M OOBHIDOAiNI # - ^IRO^D INIEW Vol. 43, No. 5 Publis" Bureau May 1, 1965 Farm Bill is Warmed-Over Supply-Management Control "A market-manipulator's dream" — "more of t h e same pro- gram w e now h a v e " — "a hoax designed to trap b o t h farmers and consumers." Such are the tags placed by farmers a n d farm leaders on t h e Administration's n e w farm bill. After considerable delay, t h e bill ( H R 7097) dealing with wheat a n d feed grains has now been introduced in t h e House. The complicated measure has all the earmarks of a politician's late production and marketing al- delight in that it appears to offer lotments to farms. No limit would exist to the something for everyone. Yet most amount of CCC stocks that the consumers and farmers find little Secretary could dump onto the in it to their liking. market to break prices and manip- the cost of federal spending for "late farmers into the control pro- farm programs by some 200 mil- °^. j In his testimony in support of lion dollars. In theory the bill the hill, the Secretary said that would shift the burden away from his right to dump government taxpayers to consumers through stocks on the market was neces- what has been termed a 300 mil- sary to make his programs effec- lion dollar "bread tax." tive. "Aren't consumers taxpayers Besides the dumping threat, a too? I know of no way to separate lure is held out to farmers to them, do you?" — asked Mrs. help assure their cooperation in Haven Smith, Chairman of the the program. Although price sup- American Farm Bureau Women's ports on wheat are dropped to Committee of Michigan newsmen $1.25 per bushel, certificate pay- in a series of press-dinner meet- ments of an added $1.25 are of- ings. "How can 'taxpayers' save fered to entice farmers. money, when as 'consumers' they Farm leaders point out that al- are doubly taxed for the privi- though this s o u n d s l i k e $2.50 lege?" she asked. per-bushel wheat, it is not. The Under terms of the proposed p a y m e n t is available on onlv "45 legislation, the Treasury would be p e r c e n t of the 'normal yield' on tapped for the 200 million dollars a ] i o t t e d a c r e a g e . " Farmers must less than in the past to pay for comply strictlv with all acreage price supports and certificates on cuts ( g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d to be wheat and feed g r a i n s . N e x t , around 7 percent) — and with farmers would be offered certifi- other g o v e r n m e n t control pro- cates calling for 100 million dol- grams to get the "bonus." lars more in Brannan-Plan type Michigan Farm Bureau Presi- direct payments. dent, Elton Smith, has termed the When all provisions of the new bill "a warmed-over version of program are tallied however, the same program we now have, about 300 million dollars of new and which has failed miserably in costs per year would he added raising net farm income." to the consumer's grocery hill He noted that the proposed in- through higher retail prices on creased government payments to wheat and rice products and farmers of 100 million dollars per farmers would have less oppor- year actually breaks down into an tunity for increased incomes. individual farm increase of less The new farm bill would give than ten cents per day the Secretary of Agriculture al- mighty small return for the loss most complete authority to regu- of farmers' freedoms." Farm Bureau's Program In recent testimony before a H o u s e Agriculture Sub- committee h e a r i n g on w h e a t a n d feed-grain legislation, F a r m Bureau supported legislation which contains these provisions: Current wheat and feed-grain laws would b e either repealed or allowed to expire. Beginning with the 1966 crop, price supports for w h e a t LOVELY 17 YEAR-OLD PATRICE G A U N D E R , — displays the poise and confident charm would b e set at the U.S. farm price equivalent of t h e which helped her w i n the American "Junior Miss" title in nationwide competition for average world market during the immediately p r e c e d i n g the highly-coveted honor a n d $10,000 in scholarships. Sponsored by the Junior Cham- three marketing years, — currently about $1.34 per bushel. ber of Commerce, the competition involved 40,000 entrants. Premiums a n d discounts would b e used t o reflect market- d e m a n d for milling and baking quality wheat. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Gaunder of the rural Lakeshore area, south of U n d e r no circumstances would t h e price-support level St. Joseph, Patrice attended the Michigan Farm Bureau Citizenship Seminar at Camp of w h e a t or corn b e less than 50 percent of t h e applicable Kett this past summer as a student sponsored by the Berrien County Farm Bureau parity-price, — currently $1.26 per bushel for wheat and 78 cents per bushel for corn. Women's Committee. Later she recounted her Seminar experience on radio and To protect farmers against competition from t h e release before the delegate body at the County Farm Bureau annual meeting. She has cred- of Commodity Credit Corporation surplus stocks of w h e a t ited the Seminar w i t h broadening her knowledge and strengthening her convictions and feed grains, sales of these stocks.at less t h a n 125 p e r c e n t about America so that she could intelligently discuss the topic during the Judges' of prevailing support levels, plus reasonable carrying interviews in Mobile, A l a b a m a . charges, would b e prohibited except for sales w h i c h are offset by open-market purchases. Patrice has expressed the wish that every high school student could have the The Secretary of Agriculture would b e authorized for a Seminar experience. This wish w i l l come true for another 140 outstanding Michigan period of three years to enter into contracts for the volun- high-school students this coming Ju ly 12 to 16, when the 1965 edition of the Youth tary retirement of cropland with emphasis on whole-farm Citizenship Seminar, sponsored by the Family Program Division of the Michigan retirement. Farm Bureau, w i l l again be held at Camp Kett. (St. Joseph Herald-Press Photo) TWO May 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Editorial GUESS WHO SHOOK THE lREE? President's Column Everyone Loses ... Group Strength Weather, insects, and diseases - those llsed When I was a kid, if you wanted to tell to be the three big worries facing the fruit or someone a hot idea, the saying was, "Let me vegetable farmer. Usually a good spraying put a bug in your ear." Well, I'd like to put a solved most of the problems. bug in the ear of Farm Bureau members, and Those days of comparative calm have dis- no pesticides allowed! appeared under an avalanche of rules and I'd like especially to have this idea "bug" regulations imposed on temporary farm labor young farmer members because we need their by Secretary of Labor "'illard "'irtz. active help and leadership as Farm Bureau. Unless eased, these arbitrary decisions faces the future. threaten to upset the applecart, the cherrycart We know that farmers will face all sorts of and the whole wugonload of fnIit and vege- problems in the coming years. They will call tables. for the best kind of organized action possible. Buried side-by-side under the pile may well And when I say "organized," I mean it right be the producer and the consumer. The first, up to the hilt, and right where the farmer lives. laid low by unplanted or unpicked bumper crops, the other stretched out under the burden You can get organized action only if members of increased prices paid for fresh foods in are in a position to act together on quick notice plentiful supply. , when their support is needed and power counts. The termination by Congress of "Public Law That was and i.Y the strength of Community 78" last December started the struggle to find Farm Bureaus in !Jl ichigan. These {!,roups harvest help, with about 178,000 Mexican weren't organized just for the "heck of it," or just workers shut out by law from the ripening to create another meeting for members to go to. crops. They were formed to keep members in touc4 . The Secretary of Labor contends that if paid with what is happening which hits farmer in- "adequate" wages and given prime working terests in one way or another. They provide a conditions, the missing Mexicans can be readily replaced by local jobless now on the relief or - let's GoAll The Way- -'- system in which powerful action can be taken by thousands of members on short notice .. unemployment compensation rolls. WHY NOT AN EMBARGO ON All FOREIGN FOODS? The discussion program is designed to keep But the "easycome" rocking-chair kind of the'" members informed and to give them a money is hard to resist, and work under the Winchester, Va. chance to suggest directions for Farm Bureau broWn,£!, sun for people who bring to the job To the editor: You have written much recently about action. The Minutemen are key people in this ". only little experience and less enthusiasm, soon the labor regulations and requirements that the Depart- set up. becomes unbearable. Florida farmers contributed $2,100 to pay ment of Labor has issued regarding agricultural workers. They get' up-to-tbe-minut~ news about legis- the transportation for 74 domestic workers from Our tales of woe are interesting because misery loves lative developments. They can pass this along. Louisiana for a sugarcane cutting job. After company. Apparently they are falling on deaf ears in They can give the "alert" when support is need- the free trip, most of the workers refused to ~'ashington, at least as far as the Johnson administration ed. Without this system, the organization is work at all. Within ten days, not a single is concerned. loosely knit. I think it is vital. worker remained, and two had cut themselves Let's accept as fact that the Johnson Administration and its allies in this situation have a valid point. That point. By this method members have gotten over with knives and were building up hospital thirty thousand letters off to lawmakers in a bills at the grower's expense. bein~ forei~n workers keep Americans unemployed, and that the American public does not -want to eat food handled single day. This could never happen without Most disturbing of all i.Y the report that by said foreign labor. the Community Farm Bureaus. And these "1exican officials who were glum at first at If we can agree on this point, then it certainly follows groups are our own creation. the