Michigan Farm News February 26, 1993 Vol. 70, No.4 Clinton Tax Plan Shows a "International Trade and Michigan "Deficit of Common Sense II Agriculture" Topic of MSU Workshop President Clinton's proposed energy tax Farm Bureau believes that the federal Former USDA Secretary and U.S. Trade Representative, will place an "unfair, substantial burden" on deficit should be attacked through spending MFB President Jack Clayton Yuetter, will speak at the March 4 trade meeting. agriculture and Michigan consumers, both restraints and cutbacks, not through tax in- Laurie and former U:S in direct and indirect costs, according to' creases, according to Laurie. Secretary of Agricul- MFB President, Jack Laurie. ture and Trade Repre- "Our policy has been consistent. We sup- sentative, Clayton "Farm Bureau estimates that once the ener- port the goal of a freeze in total federal Yeutter, are keynote gy tax is fully phased-in by fiscal 1996, 7.5 spending, including entitlement programs, speakers scheduled to cents would be added to the cost of each at the previous year's level with the excep- address participants in gallon of gasoline, 8.3 cents to diesel and tion of interest payments on the national an MSU Agricultural 2.3 cents to propane (LP)," Laurie said. debt and natural disasters," Laurie said. Economics Depart- "Michigan farmers are heavy users of fuel "All departments should be examined for ment workshop on "In- for transportation and field work. And they cuts in spending. We support a constitu- ternational Trade and depend on propane for drying com, espe- tional amendment to restrict the spending Michigan Agricul- cially in a year like this when the crop was authority of the federal government to no ture," on Thurs., March extremely wet. An added energy tax will more than 19 percent of the gross national 4, starting at 9:30 a.m. simply make it. that much tougher for product, and a constitutional amendment to farmers to make a profit, especially when require the federal government to operate The workshop, part of you factor in the additional costs the tax will on a balanced budget each year. We support the 1993 ANR Week add to farm inputs like fertilizers and legislative or constitutional changes to give Program activities, will agricultural chemicals," he said. the president line-item veto power and take an indepth look at write-down authority in appropriations Michigan agriculture's The typical mid-western com farmer will bills with a simple majority override potential in world pay approximately $1,600 per year in addi- provision. " trade, and the expected tional energy taxes ($800 direct plus $800 impact of a successful indirect) under the proposed Clinton energy "Government economic policies should be conclusion of GATT The workshop will also feature experts speaking on: Oppor- - tax plan, according to AFBF Senior designed to encourage economic stability, and North American tunities for Export; Assistance in Global Exports; and What You Economist, Terry Franc!. increased productivity and a high level of Free Trade Agree- Need to Know. For more program information and registra- economic prosperity," Laurie said. "We ments to Michigan tion, which is free, contact John Ferris, MSU Agricultural "The cost of the energy tax for individual can't tax our way out of the deficit." farmers. Economics Department, at (517) 355-0144. farms will vary greatly depending upon the size of the operation, the type of com- modities produced and the weather im- "Outstanding Young Farmer" an Understatement! pact," Francl said. "Consequently, the total cost of the energy tax proposed by President The title of Michigan Farm Bureau's In the future, Wagner hopes to be able to Board and the Cass County Soil Conserva- Clinton may range from a few hundred "Outstanding Young Farmer" for 1992, to diversify and keep up with the changes in tion District. dollars per farm to several thousand dollars James B. Wagner of Marcellus, Cass Coun- the industry. "We're trying to change right ty, was just the latest of many accomplish- now and conform more to the way the hog Wagner's wife, Michelle, runs the Cass per farm. Nationally, farmers will pay an ments for this young farmer. industry is going," he said. County Pork Producers Restaurant at the additional $1 billion for energy, equivalent Cass County Fair. The restaurant is com- to about two percent of net farm income." With a "can-do" attitude and initiative, Wagner sees vertical integration in the pletely staffed by volunteers, and sends its Wagner along with his wife, Michelle, and packing industry, animal welfare and the profits to assist with 4-H projects and build Laurie said farmers are also skeptical about daughter, Alysia, owns and operates an 80- environment all as key concerns for the 4-H facilities. Clinton's plan to attack the deficit with higher personal and corporate taxes. acre farrow to finish hog operation. Wagner future because they are issues largely out of started from scratch at the age of 13 years, his hands. Wagner joined Farm Bureau in 1986, and "Clinton's plan shows a deficit of common through Farmers Home Administration's was the state semi-finalist as well as Cass sense. Even though these higher taxes youth program. He came from a non-ag The Wagners are active players in the County winner in the Discussion Meet. would not directly impact many Michigan family background, but developed the in- promotion of their product. Wagner serves Wagner is also a member of the county farmers, it's clear from the results of the terest when he was young by working for on both the Michigan Pork Producers Young Farmer Committee. 1990 budget agreement that increased taxes depress economic activity. A poorly-per- area farmers. Below, Wagner is pictured with a new CASE-IH 5250 that he'll be able to use for forming economy means decreased 100 hours on his hog operation as part of his Outstanding Young Farmer Award. demand for agricultural products and "I developed an interest in agriculture from economic hardship for rural people, " Laurie the time I was just a toddler practically, and said. I just grew from there and worked for other farmers," Wagner said. "That was how I gained knowledge." Wagner's operation consists of 350 sows and handles nearly 5,000 hogs per year. Wagner must work closely with the Soil Conservation Service to handle manure dis- posal and runoff. Currently, the farm uses strips and lagoons for runoff. Wagner has signed up 300 acres ofland through the SCS for spreading manure, and is looking into possible composting options. All the feed for his operation is purchased. Wagner said that it would take 600-700 acres of land to grow enough com to supply his needs, and that much land simply isn't available. Wagner does his purchasing from area growers and doesn't use a broker. "I'm concerned about quality, and I won't just buy through a broker and not know where the com originated from," he said. Michigan Farm News Classifieds - Page 14 Michigan Corn Information Exchange - Page 15 I Michigan Farm News •• February 26, 1993 In Brief ... Seed Quality Workshop to be Conducted by MCIA Michigan Farm Prices Unchanged in January People who deal with seed or produce it can upgrade their skills at a seed quality The Index of Prices Received by farmers in Michigan for a~lproducts as.o~Jan. 15 ~as 131 preservation workshop sponsored by the Michigan Crop Improvement Association percent of its 1977 base, according to the Michigan Agncultural StatIstICS Se~Ice. The (MCIA). "This workshop is intended to improve the knowledge of people who are involved January index is unchanged from December's index of 131 and seven percent hIgher than in Michigan's seed business," says Dennis Greenman, MCIA manager. January 1992' s index of 122. The program, intended for certified seed growers, elevator managers and seeds salespeople, The price index for all crops in Michigan was unchanged from its December level. Oats will run from 9 a.m. to around 3 p.m. March 22 at the Harley Hotel in Lansing. The morning and winter wheat prices were up eight and seven percent, while hay, dry beans and com program will focus on producing and conditioning high quality seed, seed law changes, fell six, four, and one percent, respectively, last month. seed air screens cleaners, using seed gravity tables, seed handling and seed plant layout. The afternoon program will consist of seed cleaning demonstrations in a seed conditioning The livestock index also remained unchanged from last month. Calves and slaughter cows plant and seed vigor testing demonstrations at the MCIA laboratory. were up four percent and three percent, respectively. Hogs and steerslheifers offset the increases by dropping one percent from a month ago. Eggs fell two percent and milk fell The cost will be $25 if registration is made by March 15 or $30 at the door. Registration one percent from December. includes the cost of educational materials and lunch. To register, send checks made payable to MCIA to Michigan Crop Improvement Association, Box 21008, Lansing, Nationally, the All Farm Products Index of Prices received in January was 138 percent of MI 48909, or call MCIA at (517) 355-7438. Registration can also be made by fax. The its 1977 base, nearly one percent above December's level. Price gains from December for fax number is (517) 355-4554. cattle, celery, wheat. and calves more than offset price declines for strawberries, lettuce. grapefruit, and milk. Farm Labor Workshops March 23 and 24 The Index of Prices Paid by Farmers for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes and Michigan farmers can attend one of four national agricultural labor seminars being Farm Wage Rates for January was 193 percent of its 1977 average. The index was up 0.5 sponsored by the American Farm Bureau and the National Council of Agricultural percent from Oct. 1992 and up 1.6 percent above Jan. 1992. Since last surveyed in October, Employers (NCAE) on March 23 and 24 in Grand Rapids at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, prices were significantly higher for feeder livestock with lower fuel prices moderating according to MFB Labor Specialist Howard Kelly. increases from other items in the current survey. According to Kelly, the seminar is arranged so that farmers can elect to attend either one Scholarship Winners Announced or two workshops. The first workshop, "Employment Documentation and Anti-discrimina- tion Provisions of the Immigration and Reform and Control Act," will cover the correct The MFB Promotion & Education and Young Farmers Scholarship Committee has selected procedures for using 1-9 forms. The workshop starts at 12 noon and runs until 5 p.m. Lunch two students to receive this year's Michigan Farm Bureau Scholarships. The scholarships and the program for this workshop are free of charge. To register, call the NCAE (202) are supported by the Marge Karker Scholarship, Young Farmer Trust Fund, and MFB. 728-0300. Selected were Carl J. Bragg. of West Branch, a sophomore at MSU in the College of The workshop scheduled on the second day, "Basic Agricultural Labor Law for Veterinary Medicine; and Michael Leach, of Saginaw, sophomore enrolled in Agribusiness Employers," will present an indepth review of the farm employers' compliance respon- at MSU, with plans for a degree in Agricultural Communications. Bragg was awarded the sibilities under a number of federal laws. The workshop will be presented by two nationally $3,000 scholarship, while Leach received the $1,500 scholarship. Under this program, a recognized labor experts, Monte B. Lake and Dr. James S. Holt. These two presenters are $1,500 scholarship will be awarded each year to a two-year MSU ag student, and $3.000 associated with McGuiness & Williams in Washington, D.C., a national management labor scholarship to a four-year MSU ag student. law firm. Bragg is the son of Leonard and Helen Bragg, beef farmers who have been members of The March 24 workshop starts at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 1:30 p.m. This program does Ogemaw County Farm Bureau for 20 years. Leach is the son of Ralph and Shirley Leach, require a $30 registration fee and covers the cost of all materials and lunch. To register for cash crop fanners and members of the Saginaw County Farm Bureau for 26 years- Both - this workshop, call McGuiness & Williams at (202) 789-8600. For hotel registration Bragg and Leach will be honored at the Agriculture and Natur~l Resoilrces Banquet at information, if needed, call the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids at (616) Michigan State University. 