area in- Michil(an. Post Office Box 960. Tele- Snover. R-I; District 7. Kf'Tmeth Hull. Board of Directors is charged with making this phone. Lan~illj;t. 485-8121. Enension Bailey. R-I; Di~tri<:t 8, Harvey Lellen- terests. 317. hcr~t'r. Sll!tinaw, R-6; District 9. study. EII~cnt' Roherts. Lftkl" City. R-I; Dill- Estnblis1Jed JanU811' 12. 1923. Sec- "'Ve reCOlllmend a Constitutional amendment ond Class l'ostap:e paid at Gf"eenville. trkt 10. Edgar Diamond. Alpena. R- 'Vlwu the facts are in and have heen care- 2; District II. Edmund Sager, guaranteeing the states the right to apportion ~fichil!:an" Stephenson. fully examined, the Board can call a special one house of bicanwral state legislatures on the EDITORIAL,: \Vocll. Staff Artist. Sam B~. Editor. Mf'lvin L. \VolJ1('n's DIRECJ"ORS Fmhul. AT LARCE: Frnnk .. nmut": Wn!tl'r Denn PridlZl'On. meeting of the delegate hody for a rfecision. basis of factors other than population. ~1atcrial. Mrs. Donnn \V.ilheT. MOllt!tomery. R-I; Walter Wightman. Or the matter may IJC lryt until ti,e Convention O.-FICERS: Michilllln FarrA Bu- Fennville. R-1. r~all: Presl4ent, Elton R. Smith, Cale- WOMEN OF FARM BUREW: Mrs. to he held flext Decemher ill Clrtca{.!,o. ,\' e strong,ly urge state Farm Bureaus to donill. &-1;" ~~~ Prtuidcut D~an Wi1Iil'lm SL'Ca.mHn~!!v; FARM ~U- One ''':,ay or another, w(' have not heard the Pridj!eon. MontJ{omef)'. R-I; ~t"t...".. .l\EAU YOUWG ~LE: Raymond seek enactment by their state legislatures of M.ma"er. Clftl"Mll'l' E. l>n-utice. Ok~rnos. KtJchar~k. Gl\ylord. last of the idea. But, (rom where I sit, I think petitions to Congress calling for a Constitu- ~----- POSTMASTER: In JK.ing fOf'm 3579, moll to: Michigan Farm Mtwl, 4000 N. ~lat the delegates showed ~ry ~ood judgment tional convention ta consider this esstle ... " Grand iVY.r, lansing, Midligan. in handling this question. " SecorNI clan podag. paid at G-.,nV'l1le, M;ch~ '. M.W. ~ton Smith MICHIGAN FARM NEWS January 1, 1965 THREE Your Attitude Can Kill You! Public indifference is the most dangerous roadblock to safety! PROPOSALS That people "don't give a hang" about the mounting record of The Commission drafted 29 vehicle accidents, deaths and injuries was the.most distressing recommendations. Among them, it proposed that: problem faced by the Governor's Special Commission on Traffic 1. Our Michigan State Police Safety, appointed in 1964. and other enforcement agencies Representing Farm Bureau on this Comission were Nile Ver- are seriously undermanned and million~ Vice-President of the Farm Bureau Insurance Com- handicapped in traffic enforce- ment and control. The Mich- panies, Marjorie Karker~ and Mrs. A~to,! Hoort~.'Portland. igan State Police force should be expanded up to national WE, THE ENEMY reflected in rapidly rising insur- ance rates, has not checked the standards. Pogo, the comic strip possum, accident rate. Rates cycle upward 2. That police agencies exclaims, "We have met the again and again. The losses and should increase their use of enemy, and he is us!" Driver atti- ballooning court judgments make devices, such as radar, for the tude and public callousness con- higher rates inevitable. Court detection of violations. Almost tribute more than any other thing dockets are overloaded with traf- all accidents occur when a to our highway calamity. fic accident damage suits. violation is being committed. • Majar project fo,. the Cam mis- The Governor's Special Com- 3. That Michigan have more sian is "How to jar the public out mission on Traffic Safety brought uniform regulations for licens- of t his coma of indifference?" together 219 citizens. Some were ing vehicle operators under the Nothing has done it up to now. public officials. Most were just direction of a single state Drivers take security behind their citizens concerned with the public agency. This agency would insurance and their seat belts- interest. Hours of study and dis- also handle titles to vehicles. a thin shell of security~ indeed! cussion of the problems behind More exacting tests for oper- These protections may even be the bad record were aimed at find- ators' lie ens e5 w 0 u Id be re- taken as license to be less cautious ing answers. Causes of accidents on the roa~. The driver's guard quired, the point system for of known road hazards even FARMERS' CONCERN were numerous. It was clear that violations would be made if it required an increase in gas is down. The disastrous accident record no single "cure" would correct the broader and more meaningful, and weight taxes to do it. The public snaps its fingers at on the rural roads in the past two situation. and adjustments in penalties 8. That all new drivers be the accident reports. Manufac- years roused the concern of Farm Sub-committees were selected would be made for drivers who required to take driver educa- turers jump the power of cars, Bureau delegates at the conven- and gave special attention to cer- operate a vehicle without a tion instruction with longer build "speed jobs." Gasoline tion in November. They recom- tain aspects of the problem - law license. training periods than are given companies advertise "get-away" mended the formation of County enforcement, traffic courts, driver 4. That special traffic courts at present. power. The accident problem is Farm Bureau Safetv Committees education, vehicle safety, highway be esta blished, pre sid e dover out of their aura of thought - as 9. That all motor vehicles be to tackle the proble~l at the home engineering, driver licensing, acci- by qualified, full-time fudges. remote as an orbit of Mars. inspected for safety at regular level. dent recording and public infor- Drivers forget the hazards of the 5. Since present controls intervals by state-authorized or The delegates gave support in mation. highway until they suddenly find over drunk driving have proved state-operated inspection s t 0- their action to the recommenda- Recommendations de vel 0 p e d themselves at the center of a rend- ineffective, stricter laws should tions. tions of the Governors Commis- by the Commission were taken to ing crash. If they live, its memory be passed requiring consent to 10. That a stepped-up pro- sion regarding the regulation of regional meetings of citizen lingers on with the handicaps of allow a test for alcoholic blood gram of public information re- dmnk drivers, conditions for the groups in October of 1964 for their injuries - If. content. A scale of increasing garding the traffic situation licensing of drivers, and the re- study, discussion and support. penalties is recommended for and its records be pursued- moval of known road lUl::ar~. The Safety Commission gives Support is the main thing needed. repeated convictions. using all media of communica- They called upon farmers to top priority to a powerful public The recommendations will be campaign to arouse public con- placed before the 1965 Legisla- 6. That courts be given tion on a maximum basis. use the ubnost caution and care in cern - to shatter indifference. ture. It is clear that government greater discretion in the sen- ~Iany such proposals will be the operation of slow-moving farm Little can be accomplished until must take a hand. The tragedy tencing of drunk drivers, with