loss of the American jobs have now become that""Mr. Wirtz and Company would not wish to have food Another thing, - members have used their fubilant at the prospect of regaining them, along enter this country that has been harvested or grown by home groups as a means of tackling county and with the American processing factories as well. the same foreign labor. \Vhether used abroad or in this local problems together. They have gotten some California Senator George Murphy reports country it is still foreign labor and it should be recognized very important things done at these levels. Let's :~ that some U. S. plants are already being built for what it is. not forget it. They could never have done in Mexico and that similar plans are afoot for Let us then start our own clamor of «discrimination." these things individually. the big canning firms such as Campbell, Heinz, Let us point out the inequities of permitting this foreign food into America to compete cheaply against American It should be clear why young farmers are im- Del Monte, :Minute-Maid' and Tropicana. farmers and American labor. portant to this program and why the program is The Braceros that used to come to the United important to them. \Ve can't expect that prob- States will now be used to build up Mexico's Let us ask for an embargo on Canadian apples, French ...wine, Mexican vegetables, Argentine beef, and all of the lems will disappear tomorrow. In fact, farmers fruit and vegetable production, which in turn will need more unity of push than ever. They will be processed in American plants attracted rest of the food that is of the type that is produced by the labor that is so odious to Mr. Wirtz. can't afford to let their organization at the local • to the Mexican side of the border where the level go slack. labor is. Let us have proof, if such food is pennitted to enter our country, that decent American wages were paid to the For the past three years or so, bu~es and cars The final irony will be the exporting of these workers who grew it, and let's know that they were ade- have rolled into Michigan from Colorado, Vir- products to the United States at considerable quately housed when they were on the job, that their ginia, New York, Alabama and Florida. Ten- extra cost to American consumers. food was inspected, and that they were insured against nessee folks are coming soon - Farm Bureau Although spoilage of fruit and vegetable injury and illness. folks. Their main object is to study how Mich- crops because of lack of harvest labor has al- This is our -best weapon and argument to overcome igan's Community Farm Bureau system works. """ ready begun, Farm Bureau members s~e hope Mr. \Vitrz and his campaign. It points out the stupidity The fame of the system has gone nationwide in a law which they call upon President John- of his reasoning. I am sure an all out effort to accomplish and few states have anything like it. son to use, "Public Law 414" - to immediately this could turn congressional opinion in our favor. How about giving it a try? These visitors go home saying, "By golly- certify the admission of sufficient, temporary, DELMER ROBINSON, 'JR. that's the answer to good member organization!" supplemental foreign farm workers to handle -And we get copied. I know of no better com- the crops. pliment to our Community Farm Bureau sys- Michigan farmers are directly involved, for tem. So let's keep them strong and comi~g! although the problem may now be as far away ..' ........ as Florida, Michigan uses nearly 100,000 sea- MICHIGAN~FARM NEWS The point is simple. With good organization sonal workers, about 14,000 of which have THE ACTION PUBLICATION OF THE MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU you can communicate and act together. With- been Mexican or British \Vest Indies Nationals. The MICHIGAN puhlished monthly. FARM J\'EWS is on the first day, DIRECTORS: District 1, Max K. out it, you can't. Hood. Paw Paw, R-l; District 2, Wil- by the Michi~an Farm Bureau. at its hur H. Smith, BurlinlZton. R-l; District The urgency of tlie problem is paced by publication office at 109 N. Lafayette 3, Donald L. RuhlilZ, De x t e r; Dis- "'e now have 72 young-farmer Community Street, Greenville. Michi/tan. trict 4, E 1ton R. Smith, Caledonia. the harvest season across the country, led by Editorial and lZeneral offices at 4000 R-l: District 5. David Morris, Grand Groups in the state. \Ve ,ought to have 750. I North Grand River Avenue. LansinjZ. LedlZe. R-3: District 6, Ward G. Hod~e. would urge the County Farm Bureaus to go to California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexi- Michi/tan. Post Office Box 960. Tele- Snover. R-l; District 7. Kenneth Bull, phone, LansinjZ, 485-8121, Extension Bailey, R-l; District 8, Harve}' Leuen- work with their best efforts to get them organ- co, and finally as summer approaches, into our 317. herger, Saginaw, R-6; District 9, ized. Midwest. In desperation farmers call upon either Presi- Established Michigan. January 12. 1923. Sec- ond Class Postage paid at Greenville, EUjZene Roherts. Lake City, R-l; Dis- trict 10, EdjZar Diamond, Alpena, R- 2; District Stephenson. 11. Edmund Sager, And I invite every young fanner member to ... EDITORIAL: Editor. Mt'lvin L. dent Johnson or his Secretary of T...abor to act to WocU; Staff Photographer, Charles DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Walter take action. on his own to form a group with Bailey; Staff Artist, Sam Bass. \Vomen's Frahm. Frankenmuth: Dean Pridl!eon settle a silly situation in which everyone loses, Material, Mrs. Donna \Vilher. Montgomery, R-l; Walter Wightman; other young farmer friends and neighbors. The Fennville. R-1. the farmer his crops, the consumer his money OFFICERS: MichijZan Faml Bu: reau; President. Elton R. Smith, Cale- WO~fEN OF FARM BUREAU: Mrs. groups make the king-pin for tomorrow's Farm in higher prices for poorer quality food, local donia, R-l; Vice President, Dean .William Scramlin. Holly; FARM BU- Bureau organization. PridjZeon, Montgomery, R-l; Secretary- REAU YOUNG PEOPLE: Raymond industry in factories removed to a foreign Manager, Clarence E. Prentice, Okemos. Kucharek. Ga}'lord. If we get things done that need doing in the' country, and local workers, the jobs they used POSTMASTER: In using form 3579, mail to: Michigan Farm News, 4000 N. future if will be because we are well organized. to have in those factories now idle. M W . Grand River, Lansing, Michigan. Second class postage paid at Greenville, Michigan "1 embers will be in the act. .. '---------------------_--1 Elton Smith MICHIGAN FARM NEWS May 1, 1965 THREE TfJRNlIlJfJE$/ - a Night of Terror Funnels Wrack Countryside Death and Damage Grow The winds of tomadic force which slammed through Michigan the night of Palm Sunday, April 11, left a toll of heartache and misery which still remains to be fully assessed. The more dramatic stories and freak occurences have been largely recorded, but left untold are the more commonplace heart-rending happenings which in a few minutes per- manently scarred the property and the lives of hundreds of Michigan residents. Arguments continue about reasons why usual warning sys- tems failed. 'Veather Bureau officials contend that early and adequate warnings were given. Local radio and television sta- _tions assert that reports of possible tornadoes due to strike in the state were broadcast with regularity. The fact remains that almost a full hour elapsed between SCATTERED WRECKAGE - a typical sight in parts of Michigan following the Palm Sunday tornadoes. This litter is all that remains of three barns on the Alton Brooks farm in lenawee County. Althaugh damage was severe, the Braoks the time when "first-touch-down" brought death and damage considered themselves "lucky." Their h~me was only slightly damaged, and only one animal was killed. in one part of the state and when the same slow-moving "squall- line" hiding the deadly funnel formations reached their next target. In the shock period following such a wide-spread disaster, the inclination is to find someone to blame. But mere blaming will remedy nothing. The disaster system has a weakness. Undoubtedly more tornadoes will come. Rapid corrections of the causes of failure must be made. The warning system must be given a complete overhauling. In spite of the great city, suburban and resort-com- munity damage, far greater damage lies in the rural areas. E~ch farm is a complete "factory" - and great numbers of farm buildings succumbed to the raging winds. What value remains in an orchard with each fruit bud-tip splintered - or in a laying flock blown into the next county? Miraculously, most livestock "rolled" (literally!) with the punch. Although here and there a flock of sheep graze among their dead, and featherless chickens walk around in shocked nakedness, few of the larger livestock appear to have been • badly hurt. Uninjured horses and cattle have slowly wandered back to fenceless feedlots and places where their bams used to stand. STRICKEN FACES MIRROR NEAR-TRAGEDY - as Mr. and Mrs. Alton Brooks (left and right) stand in one of their few outbuildings remaining, and try to face a difficult future. Offering help in "Operation Clean-up" is lenawee County One herd of swine died, not from bruising injury, but be- Farm Bureau president, Ivan Hunt, and J. Delbert Wells, manager of the Family Program Division of the Michigan Farm cause they were packed solid With mud to the point of suf- Bureau. "Operation Clean-up" is a volunteer, cooperative, pick-up, clean-up effort coordinated through Farm Bureau. focation. The loss of life and property in the few minutes of time involved is hard to believe. Besides nearly 50 persons dead, insurance underwriters call the tornado property d~age loss a How Much Insurance is Enough 7 "fifty-million dollar blow," more than double that of any pre- vious storm in the state's recorded history. Although some of Following the financiaIIy- , this loss will be insurance covered - many sufferers will realize crippling tornadoes of April 11, 'many Farm Bureau members the inadequacy of their coverage in relation to replacement costs. Pointed up will be the need for all insurance users to con- stantly re-evaluate their coverage and keep it up to date to match spiraling values. throughout Michigan are re- evaluating present insurance pro- tection on their homes, household contents, farm buildings, and A Commendation