774-2000. Camp Going to House Ways and Means Committee Beef Industry Withstands Tainted Meat News Dave Camp has been selected by House Republican leaders to serve on the House Ways Negative implications of recent news of the tainted meat linked to Jack-in-the-Box res- and Means Committee. The committee considers all legislation which comes before taurants in the northwest have been noted by the industry, but meat industry spokespeople Congress on tax, trade, and health care policy, as well as a number of other issues. say consumer concerns generated by the tragedy have not shown up in overall meat sales, according to a Knight-Ridder News report. "The Ways and Means Committee will be the center of discussion on the economy, tax, trade. and health care policy," said Camp. "Citizens have put these challenges on the front Consumers devour about 5 billion pounds of hamburger, worth about $5.7 billion, making burner; it's now up to Congress and the president to act so the American people don't get it a key portion of the U.S. cattle market, said Augie Ring, analyst with A.R. Ring and burned. These are all issues that"will be especially important to Michigan fann families Associates. The largest price effects of the hamburger incident were seen in the 90-percent who have critical concerns which come before the Ways and Means Committee." lean beef trimmings, a key portion of the blend used in hamburgers for the fast-food industry. Those prices underwent a short-term collapse but have started to rebound. Industry Michigan agriculture leaders applauded Camp's selection for the Ways and Means Com- spokespeople say they think consumers quickly realized it was not a meat-safety issue, but mittee. "Dave Camp is, and will continue to be, a voice in Washington for Michigan a food-handling one. agriculture," said Jack Laurie, president of the Michigan Farm Bureau. "His work on the House Ways and Means Committee will be vitally important to farmers all across Some spokespeople said the price of hamburger meat had been volatile in the past few Michigan." Camp's appointment to the Ways and Means Committee is effective immedi- weeks, even before the tainted meat incident, making it difficult to attribute the entire effect ately. He is the only Michigan Republican member of Congress to serve on the committee. on price to the food safety scare. "I get the feeling the public will soon put this behind because we have a safer meat supply than we've ever had, as packers are doing extensive PETA's Tax Status Questioned testing," said Kevin Lafleur, executive vice president of sales and beef processing with Monfort of Colorado, a major beef supplier. Uncharitable acts could be the downfall of PET A (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) if they cause the group to lose its tax-exempt status. Peta has been linked to several unlawful Espy Wants More Meat Inspectors attacks on animal facilities and individuals in the past. The animal activist group now is also suspected of financial improprieties. In the wake of a food-poisoning and meat contamination problem in the northwest, Ag Secretary Mike Espy is asking for more meat inspectors and plans to make that recommen- PET A executives have recently been under investigation for corrupt practices and lavish dation to a Senate subcommittee hearing. pay and prerequisites, but now the organization also is raising the curiosity of the Internal Revenue Service. Its financial reporting for fiscal 1991 came under suspicion of using Meat industry spokesmen from the American Meat Institute and the National Cattlemen's i!lflated figures for program expenses to ~emain qualified under the rule that such organiza- Association say opportunists are turning the incident into a debate on meat inspection when tIOns must use at least 60 percent of theIr funds on programs rather than fund raising and the focus should remain on improper handling and food preparation. Meanwhile, Food- solicitation. maker, Inc., the firm that operates Jack-in-the-Box restaurants, said it is suing its meat suppliers for recovery of damages sustained by the firm in the poisonings. A Washington-based watchdog group now says PET A may use less than half of its funds for direct program activity with close to 60 percent devoted to fund raising efforts. Michigan Cattle Numbers Continue to Increase The MICHIGAN FARM NEWS (ISSN:0743-9962) is published semi-monthly except in the months of November, The Jan. 1, 1993, Michigan cattle herd totaled 1,225,000 head, up 2 percent from a year December, June, and July when only one issue is printed, as a service to regular members, by Michigan Farm ago, according to the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service. The Jan. 1 milk cow Bureau, 7373 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI48917. Member subscription price of $1.50 included in annual inventory, 340,000 head, was up 2,000 head from 1992. Milk cow replacement heifers, at dues of Michigan Farm Bureau regular members. Additional subscription fees required for mailing Michigan Farm Ne~ to non~'!lembers and outside the continental U.S.A. Second-Class Postage paid at Lansing, MI and 163,000, were up 4,000 head. Beef cows at 115,000 head. were up 8 percent. Beef additIonal mailIng offices. Letters to the editor and statewide news articles should be sent to: Editor, Michigan replacement heifers increased to 31,000 head, up 3 percent. The 1992 calf crop was 420,000 Farm News, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, MI 48909-8460. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Michiga,n head, 40.000 more than the previous year. Farm News, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, MI 48909-8460. Editorial: Dennis Rudat, Editor and Business Manager. Staff Contributors: Mike Rogers' Connie Turbin' Donna Cattle on full feed for slaughter totaled 220,000 head. up 5 percent from a year ago. Steer Wilber; Henry Huisjen. ' , numbers, at 257,000 head, increased 2 percent and other heifers, at 43,000 head, decreased Officers: President, Jack Laurie, Cass City; Vice President, Wayne Wood, Marlette; Administrative Director, Chuck 4 percent. Calves on hand at 257,000 head, were up 2 percent from last year. Michigan has ~urke~; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Tom Parker; Secretary, William S. Wilkinson. Directors: District 1, 20,000 operations with cattle, the same as last year. Jim M.lller, Colom~; ~istrict 2, Blaine VanSickle, Marshall; District 3, Diane Homing, Manchester; District 4, Tom G~th.ne, De~ton; D.stnct 5, Ma,!< Smut~, ~harfotte; District 6, Wayne Wood, Marlette; District 7, Larry Snider, Hart; Nationally, all cattle and calves totaled 100.9 million head, up I percent from the revised Dlstnct~, ~Ic.hard Leach, Saginaw; Dlstnct 9, Joshua Wunsch, Traverse City; District 10, Margaret Kartes, West 99.6 million head on Jan. I, 1992. Beef cows, at 34 million, were up I percent from a year Branch, Dlstn~ 11, Robert Wah~hoff, Barag~. At-Large: Douglas Darling, Maybee; Jack Laurie, Cass City; Faye ago. Milk cows, at 9.84 million head, were down 1 percent from 1992. Beef replacement Adam, Snover, Ja.n Vosburg, Climax. PromotIon and Education, Paul Swartzendruber, Pigeon; Young Farmers, Kurt Inman, Sturgis. heifers, 6.18 million. were up 7 percent from last year. The 1992 calf crop, 39.3 million, was also up 1 percent from 1991. Michigan Farm News February 26, 1993 ITOL o o ::D Z m ::D Private Property Ri9l'lts .. '..... Highly Perishable Commodity Frost Weight Exemption Senate Bill l77 and H.R. 561, sponsored by Sen. Bob Dole MFB Position: House Bil14121, introduced by Rep. John Gemaat (R-Mc- (R~Kan.) and Rep. Gary Condit (D-Cal.), are identical bills MFB opposes H.B. 4121 Bain) Feb. 2, exempts milk haulers from frost weight .aimed at protecting private property, rights. Regulatory because it addresses only restrictions. The bill states that a vehicle used for the takings of private property by federal agencies is a grow- milk and does not provide transportation of milk from the producer to the dealer or ing concerhto'property owners and Congress. It's es- for county road commis- processor is exempt from the requirements of seasonal timatedthat faimers could lose 25 to 50 percent of their sions authority. weight restrictions. land equifY as a result of takings of p,rivate property. Also, the U.S. government currently faces more than $1 billion MFB Contact: Michigan Farm Bureau's policy on highways supports a in ol.ltstanding takings. claims and in 1990 several of the Darcy Cypher. Ext 2048 frost weight exemption for highly perishable commodities and supports granting county road commissions the . hlfgesftakingsjudgni~ntsjri history were handed down by . coUrts.. authority to suspend frost weight exemptions . No-Fault Automobile Insurance Reform MFB Position: Reps. Mike Griffin (D-Jackson) and Bill Martin (R-Battle MFB policy supports Creek) are sponsors of H.B. 4156 to reform Michigan's No- reforms which will assist Fault auto insurance law. The proposal is expected to cut in controlling the rising auto insurance rates an average of 16 percent by enacting cost of auto insurance. reforms which: MFB is analyzing the bill - Allow consumers to select PIP medical coverage limits and has not taken a posi- from $1 million up to $5 million. Present law requires tion. that consumers purchase unlimited PIP medical coverage; - Prohibit lawsuits by motorists 50 percent or more at fault MFB Contact: and limit non-economic lawsuits; Darcy Cypher, Ext. 2048 - Control medical and rehabilitation costs; - Reduce subsidies to high-risk parts of the state by lower risk communities; - Allow discounts for airbags. seat belt, anti-theft devices and long-time customers. Fluid Milk Act of 1965 MFB Position: Sen. George McManus (R-Traverse City) is sponsoring Supports. S.B. 75 to adopt the 1989 Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) which is revised from the 1978 version Michigan MFB Contact: had previously operated under. In addition. the bill would: Ronald Nelson. Ext 2043 - Increase the license fee for milk haulers from $10 to $20; - Reduce the temperature for Grade A milk on farms from 50 to 45 degrees; - Strengthen and clarify the financial requirements for buyers of milk to ensure payment and increase the penalty for drug residue in raw milk. General Property Tax Act MFB Position: Sen. Doug Carl (R-Uitca) is sponsoring S.B. 146 (S-I), Farm Bureau could sup- which would, in effect, extend the freeze on property tax port this proposal if addi- for one more year and reduce the ratio for school operating tional revenues were iden- purposes as follows: 1993 - 45 percent; 1994 - 42 1/2 per- tified, such as an increase cent; and 1995 - 40 percent. in sales tax, to off-set the Starting in 1996, the ratio would be reduced further in reduction in property tax proportion to the increase in statewide SEV which exceeds to fund schools. the rate of inflation. This annual calculation would then result in lowering the 40 percent to some lower ratio. MFB Contact: Ronald Nelson, Ext. 2043 The Senate further amended the Substitute Bill by adding language mandating that the lost revenue for property tax would be made up from the state general fund. Initial evaluation indicates that the savings in property tax would be approximately $350 million in 1993, and raised to over.$1.2 billion in 1996. Currently .the state budget is approximately $400 million short, but executive order cuts are expected to balance the budget. The $1.2 billion would Fertilizer and Pesticide Tax equate to approximately a 10 percent impact on the state budget which would result in very deep cuts in existing MFB Position: Congressman Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) has proposed legisla- programs unless other sources of revenue, such as income Strongly opposes the tion to establish a National Clean Water Investment Cor- or sales tax, were increased to off-set the lost revenue. proposed tax on fertilizer poration to fund municipal sewage plant construction and and pesticides. other clean water projects. The money would be raised by Medical Malpractice collecting $3 billion in polluter pay taxes of which $1 bil- lion would be from taxes associated with the use of agricul- MFB Position: Sen. Dan DeGrow (R-Port Huron) and Rep. Michael Grif- MFB Contact: MFB supports both bills fin (D-Jackson) are sponsoring S.B. 270 and H.B. 4067 to Al Almy, Ext. 2040 tural chemicals and fertilizers. and encourages their reform medical malpractice in Michigan. The Senate The $1 billion would be obtained by a 47 cents per pound adoption. This is tort Judiciary Committee held two long hearings on S.B. 270 tax on active ingredients in pesticides and a 1.7 cents per reform that Farm Bureau and is expected to report the bill out of the committee pound nutrient tax on nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers. members through their soon. A vote on the Senate floor could occur at any time. The proposal would result in a taX of $26.88 per ton of an- policies have been urging hydrous ammonia, $15.64 per ton of urea, ~10.88I?er ton for years. Let the legis- The bills would: of 32 percent nitrogen. $21.76 per ton of dlammomum lators know you support - Limit contingency fees in medical liability cases; phosphate, and $6.80 per ton of 10-10-10 fertilizer. their bipartisan efforts to - Remove exceptions to the cap on non-economic damages enact meaningful reform. and limit the $250,000 cap to each incident; - Define expert witness; MFB Contact: - Require plaintiffs to notify defendants of the suit and its Howard Kelly, Ext. 2044 legal basis 180 days before fuing; Michigan Farm Bureau (517) 323-7000 - Allow countersuits by prevailing defendants. Michigan Farm News 3D-Day Forecast - Colder and Wetter Than Normal •• .February 26, 1993 Milder and drier than normal weather persisted over nearly all of Michigan during the mid-January through mid-February period. Michigan Weather Summary Average temperatures ranged from 3 to as many as 9 degrees F 1/15/93 Temperature Precipitation above normal. Highest departures from normal were in northern to 1/15193 Observed Dev. From Actual Normal' sections of the state. With the exception of sections of the Upper linch) Mean Normal (inch.) Peninsula and far southeastern Lower Michigan, precipitation was 1.61 Alpena 23.4 + 5.6 0.59 generally less than 50 percent of normal. February is climatologi- 0.51 1.44 Bad Axe 23.5 + 2.3 cally the driest month in most areas of the state. 