considered by the Legislature at vehicles on the roads and high- safe driving and a demand for cannot be allowed to grow as it some of the present loopholes its 1965 session. You may want ways so as to avoid the necessity preventive laws is based on basic has in past years. Growing public in the law removed. to talk them over with your Legis- of laws which could be more attitudes of the people. support for, and respect for traf- 7. That a program be lators. But don't be a «roadblock." drastic than necessary for the Even the skyrocketing costs, fic laws to stop it, is a "must." stepped up for the removing Death on the highway is the issue. farmers . • Accident Tolls Boost New Auto Insurance Rates Blue Cross Benefits The increasing volume and expense of Michigan's traffic The ~1ichigan Farm Bureau announces a special ar- accidents will necessitate a rate adjustment for auto policy- PINPOINT BLAME rangement with Blue Cross-Blue Shield, to provide con- In pinpointing the responsibil- tinuous group coverage for 19-year old family members. holders of the Farm Bureau Insurance Group, according to The new, special lower-cost '"rider" extends family benefits ity for Michigan's rising accident N. L. Vermillion, Administrative Vice President. «The increase record, the voting delegates of to these young adults at a great reduction in costs. becomes effective January 1st, 1965." the Michigan Farm Bureau have The special "Family Continuation Rider" (rider "F") placed part of the blame at the is added to the parent's contract and provides continued The dollar amount of each policyholder's rate adjustment will door of automobile manufacturers Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage for young adults be- depend on driver classification. "whose present promotions stress tween the ages of 19-25. horsepower, blazing starts and "Farm Bureau Companies, like insurance companies through- the speed capacity of their prod- It makes possible a 50 per cent reduction in cost from out Michigan, have encountered increasing auto claim expenses ucts." the present single-subscriber rate. Coverage wiu be the At the same time, the Farm Bu- same as the parent's contract. during recent years," Vermillion stated. "This accounts for the reau delegates noted that fanners To be eligible for famil)'. continuation coverage, the general upward trend of rates throughout the state." dependent must be: (1) unmarried, (2) dependent on themselves are often at fault and More Michigan residents are cited records which show a ris- parents for more than half of his support as defined by having traffic accidents each day financial loss which has been esti- ing incidence of traffic accidents the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and reported as such on and the resulting costs - medical mated at $380,000,000, the in- on rural roads. "Accidents on the parent's most recent income tax return, (3) a legal care, repairing damaged vehicles, surance official continued. This these roads and crossings have resident in the parent's home (temporary residence at and liability judgments - are is an increase of $40,000,000 or been rising faster than at any about 12 per cent over 1963. school or summer camp also constitutes '1egal residence" increasing at a rapid rate. other point in our road system," ''In spite of rising expen')es~ they noted. at home). Premium rates are detennined bv the driver's classification, the Fllrm Bureau Insurance Among recommendations listed Application forms for this special family continuation \~hich is bmied on factors such as Group will continue to do every- to help halt that disastrous trend rider have been mailed to each Farm Bureau subscriber age, sex, vehicle usc, geographical thing possible to provide policy- were: use of seat belts, removal haoing a minor who reached the age of 19 in 1964. location, and type of ve h ic Ie. holders the most comprehensive of road obstructions, fun use of Other Farm Bureau members with dependents between \Vhen the dollar amount of claims coverage available while main- the red triangular metal warning 20 and 25 years of age who are eligible for family con- paid in a certain classification in- taining the lowest possible pre- flag on all slow-moving farm ve- tinuation coverage will be given the opportunity to creases substantially, rates must miums," Vermillion said. hicles, safe operation of farm ma- select this "rider" at the next Farm Bureau group re- be adjusted to maintain protec- Policyholders were urged to chinery, and the clearing of brush opening in March. tion for an policyholders. The ac- contact their Farm Bureau agent and tall crops that hinder vision Nineteen-year-oIds who do not qualify for Rider "F" cident volume in some rural areas, if questions arise concerning the [It intersections. will continue to be offered Blue Cross-Blue Shield group for example, is growing faster rate adjustment. The 210 mem- "Failure to check the rising ac- coverage in their own name under their parent's Fann than. that of urban areas. bers of the agency force through- cident trend must mean rising in- Bureau membership at single-subscriber-rates as is the In addition to immeasurable out ?vt ichigan can answer specific surance rates, to say nothing of suffering and pain, M i chi g an's' inquiries and gladly make any the endless deaths, in;uries and present policy. 1964 traffic accidents caused a desired coverage changes. suffering," the farm leaders said. FOUR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS capitol r.e,port Policy "Briefing" Planned- ~1ichigan Congressmen are meeting with National Affairs for action on eight points for Committees of County Farm Bureaus prior to the opening of improvement. In order to pro- the first session of the 89th Congress on January 6. vide time for this program to be- The State's delegation is composed of 12 Democrats and 7 come effective, delegates sup ported a two-year extension of GOY. GEORGE ROMNEY congratulates Ernie Porterfield, Farm Bureau member Republicans. Seven of the 12 Democratic Congressmen will be from Harrietta, on becoming Michigan's 1,000th "active" tree farmer. Porterfield, the present \-Vool Act. a pulpwood producer and sawmill operator, told Gov. Romney, "I'm glad I came "freshmen" serving their first term. U. S. mill consumption of ap- in the middle of the century, for tree farming promises a future for this once In familiarizing themselves with Farm Bureau policies, the stump-dotted state." The Wexford County tree farmer and his son, Jim, produce parel wool has continued to de- Congressmen are hearing the report of decisions hammered out cline while the consumption of about 3,000 cords of pulpwood and 15,000 board feet of lumber annually. at the American F~rm Bureau Federation convention held at wool-like synthetics has increased Philadelphia December 7-10, 1964. to five times its 1954 level. The meetings \vere scheduled -------------- Apportionment of state Legis- in late December so that the Con- be placed under contract for up latures is another topic to be dis- gressmen could have the advan- to ten years.) cussed with Congressmen in the Apple Prices Move Up tage of the most recent thinking The program would emphasize series of