Farmers Will Fight Rural Crime By Jim Benstein The rural crime prevention the only nwnber unique to an program that has been so individual that law en- successful as a pilot project in forcement agencies work Barry and Lapeer Counties is with regularly. Such is not the now being expanded to all case with social security interested county Farm nwnbers, so they are not Michigan Farm News Bureaus. The program acceptable. Nor are the consists primarily of marking driver's license Dmnbers of property with an indelible previous owners. U equip- ink, using the owner's ment is purchased with an driver's license number existing identification mark, preceded by the letters "MI." the new owner should not But while marking is the alter or remove the old Michigaa FarDl Bureau's ~c performance in the program, there are many number; merely mark below it with a new number. By the AcrION FaRlT1~ other necessary activities before the prngram can be way, the ink is high quality and industrial purpose and Pubticatiotl BUreau implemented, including very difficult to rub off. YOL. 56, NO. 10 OCTOBER, WT1 gathering support from police Nonetheless, it can be organizations and other removed. "That's another service groups, coordinating good reason for marking in a network of township spots known only to the coordinators, and simply owner," Nelson adds. practicing with a marking device. Team Approach uThe -marking looks sim- ple, just like riding a bicycle Important for the f1l"Sttime," says Ron Before any marking can be Nelson, Local Mfairs done, however, a "team" Specialist for the Michigan must be gathered and Farm Bureau and coor- organized. Members of that dinator of the state Rural "team" must include Crime Prevention Program. members of area law en- "But there are many forcement agenCies, both the unknown factors that occur. state police and the sheriff's Marking takes practice, if for department. Nelson advises, DO other reason than to "Nothing will kill the prevent smearing." program quicker than a man Marking practice can also in uniform not knowing result in finding new places in anything about it." which to identify equipment. It is in this area that a The uniform marking supreme communications location is the right front part effort is not only desirable, of the equipment. U there is but essential. Sergeant Wes no right froot, however, other Haney of the Rockford State locations mmt be fOlDld.In Police Post says, "The fact, Nelson says every piece problem with law en- of machinery should be forcement is they don't know marked at least seven times - very much about farming." Michigan fann Bureau. In cooperation wlfII "arlous Tnw.rs. CIty; Trooper Charl.s Mun,an. Pefosie,; in the uniform location, OIl the Statistics bear this out: only police agencies fllrougltout the state. lias JIm ShlffeH. MFa leglonallle",..senffJHn; f . battery, and in at least five four per cent of the nation's den'oped a method 01 marldng members' flemIng. OI.ego CounfJ fa president; Ron N . other spots. "There are police officers come from equipment to alow 'denHflcaflon and reconry 01 MFa Local AHairs Speclalst. and Sgt rt several good hidden rural communities, a com- stolen ptOperly. SIIown re"'ewlng file m-'cJng Bead'e. District 7 Coordinator. MJch'gan Slate locations," he explains. "The plete reversal from the past. procedures are (Ie" to .. lit): Jolan Tlte'sen. fmmet Police. component parts of a tractor Co."." Undersheriff; Trooper DowId Knowles. are always good places. Once Many times photographs someone starts using his are effective in educating the increased. " the level of awareness of loss, they will be more con- imagination, it's easy to do a police officer. Trooper Ron Nelson emphasizes the Farm Bureau members," he scious of what they can do to ~ood job." Charles Brown of the same point. "The important says. "u they are more prevent the opportunity for Michigan State Police Crime Part of the program is to raise aware of their potential for loss." Prevention Unit says, "Many Accuracy Vital times the officer doesn't know what a farmer is bilking Once the marks are made, about when he describes a they should be recorded 00 an portable feed grinder. But if ISSUES ON THE INSIDE: inventory sheet that, along he can show a picture, there ENERGY with other program is something to relate to." materials, is supplied by the Welcomin~ law en- MFB President Elton R. Smith tells members they must act NOW to stop the COWlty Farm Bureau. The forcement officers on the proposed Energy BiII- Page 2. Industry spokesman John M iller agrees that the inventory information should farm can also be