1.65 1.64 Detroit 28.9 + 5.8 Escanaba 22.1 + 6.0 0.91 1.77 The cold, unsettled weather of mid-February signaled a change in 1.17 1.64 Flint 26.2 + 4.9 the jet stream pattern that may persist for at least another couple 0.87 2.14 Grand Rapids 27.0 + 5.0 of weeks. With northwesterly flow aloft expected to allow peri- 21.0 +7.6 2.00 1.85 Houghton odic shots of cold, arctic-origin air into the midwest, the latest 22.6 + 4.9 0.80 1.61 Houghton Lake National Weather Service 3D-day outlook for mid-February 26.8 + 3.6 0.72 1.63 Jackson through mid-March calls for below normal temperatures over Lansing 26.5 + 5.1 0.77 1.63 most of the state. Precipitation for the same period is expected to Marquette 20.9 +9.1 1.76 1.85 average above normal due to the anticipation of an active southern Muskegon 27.7 + 5.1 1.01 2.19 branch of the jetstream and the associated low pressure systems Pellston 22.0 +7.3 1.98 1.77 and Gulf moisture it may bring. Saginaw 25.5 + 4.1 0.85 1.44 Sault Ste. Marie 18.3 + 4.9 1.77 1.77 In contrast, the 90-day February through April extended outlook South Bend 30.6 + 7.0 0.84 2.14 is still calling for milder and drier than normal conditions on the Traverse City 25.0 + 4.8 1.01 1.77 average. As was noted earlier, warmer and drier than normal Vestaburg 25~0 +3.8 1.13 1.57 weather in the late winter could cause overwintering crops to come out of dormancy earlier than normal, leaving them vul- nerable to subsequent cold temperatures should they occur. MSU Crop Advisory Team Experts Preparing to Monitor Michigan Crop Conditions Michigan and Major Commodity Area the weather outlook and changes in pes- Extended Weather Outlook Crop experts at Michigan State University searchers and Extension specialists on T - Temp. 2/26 3/15 2/26 4130 will soon begin their weekly analysis of the campus. ticide regulations. P - PreciD. T P T f state's growing conditions. Michigan B A A B The campus CAT is drawn from depart- The subscription cost for each of the four W. Com Belt B A A N Four groups, known as Crop Advisory ments such as Entomology, Botany and CAT Alerts is $25. Each Alert will be pub- E. Com Belt B A NJA N Teams (CATs), focus on landscape, Plant Pathology, Crop and Soil Sciences, lished weekly until pest activity declines in Wint. Wheat Belt B N NIB N/A Horticulture, Forestry, Animal Science, the fall and then will be issued bi-weekly. Spr. Wheat Belt B A A NIB Christmas tree, field crop, vegetable and Pac. NW Wheat B A A B fruit production management. Each group Fisheries and Wildlife, and the agricultural Delta BIN N NIB N of campus experts gets together weekly weather office. People interested in CAT Alerts should Southeast N N NIB N with MSU Cooperative Extension Service specify which edition they wish to receive San Joaquin N A A N agricultural agents via a telephone call. The weekly landscape, field crop and fruit and send a check, made payable to CAT sessions will begin in early April; the Michigan State University to CAT A-Above Average, B-Below Average, N-Nor- During each session, field agents report on vegetable CAT calls will start in early May. Alerts, 11 Agriculture Hall, MSU, East mal, MA-Much Above, MB-Much Below, NP- No Precip. Source: National Weather Office the status of crop conditions in their regions Lansing, MI 48824-1039. Be sure to in- and request advice from agronomy re- The content of each telephone conference clude the address to which each CAT call will be printed in CAT Alerts, a digest Alert should be sent. of the sessions. Each CAT Alert is mailed to subscribers within 24 hours of the con- More information about the publication Serving Michigan ference call. It provides growers with predictive information about managing dis- and the activities of the advisory teams can be obtained by calling (517) 355-0117 Farm Families is eases and pests, crop fertility requirements, at MSU. Our Only Business Since its beginning in 1971, Michigan Farm Radio Network's only objective has been to serve Michigan's farm families. This dedication to serve agricul- ture is shared by 29 local radio stations in Michigan. Through these sta- Roots to Profitability. tions, Michigan Farm Radio Network provides the latest in market analysis, weather and news to Farm Bureau members daily on the following stations: Ststlon city Frequenc:v Morning Fsrm Noon Fsrm WABJ Adrian 1490 5:45 am 12:15 pm \ ' \\ WATZ Alpena 1450 5:30 am 12:15 pm WPZA Ann Arbor 1050 6:15 am 12:05 pm WLEW Bad Axe 1340 6:30 am 12:50 pm WHFB Benton Harbor 1060 * 12:30 pm Increase Wheat Yields WKYO Caro 1360 6:15 am 12:45 pm Spring is the time to treat wheat with ACA WTVB Coldwater 1590 5:45 am *** to gain your advantage. ACA can be used WDOW Dowagiac 1440 6:15 am 12:15 pm as a spring dormancy break application with WACY Fenton 1160 6:15am 12:15 pm your topdressing fertilizer to boost your yields. WGHN Grand Haven 1370/92.1 5:45 am 12:15 pm WPLB Greenville 1380 6:15 am 12:45 pm 1992 Yields WBCH Hastings 1220 6:15 am 12:30 pm ACA-treated wheat had an average increase WCSR Hillsdale 1340 6:45 am 12:45 pm of 10.76 bu/acre with the highest yield WHTC Holland 1450 12:15 pm increase at 22.22 bu/acre. On farm yield WKZO Kalamazoo 590 ** 12:15 pm increases in 1992 varied from 5.16 to WJIM Lansing 1250 5:05 am 12:15 pm 22.22 bu/acre. The four-year average yield WWGZ Lapeer 1530 * 12:15 pm increase wheat growers have seen using ACA has been 8.53 bu/acre. WNBY Newberry 92.5 12:15 pm WOAP Owosso 1080 6:15 am 12:30 pm See the Benefits of ACA WHAK Rogers City 960 7:10 am 12:15 pm Better root systems Increased Profits WSJ St. Johns 1580 6:15 am 12:15 pm Heathier Plants Increased Yields WMLM St. Louis 1540 6:06 am 12:20 pm Easier Harvesting Proven Performance WSGW Saginaw 790 5:55 am 12:15 pm WMIC Sandusky 660 6:15 am 12:45 pm To see the difference apply ACA with WKZC Scottville 95.9 5:45 am 12:30 pm anhydrous, liquid 28% N, Liquid Starter, impregnated on dry or sprayed. WCSY South Haven 940 12:15 pm WKJC Tawas City 104.7 12:45 pm Contact Your Local WLKM Three Rivers 1510/95.9 6:15 am 12:15 pm Clean Crop Dealer WTCM Traverse City 580 5:55 am 12:40 pm or call 1..800 ..292 ..2701 * Station signs on at different times during the year. Morning farm times change with for additional information sign~n times. on the ACA Advantage! ** Station airs various farm reports between 5:50 and 6:20 pm. *** Station airs various fann reports between 12:00 and 1:00 pm. Some stations cany additional market reports throughout the market day. Michigan Farm News February 26, 1993 Michigan Ag Leaders to be Recognized at MSU's ANR Week Prominent leaders in agriculture and natural resources will receive Distin- guished Service to Agriculture Awards Hilner has been the Michigan state conser- vationist for the U.S. Department Agriculture Soil Conservation of Service Homer Hilner Donald Keinath Delton Parks II March 4 at Michigan State University since 1981. He will be cited for achieving during the President's Luncheon. broad cooperation between federal, state and local agencies and educational institu- The recipients include Homer Hilner, of tions on soil and water quality conservation Okemos, Donald Keinath of Caro, and Del- throughout the state. He is an advisor to ton Parks of Grand Rapids. many national and state organizations, in- cluding t!,e Soil and Water Conservation Sierra Club Society of America, Michigan United Con- servation Clubs, the Groundwater Educa- tion in Michigan Council, the MSU Crop ') Labels Farmers and Soil Sciences Council, and the External Review Committee of the MSU Institute for "Anti-Environ- Water Research. ment" Over Keinath manages a 520-acre farm that produces sugar beets and certified barley, He has held many advisory positions in MSU Extension and MFB. dustry Foundation. He is also a past presi- dent of the MSU ANR Alumni Association Private Property wheat and navy bean seed. He is recognized as a national proponent of sugar beet utiliza- Under Park's leadership, Country Fresh, and is president of the G. Malcolm Trout Council. Rights Debate tion and a state spokesperson for certified seed production. He has served Michigan's Inc., of Grand Rapids, grew from a single plant to one of the nation's largest dairy The award winners will receive engraved The Sierra Club continues to blatantly sugar beet industry for more than 24 years operations. He is a director of the Golden plaques in recognition of their contribu- misrepresent the American Farm Bureau and is currently president of the Great Lakes Cheese Co., Corona, Calif. , and Perry's Ice tions to agriculture and natural resources. Federation's environmental positions in an Sugar Beet Growers Association. He has Cream Co., Akron, Ohio. He has held many A photograph and a citation outlining each effort to further its fund raising goals, the also served Michigan's dry edible bean in- positions in the dairy food industry and is recipient's- contribution will be on per- farm organization has charged. "The Sierra dustry for many years and has represented currently chairperson of the International manent display in Agriculture Hall at MSU. Club has found it necessary to attack the Michigan Bean Commission in Europe. Dairy Foods Association and the Milk In- farmers to justify its existence," said Dean Kleckner, AFBF president. "We have been targeted as the 'enemy' because we support Move ahead in a efforts to pass state and national private property rights legislation." The farm leader cited charges contained in a Sierra Club fund raising letter which ac- cuses Farm Bureau and other groups of new career • • • conducting a "massive and brutally destruc- ti ve anti -en vironmen tal onslaught." The Sierra Club document cites Farm Bureau as a "major backer of the anti-environment movement (which) is supporting a wetlands destruction bill deceptively named the I'd like s Talk to Private Property Rights Act." csreerthst Fann Bureau helps people Insurance "The Sierra Club has accused us of 'cyni- cally trading on our nation's traditional / / beliefs.' If protecting our property rights is 'anti-environment,' then we are in the com- pany of our founding fathers," Kleckner Change your life charged. "The nation's farmers and ranchers not only produce food as a busi- ness, but they provide food and habitat for as an agent for the vast majority of America's wildlife." "Seventy-five percent of the nation's wet- lands are on private lands on which farmers Farm Bureau Insurance pay mortgages and taxes. We plant trees, create ponds and buffer strips for wildlife. We are working continually to improve conservation practices on our land. I don't assets and $5 billion of life insurance in see anything particularly villainous in those We are a growing company and we're activities. If anything, the Sierra Club looking for ambitious, friendly, hard- force. We protect 70,000 Michigan should applaud farmers' efforts, not attack them," Kleckner said. working men and women to help us homes, 16,000 businesses., and insure serve the people of Michigan. more Michigan farms than our next three The farm leader said the latest incident is part of a systematic attack on agriculture. closest competitors combined. He also cited remarks attributed to National If you - or someone you know - Wildlife Federation President Jay Hair in would like a career that offers prestige, • Our life insurance company was which he accused farmers of destroying the environment. unlimited earning potential, and a named one of the 50 most outstanding professional image, consider the insurers in America, based on safety, "In recent years, we have added millions of acres of land to the Conservation Reserve advantages of being an agent with Farm security, and financial performance. Program," he said. "The idled acres have resulted in vastly increased numbers of Bureau Insurance. • You'll be part of a statewide force of wildlife. Many of these species prey on duck nests, yet agriculture is blamed for the • You'll be offering a full line of over 400 Farm Bureau Insurance agents decline in duck numbers due to farming serving 350,000 Michigan policyholders. practices on wetlands. They are convenient- insurance services that people want and ly using the loss in duck numbers to fuel the need - life, home, farm, auto, business, Find out more about a rewarding wetlands debate," he said. retirement, IRAs, and more. career with Farm Bureau Insurance. Just According to Kleckner, the latest attack on private property rights legislation is an at- • You'll be associated with one of contact your local Farm Bureau tempt by some in the environmental com- Insurance agency manager or call John munity to make private land public without Michigan's strongest and most trusted compensating landowners for the taking. insurers. We now have over $1 billion in Beachnau at 517-323-7000, ext. 2355. "The private property rights legislation, the source of the latest Sierra Club charge, simply states that regulatory actions must take landowner rights into account as Making your future more predictable guaranteed in the constitution by stating, if a 'taking' occurs, the landowner is entitled __ • FARM BUREAU to compensation," he said. The farm leader urged the Sierra Club to base future fund ' •• fAItM IlIIIAU (1) INSURANCE MUTUAl • fARM IlIIIAU lIR • fARM IlIIIAU G9UAl • fI A*UfTY raising appeals on its own accomplish- ments, not groundless attacks on others. Michigan Farm News II. February 26, 1993 =======~ ••••••• 1. Market Outlook ... ... . .r•••••• ••••• ....... ~.rl ~;.11 •••• rl••• •••• ,j ••• CORN Although it continues to be hard to get any money out of the com market, those who participated in the 1992 com program Seasonal Commodity Price Trends Dr. Jim Hilker, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, MSU E~RM•••••••• ~ ' •••••••• ~:;.. should start seeing some money from the government soon. It appears the five-month SOYBEANS BUSINESS average com price will be about $2.01-2.03 Wheat per bushel. This would indicate a total deficiency payment for this year's com crop of $0.72-0.74. After subtracting out the Corn At this point, it is hard to find any positive news about the soybean market other than OUTLOOK $0.24 advance payment, the March pay- exports continue to be strong. Supplies are Strategy: Watch for rallies to price ment should be $0.47-0.49 per bushel. Soybeans plentiful, the South American crop looks remaining cash soybeans. The basis good, and technically the market was in a remains strong enough that holding cash On top of that, sign-up for the 1993 farm Hogs downtrend as of mid-February. The USDA beans is not the way to go even if you are program starts March 1. The USDA's es- made no changes in their supply/demand bullish. Consider basis contracts, minimum timated deficiency payment for 1993 com Cattle projections for 1992-93, which is shown in price contracts, or selling cash and buying a will be $0.72 per bushel. You can request Table 3, despite the strong exports. call if you want to stay long in the market. 