meetings. Farm Bureau of farmers. the retirement of whole farms, is supporting two actions. One For the first time in modern ship and of MACMA's ability to Delegates at the Philadelphia thus greatly reducing the cost - an amendment to the Urtited memory, the price of a bumper deal with processors in matters of administration and permitting crop of Processing apples has in- of price and other terms of trade. convention recognized the need low income farm families to look States Constihltion providing that creased as the y~ar progressed. for change in the present price one House of a state Legislature An affiliate of the 1\1ichigan support and adjustment program. for better opporhmities in other may be apportioned on the basis This is exactly opposite of former Farm Bureall, the MACMA or- They urged that the present endeavors. Grazing of retired of factors other than population. trends where a bumper crop ganization is one of the newer wheat and feed grain laws be acres would be prohibited. The other deals with resolutions usually spelled low prices, drift- "economic services" in Farm Bu- The Farm B II rea u proposa 1 ing toward prices still lower. repealed or be allowed to expire. would cost much less than the to be passed by state Legis- reali's substantial market develop- New wheat legislation should be lahlres, calling on Congress to The Michigan Agricultural Co- ment program. enacted in time to eliminate the present program, which has re- initiate a Constitutional Conven- operative Marketing Association necessity for another referendum tired land on a year-to-year basis, tion for the purpose of amend- (MACMA) this week reported a In a year when Michigan's on the ~vheat certificate plan now permittin~ rotation of acres. It ing the U.S. Constitution. further substantial increase in apple crop of 18% million bush- is estimated that 40-60 million price for Spys and other pre- els (compared to last year's small called for under existing law. This acres should be retired in order Two thirds of the states must crop of 12 million) threatened to would propose the same program ferred varieties out of storage. 11 to ad;ust agricultural production. initiate such action before a Con- engulf producers with vast ton- which was vigorously rejected by The increase in Spys was a full An average figure of $15.00 per vention may be called. Ratifica- 50~ per hundredweight on sales nages of Jow-priced, marked- wheat growers on ~Iay 21, 1963. acre has been estimated. During tion by three-fo!lrth~. of the states down apples, the marketing ef- made just prior to Christmas, In order to clear the slate for the previous cropland retirement will accomplish the actual bringing them to the $4.00 mark. forts of MACMA have been large- new legislation, delegates would program, the average cost was Amendment. This is a price considered '"in ly credited with holding the price diminate the authority of the $10.55 per acre, with more land These actions would mean line" with earlier MACMA sug- level to a realistic figure. Secretary of Agriculture for wheat offered than could be accepted. little to Michigan unless the gested prices. marketing quotas and acreage After vigorous debate, dele- Courts strike down Michigan's In the opinion of many grow- Michigan processing apple ers, Farm Bureau - through allotments and would repeal the gates recommended elimination present gerrymandered apportion- growers look upon the price in- multiple price wheat plan. The of the price support on soybeans. ment as violating the state's Con- MAC MA - "held the price level crease as direct proof of the value at least 50t per bushel higher 1963 Feed Grain Act and the Said one delegate _ "\Ve'll never stitution. of their Farm Bureau member- wheat program applying only to be in a better position to elimi- than it would have been." 1964 and 1965 would be per- nate soybean supports." mUted to expire .. Delegates devoted much atten- Farm Bureau The Farm Bureau program tion to improving the cotton pro- would enable each farmer to de- gram. During the past 30 years, cide for himself which crops he cotton has lost much of its mar- should grow, how much of each ket to synthetics, partly because he should produce, and whether of high price supports. The na- Henry Nelson, prominent Ionia or not he should place a part or tional cotton allotment is now 16 orchard owner and farm leader, all of his farm under a cropland million acres. At one time 48 recently expressed his beliefs con- retirement contract. Price sup- million acres were devoted to the cerning the importance of Farm ports on wheat and feed grain production of cotton. It is esti- Bureau and its market-develop- would be set at the U. S. farm mated that 10 million acres ac- ment program. His statement price equivalent of the average tually could grow enough cotton follows: world market price during the for the present market. Acres not preceding three years but not less growing cotton move into soy- Farm Bureau and its market- than 50% of parity. Support beans, grain sorghum or other ing organization, "MACMA" have prices set in this manner, (1) crops thus competing with gen- been of definite economic value would permit the market to op- eral agriculhtre. to me. I make this statement crate, (2) would not encourage The Farm Bureau program after experience gained as a long- unneeded production but (3) would provide a gradual reduc- time Farm Bureau member and would provide protection against tion in cotton price supports and as a member of the Michigan a substantial drop in wheat and a new proposal would offer an Agricultural Cooperative Market- feed grain prices. To prevent allotment retirement program ing Association for the past four depressing market prices, the Sec- whereby the grower could release years. retary would be prohibited from his allohnent permanently in ex- MAGMA sold my last two PART OF THE CROP - from 100 acres of apples, is examined by Henry Nelson selling CCC surplus stocks of change for three annual rental processing apple crops. I am con- in his orchard near Ionia. A strong Farm Bureau booster for more than a wheat and feed grains at less payments. vinced that the action of this Farm dec~de, Nelso~ has bee~ ~n early supporter of the Michigan Agricultural Coop- than 125% of prevailing price The Farm Bureau program Bureau affiliate lUls netted me at erative Mork~ttng Assoclotlon (MACMA) - the processing apple marketing suc- support levels, plus carrying also calls for the gradual reduc- least an extra twenty to thirty cesses of which he feels could be spread to other commodities. charges. tion and elimination of the cotton cents per hundredweight of Far m Bur e au's act ion wit h Farm Bureau delegates put mill subsidy program now cost- apples sold, for both years. That's the processing apple-area sets an ~IACMA, the processing apple example for Farm Bureau mar- emphasis on a '"practical land re- ing $300 million per year. a lot of extra income when one prices held up, and have even tirement program" which would Delegates supported the Sugar considers the nearly 30,000 bush- keting associations elsewhere. seen an increase in prices Over the years I have heard help adjust agricultural produc- Act and proposed to increase