Helping to ease the numbing shock were concerned Farm farm personal property. FROM FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT Bureau insurance agents and adjusters arriving with cash, Farm Bureau Insurance offices ELTON SMITH consolation and advice. Equally welcome were the more (especially in the stricken areas) fortunate neighbors who somehow escaped and offeI:.ed all they report an increasing volume of inquiries from policyholders wish- "Farm Bureau members, employees, and representatives had to give. People, livestock - and food for both - those ing to update and increase were first concerns. amounts of insurance. are to be commended for their exemplary action in pro- "Operation Cleanup" appears to be the next step. Most salvage A great number of the tor- viding assistance to those in tornado-stricken areas," Elton work has been done with the help of farm neighbors. Debris nado victims found themselves R. Smith, Michigan Farm Bureau president, stated in the scattered over miles and dozens of acres, must be picked over, . woefully under-insured. In the wake of the recent Palm Sunday disaster. shoved into piles and destroyed before an already-delayed spring case of total losses, many Mich- work season can begin. The sheer miles of junk created by the igan ~arme.rs will be for~ed to Late reports indicate that nearly 2,000 persons suffered capricious winds make this a herculean task. As one farmer bear fmancIaI burdens runmng up losses in the short period of time that the multiple-funnels . "W h at d 0 you d.th 20 acres 0 f w h eat w h en th ere to S tens '11If.of thousands of bdollars. put It, 0 WI dipped to earth in many areas of Michigan. Nearly 800 . k f d d .. h d f f?" orne WI eave armmg ecause are stic s 0 woo nven mto t e groun every ew eet of inadequate protection. homes were destroyed and close to 600 more suffered Everywhere, Farm Bureau has been involved. At the sug- Farm Bureau Insurance ex- major damage. Over 700 persons were injured and 49 gestion of Lenawee county Farm Bureau president, Ivan Hunt, perts recommend that members the students of the Onsted High School organized into teams to consider their insurance needs in were killed. Altogether, 400 farm buildings were destroyed help with the salvage and clean-up work. Later, older students light of actual replacement costs by the freak winds. from all parts of the county organized other teams to work. of property and belongings - Consisting primarily of financial aid and restitution pro- Farm Bureau members in Kalamazoo, Livingston, Calhoun, less de~reciati?n. The insurance E aton, J ac k son an d I.ng h am coun t'" vided by Farm Bureau Insurance, the assistance rendered Ies Jome d th ose m . str'ICk en buyert IStl" cautioned to allow for t , . I d I" . f cons an y lllcreasmg proper y included every imaginable tyPe - from personal help Branch, Lenawee and HI! s a e m servmg as contact pomts or values. Coverage that was ade- grouping and assignment of Farm Bureau work crews. quate one, two, or three years in the removal of debris, to on-the-spot claims service by Coordinating the work on behalf of the Michigan Farm ago, may be insufficient today. insurance representatives. Farmers left their own fields Bureau is J. Delbert 'VeIls, Manager of the Family Program Farm Bureau Insurance rep- to help others salvage the remainder of their belongings .Division. He has worked with county Farm Bureaus of the area resentatives are offering a "no and prepare fields for plowing. in scheduling workers on a "successive day" basis, such as has ?bligation" evaluation of present been done by the 'Vashtenaw County Farm Bureau which or- msurance coverage to Farm Bu- Mr. Smith continued, "Speaking for Michigan Farm ganized 100 men for several days of work. reau members. If inFterested con- , Bureau and those families who are benefiting from the . ' .... tact your county arm ureau B EntIrely too much has been SaId about the dIVISIon found office or Farm Bureau Insurance assistance, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for your within agriculture. The friendly, compassionate help of Fann Area Service Office for an in- service to fellow farmers." Bureau folks for all who suffered has shown once again how surance audit, including counsel really united fanners are. on any necessary changes. ,---- - - ---------------.-------.------.-------.----, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Crippling Damage As 400-mile-an-hour winds whipped through portions of southern and central Michigan, the people involved didn't have time to think about the damage being done to their property and belongings. They were too busy trying to survive. But with the dawn of April 12, the physical damage became painfully apparent. This house was gone - completely vanished. That house lay in a crazy heap on the place where the barn used to be. Silos were toppled. A calf, hip crushed, limped through the ruins of a chicken coop. Machinery was tangled into a mass of indistinguishable steel. This house ~as only turned around on its foundation, leaving the interior a junkyard of glass, plaster, dishes, food, clothes - and water from the rain that followed the tornado. Slivers of wood, sheets of tin roofing, and debris of every imaginable description, littered the fields as far as could be seen in very direction. AERIAL PHOTO of the Manitou Beach area in lena wee County shows a flattened dance pavilion (center, light area). This page of pictures illustrates some of the losses sustained The night before the storm, several hundred teenagers attended a dance there. High as the death toll was (nearly 50 persons in Michigan) - experts agree that many times that number could have been killed. by a few Farm Bureau families in various parts of the state. where only the . THE BARN OF WESLEY WHITE - Ottawa County, collapsed under the force of tornadoes, pinning lay in weird "stacks," down several horses. A few hundred yards away, a neighbor's home was ripped from. its foundation, leaving only a crippled shell. Reports show a total of 206 farm. buildings with "major" damage. COMPLETE SHAMBLES ore what Mr. and Mrs. Ross Williams, Hillsdale County, PilE OF JUNK remains of farm machinery, inspected by _Farm Bureau In- found when they returned from a trip. The barn was completely destroyed and surance Agent, Art Sturtevant and David Burkeholder, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd their home hopelessly twist~d on its foundation. Mrs. Williams is shown above STATelY TREES - by the thousands, Burkeh.older, lenawee County. As were many farm people, the family was standing where the window used to be. were shorn off as if by a giant mower. attendmg Palm Sunday church services when the storm hit. SCRAMBLED SILO - inspected by Tom Adams, Hillsdale. The tornado ripped the roof off their ONLY. SPLINTERS remain of this 50-foot mobile home, smashed against an embankment and nearby home, disintegrated several farm buildings, -scattered 200 bales of hay over the countryside and trees In Branch County. little remains of the once-shaded site where the trailer had been situated left this pile of rubble where the silo formerly stood. on the beach of Pleasant lake. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS May 1, 1965 FIVE Everyone Pitches in After the dust had cleared - neighbors, friends and, often, strangers pitched in to lend a helping hand. Local Farm Bureau members and those from neighboring counties poured into the stricken areas armed with chain saws and other tools necessary for "cleaning up." Teenagers removed and burned debris. Neighbors furnished food and shelter. Farm Bureau Insurance representatives responded to the need with immediate claim service and financial aid. Agents -. ~., - gave all possible assistance in initiating settlement of claims, including a personal survey of tornado areas to ascertain damage to the property of Farm Bureau insureds - in some cases, even before the county office had been notified of the loss. Adjusters worked night and day, making "on-the-spot" settlements where possible. All affected Farm Bureau insureds were offered cash to meet immediafe needs. All Fann Bureau Insurance claims were handled by the Companies' own Agents and Adjusters. Additional adjusters were brought in on a temporary basis from other parts of the state, and repairs, in some cases, were begun the day after the storm. H a delay was contemplated, temporary measures were FARM BUREAU MEMBERSfrom Eaton County stop at the Hillsdale Form Bureau office for directions to the form of a member whose property was badly damaged in the storm .. Directing them (extreme right) is former Hillsdale president, taken to protect property from water damage. Lovern Kromer, who himself suffered loss of all buildings on his place. Note the chain-sow, symbolic of the massive task. NEW ROOF GOES ON - as Hollis VanderKolk, Allegan County, and Roger Hansbarger, Form Bureau FOLLOWING THE STORM - Form Bureau Insurance Sales and Claims stoff representatives teamed to Insurance Agency Manager, look on. Repairs on the VanderKolk home were started the day following provide the kind of outstanding claims service typical of Form Bureau. Shown are Bob Nelson and the storm. The family's losses included a born with a recently finished addition. Ted Stevens, checking a claim .settlement on the Lloyd Bowman form near Reading, Michigan. ONE GIANT STEP of about 50 feet was token by the Wendell Burke home near Coldwater, picked up and deposited by the storm almost in one piece. Form Bureau Insurance Agent, Martin Crabill, is shown amid the rubble of the home . ,.