50 percent of the estimated rate at sign-up, which comes out to be $0.36 per bushel. The $0.72 is also the minimum guaranteed HOGS amount for 0/92 participants. A combination of fewer hogs coming to Strategy: Futures prices are on the high The answer as to whether or not to par- still overwhelming the market. Given the market than expected and continued strong side of what fundamentals would suggest as ticipate in the 1993 com program is very cattle/com and the hog/com price ratios, demand have kept hog prices higher than of mid-February. For those who cannot af- straight-forward, YES. Although set-aside, feed demand is very likely to meet projec- expected. Production is expected to run ford downside risk, they may consider lock- i.e., the cost for the 1993 program, has tions and perhaps exceed them. Com ex- about 2 percent over year ago levels, ac- ing in a price on some of their future produc- increased from 5 percent to 10 percent, the ports continue strong. However, expected cording to a survey out of Missouri that tion through the rest of the year. At this return from participating will far outweigh ending stocks, as shown, will still be close looks at 10 large hog states. And economic point, keep very current. Part of the lower the costs. For a typical Michigan farm, the to 27 percent of use. indicators suggest that incomes should start than expected production may just be a break-even price is around $2.60. In other to improve. This would indicate that hog hold-up due to weather conditions. words, in order to be better off out of the Strategy: The com market should be bot- prices will stay in their present range program than in, the price of 1993-94 com toming out for this year. While fundamen- through spring. would have to be higher than $2.60. tals do not paint a rosy picture for an in- crease in the futures market, there is room CATTLE The USDA released its latest supp- for cash price increases in the form of basis ly/demand estimates for 1992-93 on Feb. 10 tightening. The problem with that is it will On Feb. 5, the USDA released the annual The 1992 calf crop was listed as up 1 per- and are shown in Table 1. My estimates for likely only pay with on-farm storage and, Jan. 1, 1993, Cattle Inventory Report. It cent. Steers over 500 pounds were up 1 1993-94 are also shown. While demand ex- given the condition of this year's crop, that showed total cattle and calves up 1.3 per- percent and those under 500 were down 1 pectations continue to be strong, supply is can be quite risky. cent which, while lower than expected, was percent. the largest increase we have seen in quite a WHEAT while. However, the year-to-year increase Other heifers were up 6 percent. These num- came after the 1992 inventory was revised bers indicate feeder supplies will be rela- The answer to participating in the 1993 make your decision. Most offices will alsp downwards by half a million head. tively tight through summer, especially wheat program is the same as for com, have access to a computer disk designed as with the strong demand for feeders due to YES. While the risk may not be as high as a decision aid for both com and wheat. Beef cows that have calved were shown to low com prices. for com, the cost is zero set -aside. The be up 1 percent. Heifers kept for beef cow estimated deficiency payment for par- Strategy: The highs in the wheat market replacements were up 7 percent. This Strategy: While slaughter still runs below ticipants in the 1993-94 wheat program is have passed unless we have weather would put total cows and heifers that might expectations, slaughter weights show feed- $1.05 per bushel making the 50 percent problems this spring. As shown in Table 2, calf this year up about 2 percent. lots are current. While it appears that prices advance deficiency payment $0.525. while the supply demand situation for wheat in the high $70s will last through March, is not poor like with com, it is sufficient and The increases are due to 5-6 profitable keep very current. It is very likely that While you should check with your local carryover is expected to grow this next year. years for the cow-calf producers. While this production will increase as we approach ASCS office for specific details, your local However, at this time, there is probably not does show expansion, it is not at a histori- April. Especially if the mid-February rally county Extension offices should have a a lot of downside price risk on 1993 wheat. cally high rate. Michigan's beef heifer re- has hung on until you receive this issue, paper with an explanation of the wheat and At this point, just keep a lookout for a rally placements were down 1.4 percent, going consider some forward pricing to limit com programs and worksheets to help you in July futures. against the grain of most of the country. downside risk. Table 1 Table.2 .. Supply/Demand Supply/Demand Balance Sheet For Balance Sheet For CORN WHEAT USDA Hilker USDA Hilker Hilker Proj. Proj. Proj. Proj. Prpj. 1991-92 92-93 93-94 1991-92 92-93 93-94 Corn Acreage (Million Acres) Wheat Acreage (Million Acres) Soybean Acreage Acres Set-Aside and Acres Set-Aside and Acres Planted Diverted 4.7 3.5 7.0 Diverted 10.0 3.5 0.0 Acres Harvested Acres Planted 76.0 79.3 75.8 Acres Planted 69.9 72.3 74.0 BuJHarvested Acre Acres Harvested 68.8 72.2 68.7 Acres Harvested 58.1 63.1 64.0 BulA. Harvested 108.6 131.4 121.0 BulA. Harvested 34.1 39.0 39.0 Stocks (Million Bushels) Beg. Stocks 329 278 355 Stocks (Mim~n Bushels) Stocks (Million Bushels) Production 1987 2197 2033 Beg. Stocks 1521 1100 2237 Beg. Stocks 866 472 506 Imports 3 2 2 Production 7474 9479 8313 Production 1981 2459 2496 Total Supply 2319 24n 2390 Imports 20 3 5 Imports 38 65 48 Use: Total Supply 9016 10,582 10,555 Total Supply 2885 2996 3050 Crushlngs 1254 1265 1250 Use: Use: Exports 685 745 720 Feed 4897 5200 5200 Food 785 830 850 1535 Seed 94 95 100 Seed, Feed and Food/Seed 1434 1495 Residuals 102 112 100 Total Domestic 6331 6695 6735 Feed 259 225 175 Total Use 2040 2122 2070 Exports 1584 1650 1700 Total Domestic 1137 1140 1125 Exports 1275 1350 1350 Ending Stocks 278 355 320 Total Use 7915 8345 8435 Ending Stocks, Ending Stocks 1100 2237 2120 Total Use 2413 2490 2475 Percent of Use 13.6% 16.7% 15.5% Ending Stocks Ending Stocks 472 506 575 Percent of Use 13.9% 26.8% 25.1% Regular Loan Rate $5.02 $5.02 5.02 Ending Stocks Regular Loan Rate $1.62 $1.72 $1.72 Percent of Use 19.6% 20.3% 23.2% Regular Loan Rate $2.04 $2.21 $2.45 U.S. Season Average U.S. Season Average Farm Price. SlBu. $5.60 $5.45 $5.50 Farm Price. $IBu. $2.37 $2.05 52.15 U.S. Season Average Source: USDA & Hilker Source: USDA & Hilker Farm Price. SlBu. $3.00 $3.30 $3.10 Source: USDA & Hilker Michigan Farm News -. February 26, 1993 IIShould You Incorporate the Farm Business? ...... •••••••• ••••••• ••••••• ••••• ~.'I r. ,1 . ~~ •••• r,••• ownership and success of the business in Each of the three forms of organizing a •••• ,j ••• .r •••••• FARM handling these problems satisfactorily, farm business - proprietorship, partnership Ralph E. Hepp or corporation - are obviously very com- .'~ J1~::. •••• Department of Ag Economics Michigan State University Because of the pressures of modem agricul- ture, more and more farmers are beginning plex and impossible to cover in one article. However, the article will point out some of •••••••• •••••••• to examine partnerships and corporations the most relevant characteristics of a cor- Traditionally, the family farm has existed with one person owning the farm business and he and his family supplying the capital, as possible ways of organizing their busi- nesses to make it easier to reach both short poration which, in turn, can help business owners decide whether they should incor- BUSINESS and long-term goals. porate the operation. The decision can be labor, and management. As the farm grows it needs to attract equity Some individuals and groups have made with professional help from your at- torney and accountant. OUTLOOK protested vigorously this trend, claiming capital, obtain more management talent, the end ofthe family farm would result. The and secure a dependable labor force. From a more long-term viewpoint, there is the truth is actually quite the opposite. The way the family farm business is organized is just Legal Structures of Farm Corporations problem of continuity between generations another business tool. The form of a busi- Most farm corporations are closely-held about the shares of stock and the duration and of transferring the larger business as a ness does not transform the ideas, goals, family businesses owned by a small num- of the corporation. growing concern to the next generation and aspirations of a family in and of itself. ber of shareholders. Usually they are fami- without taxes taking too big a bite. It is simply a tool to be used in estate ly operations that have been incorporated In addition to the articles of incorporation, planning, each form of organization with its by the owners to enjoy the benefits of cor- corporate bylaws are enacted by the The legal structure of the farm - the way it own advantages and disadvantages. porate organization. shareholders or directors to regulate the is organized - has many effects on the everyday affairs of the corporation. The There is no established public market for document is similar to and has the same shares in a closely-held corporation and the purpose as the partnership agreement for a Ownership and Management of bylaws usually have restrictions on the partnership. The bylaws are not filed with sales of stock to individuals outside the the state like the articles of incorporation. Farm Corporations family. Included in most corporate bylaws are the A corporation has a measure of flexibility board, in turn, hires the manager and other The corporate form of business associa- time and place of shareholders' and in the transfer of ownership not available in employees to help operate the corporation. tions has several fundamental charac- directors' meetings, quorum requirements other forms of business associations. Stock- teristics which distinguish it from sole for shareholders' and directors' meetings, a holders may sell or transfer their ownership There could theoretically be five groups of proprietorships and partnerships. A cor- listing of officers' and managers' duties as shares in the corporation without altering people involved in a corporation: poration is a distinct legal entity, separate well as special limitations on their authority the business. 1) the Incorporators, and apart from the individuals who own it in such matters as borrowing money and 2) the Shareholders, (shareholders), manage it, and work for it. entering into contracts, the corporation's For example, if a large block of corporate 3) Board of Directors, tax year, and stock transfer restrictions and stock is transferred, it could change the 4) Manager, A corporation is essentially an artificial agreements. management control of the corporation. But 5) Salaried Employees and Hourly Wage legal person created according to state law. such a transfer would not affect in any way Earners. It has many of the rights of an individual. The characteristic oflimited liability for the the assets within the corporation; only the A corporation can own and transfer real shareholders is an advantage of the cor- stock ownership of the corporation would In large, publicly-held corporations, the and personal property, sue and be sued, porate structure. Corporate legal obliga- be affected. above groups are separate and distinct contract to buy and sell - all in its own tions arising either from tort liability (such from one another. Thus, there is a separa- name. as negligence) or contractual commitments Thus, the corporation could continue to tion of ownership and management. Prac- may be satisfied only out of corporate as- operate as a separate legal entity without tical control of the corporation is removed A corporation is recognized under state sets, not out of shareholder's individual as- interruption. This is in direct contrast to a from the owners by the board of directors. law when the formal requirements are met sets, unless the shareholder signs personal- partnership where the partnership is usually This separation of ownership and manage- for starting a corporation. The articles of ly to guarantee the obligations of the cor- dissolved whenever a partner ceases to be ment could be another unique charac- incorporation are the basic character or poration. associated with the business. teristic of the corporate form. governing instrument of a corporation and are filed with the state of Michigan. It Thus, the liability of shareholders is limited Another unique characteristic of the cor- In most closely-held family corporations, contains the powers and limitations of the to the amount of money they have paid or porate form is the way in which it is owned the same individuals hold membership in corporation and its shareholders. promised to pay into the corporation. and managed. The owners are called each of the groups. Frequently an in- shareholders because they hold shares of dividual will wear four hats, that of a stock- The document includes the name and ad- interests in the corporation. Corporations holder, director, manager and employee. dress of the corporation and the issue these ownership shares in the form of shareholders, the purposes for which the stock. There are several types or forms of Under these circumstances, ownership and corporation is organized, information stock with the most widely used being com- management may be merged in the same mon stock. people. However, if a stockholder is also a director or an officer or both and he handles At the time of incorporation, stock is corporate business, he is technically acting received in exchange for the assets which as a manager and not as an owner. are transferred to the corporation. Thus, shares of stock represent the specific Stockholders generally lack any right to amount of interest each owner holds in the establish management policy by direct ac- corporate assets. However, these shares of tion. They can only influence management stock do not represent an interest in in- of the corporation indirectly through their dividual assets. The corporation owns the election of the directors. The separation of assets and shareholders do not have a right ownership and management exists legally to any specific assets owned by the corpora- in a corporation, even though an owner is tion. also a manager. Decision-making powers in a corporation It's important to know the separate func- are allocated to the stockholders, the direc- tions of each group as the law judges the tors, and the officers. The owners of stock authority and obligations of such an in- vote individually or combine in numerous dividual according to the specific capacity ways to elect a board of directors who within which he or she is operating. manage the corporation for the stock- holders. The board of directors organizes itself by Morton BuiI~ is leading the industry with: electing officers who determine policy and procedures to follow in the corporation. The > New structural designs II' 50-, amv-load protectloo > New structural capabilities (with 00 1inIt) > New color combinations 2B-,. protecllon agaiIst red rust Perpetual Life Characteristic of Corporations > New building styles II' (1ncbIng acid rain) Another distinguishing characteristic of the corporate form is that it can have perpetual life. In other words, a corporation could conceivably go on forever - it is not dissolved > New '> New exterior applications interior options II' 1B-,. wDHoad protection 111 ADnaSteeI- ddiIg doors (wttb ... > New sliding door tecluzology __ 1inIt) upon the death of its owners as are the sole proprietorship and partnership. Upon the death of a shareholder in a corporation, only the corporate stock owned by the decedent is subject to probate - not the corporate assets. Since title of land and other personal > New > New > New gutter systems infonnative video tapes corrosion protection II' 5-,. wDHoad .. -otectlon IIMIg (with 00 .... 