the eL~ of apples involved this year recently. tion to effective market demand. hasic quotas for mainland sugar alone. farm neighbors say many, many Of course, not everyone grows times, 'farmers s h 0 u Id get to- The proposed program would be as well as increasing the domestic What is not so apparent is the processing apples, but it is ap- temporary and voluntary. It portion of market growth. effect this marketing association gether to get things done: We]), parent to me that Farm Bureau here is' a going Farm Bureau out- would provide for competitive Delegates also authorized sup- has had on the rest of the in- strength can be used just as bids by farmers and would take port for a two-year extension of dustry. This year was one of our fit that can benefit all of Mich- effectively in other areas, in other igan agriculture. cropland out of production for the present Wool Act. Delegates heaviest crop years. Usually a commodities and crops. The three to five years. (Land di- recognized that wool growers bumper crop means that farmers I say 'Join Farm Bureau' and business-like manner in which lIse it to huild the marketing tools verted to timber production could need a better program and called take a licking. This year, through MACMA has conducted itself in we need. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS January 1, 1965 FIVE ,,' Wilbur Smith's • Iron-Curtain Ag rlcu Itural Report Mr. and :Mrs. Wilbur Smith, Burlington, were among a ••• group of 59 Michigan farm people who toured Iron Curtain countries in September. Included were visits to- fanning areas of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union. 'Vilbur is District 2 Director on the Michigan Farm Bureau Board. Mrs. Smith (Ruth) formerly taught school for many years. Their tour account follows: QUESTION: What do you feel is the most important single thing you have gained from your Russian experience? ,~. RUTH: The fact that it truly was a person-to-person ex- perience. We 'wondered if Russians have the same opportunity to observe us as we did in visiting them. Our question was answered as we came back on the plane from Brussels, for we discovered 25 Russian farmers coming to Ohio, to gain im- pressions of farming there. I feel that it is through such people-to-people programs that we will eventually solve the world peace situation. Every- ... where we went, people in the schools, those one met in the street - all said they wanted peace, "we" want to be friends with the United States .. ." QUESTION: i wonder if they mean the same things as we do when they use the word "Peace?" WILBUR: I d.on't know. Since Khrushchev is gone - it is my opinion that the people of Russia will be worse off than before. At least the people of the towns felt that they were treated much better under Khrushchev than under Stalin. GIGANTIC MACHINES are proudly displayed to impress PIONEER PLOW almost identical with those used to break visitors at the Moscow Exposition. Although monster ma- U.S. prairie sod 200 years ago, is a common one-horse tool QUESTION: What was your im- chines such as this multi-beater manure spreader are on on "modern" Russian farms. Visitors report many one-horse All through Poland we saw year-around display, they are seldom found at work on implements such as drills and drags. Modern farm ma- pression of Moscow? such things as one horse, pulling collective farms, tourists report. chinery is scarce. 'VILBUR: We stayed at the big a single plow, just as the pioneers Leningrad Hotel. That night we of America did to break the were just wandering around and prairie sod here about 200 years ended up finally at the train depot ago. Single-horse, one-section , across the street from the hotel. drags - grain drills of 7 or 8 Th(~rewe discovered hundreds of holes, show how far behind the people waiting to get somewhere. times this part of the world is. Most were poorly dressed, many clutched a few tomatoes, a few QUESTION: What about farm- apples, or watermelons. Many ing in the Soviet Union itself? were stretched out, sleeping, sur- RUTH: Sixty per cent of the Rus- rounded by their possessions. sian people live on farms.• I think there are four things \~ QUESTION: How were people wrong with Russian farming. In on the street dressed? the first place, the people who RUTH: I would say that just manage the "Collectives" are not going along the street in Moscow, ne6essarily farmers. At the Col- one would think they were on lective where we visited in Tbilisi any street in America. People - we asked the manager what he were well dressed and they did before coming to the farm. He combed their hair about the same said that he had been a clerk in way as we do. They have perm- a city office, yet now three years anents - I got a hair-set for 75~ later, here he was managing this in Moscow - the same thing cost farm. me $4.00 in Switzerland. They I would say that the Russian wore about the same kind of farm machinery is the next major shoes with high-heels as we do. defect within their system. We However, the peasants are another SaW little machinery on the farms. matter. Although their clothing They always said that it was ,-,\ appears clean, they dress more as "busy out in the field," but we _flJ'l1. we think of Russians dressing- never saw any out in the fields PRIVATE-ENTERPRISE CORN is lush and well tended. By comparison "Government corn" is weedy and stunted. PEASANT CLOTHING is coarse and shapeless, and has much women have long, shapeless and other than a few pieces that didn't Wilbur Smith stands in shoulder-high one-acre field granted the appearance of that worn by pioneer immigrants to the coarse dresses, shoes are flat and even seem workable. The ma- to Peasants by government decree. Russian farmers lavish United States years back. These citizens were hiking along without style. chinery we did see had not been attention and care on these private plots. a typical dirt and gravel farm-to-market road. taken care of. QUESTION: What were your The next thing that is wrong impressions of "Iron Curtain" with R us si a n Agriculture, and farming? they admitted this, is that they do \VILBUR: After leaving Moscow, not have the chemical fertilizers we went into Poland, and visited which they need. both a Collective and a State But the fourth and most im- Farm there. There are also a portant thing wrong with Russian few private farms left in Poland. farming is the lack of initiative A State Farm is a true, state caused by their system. owned and' operated enterprise, Since private enterprise is not with wages paid by the "State:' allowed, the people who love the A collective farm is considered land, who would be best to farm more on a "cooperative" hasis, in it, are not allowed to do so. \Vhen that "wages" come out of gains you are not doing something for Inade, if any, at the end of the yourself, one docs not put com- year. plete effort into it. The peasants One man had 80 aCff~S and are allowed from a half, to a full- somc pretty good machincry on acre of land. and a cow amI a his "private" farm. Hp was mak- calf, a pig and a few chickens. ing an equivalent of four or five This is theirs. They may use it thousand dollars per year. ~Ilost- themselves, or sell their