- SEVERE DAMAGE to all out-buildings is evident on the Fred Meyer form, Allendale. Pictured are CAR AND BUILDINGS were damaged on the Joe DeBoer form, Kent County. Kent, Branch, Ottowa, Form Bureau Insurance representatives discussing plans for repair and rebuilding. Losses included a Hillsdale, Allegan and Lenawee counties were hardest hit by the strong winds. Pictured are Form born and silo. Reports indicate that nearly 400 form buildings were destroyed by the twisters. Bureau agent, Oscar Anderson, and Agency Manager, Burleigh Schroeder, helping asselS damages. SIX May 1~'1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Claim Settlement to Approach sl,OOO,OOO Claim settlements being made by Farm Bureau Insurance as a result of the Palm Sunday tornadoes will total an estimated one-million dollars - according to N. L. Vermillion) Adminis- trative Vice President. Approximately 500 settlements, ranging in value from $100 to $41,000, have been (or will be) made with policyholders of the Companies, as well as the hundreds of smaller claims. All claims are being paid as fast as they c~n be processed. "Special funds maintained by the Farm Bureau Mutual and Community Service Insurance Companies will be utilized to guarantee quick payment to policyholders who suffered losses," Vermillion added. "It is our long-standing policy to maintain sufficient catastrophy reserves for use in emergencies such as this." The insurance official explained that large risks and catas- trophe losses are spread among many other insurance com- panies) including the American Agricultural Mut}lal Insurance make sure YOU are fully protected Company) a cooperative federation of Farm Bureau Insurance Consider how much it would cost to replace your home and furnishings. Companies located throughout the United States. In this man- Include the cost of your barn, out-buildings, machinery and livestock. ner, no one company is requiredAo bear the entire burden of a major loss concentrated in one area. Are you fully protected? The Fann Bureau Insurance Group, headquartered in Lan- sing, provides protection for owners of approximately 150,000 Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance representative for a "no-obligation" insurance policies. Founded in 1949 with the birth of Farm evaluation of your present insurance protection. He'll explain your cov- Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, the three companies (Farm erages and make suggestions for changes, if necessary. Bureau Mutual, Farm Bureau LHe, and Community Service) have total assets in excess of $31,000,000. Your Farm Bureau Farmowners policy is a "package" of comprehensive Best's Insurance Guide, a recognized authority on appraising coverages for all your property and belongings, offered to you at a insurance companies, has given Farm Bureau Mutual its highest money-saving rate. rating of A+ (Excellent). They rate a company for its ex- cellence in underwriting) for its economy in operation, for its The Farm Bureau agent in your county is waiting, for a call right now. sound investments) its adequate reserve funds) and resources to meet and absorb unusual shocks. Farm Bureau INSURANCE What You Can Do WHEN A TORNADO Farm Bureau Mutual- Group Farm Bureau Life' Community Service, LANSING - - ~....STRIKES •.• With the tragedies caused by the Aprilllth tornadoes still fresh in their minds) the District 6 Farm Bureau Women) meet- ing in Lapeer for their annual spring rally, expressed more than cas- ual interest in the "Emergency Self-Help" presentation by Lester Bollwahn) Rural Defense Office) M.S.U. .. :;:;: f~Ir;:;:;::;::";::; warmest part of the day) usually in April) May) and June. kno,wn, is also reco~nized for its agriculture. Understand the meaning of tornado reports - a "fore- A frne example of rndustry and agriculture joining hands c~t" means that conditions are ripe for a tornado to develop within a defined area - be alert; a "warning" means that a tornado has been sighted - take shelter. Know what to do if a tornado strikes - open the win- dows on the north and east sides of the house) and then go .. to the southwest corner of the basement) or to an under- ground family protection area. Take a battery-operated radio along for instructions. If no below-ground protection is available) lie flat on the floor near an inside partition and keep away from windows. '4Iiplt "IIIIP grown-in-Michigan, processed-in-Michigan and '.' "'" "'lill[~lllrllt. Detailed tornado safety roles and other emergency Ili'rI;;!:;;I'~:::'~~~;~ll~' ;IU!l;I:;~';;;f-I'tlll:.*fil"J}:"I!'I";::::::::.:~tl';~' :':;"::!;'YI;""i~:~~:I.">tJiJ~!I!l~I,!I~ j:::~;:il;';~:: self-helps are available from the Rural Defense Office or local Cooperative Extension Offices. Bollwahn urges all fann families to secure this material. Ifl~frLj!;,;;I~"~~:' ..:,!t:.!K'~'".!'~. ~/,•.:...~r ,'. 11111~.IJ,lk~.'l' MICHIGAN FARM ,~ NEWS SEVEN MEMBERS HELP SHAPE ORGANIZATION velopment programs were other areas given attention by local At county-wide meetings all over Michigan, fanners have Farm Bureau members. "Improve been exploring the kind of Fann Bureau organization they want public and rural-urban relations" now, and in the future. These "Fann Bureau Review" meetings - some said, while other sug- are the third in a series of steps which wiII result in concrete gestions ranged from activating a "speaker's bureau" to arranging recommendations placed before the Michigan Farm Bureau the printing of regular newsletters hoard of directors. in counties not now covered. Through these meetings, in- the task of ~tudying the grouped Marketing suggestions included dividual Farm Bureau members recommendations and placing a "let's organize a 'Soft Wheat' as- have the privilege of making their final set of recommendations be- sociation," plus expansion of wishes known and actually take fore the Michigan Farm Bureau Farm Bureau's Michigan Agricul- part in shaping the future of their Roard. tural Cooperative Marketing As- organization. Adequate finan ce for Farm sociation (MACMA) into a long The study-action program was Bureau now and in the future, string of new commodities. originated by county Farm Bu- appears to be a prime concern, Perhaps the most-inclusive of reau Presidents and Executive with most county meetings re- all suggestions was that sen~, in IN SHIAWASSEE COUNTY - small discussion groups reviewed past occomplish- Committee members who met for porting active discussion in this by one county group, ... ex- ments of Farm Bureau and projected these to the future in an attempt to find two days in a leaders.hip confer- area. new areas where the organization could be effective. The recommendations pa~d eve~,yth ing we are now of these subcommittees were later combined in an overall report. ence at Camp Kett in February. Information and M arket~De- domg ... Then~, they reviewed gains made by Farm Bureau in Michigan in the 45 years since it came into being in our state, and compared present programs with those they felt may be needed if organized State Board Actions agriculhlre is to keep pace with Meeting in regular session at Farm Bureau Center, the future. Lansing, the Board of Directors of the Michigan Fann The County Farm Bureau Bureau has underscored actions taken last Fall by Farm leaders endorsed a study-and-re- port program which involved a Bureau voting delegates in which the "State Relationship series of "multi-county" meetings . Committee" was instructed to continue examining Farm across the state where the same Bureau's financial and program structure. close examination of Farm Bu- The Board noted that' the resolution called for "specific reau programs and progress was recommendations to be made to the Board and member- to be made and projected against ship on adequate financing and program expansion of the future. Fann Bureau." The next step in the planned Accordingly, t)1e Directors have requested the State chain of events is the current Relationship Committee to report its recommendations to series involving county-wide them at the May lIth Board meeting. Prior to this, at gatherings, with the ideas and meetings on April 26 and May 10, the State Relationship recommendations coming out of these meetings to be compiled Committee members will consider reports from both the and examined by the State "Re- previously held "multi-county" and "county-wide" meetings THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - of Shiawassee County Farm Bureau reviews now concluding. recommended areas from the subcommittees. The discussion groups listed over lationship Committee" - a grou'p 20 suggested "extensions" or new activities for Farm Bureau. left to right are: of Farm Bureau leaders who have Oren Semans, Gfenn Williams, Clifford Bristol, and district director David Morris. HELP YOUR IDLE DOLLARS EARN MORE-INVEST IN: Series "A" 6% Debentures (non-assessable) Issue of 1964 - 15 Year Maturity 6% simple interest paid annually on September 1 FARM BUREAU SERVICES, INC. 4000 North Grand River Lansing, Michigan 'I ------------- 1 1 For a copy of the prospectus and a call by a licensed salesman, complete and mail to: PLYAC~added to your sprays 1 1 FARM BUREAU SERVICES, INC. Securities Promotion Dept. saves respraying costs! 1 P.O. Box 960 / . Lansing, Michigan To make sure your sprays really tween respraying ... stretches your 1 I work, be sure to add Plyac. This is spray dollar, too! Name _ 1 Allied Chemical's unique, patented Add just 2 to 4 ounces of easy-to- 1 Roadl ---'--_ R.F.D.#..:.... ----- liquid polyethylene spreader-sticker use liquid Plyac spreader-sticker for I Townl _ that prevents rapid weathering off. 1 every 100 gallons. 1 County' _ Phonc"" _ Your sprays will go on better and Even under the attacks of wind and I No obligation. rain, Plyac keeps your sprays work- stay on longer-help you to a more I ------------- ing longer ... stretches the time be- profitable harvest! GENERAL CHEMICAL DIVISION This advertisement is neither an offer to sell or a solicitation to P. O. Box 869, Kalamazoo, Mich. buy any of these securities. The offering is made only by the TEL.: Fireside 5-8676 prospectus. Sold and distributed by Farm Bureau Services, Inc. EIGHT May 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM "NEWS capitol -report lEGISLATIVE ISSUES,- were the subject of a "course" taught by Legislative Counsel, Dan Reed, at a recent "Speaker's Bureau" training-school held at Albion College. Co-sponsored by the Farm Bureau Women's Committee and Albion ~ollege, the sessions were aimed at helping farm leaders become spokesmen for agriculture. Pictured (from left) are "students" Robert Smith, Coldwater; Jean Foster, R~ves Junction; Mrs. Gladys Ross, Olivet, and Dan Reed. By Dan E. Reed TAX RELIEF,- on farm machinery is discussed by the MFB legislative Committee at Farm Bureau Center in .lansing. Re- Legislative Counsel, Michigan Farm Bureau viewing a bill with the CommiHee is Mr. L. E. Ahti, Executive Secretary of the Michigan F~rm and !'ower Equl.pment Asso- ciation, also interested in the problem. From left - Dean Pridgeon, Montgomery, Committee Chairman; Ahtl, and com- miHee members Eugene Roberts, lake City, and Donald Ruhlig, Dexter. The Senate has passed and sent to the