111 COQIIete Init) property owned by the corporation are not affected by the death of a shareholder, the Call YDC' local aIIice today! operation of the business may continue without interruption if ownership and manage- ment succession have been planned. Adrian, MI (517) 263-0541 800-447-7436 Brown City, MI (313) 346-2702 This continuity of existence of a cOfl?Orationresults in.an estate planning adv~ntage over Kalkaska, MI (616) 258-2580 "MORTON sole proprietorships and partnershIps. All, c0!"J>Oratlonsd? not. necessanly have. to continue forever. The shareholders could fix Its hfe for a certam penod of years by statmg such in the articles of incorporation. Rockford, MI (616)874-6400 Three Rivers, MI (616) 279-5271 ll. BUILDINGS Michigan Farm News February 26,1993 Federal Income Taxes and Farm Corporations ments or interest received on corporate of the corporation's earnings on personal 4. The corporation may have only one class 1 he two types of corporations are regular debentures. income tax returns. All income is taxed the of stock outstanding. corporations (also referred to as Subchapter year it is earned whether or not it is retained "C" corporations) and tax-option corpora- A disadvantage of Subchapter "C" corpora- or distributed. Subchapter "S" rules are 5. If more than 25 percent of a corporation's tions (also referred to as Subchapter "S" tions is that double taxation is possible. It similar to partnership rules in that an infor- gross receipts are "passive investment in- corporations). Both types are separate legal occurs when corporations pay dividends to mation return is filed annually on behalf of come," and the corporation has accumu- entities. Their difference lies in the method their shareholders since dividends are dis- the corporation. lated earnings from years as a regular cor- of federal income tax payment. tributed from the corporation's after-tax in- poration, the corporation will be taxed at the come and are not a deductible corporate Thus, corporate earnings in a Subchapter highest corporate rate on "excessive passive A corporation taxed under the regular operating expense. Shareholders must in- "S" corporation are only taxed once - to the income" (more than 25 percent) and will method of income taxation is considered a clude dividends in their taxable income. shareholder. This avoids the double taxa- lose its "S" status if these conditions exist separate taxable entity - it becomes a legal, Shareholders are in effect paying taxes a tion possibility present with Subchapter for three years. tax-paying "person" itself. It pays its own second time on the same profits. "C" corporations. However, only certain income taxes at tax rates established for a types of small business corporations may Passive investment income is rents, corporation. Most closely-held corporations avoid elect to use the Subchapter "S" option. dividends, interest, etc. Material participa- paying dividends because of the double Several requirements must be met initially tion in the management of the investment Amounts paid by the corporation as taxation. Many corporations strive to pay and on a continuing basis to be eligible. converts the passive investment income to salaries, wages, rents, and interest are de- out excess cash flows to the owners as earned income. ductible by the corporation as expenses salaries, bonuses, rents, interest on deben- 1. The corporation can have no more than when figuring taxable income. Every per- tures, or wages, thus avoiding double taxa- 35 shareholders. 6. All of the shareholders of the corporation son - stockholder or not - who works for tion. 2. Generally, only individuals, or trusts and must consent to the election. the corporation becomes an employee. estates of individuals, may be shareholders. Being an employee, they must pay personal If a corporation elects to be taxed under the Partnerships and corporations cannot be A Subchapter "S" corporation does not lose income taxes on their wages - just as all special tax option or Subchapter "S" shareholders. its other corporate characteristics. It is a employees are required to do. method, it is normally not a taxpayer. That 3. The corporation must be a domestic cor- corporation for every other purpose. It hires is, the corporation itself is not taxed on any poration (organized under the laws of one employees and pays salaries and bonuses in Stockholders must also pay personal in- income. The income of the corporation of the states or territories of the United the usual fashion and may declare dividends come tax on any other income received "flows through" to the shareholders and States or under federal law) with no non- (without the dividend exclusion) to from the corporation such as rental pay- each shareholder includes a prorated share resident alien shareholders. shareholders. Limited liability, transferring shares of stock, employee fringe benefits, and stock purchase agreements, are similar. How a Farm A FEW SMALL REASONS Corporation Is Financed 1 here are two basic sources for financing a corporation: 1) the issuance and sale of bonds, debentures, notes, etc., called debt financing, and 2) the issuance of stock called equity financing. A bond is a written promise by the corpora- tion to pay a stated sum of money at a specific date accompanied by a stated inter- est rate. Bonds are normally secured by a lien or a mortgage. A bond holder is a secured creditor of the corporation. Some bonds are designed so that it is possible to convert them into shares of stock of the corporation. A debenture is a debt instrument similar to a bond except that it is unsecured. The ability to issue various classes of stock and debt instruments provides a corporation greater flexibility in arranging the capital structure than possible with a sole proprietorship or partnership. Through the use of debt instruments, in addition to stock, investments can be made in corporations without changing the con- trol of stock ownership.Corporations can also borrow money, just as a sole proprietor- ship or partnership would. Choosing the Right Business Structure for Your Operation iNo two farm businesses are exactly alike or have identical requirements. Even where For over forty years, Farm Bureau and Blue Cross Blue Shield the type of farm and locality are the same, the likes and dislikes, motives, objectives, have teamed up to provide quality health care at competitive group rates personalities, and methods of the in- with the personalized service you would expect from a Farm Bureau family membership. dividuals involved will be different. The decision as to which form of business No matter what your needs... organization should be chosen for a new small business, sole proprietor, or individual coverage for you or your family — operation, or to reflect changes in an estab- lished farm, is one of the most important a we have the right plan at the right price. fanner must make. Certain basic things should be taken into Blue Cross Blue Shield quality and Farm Bureau's personalized service consideration: (1) the amount of credit and provide an unbeatable combination that you can't afford to be without when protecting capital required, (2) any possible need to the "small" things in life that are of big importance to you. limit liability, (3) the structuring of management and control of the farm busi- ness, (4) the expense of organization, (5) For information, call 1-800-292-2680 or contact your local Farm Bureau agent. ease of transfer of ownership interest, (6) whether continuity of the business between generations is an issue, and (7) tax con- \ MICHIGAN siderations. FARM BUREAU Michigan Farm News February 26, 1993 Be on Guard Against Hydraulic Hazards on Your Farm Understanding Hydraulics have made controlling farm equipment much easier and more precise - D Replace defective lines, fittings, and seals. Michigan's but must be handled with care to avoid injury. Here are safety tips: o Never rely on hydraulic cylinders to Pseudorabies D Keep hydraulic fluid at specified hold up any component. They are designed for lifting and can fail or Eradication Act levels. allow the component to drift or even fall down Never rely on hydraulic cylinders to hold without The Pseudorabies and Swine Brucellosis Control and Eradication Act of 1992 clears D Relieve up any component. They are designed for warning. pressure Use sup- the way for Michigan to accomplish lifting and can fail WIthout warning! port stands before dis- eradication of the pseudorabies virus. It defines the role of the pork producer, the connect- -and From Farm Bureau Insurance ing hydraulic lines. Lower equipment never get under a hydraulically Michigan Department of Agriculture, live- to the ground, turn off the engine, and operated component unless it is secure- stock brokers, markets and slaughter plants. transport position. Always lock the move hydraulic controls back and ly supported. Successful eradication, however, hinges header in the up position before servic- forth a couple of times. Make sure largely on the swine producers' active par- ticipation, according to MFB Livestock lines are secure before applying pres- o If a hydraulically operated component ing, lubricating, or performing other activities near or underneath. sure. won't go up, stop and seek the cause. Specialist Kevin Kirk. Perhaps you're trying to lift too big a D When checking a hydraulic line for a load, or you may be snagged on some- D When connecting hydraulic couplings "Under provisions of the new act, owner- between a tractor and implement, leak, use a piece of cardboard or paper thing. Back off and try again. Don't at- expense testing of herds for herd status will make sure they are in the proper order. rather than your hand. Pinhole leaks tempt to lift loads above rated determine which herds are infected and If lines are reversed, control motion can inject fluid into the skin - and if capacity. which are not," said Kirk. "All herds, in- would cause a response opposite to that happens, you'll need immediate cl uding feedlots and farrow to finish producers, will have to test for at least medical attention. o When moving a combine on roads or what you expect. Correct reversed lines immediately. to worksites, carry the header in monitored status on an annual basis." Those herds that have already established a , herd status will not be required to test again until the present herd status expiration date. A significant change, however, is that all feeder pig monitored herds will be required to test yearly rather than every three years TAKE'THE'BlTE OlJTOF DENTAL CARE COSTS as had been the case in the past, explained Kirk. Owner-expense testing should make it pos- sible to apply for split-state status to include most of the Lower Peninsula, with the ex- ception of the Cass/ Allegan county cor- ridor, as low prevalence and eligible for Stage III status. With the passage of this act, the Upper Peninsula has already achieved Stage III status due to a coordinated effort in 1991 to test all swine herds located in this area. The results of those tests showed no evidence of pseudorabies infection. According to Kirk, a porion of the money spent by producers to accomplish testing will be placed in a fund and used for future program activities. Annual owner-expense testing will continue until the area or region in which the herd is located is given Stage III status. Infected herds will be quarantined and swine movement limited to slaughter markets only, unless a provision in the herd cleanup plan allows movement of feeder pigs to approved quarantined feedlots. All herds that are infected will be required to . , enter a Pseudorabies Herd Agreement, con- taining a herd clean-up plan. Cleanup plans are to be formulated with a I I projected successful end date of not more than 36 months. Vaccination will be a valu- able tool in the clean up of infected herds and in limiting spread of the disease. Member dental insurance is the affordable way !o assure that you and your family Pseudorabies vaccine use and sales will be receive the dental care services you require - even when sudden and costly needs arise. controlled through a section in the act that requires a herd owner to be in possession of Measure the rates against your annual dental care bills and consider the advantage! a card issued by MDA which identifies the type of vaccine to be used in the herd, Single $18 per month • Couple $32 per month according to Kirk. Member/C.nild $32 per month • Family $41 per month "Only one type of vaccine may be used without danger of causing an immune 1'- _".'CII'I:AN . .... ~AR. BIJREAIJ response in the vaccinated animal, which is indistinguishable from the antibody TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND A DENTAL BROCHURE/APPUCATION - FILL OUT THE COUPON BELOW response caused by an infection with a field OR CALL DIRECT 1-800-292-2680, EXT. - 3239. strain virus," cautioned Kirk. "Testing vac- cinated herds that have two different types Please Print of vaccine would indicate positive test results and such herds would then have to Please mail to: Michigan Farm Bureau Name be placed under quarantine. " Membership Services P.O. Box 30960 Address According to MDA, an attempt will be Lansing, MI 48909 City State ZIP made to plan meetings in all regions of the state to acquaint producers with the new law. Producer support thus far, says MDA, Phone has resulted in the act that provides the County necessary framework for making Michigan a pseudorabies-free state by the year 1999. MFN Michigan Farm News February 26, 1993 -. ENVIRONMENTAL Reducing the Risk of Groundwater Contamination by Vk STEWARDSHIP ~.. .