produce. ly on sugar-beets. \Ve found out YOIl can readily guess where the that at the end of the year the real time and energy goes. government steps in to remove \Ve have a pichlre of a com more than half of this for "taxcs." patch next to a house. \Vilbur is Too, there are controls that can standing in it, and it is very tall, be exercised, and if for any nmn- very green patch of lovely corn. bel' of reasons the government \Ve went out into the main officials decided that the fann is cornfield for a comparison, and it not being "economically" han- is there that vou see the differ- RUSSIAN STUDENTS LINE UP for photograph made in Baku. The Smiths were much impressed with school officials and the strict disciplines under which students worked. Many students speak excellent English. Mrs. Smith said, "as a Kinder. dled, they can step in and con- ence between' Communism and garten teacher I made nct .. of the fact that youngsters do not start 1st grade until they are 7 years old. Before then the fiscate it. private enterprise. children often attend nursery schools where they are taught involved subjects such as 'morals' and ideology. SIX January 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Freedom, Economic Forums Smith Sets Example By Nonnan A. Brown Caledonia High School, he wasn't CoordinatOr of. Student Progtams sure about furthering his educa- ' .. Michigan State University tion. Smith Jvqught the young man to the Michigan Srate Uni- . People interested in the future versity campus and introduced of Michigan agriculture could him to faculty members in the well take note of the example set dairy department. by Michigan Farm Bureau presi- Young Good has earned all of dent" Elton Smith. his expenses through working slimmers and during the school Smith, an outstanding Kent year. I n his junior year he was County dairyman, has been re- awarded a Dairy Memorial sponsible for guiding one of Scholarship which provides tui- Michigan:» State University's out- tion and this has been hi{) only standing students into a career outside help. in agriculture. Jerry Good, a dairy Good gets-tlp each morning at maior in the Michigan State Uni- 1:45 a.m. and works till 6:45 versity College of Agriculture, a.m. milking the cows at the gives Smith much credit for en- Michigan State University dairy couraging him to attend Mich- research barns before going off igan State University. to his first class. Other sleep is Good, a city boy, worked on worked in between classes and in the Smith dairy farm during high the evenings. That is, when he school. Smith provided the boy isn't busy with campus activities with a dairy calf and encouraged such as the Dairy Club. Jerry him to join a 4-H Club and study served this student club as vice WORKING TOGETHER - In plannng a pilot program for "building a better economy" are Farm Bureau leaders from ten, vocational agriculture in high president last year and is now south Michigan counties. Meeting at Olivet College, they planned with college and Michigan Farm Bureau Officials, a school. Upon graduating from president. f seminar on national economics for farm leaders. - Counties participating are: Branch, Ingham, Hillsdale, Ionia, Jackson, Calhoun, Eaton, Kalamazoo, Barry and' Clinton. Freedom and Economics, two Massachusetts ballots; (4) Party become more eloquent in its de- areas of prime concern to Mich- structure and recent changes in fense .. igan farmers, will be examined party law .. Meeting on six consecutive Fri- in a series of conferences sched- The Freedom Conference is days, starting January 22, the uled by the Family Program Di- open to the public. Every Coun- sessions will center on such topics Put unproductive acres vision of the Michigan Farm Bu- ty Farm Bureau is urged to send as: (I) money, (2) banks, (3) reau for January and February. Included will be the annual a substantial delegation. investment companies. Following back to work with this will be discussion of the part Farm Bureau Freedom -Confer- ECONOMIC AREA ence, to again be held at Central played by the iron, steel, and Discussions centering around petroleum industries as represent- low-cost Michigan University, Mt. Pleas- our American private-enterprise ative of our basic resources. ant, February 11-12. system will be featured on the Later in the series there will be The seminar on economics will six-session "Seminar on Econom- discussions on Farm Bureau's pro- concrete drain tile be conducted in six consecutive ics" scheduled for Olivet College gram of economic services and on weekly sessions beginning Jan- later this month. distribution services such as re- uary 22, at Olivet, as a joint A "pilot" program cummtly tailing and credit. project of the Michigan Fann limited to residents in the ten The final session will deal with " Bureau and Olivet College. county area surrounding the col- government policy as it effects lege, the seminar has goals aimed business, price and costs. _ FREEDOM FORUM at creating a better understand- Success of this pilot project will According to J. Delbert Wells, ing of our private capitalistic sys- tie into plans to expand the pro- Manager of the Family Program tem, and to help rural leaders gram into other areas of the state. Division, Dr. Walter Judd, famed expert on the Far East and form- er Minnesota Congressman, will be featured on the Freedom Con- ference program. Judd served as RIJ1UJl E fu11ut, Rlp ollt -.•. a medical missionary to China By Jim Porter and is the former chairman of the "Top 0' Michigan" Rural Electric Company House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He will outline potential Most readers are familiar with cooperative type enterprises, trouble spots around the globe but few are aware of the unique aspects of rural electric co-ops and in another session will deal - their problems and handicaps. with the Southeast Asian situa- There are facts which have heen forgotten, taken for granted, tion. or never known, which should be set forth concerning the manu- Because of his personal knowl- facture (generation), wholesaling (transmission) and retailing edge of internal China and serv- (distribution) 6f electrical energy. ice on the Foreign Affairs Com- To begin, electrical energy can- mittee, Judd is considered one of not pe economically or efficiently on demand to a member-user at Draining waterlogged land lets you plant earlier, the greatest authorities on the packaged, frozen, concentrated, or any time, day or night, 365 da.ys hot war in the Chinese-Vietnam increases yields. In fact, concrete tile-with its otherwise stored for future flse. a year, on a cooperative basis. theatre. Rather it is generated, trans- This demand is limited only by low first cost-can pay for itself the first year A second major topic of the mitted, and distributed to the the need of each member-user, in profits from higher crop production. Freedom Conference is titled point of use instantly - at the generally requiring no advance Installation is simple-and fast. Uniform in "What follows state Reapportion- rates of 186,000 miles per second. notice or ordering. A flick of a ment by Court Decree?" Many 1 think you'll agree, that is prompt switch and a light bulb glows, or shape and