House a compre- hensive Workmen's Compensation bill which, for the first time, brings farmers under its provisions. The vote, which came in Farm-Labor Actions Bring Concern the entire Michigan economy. the late hours of a long night session, was 23-13 along party lines. The Democratic majority, under the leadership of Senator A number of bills affecting farm labor are in the legislative Sander Lev.in, chairman of the Labor Committee, voted down a hopper. Two bills providing for farm labor camp regulation Frankly, it would force many number of amendments which would have modified the bill have been under hearing in the House Public Health Committee. farm families to leave farming and force others into production and passed it much in the form in which it had been reported Others would provide for regulation of migrant labor trans- to the Senate by the committee. of mechanized crops, which are portation; establish a permanent Migrant Labor Commission, already in surplus and which are The bill provides that "all agricultural employers of three and require state crew leader registration. There .are also under government programs .. or more regular employees paid hourly wages or salaries who other bills covering housing including a new comprehensive "We believe the present ar- are employed 35 or more hours per week for a period of 13 statewide building code. rangement for the voluntary or more weeks during the preceding 52 weeks" shall come under Recognizing the n urn ber of tive January 1, 1965. Serious assumption of Workmen's Com- the full provisions of Workmen's Compensation laws. farm labor legislative issues this problems, involving piecework pensation liabilities by farmers year, the Michigan Farm Bureau and use of workers of all ages, should be continued. Farmers One minor concession was to make the Act effective on Board adopted the following abilities, and habits are facing should be encouraged to make agriculture on May 1, 1966. It is now expected that the balance statement (given l?ere in part) as the farmer and his wife. more use of this program through of the Act will become effective 90 days after final adjournment guidance for Farm Bureau's work "The bills we are considering the use of additional rated cate- of the 1965 legislature. Since there is a strong possibility that on these measures: here propose furl her ma;or ad- gories of coverage. It is not rea- the legislature may not adjourn until late in the fall, the special "Michigan farmers are groggy ;ustments and expense to an in- sonable to assume that a blue- effective date for agriculture may have relatively little practical from the one-two punches they dustry that already sees its em- berry picker is liable to injuries effect. have received this year. They ployees_ often receiving more in in the same degree that the are confused and worried about wages than the employer receives operator of power equipment All farmers who employ any farm help "shall provide medical what crops to plant, not knowing in income. may be. Many believe that and hospital coverage ... for all personal injuries arisin~ out what labor will be available when "We believe the full shock of broader experience may permit of or in the course of employment suffered by all aJ?icultural needed, and they are trying to the entire program proposed in major reductions in the present employees" not covered by Workmen's Compensation. This adjust to the record-keeping re- the bills under consideration very high rate of nearly $6.00 hospital and medical coverage shall be in accordance with quirements of the new Minimum would have a serious adverse ef- per 100 dollars of payroll. rules established by the Workmen's Compensation department. \Vage Act which became opera- fect on Michigan agriculture and "If farmers are to be brought The _biII also specifies that "such provision of medical and under the Workmen's Compen- -, sation Act through the require- hospital coverage shall not eliminate any remedy otherwise I ment for medical and hospital available to the employee against the employer." Under Work- coverage, we urge the Legislature men's Compensation, the liability of the employer is limited to Clip Out and Keep. I to consider the provision of rea- • • I sonable limits to coverage . the amount specified in the law. The new bill, however, very substantially increases these limits. I "We are greatly concerned The biII has now been sent to the House Labor committee In answer to a request for a short listing of important I about the general trend toward for review. It seems probable that it will be reported out by Fann Bureau actions "that we may clip out and pass • inflation and loss of value of our the House Labor committee and passed by the House sub- along" '- the Farm News this month cites highlights of dollar which we believe this bill • would encourage. Even a 'creep- stantially in its present form. Fann Bureau's TAX .REFORM policy. I ing inflation' of two to three per There has been some speculation as to whether Governor Repeal or substantially reduce the Personal Property tax, • cent per-year will cut the value Romney may veto the bill. The provisions of the bill go (present $1,000 exemption is unrealistic). Repeal Business I of the dollar in half in a single beyond the recommendations which the Governor made to the I generation. legislature. However, a Governor's Study Commission of five Activities tax, which affects many farmers. "We realize the convenience of public voting members recommended substantially the cover- Relieve Real Estate taxes. Real and personal property • the inclusion of an 'escalator ages carried in the bill. taxes take 14 % or more of the farmer's income - three I clause,' such as is provided. It • is an easy way to provide for in- It should be recognized that the House is now within one times or more than those paid by other groups. Improve vote of a two-thirds majority, which could override the Gov- school aid fornlula for greater equalization and relief of • creased living costs. However, • 'escalator clauses' providing auto- ernor' ~ veto. It is probable that after the upcoming election in property taxes. Assess and tax, for school purposes, new • matic increases tend to remove DetrOIt to replace former Representative Daniel West, the construction the first year it is built. the brake on inflation. Those so Democrats will hold the necessary 74 votes. t Assess Agricultural land as fann land as long as it is • protected tend to lose interest in In the Senate, the Democratic majority falls a little short • controlling the spiral of costs." • used for that purpose . • Dan Reed, Michigan Farm of the two-thirds necessary to override the Governor's veto. • ( Balance t\iichigan's tax structure with broad based flat- I Bureau's Legislative Counsel, has However, it would require only the "splitting-off' of three 1 • presented the Boara s statement Republican votes . rate net income tax. before the ;oint House and Sen- It appears that Michigan agriculture will face mandatory • 1- _ • ate Labor CommiHees. coverage under \Vorkmen's Compensation laws by May 1, 1966. ~ICHIGA~ FARM NEWS "Sea" of Proposals Swamp State lawmakers , ~ By: Robert Smith Associate Legislative Counsel The deadline for introduction of bills, April 14, has' come and gone. Another record has been set. More than 1,600 bills have been introduced, and when added to the number of constitutional resolutions and other resolutions will total 2,000 • or more as compared to a total of 1,500 last year and 1,200 the year before. ------------- all farm equipment driven by DAIRY UNFAIR TRADE motors of 10 horsepower or more. PRACTICES ACT (H 2165)- Bringing such equipment under Farm Bureau and others con- the motor vehicle code should cerned with unfair trade prac- exempt it from the personal tices in the dairy industry met property tax. However, the bill with Governor Romney last sum- also requires that such equip- mer. The Governor said that ment could be driven on the unfair dairy practices must be highway only by a licensed driver. stopped voluntarily or legislation HOUSE AGRICULTURALCOMMITTEE - hears testimony on \\HB 2165" - the bill dealing with unfair dairy trade practices. should be 'enacted. "AGRICULTURAL COM- Vetoed in 1961 by the then governor, John Swainson, the bill is strongly supported by Farm Bureau. Many Farm Bureau A special"committee, appointed MODITIES MARKETING ACT" dairymen, five from the Upper Peninsula, appeared at the hearing to testify in favor of the bill. by Governor Romney, reported (enabling legislation S 106)- early in March. Hearings were Again Farm Bureau has coordi- . held in Escanaba and Lansing. nated the efforts of various com- Evidence was presented showing modity groups to write legislation unusually high extensions' of to help meet modern day mar- Idea: Be Your Own Tax Expert! credit ($10,000 to $25,000) in keting problems. This bill also Tax reform is difficult to ac- if it includes just the basic fed- sible program could be: lower order to secure miJk and ice meets all the requirements of complish because most people fail eral deduction, ($600 per tax- property taxes 5 mills ($131.5 cream business. In the Grand Farm Bureau policy as passed by to look at the problem objec- payer and dependent) it would million); repeal B.A.T., intang- Rapids area, one-half gallon car- the voting delegates at the an- tively and recognize that every raise about $110 million for each ibles and farm personal ($131.5); tons of milk retail in the range nual meeting last November. dollar of tax reduction must be 1 % of tax. Each 1 % income tax exemption for the elderly and of from 17-19 cents. (19 cents Senator Johnson, chairman of replaced with a dollar of tax in- tax on corporations would raise food and drugs ($114 million). per half-gallon does not even the Senate Agriculture Commit- crease or a new tax. $30 million and each 1 % on cover the cost of raw milk de- tee, held a public hearing March These would total $377 million. ri In general, as your own tax financial institutions $2.1 million. livered from the farm exclusive _25. However, as this is written, expert, you should - know that The major tax cuts most people A 3 % income tax on individ- of any processing or packaging it has not yet been reported out the ratio of federal, state and talk about would mean a loss of: ual<;, corporations and financial cost.) of committee. local taxes is approximately $26.3 million for' each mill of institutions would yield $426 Many other such practices The bill permits any commod- 9 : 1 : 1. That is, of all Mich- property tax reduction; $124.5 million leaving a net gain of $49 were found to exist. The com- ity group to initiate a marketing igan taxes, a little over $9 billion million to repeal the business ac- million; however, this amount mittee doubted that prevailing program to meet its particular goes to Washington, a little over tivities (B.A.T.) and intangibles practices provide «any substan- needs. Public hearings would be $1 billion goes to Lansing and taxes, _$267.2 million to repeal all would be no more than enough tial benefit to consumers." held and a referendum of pro- just under $1 billion stays at personal property taxes (tax on to permit a modest increase in Rep. Erlandsen (D-Escanaba) ducers would be required. home. farm personal estimated to be $7 the present school aid formula to and others of ooth parties have Most of the billion that stays million) $100 million to exempt help prevent further rise in local introduced H 2165 which is sim- SWAMPLANDS - Farm Bu- home comes from property taxes food and drugs from sales taxes; school taxes. ilar to last year's bill. Rep. reau supports S 33 which raises and is rising rapidly from year $14 million to pay for the re- This example is of course very Mattheeussen, chairman of the state paid, in lieu of taxes from to year. In rural areas an average cently passed property tax ex- House Ag Committee, conducted 15~ to 20~ per acre, and permits of 75% of the property tax is for emption for the elderly (outstate general. True tax revision will a public hearing on April 7. county government to share in school<;, the rest going to the this exemption would probably require many other adjustments. There will be strong opposition the revenue. This bill was re- county and township. average $50 to $75 for those However a little study of these to this bill. It is essential that ported out by the Senate tax- If a flat rate personal income eligible). - figures can give an idea of the - Farm Bureau members let their ation committee and is now in tax is passed in Michigan, and From this information a pos- task before the Legislature. representatives know that they the Senate Appropriations Com- favor such legislation this year. mittee. TAX REFORM is number one in importance and can be ac- complished, but leadership is BEAN COMMISSION (H 2119) - Several bean pro- ducers and Farm Bureau testified Protect your Income ... needed, not from the legislators at a public heating before the but from the people -:.- leader- House Committee on Agriculture. ship in the form of communica- Farm Bureau has worked closely • tions to the legislators. It is with bean producers in writing possible to accomplish Farm this bill which would permit the Bureau's objective of tax revision bean industry to develop promo- with relief to property. For in- tional research and marketing stance, property tax relief can programs. he had by such bills as S. 267 and H. 2497 which would require MEAT INSPECTION AND I farm land to be assessed as farm -SLAUGHTERHOUSE LICENS- land as long as it is so used. ING (H 2049) - Farm Bureau (These bills are a direct result has brought the entire livestock of Farm Bureau's policy.) S. 318 and meat industry together in the would lower property taxes by writing of this legislation. The 20 % of the total school taxes. bill is now in the House \Vays S. 602 would tax new construc- and Means committee. Enact- tion the first year it is built. ment of this bill is a «must" this, Many school districts now have year if Michigan's livestock in- Hail is Unpredictable! hundreds of new residences built dustry is to be maintained and J i and occupied in the period be- expanded. Insurance is your only protection against loss from Hail Damage! Play tween January 1 and opening of it safe! Protect your income with Michigan Mutual Hail Insurance. UNIFORM MILK INSPEC- Michigan Mutual has been insuring Michigan farms against hail school, September 1. TION -Senator Johnson (D-Mar- FARM PERSONAL TAXES. shall) and chairman of the Senate damage to farm and truck crops for over 50 years. In the last 3 S. 177 repeals the farm personal Agriculhlral Committee, has in- years, over $1 million has been paid to Michigan farmers. tax; H. 2510 increases the pres- troduced the bill supported by A non-profit farmers mutual insurance company means low rates ent $1,000 exemption to $5,000. Farm Bureau and dairy producer and prompt, fair claim payment. S. 321 exempts agricultural im- organizations. The bill will place plements in a manner similar to the administration in the Depart- For Complete Information-See Your Local Agent Or Write/} 51 ment of Agriculture and will • "tools, dies, and jigs." H. 2296 exempts feeder cattle kept less eliminate present duplication. - MICHIGAN MUTUAL HAIL /f} than 10 months and implements Two other bills are, or will be, President ~ 7/MU/lmta [;mnjJatt;}I used for tillage and harvesting. introduced. One would be some- E. D. Rutledge, Waldron 107 N. Butler Boulevard, Lansing, Michigan Phone: IV 2-5265 H. 2616 exempts poultry less what of a compromise with health Secretary departments; the other would Fred M. Hector Over $22 Million Now In Force - Over 1X Miliion'Surplus than one year of age and in- creased exemption to $5,000. An- place the authority in the depart- • other bill would license and title ments of health . TEN May 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS "Haven Hills" Aptly Named for Retreat. High on a hill in a beautful wooded area of Oakland County, there stands a rambling rustic lodge with an inviting "rome sit by the fire" appeal in its Early American decor and windows which offer a breath-taking panoramic view of the countryside. working not waiting Appropriately called "Haven Hilk," this quiet. close-ta-nature .1 -1!I :1i?~'\ ~ v.~~"~ ~. ,.. ' ,~r&i~Jl-" ~)l2 . _ l~= • ~ ~ ---.........~ = .L~ \'iV~ .~~~~~_~_; ~~I'?II'"~'Ii IJ:t!.. /' ,. fl' J \ ~ I ~ot is ~~hesite of District 3 Fann Bureau 'Vomen~s annual retreat. .Although the trees gliste~ed with frost and snow was piled A farm scene, complete with pigs, cows and chickens - and a .• -:; , '-- -- __ --:;". ~ .., ;:- .,. ~I:..-d:"'" . high along the winding road that Farm Bureau button to give it --- ::>- - -. _ - __ ~\ .....\ _"'I'. r leads to the lodge which, in late added significance - perched March, looked like an icicle frost- atop the head of Mrs. Edward ed cake, inside there was a breath Bourns, Oakland County, cap- of spring. tured first prize. As the women registered for the A "spring cleaning" hat featur- two-day session, each was pre- ing mop and cleaning items on a sented with a bright-colored plastic bleach container, modeled "flower" name button made by by Mrs. Victor Warner, Monroe Mrs. Marian Yoas of Monroe County, copped second prize. County. High fashion in a corncob-tissue Mrs. Ruby Dunstan, Pontiac, original by Mrs. Marian Yoas took brought spring along with her in third place, while an Easter bun- the form of unusual and clever ny hut containing jelly beans and floral arrangements which she worn by Mrs. Henry Myer, Mon- demonstrated for-the 33 attending roe, came in fourth. women. Several lucky ladies found A crafts class which started in themselves recipients of the com- the afternoon of the first day and pleted artistry - and the others las~ed "after hours" for overnight- were already planning to use such ers created much interest among things as "spaghetti sticks" in their retreat p~rticipants this year. Un- flower centerpieces when they re- der the capable direction of ~lrs. turned home. Yoas and ¥ rs. Lindenman, the Hand-made "easter bonnets" group created many attractive mocked the winter outside as the items to show "back home." women paraded before the judges Speakers on "Communications" hoping their "originals" would and "Home Rule" plus reports on take first place. The judges had the Freedom Conference and the a tough decision as the women Washington Air Tour rounded out used their ingenuity and talent to an enjoyable and well-planned k-'" come up with head gear created agenda of fun, facts and fellow- f" ~:'~.f>. from bleach containers, toilet tis- ship for District 3 Women, who SPECIAL BEAN ~ISHES,- are s~rv~d guest.s by Smorgasbord Chairman, Mrs. Lloyd Shankel. Cakes, cookies, pies, rolls and sue, imitation 'grass, and various are already looking forward to candy, all contain amounts af Michigan whIte pea beans added to the ingredients as flaur, or in "puree" form. Those eat- ing them were surprised at the fluffy lightness of the pastries, and the "non-bean" taste. other items, as yet foreign to the next year's "retreat" with enthusi- fashion world. astic anticipation. Beans Provide Banquet BEAN PORRIDGE HOT, BEAN PORRIDGE COLD ... There were beans in the salads beans in the soup. There wer~ baked beans, - and bean dough- nuts. There was a bean-filled Dutch chocolate cake and bean cookies, bean candy and pies. Nauseous? Not at a11l Bean- bakery is a high art in Gratiot county, heart of Michigan's im- portant pea-bean country. The bean pastries were fluffy-light at the 8th annual Gratiot County Farm Bureau Bean ..smorgasbord, and the mock-pecan pie would have fooled most anyone with the possible exception' of a Georgia pecan-country connoisseur. SPRINGTIME greeted the District 3 Farm Bureau Women as they registered for the Haven Hills annual "retreat" and were presented with bright-colored flower Bean "puree" is the prime in- name tags. Despite adverse weather conditions, 33 women attended the sessions. gredient in many of these baked delights, and when used with a MMMMMMnn GOOD! - That's the reaction of pert Julie Hoogerland, daughter flair, the resultant product is equal of Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Hoogerland, Alma, - as Dad looks on. Julie was one of a to other fine bakery flours. large number of youngsters in the crowd of 400 that braved a snowstorm for Under the direction of county the event. Farm Bureau President, Garnet Hoard, and general chairman Mrs. tiot county winner before taking maior producer" - according to Lloyd Shankel, the affair was a the state title. Farm Bureau president Hoard. smash hit with more than 400 Entertainment included songs He, along with his brother, farms guests braving a rare April 1st by a local barbershop quartet 600 acres about half of which is snow blizzard. known as the "Past Presidents devoted to beans each year. Four" - and composed of Dale In an address to the group, From a field of eight contest- Munson, Carew LeBlanc, Doug- ~'Iichigan Farm Bureau vice pres- ants, judges picked high-school las lVebb and Lynden Wright, all ident, Dean Pridgeon, told the senior Barbara Gould of vVheeler past presidents of the Gratiot farmers and business-men guestc; as their 1965 county "Bea~ that no citizen can evade his re- county Farm Bureau. Queen." The daughter of Mr. and A public-relations and promo- sponsibility for the society in Mrs. Dale Gould, Barbara expects tion event, the annual smorgas- which we live. to study secretarial-science at Fer- bord brings together a large Pridgeon pointed up the im- ris State College after graduation number of city dwellers to mingle portance of maximum citizen- from high school this June. with their farm hosts. Increased participation in po Iitic a I party Alternate Queen was Jane Al- domestic consumption of Mich- work. The Branch county farmer len of Ithaca, and second alternate igan's prime pea-bean crop is the urged them to exercise full re- is Ruth Ann W eburg of Wheeler. central theme. sponsibili.ty to be informed, to par- The Queen was crowned by the "Michigan produces about 99 ticipate in the party of their state Bean Queen. Miss Francine percent of the worla s white pea- choice, and to vote their convic- Weaver, who was last year's Gra- beans, and Gratiot county is a tions in all voter-issues. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS May 1, 1965 ELEVEN Spring Rally "Unselfish Service" Congenial hostesses, a good attendance, and a A member of the Farm Bureau Women's state program with just the right amount of serious and committee, Mrs. Cleve Lockhart, District lIE chair- light topics, combined to make the District 6 Farm man, has recently been honored by her community. Bureau Women's "spring rally" a success. Named "Pickford Citi'zen of the Year" by the local Over 150 women from Huron, Sanilac, St. Clair, Lion's Club, "Hattie" was guest of honor at a Tuscola and Lapeer gathered at the Lapeer County special dinner meeting where she was presented Center Building, April 13, where they were wel- with a plaque for her outstanding community comed by host county chairman, Mrs. Horace Davis. service. I The-"attendance plaque" was awarded to Lapeer In his tribute to Hattie, Lion's Club president, County, with 52 women answering the roll-call. Emerson Eby', stated, "Our club is proud and honored to be able to show this appreciation for the An area of vital concern to the women - the fine work you are doing to make this a better safety of their families in times of disaster - was community in which to live." discussed by main speaker, Lester Bollwahn of the Described as a person who never says "no" Rural Defense Office. when asked to find time on her busy schedule for . "one more job," her list of activities include: service A style revue, featuring fashions for young and as editor of the Farm Bureau newspaper, county old, and starring Lapeer Farm Bureau Women as Farm Bureau secretary, citizenship chairman, 4-H BUSY FARM WIFE - Mrs. Clayton (Mary Edith) Anderson, District 3 Farm Bureau models, brought favorable comments from an ap- sewing club-leader, member of the 4-H Council, Women's chairman, had "a few things to do" before attending the annual Haven preciative audience. Stealing the show, however, Hills "retreat" - among them, helping with the morning chores. president of the Methodist Women's \VSCS, district were three little tots, whose proud grandmother secretary of Upper P"eninsula youth work, Sunday was the rally hostess, Mrs. "Bea" Davis. School teacher and choir member. Farm Chores Come ,First If the chairman of the Haven Hills "retreat" was slightly breathless when she arrived to begin the second day's session, there was good reason. Her schedule, which began before dawn, included farm chores, sending two grandchildren off to school, and towing a tractor that balked at starting on the cold morning. All this before the drive to Haven Hills and a busy day at the annual retreat. This energetic woman is Mrs. Clayton Anderson, District 3 Farm ,Bureau '''omen's chairman. The Andersons operate a 221-acre dairy farm near Fowlerville in Livingston county, where Clayton serves on the county Farm Bureau board of directors. Mrs. Anderson, known as "Mary Edith" to her many friends, lists sewing as a hobby, but this, too, becomes a service as she lends her talents to the 4-H sewing club she has led for 13 years. She is also active in the Methodist Church WSCS. As a new member of the state Women's Committee, Mary Edith takes her responsibilities seriously. "I feel that by working together through Farm Bureau, farmers can do many things WELCOME TO MICHIGAN - was the greeting of Lapeer "CITIZEN OF THE YEAR" was the title bestowed upon Mrs. county Women's chairman, Mrs. Horace Davis (center) and Cleve Lockhart, Pickford, District 11E Farm Bureau Women's that we as individuals can't do, and that many of these things Mrs. George Southworth, dist. 6 chairman (right) to the new chairman by Lion's Club president, Emerson Eby, for "mak. start as activities of Farm Bureau ~ omen." Farm Bureau Women's Coordinator, Miss Helen Atwood. ing a better community through her unselfish services." Networks Represented -, MRS. -HAVEN SMITH AT \\HOLIDA Y" "Communications" was the theme of the Farm Bureau Women's Holiday at \Vesley Woods Camp, April 7-8. Sponsored by the women of Districts 1 and 2, the sessions highlighted the importance of communications in gaining understanding and in the preservation of freedom. Keynote speak~r, ~f.rs. Haven Smith, chairman of the American Farm Bureau \Vomen's Committee, asked .her audience "\Vhere to? What next - for America?" In a hard-hitting address, Mrs. Smith challenged the women to "make America just what we want it to be." , "We can't do this, however," she said. "with 70 per cent of our population sitting on the sidelines living in a waste- land of human power as far as our government is con- AMERICA'S ANTI.POVERTY PROGRAM - began over two-hundred years ago, Mrs. Haven Smith, Chairman of the American cerned." Pointing to a recent survey which indicated that Farm Bureau Women's Committee, told this large group of farm leaders and news-media representatives at Kalamazoo. t only three out of every 100 people are consistently active Mrs. Smith ,said that "Forty million immigrants to America came as poor people, hopeful they could improve their economic, in the political party of their choice, she reminded the social and religious lot. Anti-poverty programs are not new to us, except for the foolish concept of government financing." women that "p'olitics is just as close to us as our shoes." "We pay tribute to politics every time we open our pocketbooks," she saia. "How can any intelligent person say he should not become involved in politics when he works four months out of every year to pay his taxes - and when what is happening in the political arena today is effecting the future of our children? Through apathy and poor citizenship, we can do to our country what the Communists have never been able to do. "We must do a better job of thinking, of weighing, analyzing and forming our own opinions based on knowl- edge than we have ever done before ... and vitally im- portant is the role of comm.unications people in giving Americans this background of knowledge with which to think." Representing the news media on the "Holiday" agenda were HUCTh Harper and Gordon Arulerson of WKZO radio- televisio~ Kalamazoo, and John McGoff, president of the Mid-State Broadcasting Corporation, who told the 70 at- tending women that he went into the communications WHAT ABOUT "MANAGED" NEWS? - This question was field to make better use of his talents in the maintenance FARMWIFE TALKS TO THE PRESS,- as Mrs. William Scramlin, osked newsmen by Mrs. Erma Hombaker, (left) and Mrs. Wm. of our freedom. Chairman of the Michigan Farm Bureau Women's Committee Scromlin. Newsmen include, (from the left) Gordon Anderson, speaks before news-media guests at one in a series of press- Fetzer radio network; Hugh HQI'per, WKZO, Kalamazoo, and relations dinner meetings sponsored by Farm Bureau Women. John McGoff, Mid-states Network. TWELVE May 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS en are Press-Dinner Guests Free Farmers. Press. Vital A free agriculture and a free press assure the freedom of citizens in a free country, newsmen were told in a series of spring press-relations dinners sponsored by Mich- igan Farm Bureau 'Vomen, in cooperation with the In- formation Division. The newsmen were told that producing a newspaper, radio or television broadcast presents many of the same type of problems which farmers encounter when they' produce a crop or turn out prize livestock. Involved in both cases are workers who represent "management" and capital simultaneously as they labor in their own "factories." This illustration was used by Melvin Woell, editor of the l\fichigan Farm News and one of a team of Fann Bureau leaders who took part in the series of dinner ses- sions which involved more than 50 news "outlets." '''oell carried the parallel further when he pointed out that government efforts to control farmers and their production are similar to government "managed news" or "rule-making" attempts by the Federal Communications Commission involving broadcasters. "The story of agriculture's fabulous productivity, which has been made possible through freedom from controls, Visible day and night, year after is a story that must be told and retold," he said. year. Beautiful indefinitely in Co- Mrs. Wm. Scramlin, chairman of the Farm Bureau . YXYZ-TV ~ op's protective sunset red enamel, 'Vomen's Committee, amplified these remarks to newsmen -, •••• f •••• UNILITE quality rail steel posts when she said that better living for America comes first withstand termites, livestock, rot and fire. Fast, easy driving elimi- from the farm, and that Americans are now spending only nates woodcutting, digging, back- 19 cents of each dollar for food, "the lowest percentage of income spent for food by any people in the world at • fill, tamping and heaving. Easy to move, too. BONDERIZED to any time in history." last ... cheaper' over the years. In suburban Detroit where the Wayne .County