--.", Improving Livestock Yard Management Besides addressing the potential of live- sideration in citing a livestock yard. These stock yards to pollute groundwater, other include soil texture, soil depth, depth to good reasons for improving management bedrock, permeability and drainage class. practices include improved herd health, The best site has a deep, well-drained silt ease of maintenance and quality milk or loam to clay loam soil with slow per- meat production. meability. A very poor site has shallow soil, or a high water table, or a very sandy and A manure management system is a coor- gravelly soil with excessive drainage and dinated combination of management and rapid permeability. structural practices to facilitate utilization of manure and related agricultural wastes in a Clean water diversion manner that prevents or minimizes environ- One way of reducing water pollution from mental impacts and maintains the economic livestock yards is to reduce the amount of viability of the farm. It is not enough to clean water entering the yard. Some ex- install manure management practices in ac- ample measures are listed below. In all cordance with the best available technol- cases, recommended structures need to be ogy. Every component of a manure manage- maintained. ment system must be managed properly to ensure that the intended economic and en- • Roof gutters, waterways, and concrete vironmental benefits of the total system are channels may be used to direct roof runoff achieved. away from livestock yards. Distance from wells • Diversions and waterways can be con- Wells should be located in an elevated area structed across the slope upgrade from a upslope of the livestock yard, so that runoff livestock yard to prevent clean off-site from the livestock yard will not drain into runoff from entering the yard. the vicinity of the well. The Michigan well code requires a minimum separation of 50 • In some areas, if a diversion is not practi- feet between existing livestock yard and cal, a catch basis with an underground out- new wells except for grade at dairy opera- let could be installed above the livestock tions where the minimum distance is 75 feet. yard that routes the "clean" water around Minimum separation distances regulate the livestock yard. new well installations, as well as the dis- tance from existing wells to new sources of Runoff control systems A livestock yard without a runoff control the surface, and decaying manure is mixed Fertilizer Recommendations contamination. Existing wells are required Use fertilizer recommendations, based on by law only to meet separation requirements system typically has an earthen surface into the soil by animal traffic. MSU-CES Bulletin E-550, to determine the in effect at the time of well construction. compacted by animal traffic. This surface is not shaped for water drainage, so jt is Water running off concrete pads located total nutrient needs for crops to be grown on near barn doors and clean water from roofs each field that could have manure applied. Site characteristics usually dry in some places and muddy in others. Manure typically accumulates on and upslope areas can flush manure from Soil characteristics are an important con- Fertilizer recommendations made by MSU- the yard and create mudholes. CES are based on the soil fertility test, soil Such a yard is difficult to manage, and the texture, crop to be grown, a realistic yield goal (average for past 3-5 years), and past Contacts and References absence of runoff controls may lead to water quality and herd health problems. Con- crop management. Fertilizer recommenda- Who to call about. .. taminated runoff from an active feedlot that tions can then be utilized by the livestock accumulates in areas adjacent to the lot may producer to help identify which fields Design assistance and technical standards for runoff control systems: flow through the soil and threaten manure nutrients will have the greatest Your county Soil Conservation Service or Cooperative Extension Service office. groundwater quality. This risk is particular- value in reducing the amounts of commer- ly high on sites with high infiltration rates cial fertilizers needed, thereby returning the Financial and technical assistance in livestock yard management: and rapid permeability, such as sandy or greatest economic benefit. Your county Soil Conservation Service or Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation gravelly soils and soils that are shallow to Service (ASCS) office. Manure Analysis bedrock. To determine the nutrient content of What to read about ... Runoff control systems can remedy such manure, analyze it for percent dry matter Publications are available from sources listed at the end of the reference section. problem situations. These systems collect (solids), ammonium N (NH4-N), and total livestock yard runoff, settle out manure N, P, and K. Health effects of nitrate in groundwater solids, and direct the remaining water to * Nutrient Management to Protect Water Quality. MSU - Extension, WQ25. grass filter strip, a vegetated filter area away Several factors which will determine the * Livestock Manure Management for Crop Production and Water Quality. MSU - from streams, ditches, waterways and areas nutrient content of manures prior to land Extension, WQI2. of permeable soils and fractured bedrock. application are: * Nitrate - A Drinking Water Concern. MSU Institute of Water Research. Another option is to collect and store runoff (a) type of animal species; * Private Well Water Testing. MSU, Center for Environmental Toxicology. for later land application. (b) composition of the feed ration; (c) amount of feed, bedding, and/or water Management of livestock yards Manure storage and waste utilization added to manure; * Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook. Midwest Plan Service -18. One of the best uses of animal manure is as (d) method of manure collection and * Generally Accepted Practices for Manure Management and Utilization. a fertilizer for crop production. Depending storage, and; (Right to Farm Act) from MDA or CES. on the species of animal, 70-80 percent of (e) climate. * Managing Animal Manure as a Source of Plant Nutrients. National Corn the nitrogen (N), 60-85 percent of the phos- Handbook - 12. phorus (P), and 80-90 percent of the potas- The best way to determine the nutrient con- sium (K) fed to animals as feed is excreted tent of manure and provide farm-specific Design criteria and general information in the manure and potentially available for information is to obtain a representative Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service - 6. recycling to soils. sample(s) of that manure and then have a Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service - 3. laboratory analyze the sample(s). Swine Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service - 8. Applying at a rate to supply the nutrient Dairy Housing and Equipment Handbook. Midwest Plan Service - 7. needs of crops reduces water quality con- Manure Nutrient Loadings cerns for potential contamination of surface The agronomic rate of N for crops (MSU- Fertilizer Recommendations for Vegetable and Field Crops in Michigan. waters (Le. lakes and streams) and CES Bull. E-550) should not be exceeded MSU - Extension - 550. groundwater. by the amount of available N in manure or manure plus fertilizer N added. The avail- Soil Fertility Testing able N per ton or per 1,000 gallons of Publications available from ... manure should be determined by using a All fields should be sampled at least every 1. Your county Extension office or directly from the Bulletin office, Room lOB Agricul- three years, and the soils tested to determine manure analysis and the appropriate ture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824-1309, (517) 355-0240. There may be charges where manure nutrients can best be utilized. mineralization factors (see MSU-CES Bull. for publications, postage and sales tax. WQI2) for organic N releases during the One goal of a well-managed land applica- first growing season following application 2. Your county Extension office or Midwest Plan Service secretary, Agricultural En- tion program is to utilize soil testing and and the three succeeding growing seasons. gineering Department. 217 A.W. Farrall Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, fertilizer recommendations as a guide for MI 48824-1323, (517) 353-3297. applying manures. Utilizing these guides When the soil test level for Preaches 150 will result in appropriate use of manure lb.lac. (Bray PI), manure applications 3. The Institute of Water Research, 334 Natural Resources Bldg., Michigan State nutrients which can be supplemented with should be reduced to a rate where manure P University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1222. commercial fertilizers for supplying crop added does not exceed the P removed by the nutrient needs. harvested crop. 4. Center of Environmental Toxicology, C-23 I Holden Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, (517) 353-6469. Michigan Farm News •• February 26, 1993 III Assessing the Risk of Groundwater Contamination from "Livestock Yards Worbheet Why should I be concerned? Uvestoclc V.nls IIIInagement: Assessing Drlnldng W.ter eontlJm/natlon Risk Livestock yards, such as barnyards, hold- ing areas and feedlots, are areas of con- 1.Ule. pea:IL YOII...,"'1O IDIb c:MIJ&eL 3. 'Ibm Ioc* Ibowe Ibe 1.- ".....n JOIl c:In:Ied 10 fIDd ,oar -rB IIlDba'" centrated livestock wastes. They can be a 2. For eacb CIIeIOIJ tilled CIIIbe left tbltllllJllftllldlle to JOUI' (4. 3. 2 or 1) IDd ear.r1blt IIIIDberID die .... -- -,oar ...... source of nitrate bacteria contamination of fumIIIead. racllCIWI m Ibe d&bl1Dd c:IJcIe Ibe .... 4. DinlcIkD CII OftIIIlICUllalIppell'.dIe aid ~dIe WOIbbeeL 5. Allow abo8t l5-30~ m~ Ibe WOIbbeelIDd fIpre aut groundwater. This is especially true if there IeaYe bIIDt fII'/ CIIe&OIkItbIt a'l., tbIt belt deIcdbeI c:oadIIIoaI 011 JOUI' fIImIIeId. (Skip EO to JOUI' fInuIe8d.) JOUI'd* rdIDI"'~ ,.nil...........- is no system to divert clean water flow from MOD-IUOH RISK IOOH RISK YOUR the livestock yard, or collect polluted runoff WWRISK WW-MOD RISK (rut 4) (nDk 3) (DDk 2) (mnk 1) RANK from the yard. LOCATION The potential for livestock yards to affect Locatlon of Aahe IhaIoc:t yard AaiwIhab:t yard IIIIlcIhe ~,.m IIIIcthe IiftIIDCt JIId groundwater is greatest if the yard is located 0II~~1Oil 011 medium 10 fiDe- 011 medium to coaIO- 011 medium to coaIO- 1ift8tock yard III Iemnd IOiL so feet or over coarse-textured permeable soils, if the 100 feet or more 1mttIII'eCl1Oil. so feet or IaIIJI'ed IDiJ. Upllope ftlatiOll to weUa. more dowDIIope from more dowDIJope from from well. RaDoft' water table is at or near the surface, if ~weD. RuDoft 2SO well. RuDOft' c:banDe1 welL RuDoft cbIIme1 cbaDDe1 011 medilDD to bedrock is within a few feet of the surface, feet or more from well. 100 feet or more so to 100 feet from 00Il~~ dlea or when polluted runoff is discharged to Pawd yard so feet or dowDslope from weD. well. tbaD 100 feet from weD. more dowDdope. permeable soils and bedrock. AD nmoft'directed to • P.anbea yIrd with all EaJtbea yard widl aU Nitrate levels in drinking water above IeIdiD& buiD and wdl mal ra:eiYinI boot' mal ftlCdYin. hqueDt federal and state drinking water standards of IeIkd nmoff Itonp. ttaffic; wiIb nmoff hoof ttaffic; wiIb DO WeD IIUIiDtaiDed. COIlII'Ol curbI, pam. I1IIdf COIlII'Ol meuareI 10 milligrams per liter (mg./l.; equivalent to IeUIinI buill IDd pal inp18ce. parts per million for water measure) nitrate- filler 1Uip. WeD maiD- nitrogen can pose health problems for in- IIiDaL fants under 6 months of age, including the condition known as methemoglobinemia = (blue baby syndrome). Nitrate can also af- AD nmoft'direcled to • AD nmoft'directed to • AD rod ... dherIId. Roof .... mllUlfKe IeIdiDi bIIiD IIId No I'UIdf COIIIIOl wuerl1lDOff nIDI fect adults, but the evidence is much less IetdiDJ buill and IeIkd maoft' ....... aa-d iIdilaIioa IIrip IJIIrm ia place. Yanla yanlllld DO certain. 300 feet or more wbaewe:. ICnpCld wectly. Well cDatrallJIIaII dowDIIope from weD. IOa1iDely dowDIIape from lot or ia pl8ce. YIIIdI rarely nmoff iIIfibrIIioa area, ICDpCld. WeD Young livestock are also susceptible to WeDSO.feet::; from yard or orweDiI~ dowDsIopfJ from lot or health problems from high nitrate-nitrogen \Ir .... ",AiL paler ..... feet. nmoff iIiftI1ndoa area. levels. Levels of 20-40 mg./l. in the water TOTAL D supply may prove harmful, especially in combination with high levels (1,000 ppm) of nitrate-nitrogen from feed sources. Fecal bacteria in livestock waste can con- " Reducing the Risk of Groundwater Contamination by taminate groundwater if waste seeps into nearby wells, causing such infectious dis- Improving Livestock Yard Management" ... Continued eases as dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis. Organic materials, which may lend an un- If the Bray PI test reaches 300 Ib.lac. or As land slopes increase, the risk of runoff cover will limit nutri~nt movement into the desirable taste and odor to drinking water, higher, manure applications should be dis- and erosion losses to drainage ways, and soil and greatly increase the risk of manure are not known to be dangerous to health, but continued until nutrient harvest by crops eventually surface waters, also increases. being lost to surface waters by runoff and their presence does suggest that other con- reduces P test levels to less than 300 Ib.lac. Soil and water conservation practices erosion during thaws or early spring rains. taminants are flowing directly into To protect surface water quality against dis- should be used to control and minimize the When winter application is necessary, ap- groundwater. charges of P, adequate soil and water con- risk of non-point source pollution to surface propriately-sized buffer strips should be es- servation practices should be used to con- waters, particularly where manures are ap- tablished between surface waters and How do I complete the worksheet? trol runoff and erosion from fields where plied. Injection or surface application of frozen soils treated with manure to mini- Follow the directions at the top of the chart manure is applied. manure with immediate incorporation mize any runoff and erosion of manure on the next page. It should take you about should generally be used when the land from reaching surface waters. 