thickness, with straight cut ends, states are in positions similar to service. a multiple horsepower motor concrete tile are easily aligned for maximum l\fichigan, in that they will be Electric cooperatives which labors uncomplainingly. drainage. And concrete's high strength and du- legislatively reapportioned by generate and transmit energy are The cost to build and maintain court decree on a strictly popu- commonly known as "G & T" Co- any electric distribution system in rability provide years of trouble-free service. lation basis. ops. There are two such co-ops relation to its revenue is greater Concrete tile are manufactured and designed Leaders well-versed in Consti- in Michigan. than in any other industry. This for local soil and weather conditions. Get maxi- tutional Government warn that The second, more common type presents finance problems in not this is the first step toward a are distribution or retailing co- only initial construction, but main- mum production from your croplands by in- complete change away from our operatives. Thirteen of these tenance also. This further compli- stalling concrete drain tile. See your local Constitutional Republic. "What serve their 96,000 member-users cates the difficult task of rural concrete drain tile manufacturer or tiling con- to expect next?" and "how fast in our state. electrification. will it come?" are questions to The assets of a distribution co- Electric cooperatives are neither tractor. He will be glad to give you estimates be studied. op consist of wires, poles, trans- governm en t owned, nor con- on the tiling job you have in mind and suggest Group sessions are planned formers, rolling stock, specialized trolled. They are NOT tax ex- the best tile size to use. again this year to discuss how a labor force, funds, buildings, land empt. NOT failures, but disturb- political party operates and local and equipment Ilecessary for de- ingly successful. NOT Commu- opportunities to work within a livering, recording, and billing of nistic-socialistic, but are FREE political ~party. Four discussion energy, plus the construction of enterprise. Not outmoded- Portland Cement Association groups are planned to include: new facilities, as well as mruntain- needless, but il vital, nec~lry 900 STODDARD BUILDING. lANSING. MICHIGAN 48?33 ( 1) precinct or township work; ing the existing delivery system. economic forcc. An organization to improve and extend the uses of concrete (~) what your county party chair- Elecfric co-ops have no "in- Non-l<:;tical - a kilowatt man does; (3) proper voting pro- ventory" of Kilowatt hours, thus, rOllldn't care !cws abollt Rcpubli- cedures - machine, paper, their function is to supply energy CMI and ])( nwumic ddferences ... MICHIGAN FARM NEWS January 1, 1965 SEVEN Dairymen attending the annual meeting of the Michigan to maintain their share of the Farm Bureau took active part in denate concerning a proposed higher priced milk. resolution that called for a share of Class I milk sales to be The amount of money avail- INFORMATION MEETING TO BE HELD allotted each producer, based on his production history. The able to pay for base milk depends upon the amount of milk sold as voting delegate body took no action on the resolution other A meeting to discuss the Dairymans' Class I Base Class 1 within the market. After than to encourage study of the proposed legislative actions and the total value of Class I and II proposal will be held under Farm Bureau sponsorship, asked for a vigorous educational program to inform Farm ~milk is computed, then this the evening of January 28. Bureau members of these proposals, "including the so-called amount must be allocated to base The meeting will be strictly informational with Class I Base Program." milk and excess milk in the mar- ample time for questions. No attempt will be made This article is the first in a series aimed at carrying out this ket. Excess milk is assigned the value of Class II. The balance of to promote or dissuade thinking regarding the pIau. policy. By Don Moore, Manager the fund can then be used for A panel of University people who have no commitment Market Development Division base milk. for or against the Class I Base will take part in the As Class I sales increase, more discussion. Ivluch attention in recent years money is available; but as the base Fanners interested in learning what the Class I Base has been focused on dairy mar- within the flUlrket. The effective- percentage increases, more and keting. Several government pro- ness of the base-excess plan de- more base milk must go into Class plan really is, and what its possibilities and limitations grams have been proposed, but pends on placing a premium on II - the same as though it were are, should plan to attend this session. County Farm the only one found generally ac- production during the base form- excess. Consequently, the base Bureau dairy committees are particularly urged to be ceptable to both Congress and to ing months. In so doing it has price decreases. present. farmers has been a support price The question becomes - to created a situation which is com- maintained through purchase by what extent does the base-excess Date: January 28 the Commodity Credit Corpora- monly known as the "base race." plan contribute to the increase in Time: 7:30 p.m. tion. Producers are put in the posi- supply in the market? And would In the last two sessions of Con- tion of competing against each the old seasonal production pat- Place: 109 Anthony Hall, Michigan State University gress there has been considerable other - and themselves to con- terns return if the plan were dis- support for legislation which stantly increase their base in order continued? would permit the establishment of a-so-called "Class I Base" Federal I Milk Order markets. The aim of the plan is to guarantee a milk producer in a Federal Order market a share of I Attention. Farmers ... the Class I (bottled milk) sales based on his production history. The thinking is that the dairyman always knows how much of his milk would receive the higher If you need more than Class I price and he would then be less anxious to produce excess milk. In these articles I shall try to discuss some of the background for the interest in such a plan, you can pay for no"W, some reasons favorable to it, some ask. your co-op reasons unfavorable to it, and pos- sible alternatives. BACKGROUND The base-excess plan for market- ing milk was devised many years manager about ago to help balance milk produc- tion throughout the year. Prior to the widespread establishment of Federal Milk Orders, some variations to the base-excess plan were in use. All had the goal of eliminating the spring flush and fall "drought." . As is well understood by those producers who market their milk under a base-excess plan, the base a PCA-FarIn Supply period is set during the months of low production. The average daily deJivery dming this period becomes the "premium" priced milk for the following year. In Southern Michigan, the pres- -Line of Credit J ent base is calculated as average daily production of the 5 months, -y- August through December. A 122 When your spring operating needs outrun your spring, summer and fall needs as your situation