beneficial. proposed legislation will not increase needed energy supplies- Page 5. include all hidden marking "Most policemen do not locations, which are known understand the farm in- LAND USE only to the owner of the ventory or the value of equipment. Accuracy in supplies like feeds and seeds, M FB shares farmer-concerns with Governor regarding loss of productive filling out the inventory and so if he can't associate with farmland-Page 4. in marking is vital. "It's farming - can't obtain im- extremely important that the portant information - the AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS license nmnber on a stamp is officer will not have the skills correct," Nelson warns. or the information to pursue Proposed bans on pesticides and drugs worry farmers. Consumers, too, have "We're dealing with a the case," claims Brown. reasons for sharing their concerns- Page 7. .criminal justice system that ''There should be an in- requires that laws be followed teraction of knowledge. Many stolen items from the farm WORKER'S COMPENSATION and things be done right. We're not just putting any pass through city corridors. number 00, but the owner's The chances of apprehensioo A special report on this issue of concern to farmers and others-Pages 9-10-11. driver's license nmnber." are increased as the Discussion Topic-an indepth look at this complicated law and how it effects The driver's license awareness of both the you- Page 12. nmnber is used because it's policeman and the farmer is PAGE 2 FARM NEWS DONNA ~f it weren't fOF mirrors. · . Pardon me while I brag a bit Energy Issue Needs about my Associate Editors. Not now, nor ever having been, Member Action NOW! "farm girls," they face each new agrlcu'tura' Issue that comes a'ong as a persona' challenge. October is Ccrop Month, and it's appropriate that we relish Theyfret and worry and pray ••• some of the accomplishments we, in agriculture, have at- How can we write Intelllgent'y tai ned because we have worked cooperatively to make them about MI-OSHA or Worker's happen. The recent MI-OSHA victory is a heartening example Camp, for Instance, when we of what is possible when we work together with determined, know nothing about them '/ courageous, intelligent efforts. It is an illustration of how 8elng 01 a more experienced farmers, working cooperatively through their organization, "'ntage, I soothe their young, can have an impact on "issues which affect them. wrlnk'ed brows by Informing But we cannot afford to "rest on our laurels." We cannot that, Indeed, If Is against th£ allow one major victory to lull us into complacency and ru'es to become experts In all the areas about which they must apathy. To realize this, you have only to consider the many write. Once they become ex- current issues -- yet unresolved -- that are discussed in this perts on a topic, they 'ose their publication. These challenges, which need our concern and audience, their empathy, active involvement, include Worker's Compensation, the through largon, assumption that continuing loss of productive farmland, the use of agricultural others know as much about a chemicals in the production of food and fibre, and the energy sub/ed as they do, and the bill which has passed the House and is currently being con- human tendency .to show oH sidered by the Senate. your expertise by "ta'klng down" It is the latter issue. that requires our IMMEDIATE AT- to those with whom you are TENTION AND I MAKE A STRONG PLEA FOR YOUR ACTION. I communicating. Worst 01 all, when you become an expert, you sincerely believe that no other issue can have more impact on 'ose your awe lor re'ated adua' our futures - as farmers and as citizens -- than this one will. experiences, and I don't think And, if the proposed energy package is passed, that impact -FROM UNIVERSAL COOPERATIVES, INC. any writer shou'd ever 'ose his will be an extremely negative one which will affect not only awe. the agricultural industry, but the standard of living of every The Work Camp topic, which 'S U.S. citizen. one 01 our specla' leatures this The measures contained in this proposed legislation are counter-productive. The bill offers absolutely no incentiye to our oil companies to explore new reserves. It calls for It Pays to month, was more than lust a test 01 being ob/ed've writers; H was a test 01 charader and I'm proud to announce that the FARM regulation, federal price controls, and redistribution of gasoline tax revenues through social welfare programs. These measures will not produce oil and natural gas! They will, in fact, block the supplying of our energy needs! Work Together NEWS