15-30 minutes to complete this worksheet Excessive manure applications to soils can: slope is greater than 6 percent. and figure out your ranking. cause P to accumulate in the upper soil Management of Manure Applica- profile and increase the risk of contaminat- For cropland with slopes greater than 15 tions What do I do with these rankings? ing surface waters with P where percent, or pasture, hay or meadow crops Keeping records of manure analyses, soil Step 1: Begin determining your overall live- , runoff/erosion occurs. It can also result in with slopes greater than 20 percent, manure test reports, and rates of manure application stock yard managment risk ranking. Total excess nitrate-N (N03-N) not being used by will be immediately incorporated or in- for individual fields will assist the livestock the ranking for the categories that apply and plants. or the soil biology and increase the jected on the contour; and split applications producer to identify the land areas needed divide by the number of categories ranked. risk of N03-N being leached down through of no more than 50 percent of the total for effectively utilizing the manure the soil and into groundwater annual application rate should be made at nutrients produced. Good recordkeeping This ranking gives you an idea of how your anyone time. demonstrates good management and will be livestock yard management practices as a It can also create nutrient imbalances in beneficial if the producer's management whole might be' affecting your drinking soils which may cause poor plant growth or Timing of Manure Application practices are challenged. water. This ranking should serve as a very animal nutrition disorders for grazing live- Where application of manure is necessary general guide, not a precise diagnosis. Be- stock. The greatest water quality concern in the fall rather than spring or summer, Several tables in MWPS-18 can help in cause it represents an averaging of many (where soil erosion and runoff are control- using as many of the following practices as making preliminary estimates of manure individual rankings, it can mask any in- led) from excessive manure loadings is possible will help minimize potential loss of production for different types of livestock dividual rankigs (such as Is' or 2s') that N03-N losses to groundwater. Therefore, N03-N by leaching: (a) apply to medium or and of the average nutrient content of those should be of concern. the agronomic fertilizer N recommenda- fine rather than coarse textured soils; (b) manures. This information can be used to tions should never be exceeded. delay applications until soil temperatures compare the quantity of available manure Step 2: Look over your rankings for in- fall below 50 degrees F; and/or (c) establish nutrients against the nutrient needs (or fer- dividual activities: The availability of nutrients in manure for cover crops before or after application to tilizer requirements) of crops to be grown *Low risk practices (4s'): ideal; should be plant uptake will not be the same as highly help remove N03-N by plant uptake. in the livestock operation. your goal despite cost and effort. soluble, fertilizer nutrients. Therefore, total * Low-to-moderate-risk practices (3s'): manure nutrients cannot be substituted for Application of manure to frozen or snow- If the quantity of manure nutrients being provide reasonable groundwater protection. those in fertilizers on a pound-for-pound covered soils should be avoided, but where generated greatly exceeds the annual crop *Moderate-to-high-risk practices (2s): in- basis. A portion of the nutrients, particular- necessary, (a) solid manures should only be nutrient needs, then alternative methods for adequate protecton in many circumstances. ly N, are present in manure organic matter applied to areas where slopes are 6 percent manure utilization should be identified. For * High-risk practices (1s): inadequate; pose which must be decomposed before mineral or less and (b) liquid manures should only example, cooperative agreements with a high risk of polluting your ground water. (inorganic) forms of the nutrient are avail- be applied to soils where slopes are 3 per- neighboring landowners to provide addi- able for plant uptake. Manure nutrients cent or less. In either situation, provisions tionalland areas to properly utilize all of the Regardless of your overall risk ranking, any usually cannot be applied as uniformly as must be made to control runoff and erosion manure nutrients may be necessary. individual rankings of" 1"require immediate those in fertilizers. with soil and water conservation practices attention. Some concerns you can take care such as vegetative buffer strips between Good recordkeeping is the "back bone" of of right away; others could be major - or surface waters and manure treated soils. a good management plan. Past manure costly - projects requiring planning and Method of Manure Application analysis results will be good predictors of Manure should be uniformly applied to prioritizing before you take action. soils. Spreaders should be calibrated so the Ideally, manure (or fertilizer) nutrients the nutrient content in manures being ap- amount of manure applied per acre (gal.lac. should be applied as close as possible to, or plied today. Records of past manure ap- during, periods of maximum crop nutrient plication rates for individual fields will be FARM-A-SYST or tons/ac.) is known, and manure nutrients uptake to minimize loss from the soil-plant helpful for estimating the amount of can be effectively managed. The Farmstead Assessment System in system. Therefore, spring or early summer residual N that will be available for crops to application is best for conserving nutrients, use this coming growing season. Michigan is a multiagency cooperative ef- Manures should not be applied to soils fort to increase awareness and encourage within 150 ft. of surface waters or to areas whereas fall application generally results in greater nutrient loss, particularly for N03-N Changes in the P test levels of soils with correction of potential water quality subject to flooding unless: problems around the farmstead. The on coarse soils (i.e. sands, loamy sands, time due to manure P additions can be deter- (a) manures are injected or surface-applied materials are based on similar materials sandy loams). mined from good records, and that informa- with immediate incorporation (i.e. within developed in Wisconsin and Minnesota tion can be helpful in anticipating where 48 hours after application) and; with assistance from the United Stares En- Winter application of manure is the least manure rates may need to be reduced and (b) conservation practices are used to vironmental Protection Agency, Region V. desirable from a nutrient utilization and pol- when additional land areas may be needed. protect against runoff and erosion losses to surface waters. lution point of view. Frozen soils and snow Michigan Farm News SCS Conservation Farmer Award Goes to Frank Brown •• February 26, 1993 Frank Brown of Barry County was recent- tional tillage, but it saves on the soil and on ly awarded the Michigan Association of the amount of chemicals," he said. Conservation Districts' Conservation Fann award, given annually to a fanner with an Brown also believes in the use of cover outstanding conservation program. The crops as added protection to the soil. On award was presented by the association's corn fields, the stubble is left until spring president, Joshua Wunsch, at the recent an- planting. On the rest of his land, rye and nual meeting. wheat are planted as cover crops. Brown and his wife Alice own and operate Brown has a love for wildlife. His fann 498 acres, raising corn, soybeans, wheat pond is kept stocked with bluegills and and alfalfa. Nearly 200 of those acres are trout, and his CRP acres are a new home for currently enrolled in the Conservation pheasants and birds. Both are favorite spots Reserve Program (CRP). for area hunters. Brown's conservation program consists of "We're blessed with many wildlife," he no-till conservation tillage, grassed water- said. "Since we put those acres into CRP, ways, cover crops, tree planting and forest management, wildlife management, a fann the pheasants and birds have really come back." f~ Radisson Hotel pond, and fertilizer and nutrient manage- ment. Brown was nominated for the award by the ,Lansing Barry County SCS. All state nominees are "I really believe in conserving soil and judged by representatives from the wildlife habitats," Brown said. "It all comes Michigan Department of Agriculture and down to leaving the land the way you found the Michigan Association of Soil Conserva- it. " tion Districts. A winner is selected based on conservation techniques, environmental Above, Barry County farmer Frank Brown (left), and his wife Alice accept their Brown started to grass his land depressions education, comprehensive conservation award during the Michigan Association of Conservation District's annual meeting or waterways to try to keep the soil in place. systems and individual initiative. from association president Joshua Wunsch. "These grass strips act as filters and slow up the speed of water," he said. "In turn, they prevent ruts and washouts from happen- ing." Brown also does his part in reforesting, planting Norway spruce, white pine and walnut trees. ~RRIED "In this area where the ground is highly erodible, it's (reforestation) enforced," he added. "A lot of fanners in the area are reforesting or planting trees for wind breaks." FACES Over the past three years, Brown has con- verted nearly all of his acres to no-till. "Around here, no-till has really grown. It OF OUR takes a lot more management than conven- Michigan Sheep INSUREDS. Inventory Worry? Not them. Increases And why should you when you can protect your life savings with a An sheep and lamb inventory in Michigan Long Term Care Plan from AMEX Life Assurance Company? on Jan. 1, 1993, was estimated at 108,000 head, up 5 percent from a year ago, accord- Regrettably, two in five older adults will require nursing home care.! ing to the Michigan Agricultural Statistics With costs averaging about $30,000 per year2 it's easy to see just how Service. devastating this can be. The stock sheep inventory at 80,000 head, was up 4 percent from last year. Sheep and But it doesn't have to be this way. lambs on feed totaled 28,000 head, up 2,000 from a year earlier. The 1992 Michigan With AMEX Life you can plan on peace of mind. AMEX Life, an lamb crop was 78,000 head, unchanged from last year. The Michigan sheep inven- American Express company, has over 16 years experience in long-term tory was valued at $8.21 million, up 3 per- care insurance and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best} cent from 1992. The Angora goat inventory in Michigan on Don't be worried by the costs of long-term care. Call or write today for Jan. 1 was 7,000 head, down 1,000 from a more information from your local Farm Bureau Insurance Agent on the year earlier. Total value was $420,000 and options available to you. the value per head was $60. Representing: The U.S. Jan. 1 sheep and lamb inventory was 10.2 million head, down 5 percent from AMEX II a year earlier, and only slightly above the Life Assurance Company @ record low of 10.1 million head set in 1986. a subsidiary of TRAVEL The stock sheep inventory decreased to 8.3 RELATED million head, was down 7 percent from 8.92 @ SERVICES million last year. This was the lowest level ever recorded. 1. Consumer's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance, HIAA 1989 2. U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 13, 1990 3. Independent analysts of the insurance industry who base their analysis on financial strength and Ewes one year old and older, at 6.57 million operating performance. head, were down 7 percent. This compares with the previous record low of6.96 million head set in 1986. Ewe lamb inventory to- TO RECEIVE ADDmONAL INFORMAnON AND AN AMEX BROCHURE/APPUCAnON - FILL OUT THE COUPON BELOW taled 1.1 million head, down 5 percent from OR CALL DIRECT 1~292.2680J EXT. - 3237. a year earlier. _ .. /tIICHIGAN Please Print The 1992 lamb crop of 7.25 million head .... FAR/tl BIJREAIJ Name was down 5 percent from 1991. This com- pares with the lowest level of 7.21 million Please mail to: Michigan Farm Bureau head set in 1988. The national lambing rate Membership Services was 102 per 100 ewes one year old and P.O. Box 30960 C' State ZIP older on hand Jan. 1, 1992, compared with Lansing, MI 48909 103 in 1991. The number of operations with sheep during 1992 totaled 101,040, down 4 percent from 1991 and is also a record low. oun MFN Michigan Farm News February 26, 1993 Should You Have Crop Insurance in 19931 Written by: Rain and Ha/llnsurance Service, Inc. and Jim Gallagher, Manager, CSAC Agency 1992 was a frustrating year for many of Michigan's crop farmers. Many com growers quality from insurable perils, the gross income may be the amount of the insurance liability, Contact One of These Farm Bureau Insurance who produced good crops sold them at harvest (i.e., proven yield from the fann x level of Agents for Your 1993 Crop Insurance Needs time for about $2 per bushel or less. Others coverage selected x indemnity price election x saw good looking, but late crop(s) get hit by crop share x acres assume 100 bushels normal Adrian Stephen E. Orlowski (517) 263-8840 Elkton Frank Kluger (517) 375-4598 yield x 75 percent coverage x $2.30 indemnity Allegan Dennis Smiertka (616) 673-6651 Escanaba Rick Jensen (906) 786-4757 frost long before it was mature. Many growers price = $172.50 x 100 acres = $17,250) (assum- Allendale David Carlson (616) 895-5321 Escanaba Dwayne Klein Ins (906) 786-4757 who insured their crops with Multiple Peril ing a 100 percent crop ownership share). Allendale Robert Willard (616) 895-4380 Escanaba Daniel Veeser (906) 786-4757 Crop Insurance (MPCI) found that it helped them to either payoff the 1992 operating loan Alma Ron J. Artecki (517) 463-4859 Fennville Warren Wilkinson (616) 561-2059 If some production is produced, the in- Alpena Jim Milstein (517) 356-4581 Fenton Steve Keswick (313) 629-1507 or get a better market price for their crop(s)! surance indemnity is reduced (i.e. if a 30 Alpena Margaret Schultz (517) 356-4581 Fowler Tom French (517) 593-3104 MPCI provides most growers of major bushel average yield per acre is realized, x 100 Bad Axe James Leonard (517) 269-6520 Frankenmuth. Carl Gustafson (5 17) 652-6411 crops the opportunity to choose yield guaran- acres x $2.30Ibu., the indemnity would be Battle Creek .. Tom Cain (616) 963-4214 Frankenmuth. Dale Van Fleer (517) 652-6411 tees of 75, 65, 50 or 35 percent of their own reduced by $6,9(0). If low quality occurs, (i.e. Battle Creek .. Scott Hisler (616) 979-3337 Fremont... Ben J. Landheer (616) 924-4000 proven yields for their farms. This protection test weight of less than 49 poundslbushel, more Bay City Joe Davis (517) 892-9771 Gladwin Duane Simpkins (517) 426-8131 provides yield, quality, and some price protec- than 10 percent kernel damage or more than 40 Ber. Springs .. Larry Dobberstein (616) 473-2722 Grand Rapids Dale Johnson (616) 940-8181 tion for most causes of loss beyond the percent moisture) the bushels to count against Ber. Springs .. Marty Rudlaff (616) 473-4791 Harrisville Alvin