day minimum and 153 day maxi- mum is used in the calculation. checking account, see the manager of your demands. Because of every-other-day pick cooperative where ~supplies for your farm are Repayment schedules to your co-op are up, 154 days may be used in sold. He can tell you how to say llCharge It" and planned to fit your farm income. And you'll find some cases. Bases run from Feb- ruary to February. save money at the same time. The answer: a simple interest on the unpaid balance will lower Production statistic.."ishow that PCA-Farm Supply Line of Credit. your costs ... enable your co-op to give you seasonal peaks and lows have been pretty well leveled out. When \ All you have to do is fill out the application at better service. the Southern Michigan market is your cooperative. Production Credit is cooperat- Talk to the manager of your cooperative this compared to markets which do I i ng with you and your co-op manager, and a PCA week. ,It's the way responsible farm operators not have such a plan, it can be seen how well the goal has been field man will visit your farm to complete the say llCharge It" and still keep their supply coop- accomplished. For example, Mich- details quickly. On approval, you can buy your eratives on a very competitive business basis. igan's variation runs approximate- ly 8 % from high to low. In con- trast New York with a seasonal LOW COST LOANS premium of $1.00 during the low production months, runs a b 0 u t • Feeder Loans PRODUCTION CREDIT 26%. However, some other mar- • Improvement kets have an extremely favorable Loans ASSOCIATIONS balance of production . • Car and Truck Loans While base-excess plans have Adrian • Allegan • Alma • Alpena • Jackson • Kalamazoo • Lakeview • Farm Equipment Loans • Ann Arbor • Bad Axe • Bay City • • Lansing • Lapeer • Marshall. done well at balancing production Cadillac • Caro • Charlotte • Cold- Mason • Monroe • Mt. Pleasant • • Operating Cost Loans throughout the year, they have water • Escanaba • Gaylord • Grand Paw Paw • St. Johns • Sandusky. not done so well at holding down Rapids • Hillsdale • Howell • Ionia Traverse City the production of unneeded milk EIGHT January 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AT~ Fon GWLMgf WElCOME if TO PHILADElPHIA - Those attending the American Form Bureau an- nual meeting in Philadelphia, December 7-10, were greeted by gingh~m-c1ad By Donna \Vilber For the third year, the Oak- "Freedom Era" ladies from the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Women s Com- land County Farm Bureau mittee. Receiving programs from Mrs. Buryl Young, Morristown, and Mrs. May- Christmas is a time for giving, a time for reCeIVIng, a time \Vomen have chosen the county nard Rothenberger, Lonsdale, are (left to right): Ted Landis, Cal~oun ~o~nty for that warm inner-glow as we l)Iay the role first perfonned ~ledical Care Facility to be the Form Bureau president, and Mrs. Landis; Mrs. Smith and Wilbur Smith, MichIgan Form Bureau board member from Oist. 2. by the-shepherds and wise men hundreds of years ago at a recipient of their Christmas gift lowly manger In . B et II1 e I1em. -'bl this. year lk a fmuch-needed th h' flex-I . hI I hie wa er or e p YSlca This tnlC spirit of Christmas \~as ev~d~nced ~ roug.10ut t e _ therapy department. The ladies state as Farm Bureau people agam partIcIpated m theIr annu~l also provided the facility with holiday projects. In Alpena County, members of the \Vome~ s Chrishnas records for their new By Mrs. 'Vm. Scramlin, Chairman Committee, representing 29 groups, each gave $l.~ toward phonograph. Michigan Farm Bureau 'Vomen's Committee a gift for the 42 retarded children at the Pied Piper School. \Vhen the Lapeer County Six Michigan Farm Bureau \Vomen represented their state Farm Bureau \Vomen gathered at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in for their annual Christmas party, Philadelphia, December 7-10. They were your state chairman, complete with roast turkey and all the trimmings, they took a vice-chairman f.Jrs. Jerold Topliff, and four district chairmen collection to buy candy for the - AIrs. Verness 'Vheaton, ft.1rs. G.eorge Southworth, ft.! rs. Earl Suncrest Hospital. ft.! orehouse and ft.1rs. Earl Hendricks. Our voting delegates dinn_er -------------- ing our duties as citizens, she This has been an annual proj- ect of the Lapeer Women for was held at the Sheraton Hotel said, and stressed how effective the past 15 years. The candy is with state Farm Bureau presi- we should be in our church "ac- llsed in nut cups for_ the trays dents as special guests. Each tion" groups where citizenship, at the hospital for elderly folks. state chairman gave a one-minute civic reform and policy-making These have been just a few ex- report on an important project are concerned. amples. In almost every county, undertaken by the women dur- Later, A-frs. Smith was re- Farm Bureau \Vomen's Commit- ing the past year. Michigan re- elected chair1nan of the American tees spread joy to those less ported on the 20th birthday cele- Farm, Bureau \Vomen's Commit- fortunate than they. And because bration and the new scholarship tee and Mrs. Wm. Wilkie of they cared, the true spirit of program. Arkansas was selected as the new Christmas was theirs. At the women's annual con- vice-chairman. ference, members of the Amer- Other important action in- ican Farm Bureau Women's Com- eluded the presentation of the mittee presented a panel, "We, ] 965 work program for Farm WASHINGTON AIR the People." This was a dis- Bureau Women. Michigan will TOUR, MARCH 14-17 cussion of women's projects now incorporate parts of this total against the background of our program into their own, as will The sixth annual Washington great American heritage~ much other states, providing nation- Legislative Air Tour, sponsored of which centers in Philadelphia. wide effectiveness. bv the Farm Bureau "Vomen, has Mrs. Haven Smith, chairman The Michigan Women's deJe- For the fifth consecutive year, The children, who are train- h~en set for March 14-17. of the American Farm Bureau gates spent half a day sight- Alpena County's Silver City com- able, but not educable, brought munity group has sent a Christ- along Chrishnas cen terpieces, Cost? - $101.57 for air trans- \Vomen, chose as the title of seeing in Philadelphia, viewing mas gift box to their adopted jewelry, plaques and handpainted portation, three nights at the her annual report, "\Vhere to? - many historic places such as In- ward at the Traverse City State pillow cases which they had famolls \ Villard Hotel, s eve I' a I \Vhat next?" She mentioned great dependence Hall and the Liberty Hospital. Each of the 61 patients made. The school is supported meals, tips, etc. For more details, decisions in our country's history Bell. in this ward received a personally through the sale of these gifts, write to: Farm Bureau Travel and the actions of wOIllen follow- \Ve could not help but feel signed Christmas card plus money also from United Fund and par- Service, Infonnation Division, ing these. greatly challenged as we visited to pay for treats at their Christ- ents of the children. Organiza- 4000 N. Grand River Ave:, Lan- \Ve all have great responsibil- the sites which mark the birth of