staH passed the test. However, It was not without Hs temptations. As 'nterv'ews ""ed the note pads and recording What can you, as a concerned farmer and citizen, do to stop Earlier this year; Representative Dent (D-Pa.) m- tapes, lIIustruflons 01 peop'e this disastrous plan? There are many constructive ways you introduced H.B. 3744, a federal minimum wa.ge proposal. basking In the Florida sun to can get involved, but it must be done TODAY because This bill included indexing, an automatic annual ad:" recover from their on.fhe-Iob the Senate is expected to give final consideration to the bill justment of minimum wage tied to the. annual average "stress" - courtesy 01 Worker's early this month. Here is a simple step-by-step suggestion for manufacturing hourly wage. Compensation -- made the action: On May Xl, 1977, members of the Michigan deadline stress we suHer seem a Agricultural Services Association (MASA), an malar disability •. the 1. Read carefully the analysis and warnings of John Miller, organization of 1,000agricultural employers, voiced their headaches, the 'nabl'Hy to s'eep, past president of the Independent Petroleum Association of opposition to this trill to all their Michigan Congressmen. the 'ack 01 concentration on non- Michigan on Page 5 of this issue. Relate the facts he presents F.8. re'ated matters, the stress personally. How would these facts affect you, your family, the They asked, instead, for federal minimum wage legislation which did not contain indexing, that would on home IIle..• " economy of our nation, the future generations? With that background, I draw initiate an indepth study of the overall concept of 2. Sit down and write Senators Griffin and Reigle NOW, minimum wage and its effect upon unemployment, and upon a persona' experience .•• telling them of your concerns and urging them to vote "NO" on One day, many years ago, on a would include a provision for employment of youth under the proposed energy bill. co'd winter day, I entered the FB 18 years of age at a rate of 75 per cent of the regular 3. Share your concerns with your urban friends and ask bul'dlng and hurried toward my minimum wage. desk. I s"pped on a me'ted-snow them to consider the worst kind of energy shortage -- people On September 15, 1977, the U.S. House of Represen- starving because there's not enough fuel to grow food. Ask spot on the tl'ed floor and tatives took the following action: ungracefully 'anded on my them to remember 1973 when many gas stations closed down -Removed the indexing provision in the bill by a vote tal'bone. It hurt a 'ot then; If hurt -- and then think about what would happen if grocery stores of 2Zi to 193.. worse when, a few years 'ater, I had to close for lack of food. Tell them the increases they will By a vote of 301-118, created a National Study Com- clipped the end 01 If on a stee' pay for gasoline will not go toward the search for more fuel -- mission to study the concept of the minimum wage and wastebasket as I bent down to but to the federal government so it can form one more its effect on unemployment. "11a box of materla's for annua' regulatory super-agency or finance some "socially ac- The attempt to include a youth P-I'OvWonreceived a tie meeflng. " hurts today when , ceptable" program .. vote, which was broken by the Speaker of the House, who ride 'ong distances In a car, 4. Ask your urban friends to write Senators Griffin and voted against it. when the weather changes, Reigle asking them not to let this happen to America! This is 'Ibis issue must receive Senate consideration before it when' think about It. becomes law. I was gratefu' for the "com- not just an agricultural problem; it involves everyone and we By farmers working together through their farm pany dodor" who gave me a few have a responsibility to share our realistic concerns with those treatments when It first h.ap- who are not aware of the consequences or feel that there is organizations, such as MASA, Michigan Fann Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federation, and those farm pened, with no charge to me. If nothing they can do to solve the problem. neyer entered my mind to seek organizations working together with other organizations If every Farm Bureau member who reads this plea would compensation for those "bad with similar concerns, organized labor has been dealt follow this step-by-step plan of action, we could report yet days" when "persona' time 'ost" another overwhelming defeat in 1m. made a ho'e In a much4leeded another cooperative victory in the next issue of your FARM It pays to work together. poycheck. NEWS. Elton R. Smith