Farm Workmanship, materials guaran- teed. For best quality and longest Bureau hosted a noon press luncheon, Mrs. Haven Smith, life, buy UNILITES ... always! chairman of the American Farm Bureau Women's Com- mittee, told the news media guests that they are a vital link in gaining metropolitan understanding of farmers' problems. ,, 1 She urged the metropolitan press to take a critical look at the Administration's new fann program and the $300 "RURAL NEWSREEL"- popular WXYZ television farm feature hosted by Dick Available throug A higan million dollar consumer "bread tax" which it contains. Arnold, brought Mrs. Smith before many thousands of Detroit area housewives FARM BUREAU in a program where she talked about fallacies of "cheap food" and supply- management controls • SERVICES, INC. ... , MICHIGAN FARM NEWS May 1, 1965 THIRTEEN MARKET DEVELOPMENT __~1M ~ ...j Wirtz's Word to Farmers _The following editorial is reprint~d from the pages of the Detroit Free Press. Labor Secretary W. Willard Wirtz went out (schools and churches included) for the Amer- to California to view its croplands and tell their ican migrant agricultural worker. These would proprietors to stop hoping . he under joint federal-state auspices. . What California's fruit and vegetable growers Auspices is the bureaucratic euphemism, us- have been hoping is that somehow they can ually, for getting up the money. What Wirtz APPLE MARKETING, - is big business in Michigan, according to Robert Braden, Field Services Director for the Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Asso- prevail upon Congress to modify a law which means is that the network would come out of ciation. Shown at a Marketing Seminar panel are: (from left) Ed Powell, Mich.- became effective Dec. 31. It shut off the supply federal and state taxes. Another thing bureau- igon Elevator Exchange division, Raymond Bohnsack, F. B. Services and Braden. of seasonal migratory farm labor provided by crats are slow to comprehend is that the taxes Mexico's braceros. paid by a producer also have to enter into the Improved_ Prices --- Bracero is Spanish idiom for laborer. The purpose of the law is to eliminate the job competition which braceros are said to cost C!fhis goods to the consumer. It is true that the braceros have been willing to work for low wages and in mean surround- Job for all Farmers! have been giving'this country's unemployed. The hitch, according to California growers, is that most Americans would prefer to remain ings, and that there has been a disposition-by American employment them. standards - to exploit Michigan farmers have demonstrated that they can have unemployed rather than work in their fields "muscle in the market place" if they are willing to pool their But the braceros haven't seen it that way, and and orchards, and that crops are in prospect of efforts and produce, marketing experts reported at the Spring have flocked in to take jobs a good deal more rotting for want of attention. series of marketing seminars conducted by the Market De- rewarding than they could find at home - else Wirtz sees it as a wage and living-condition velopment Division of the Michigan Farm Bureau. they wouldn't have come in such numbers as issue. If the pay were higher and the life of Using apples as an example, to be worth restrictive legislation. tor Exchange Division, Edward the agricultural worker more abundant) there Robert Braden, Field Services di- This, of course, doesn't justify their annual Powell reported that while sales would be no lack of Americans willing to cul- rector of the Michigan Agricul- coming and goin~ if they are actually keeping of wheat and beans have been tivate and harvest, he believes. tural Cooperative Marketing Asso- the U. S. unemployment rate up. slow this year, the reopening of There can be some doubt as to this. Much of ciation, told' how the apple grow- the St. Lawrence Seaway for the the work done by braceros has been more But it is still a big question whether any con- ers probably averted a disastrous summer should start both wheat siderable number of American unemployed- break in the processing apple arduous than Americans generally have shown and beans moving into the Euro- even those who compare with the braceros in market. Through their program a willingness to undertake. pean markets again. Although - of selective selling and gradual And in any event, Wirtz is pretty airy about lack of skills and literacy - are going to flock export certificates for soft white release of apples ~t realistic prices, inducements to coax them into the fields. into the fields at any wage which agriculture wheat have been scarce, he ex- producers saw the price from He doesn't think raising farm wages would can pay without having the consumer feel it pressed hope that the overseas ~ce.. ...sors strengthen as the sea- brin,g any significant increase in food prices. in his pocketbook more than insignificantly. market for this wheat will open son progressed, and this in the before the new crop is harvested. Maybe so. But one of the things the Washing- Since the bracero has also been a feature of face of a record crop. Speaking of the need for large ton bureaucrat is often slow to comprehend is ~fichi'!an's aqricultural scene. quite a few of its Meeting in ten of the 11 Farm size market units, Powell reported Bureau diriGtm- districts, the semi- that in the last few years, many that there is a relationship between production farmers will he di~estin~ what Wirtz said in nars were' designed to provide of the smaller grain companies costs and what the consumer pays. California. And it may be that as the growing members with an opportunity to and co-ops have merged with Also, Wirtz envisages a national network of season goes along he will have to come here, discuss problems in farm market- others or have actually gone out trailer camps with full community facilities too, on a mission of pacification. ing and to explore some market- of business. He pointed out that ing opportunities. almost all of the grain and beans Part of each meeting was de- sold into world commerce leave voted to a study of the economics the United States through a mere of marketing farm products and handful of companies. Meat Inspection Outlook Hopeful the remainder was devoted to re- According to Market Develop- \\A STEP CLOSER ... " were incorporated in H.B. 2049," meat is uninspected. People in ports from the various Farm Bu- ment Division manager, Donald Ewing said. Michigan, whether residents or rea~ marketing affiliates. Moore, farmers hold within their Michigan has moved a step One of these suggestions in- tourists, should be protected by Braden pointed out that there grasp part of the solution to many closer to a uniform statewide meat corporated in the bill would di..: this type of service. , are areas where farmers could be of their marketing problems. inspection program. A hearing rect the Michigan Department of "Farmers want this legislation. getting improved prices if they «The secret," he says, «is for has been held by the House Agri- Agriculture to evaluate the 19 Inspection helps to build public could assemble enough of the farmers to produce high grade culture Committee on «House Bill current local meat inspection pro- confidence in a product. Packers production of a given crop to start produce and then combine their 2049." The bill, introduced by grams which may be approved if want this program. Competition bargaining with handlers and production to achieve a supply Representative E. D. O'Brien (D- they meet the standards of the can be increased when inspected processors. "We can bargain only level attractive to maior buyers Detroit), with 68 co-signers, would Department. products move about freely. The when we have a major portion of for processors and grocers. provide for licensing of slaughter- Employees working in the local present situation presents barriers the crop and when the processors «In tmlay's market the farmer houses. programs would continue their to trade. The public probably know that we don't intend to try cannot depend on high grade The bill would also create a duties tinder the supervision of thinks all meat is now inspected. to hold them up I for unrealistic alone to sell his produce; he must program of ante-mortem and post- the Department. This arrange- If the public knew that this is prices for our produce," he added. also attain high volume either mortem inspection, to be ad- ment would in no manner affect not the case, it would demand From the Grain Marketing De- alone or in cooperation with his ministered by the Michigan De- the existing Civil Service status this legislation," Ewing said. partment of the Michigan Eleva- neighbors." partment of Agriculture. All meat or pension rights of these em- In annual resolution session last for human consumption slaugh- ployees. November, Michigan farmers tered in the state would be in- Bipartisan support for the bill made the point that animal and spected. has been evident, and members human health are closely linked, MARKETING PROGRESS Animals slaughtered by a pro- ducer on his own farm would be of both political parties signed it. A spokesman of the have Democratic Party testified at the and that meat inspection is the final link in the chain guarantee- ing consumers wholesome food on "The Michigan Agricultural Cooperative ~1arketing As- exempt from inspection. House Agriculture Committee in their tables. sociation, (MACMA) has been successful in marketing pro- "This bill probably has had support of the bill, and Governor They said that responsibility for cessing apples. Progress has also been made in the areas more study than any other piece George Romney has called for maintaining livestock free from of pickling cucumbers) processing asparagus and in up- of legislation," according to Larry this type of legislation. disease rests with the Michigan grading roadside markets. Ewing of the Michigan Farm The bill has met. little opposi- state department of agriculture "Marketing experience has been gained by ~1ACMA. It Bureau Market Development Di- tion, although representatives of which already provides inspection now stands ready to serve producers of other agricultural vision. «In November, all seg- several local health departments service to consumers of sausage commodities .. ments of the livestock and meat have testified against it. These under the sausage law. Logically,