tions such as the Shiawassee sing. ities at the present time accept- American freedom. mas party. Gifts for the elderly was chosen Countv Farm Bureau \Vomen's as the Chrishnas project for the Com~ittee, which donates reg- Chippewa County 'Vomen. Al- uhu'ly, help keep the school in most 80 gifts were contributed to operation. residents of Maple Lodge, county In Livingston County, com- home for the aged, and to the munity groups have made dona- patients in the long-term care tions of gifts and money to the ward of War ~lemorial Hospital. Howell State Hospital. Mrs. Robert Sims, committee chairman, reports that much ap- The Newaygo County \Vomen preciation was expressed by these met in December for a luncheon institutions for remembering featuring holiday dishes. Mrs. people who would possibly other- Doris Shapter, Home Extension wise be forgotten. Agent, was special guest. The The Calhoun County Farm women were intrigued with her Bureau \Vomen showed the true demonstration of how fa mil ia r spirit of Christmas by contribut- objects in the home could be ing to CARE. Their December turned into unusual and attrac- meeting speaker was Dr. Charles tive centerpieces. Swan, sociologist from Albion ~'trs. Shapter spoke briefly on College. Dr. Swan spoke on the human resources program. Africa and its contributions and Just as agriculture has changed influence on the progress of the so much in the last few years, world. He pointed out that all .she said, changes in life will be men are of one race - the human occurring even more rapidly in race. the future. She explained that A heartwarming person-to- today's children will make up a person Christmas project took large part of tomorrow's labor place in Shiawassee County when force and asked, "\"hat of their RECOGNIZE ANYONE? - Perhaps even yourself? This was the 1947 Northwest Form Bureau Women's camp at Torch Lake. the \Vomen's Committee enter- preparation?" Discussion groups The photo was submitted by Mrs. Roy Neikirk who served on the board of directors when the Farm Bureau Women first tained ten retarded school chil- are being formed to bring these become on official port of the organization 20 years ago. Her contribution to the Women's 20th birthdoy celebration at dren, their teacher and two of problems before the people, she the annual meeting brought bock some memories - this enjoyable camp among them. Mrs. Neikirk explains that the lone the mothers. man in the front row, Mr. Wesley Hawley, M.F.B. staff member at that time, served as "watch dog" for the women, from said. his post just outside the camp gate. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS January 1, 1965 NINE ~,Report.Solid Members;~i.D.GA..I"iYS~~;;.,~ , .. ~ .'.~. ,.-~.". --~-. .' .~ '~-~.;~' ..~'~~~'~~:.~]f.\~~.'. \ A big membership gain for 1964 was reflected in the general tone of quiet optimism evident throughout the 46th annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau in Philadelphia, December 7-10. At the same time that states announced reaching their membership goals, the American Farm Bureau tallied an all-time membership high of 1,647,455. This is an increase of over 19,000 farm families who decided that the «Farm Bureau way" is the right way. Thirty-eight of the forty- nine units of the American Farm Bureau ~ederation showed membership gains over 1963; some reported gains in every organized county. As Secretary-Treasurer Roger Fleming pointed out in his annual~eport, this increase came in the face of continuing declining numbers of farmers and declining farm profits. Fleming also stated that the cost-price situation con- tinues to get too little serious attention from the very lawmakers in 'Vashington who are responsible for much of it. Although the gross income of farmers has increased by nearly one-fourth since 1947, he said that net farm income has dropped from 17.3 billion dollars to 12.5 billion in 1963. "Farm Bureau must improve its relations With others, both inside and outside of agriculture," he added. «We will need to learn how to communicate our policies and PRESIDENTS SWAP NOTES - American Farm Bureau president Charles B. Shuman and Michigan Farm Bureau president programs with regard to food and fibre, especially to the Elton Smith, take time out from busy schedules to talk about their own families and farms. Shuman operates a grain and livestock farm with his sons in Sullivan, Illinois. urban people of this country. 'Ve need to let them know we are on their side - that there is no inevitable conflict between the welfare of producers and consumers, instead we have a common stake in a food and fibre producing industry that is both productive and free." In his annual report to the delegates, American Farm Bureau president Charles B. Shuman asserted that gov- ernment payments have only partially offset tremendous losses suffered by the producers of wheat, feed grains, cotton and other crops as a result of the government's price-depressing surplus disposal operations. He said that "with the Administration's payment program going full ...... blast, net farm income continues to drop and family farms are being squeezed out of agriculture at a rapid rate . • GAIN «If the new Administration means what _it says about • lOSS making the market price system work, it will find that Farm Bureau will cooperate to the fullest extent." Highlights of every convention are the special interest meetings, where specialists from many areas of agriculture discuss oPP-.9rtunities open to farmers. Robert Braden, representing ~1AC~1A, the Michigan Agricultural Coop- erative Marketing Association, appeared at both the Or- ganization and the FnIits and Vegetables conferences to report the success of the Michigan Farm Bureau in the area of apple marketing. Basic to the success of any program, he said, is the need for it and a willingness by the producers to utilize it. "In ft.fichi{.!.an,"he reported, "we have been able to help only because we have merited the confidence of the producer and the respect of the buyer." lIe said that nearly two million bushels of apples will move this year through lHACiHA to processors, and that the industry shows signs of recording one of its biggest yeaTS. Among outside speakers appearing was Senator Allen Ellender, chairman of the Senate Agricultural Committee. Noting that the new compensatory payment program for cotton is proving very expensive and ineffective, he called on Farm Bureau to "join hands with the members of Congress and others in providing agriculture with a sound and realistic program that will benefit all mankind." Senator George Aiken, ranking Republican on the Senate Agricultural Committee, drew applause from the delegates when he called on Congress to submit the matter of legislative apportionment to the people for a vote. He called for "a fight to the finish" on this constitutional issue. Voting delegates late in the session reiterated their sup- port for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing to states the right to apportion one house of their legislature on the basis of factors other than population. They also called for a revision in the method for the selection of presidential electors. In the area of governmental programs, th