Sharp (517) 724-6524 producer's control. Furthermore, the govern- the guarantee are almost always multiplied by a Big Rapids Paul A. Jefts (616) 796-7697 Hastings Larry Neil (616) 945-3443 ment pays about 50 percent of the cost of such ratio of the value of the low quality crop Breckenridge. Jim Cooper (517) 842-3220 Hillsdale Noble Bertalon (517) 437-7393 coverage. divided by the market value for quality grain. Cadillac Leon C. Bigelow (616) 775-0126 Hillsdale Douglas Miller (517) 437-7393 If you've been waiting to sell the majority MPCI coverage for 1993 will generally be Caro David Kolacz (517) 673-5553 Hillsdale Duane Sanford (517) 437-7619 of your crop production until after you can accepted as operating loan collateral by most Carson City EJ. Horricks (517) 584-3508 Homer Terrace Anderson (517) 568-4342 pretty well predict the yield, you've missed the ag lenders. Whether you decide to use crop in- Centreville Larry M. Frisbie (616) 467-6308 Ida David Brown (313) 269-3275 good pricing opportunities. Using com as our surance to improve crop marketing, for cash Charlotte Kurt Johnson (517) 543-5565 Ionia Robert Shelden (616) 527-3960 example, let's take a closer look. flow protection, loan collateral, or a combina- Charlotte John R. Brooks (517) 543-5565 Ithaca. Jerome Desrochers (517) 875-2200 In 1992, com prices of $2.60 or more per tion of the three, you may find it an important Charlotte David T. Dotts (517) 543-5565 Jackson Robert Nelson (517) 782-0485 bushel were available most of the first six part of your 1993 farm business coverage plan. Chesaning Robert St. Gordon (517) 845-7090 Kalamazoo Clayton Hisler (616) 342-0212 months of the year (Figure 1). Higher prices in For coverage details, contact a Farm Bureau Daggett. Edward Johnson (906) 753-2707 Kalamazoo Robert Vlietstra (616) 38]-2311 the spring is what occurs most years. In 11 of agent before the April 15 application deadline. Dundee Larry Brossia (313) 529-3939 Kawkawlin Ed Sambom (517) 697-3146 the 15 years, 1976-1990, futures prices in May Kimball Car] E. Tice (313) 984-5200 averaged over 30 cents per bushel higher than L' Anse Roland A. Sweeney (906) 524-6229 the October prices for December com (the 30 CORN ILLUSTRATION Figure 3 Lakeview Todd Linco1n (517) 352-6069 cent increase could approximately double the Marlette Jack R. Walker (517) 635-7563 Assumot/ons: Your Farm Marshall Larry Robinson (616) 781-2849 CORN FUTURES 120 bu YiltftIA •...................................... Mason Vic Whipple (517) 676-5578 December 1992 Mayville John Welke (313) 664-4551 $2.60 /bu •............................. Contract Price $. Midland Ronald Andrews (517) 631-6543 :: $3.00 :::::::::::::::: .-:::~~~~~~~~:::. $2.00 /bu Cash PrIcB $. Midland Midland Larry Breasbois Linda Martin (517) 631-6222 (517) 631-6222 $2.70 . 75 % Crop Insurance COVIJfa{Je __ % Montrose James K. Hardy (313) 639-7077 ~~;~=~~=~:~~=~~~~~~ $2.60 . - .. Mt. Pleasant .. Gordon Moeggenborg. (517) 772-0996 Munger Dan VandenBoom (517) 895-8600 Your Farm New Era Roger Fessenden (616) 861-5219 Onekama Korwin Agency (616) 889-3288 120 bu/A •....................... PrIcing YItJId .. bu/A. Owosso Art Buckley (517) 725-5174 Owosso Michael R. White (517) 725-5174 $2.10 .. Petoskey Thomas Gambrell (616) 347-605] $2.00 JAN' FED MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT teN x 42 % Contracting Advantage .. Petoskey Dick Schaefer (616) 347-6051 L Figure 1 75% of crop (Max ,mount to forward price with 75% MPCI) Pigeon James Armbruster (517) 453-3300 ~ of crop (Max amount to forward price without MPCI) Pontiac William Porritt (313) 391-2528 profit margin for many producers). ~~ of crop (Crop Insurance advantage In forward crop pricing) Reed City Michael D. Burke (616) 832-3283 MPCI can help many producers to forward price more of their crops at higher prices with reduced risk! University marketing specialists commonly suggest that growers forward price = 50.4 bu/A •................ Crop Insurance B.,., ... bu/A. Rogers City Sandusky Scottville Shelbyville Dan Gabara Max Kreger Jim Fitch Ann Davis (517) 734-2692 (313) 648-2800 (616) 757-2368 (616) 672-9300 up to 1/4 or 1/3 of their crop when profitable PrIce Advantage Sparta Oscar L. Anderson (616) 887-1763 pricing opportunities occur. These same x $ .60 /bu •.................... ($2.60 VI $2.o0/bu.) $ /bu. Spring Lake John J. Queen (616) 846-6909 marketing specialists generally agree that most St. Johns Daryl Feldpausch (517) 224-3255 growers with MPCI could forward price up to their MPCI guarantee at less risk than the 1/4 = $3024 ••••••••.••••.•.••••••••••••••••••RIIW~A •••••••.••••••••••••••••••••.•$ St. Johns Standish Don Keim Marvin Schwab (517) 224-3255 (517) 846-6323 to 1/3 of their crop that would normally be Three Rivers .. Loren CarJis1e (616) 273-9551 x 100 AcrtJS .. Union City Ralph Strong (517) 279-8091 AMOUNT OF PRODUCTION TO CONTRAcr = $3,024 Your Pot.,'WAdvanlag, wlh ",PCI $ Unionville Ted Balzer (517) 674-8617 l00'Y0 Normal Yield Figure 2 West Branch .. Vem Clemens (517) 345-1447 West Branch .. Mary Kartes (517) 345-1795 75% 50% Without Crop Insurance 25% Low Rilk Low RiIk to to Contract ContrIct recommended without MPCI (Figure 2). Travel to England, European Adventure Tour Let's think of the difference between these two scenarios (with and without MPCI) as the Ireland. Scotland, visiting Austria, "crop insurance advantage" that in 1992 could -have amounted to about $50 more income per & Wales Svvitzerland & Italy acre (Figure 3). July 8-23, 1993 August 14-25, 1993 That's a pretty good return from MPCI in One does not need the "Luck of the Irish" to enjoy the Our 12 -day central European tour takes in the beautiful good years ...and it typically costs only about 8- many attractions included in this deluxe package. This countryside of Austria, the mountains of Italy and the 12 cents per bushel guaranteed for many Michigan com growers. If a crop loss occurs, 16-day tour is full of many great attractions including lakes of northern Italy as we visit Fairy tale Bavaria, the the MPCI indemnity is added into the crop such things as Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, the Blarney Passion play village of Oberammergau, the Italian resort ledger as a receipt. If growers are hesitant to use futures markets or cash contracts, MPCI Castle, Waterford Crystal factory, Dublin, Edinburgh of Stresa and Linderhof Castle. and price options work very well together Castle, an overnight stay in Ruthin Castle in Wales, (MPCI provides yield protection, options pro- theatre tickets to a Royal Shakespeare Theatre produc- This European tour includes roundtrip airfare, transfer, vide price protection). In summary, crop insurance can help im- tion, a Medieval Banquet, a visit to Stonehenge, deluxe motorcoach transportation, first class and prove crop marketing by: Buckingham Palace, and a tour of London, as well as Tyrolean-style hotel accommodations, European-style I.. Providing an amount of guaranteed produc- buffet breakfast daily, 1 dinner, and much more. The London Theatre tickets. Our package includes roundtrip tJOnto consider forward pricing, 2. Providing some down-side risk protection, airfare, deluxe hotel accommodations, 24 meals and much Fann Bureau member price is $1,725. Non member price and more for $2,799 per person. is $1,755 per person. 3. Providing the confidence and courage to be more aggressive in marketing crops at oppor- tunity prices. Growers protected by MPCI have good down-side cash flow protection equal to the amount of the liability. If a grower has zero TO RECEIVE ADDmONAllNFORMA TlON CAll DIRECT 1-800-292-2680, EXT. - 3067. receipts due to a zero yield, or extremely low Michigan Farm News a' February 26, 1993 - Michigan Farm News Classifieds - ........... 18__11 I 1985 JOHN DEERE ~ Planter, 4 row narrow. No till cOulters, split insecticide ',' GLEANER S Diesel 13' grain head, 4 row, harrow com, very good condition, $5000. _I ... _.1 rAr*- UNCOLH ing supplies WELDERS, weld- and Harris Cutting Torches available at TAIL GATE hydraulic lift pick- up cap, full size, high type. 30 gallon saddle tanks. Farm AUCTION SALE March 12, 1993. Full line of farm machin- ery, dairy equipment and 100 WANTED Bine-beater, single drum, 80 inches wide, Ofsen or Speedy etc. Gene Syman- zik, 8146 Baldwin Rd, Good- mone~-saving discounts to equipment parts available. head of Holstein cows and boxes, tine tooth incorpora- Also 8 rrNi International 400 rich, Mich 48438. Call Farm Bureau members. The heifers. Goerge Farms tors, monitor. Excellent Cyclo planter with dry fertiliz- Gehl parts in stock. Call 313-636-2n5. savings are even greater 11200 West Kinley Road, $4000. 517-427-5662. er monitor. Very good condi- 517-224-6300. tion. 517-967-8416 or during the -Early Winter Sale- Fowler, Michigan 48835. Call ... PATZ USERS Big chain pops 517-967-8407. Dec. 1 - 8. For more informa- USED JD210 DISK JD220 517-593-2113. off? We have the answer. tion, contact your local Group disk, JD 27 field cultivator, Reconditioned drive heads PARTS for Tractors and self- Purchasing vendor, or call Glenco disk chisef 11 shank ready to go. Service work on propelled combines, will buy 1-800-292-2680, ext, 2015. 24 hole International press Gutter cleaners and silo used and burned combines. wheel grain drill. Sweeney unJoaders. Will go anywhere Contact Bob Bamgras, Centr- HlN.KER RIDGING Cultiva- Farma, Maybee, Michigan in Michigan. Call anytime aJ Michigan Tractor Parts, tor. 8 row'with bean shields 313-587-3340. DENTAL INSURANCE Farm Wyngarden Equipment 2713 N. U.S. 27, St Johns, MI and weighted bar. $8000 or 10 ACRE PARCELS west of Bureau's newest member Freemont, MI 49412. 48879, 517 -224-6802 or best offer. 616-467-6109, PATZ New equipment, many Adrian. Mostly tillable, some benfitl Fully insured individual 616-924-3176. 800-248-9263. 7pm please. machines in stock. Interest woods, lots of wildlife. dental plan, utilize any dentist rates starting. at 4.9%. $14,900 each parcel. EZ in the state or maximize ,--------------------------1 Wyngarden Freemont, Equlpn:tent MI 49412. Call anytime 616-924-3176. terms. F-731. Fallat Eatat. 517-263-8666. Rea' Adrian. benefits by using one of 1200 PPD dentists statewide. Cleanings, fillings, x-rays, etc. 130 CCNI Dairy facililty for covered at 100% after $5.00 RECONDITIONED PAll 98 WINTER SPECIAL B Silo Unloader superior new. Also previously owned Patz Gutter cleaner. Wyngar- to sale. Harvestere, Slurrystore, Trigon Parlor. Extra land and feeO available'. Free natural copay. Call your County Farm Bureau office for more details I gas in house. GOLF-FARMING .... Your Buy 2 Issues Get 3rd Issue den Equipment Fremont, MI 49412. 616-924-3176. 1-800-982-5687. DAIRY FARM 188 acres, 6 sandy farm might be greener than you think. Imagine NEW KRAUSE 24' lands- creating your own profitable miles west of Owosso with FREE man and Krause 18' Rockalex disk, Krause 15' no-till drill. Sweeney Farma, Maybee, frontage on M-21 and Baldwin Road. 517-485-8885 information. tor golf course just like a profes- sional. Call 517-291-3322. ... Mich. 313-587-3340. HI-TENSilE FENCE HillSDALE COUNTY SUPPUES pressure treated Vacant farmland, mostly till- posts and temporary fence Deadline for next Issue is March 8 able in PA116. Terms, rents supplies. Order early fo.rguar- for $60 an aaa, $800 an acre. anteed spring delivery. High- est quality materials. E Call 1-800-968-3129 .- DEXTER dual purpose -Mini- Call 313-495-0482. QUALITY 140 ACRE FARM 517-386-3517 517-386-2382. Don Nevill. or to Place Your Classified Ad Today! callie. Also rare registered Cotswold sheep and Cots- Centrally located between Ann Arbor, Lansing and Jack- MEMBER TRAVEL or use the coupon below and mail your classified ad to wold cross ewe lambs. Cots- son. Beautiful 140 rolling SERVICE Get the most out of wold fleeces for spinning. acres including 90 tillable plus your travel budget! The Michigan Farm News 616-674-8885 eves best springfed pond, woods and wetlands. Well cared for and Member Travel Service is ready to save you money on ClassIfied Advertising POLLED Simmental and heifers, Fleckbieh blood- bulls newly renovated 4 bedroom farm home with large country air travel, hotBI aocomoda- p.o. Box 340, 109 N. Lafayette lines, performance buDs had 7221bs weaning tested, kitchen plus 3 bedroom cape cod. Great for starter home or tions, tours, auises, etc. Call 1-800-292-2680 extension Greenville, MI48838 weight average. Wm Garvey, ChSrfotte. 517-543-2938. extra income I Barns and outbuildings in excellent 3067 today to begin planning 'lOur winter vacation. shape. $375,000. Terms Classified Ad Codes QUALITY ANGUS BREED- ING STOCK Performance possible. Wllaon White TOOlS for every farm job. us made and imports. Screw- tested, Bulls semen tested. Company 313-995-0600. drivers to 5HP iron air 1. Farm Machinery 5. Help/Position Wanted 9. Real Estate Free deliv~AlSO Border Eventngs 313-665-3075. compressors, large variety of 10. Seeds Collie Stock s. Call today. abrasives, large wrenchs and 2. Livestock Equipment 6. Agricultural Services BORDNER A US FARMS SAGINAW COUNTY 100 acres, 60 tillable with nice socket sets in stock. OPEN 3. Farm Commodities 7. Auctions 11. Wanted to Buy Sturgis, MI 616-651-8353. home and pole barn. Call 8aJn..9pm 7 days. C • W 4. Livestock 8. Building Materials 12. General, REGISTERED Yorkshire and Mulador. R.al Eatate Tool. Sal.a Ionia, MI Hampshire Boars and open 517-799-7460 or Tom Schaf- 616-527-2724. Gills. Also bred Gilts, some fer 517-770-4886. carrying F-1 litters. 36 years WIRELESS DRIVEWAY Name Phone ( ) of quality breeding stock. ALARMS. leis you know any Marvin Cook. MuUiken, MI. IF YOUR AD WAS time someone walks or drives Address 517-649-8988 into your pacer Easy installa- REGISTERED Polled Here- HERE It could be tion. Cad or write for free brochures: Paxton Enter- City State Zip fords, breeding age bulls and read in 46,000 farm prises, 48E 600N, Fortville, IN heifers and bred heifers. MSU Performance Rocky 46040. Call 800-872-9866 or Classified Ad Code Requested Number of Issues tested. homes in Michiganl 317-326-2838. Banner bloodline. Robert Rye, Rogers City, Michigan. Desired Insertion Date(s): ... 5f 7-734-"3005. NOTICE OF PUBUC AUCTION FARMERS PETROLEUM COOPERATIVE, INC. Method of Payment MARCH 27, 1993 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Check $ (payable to Michigan Farm News Classified) Having sold or closed several retail locations throughout the state, FPC Visa Card Number Exp. Date AG-UME SPREADING Louis You~ Farm. 12196 Cuarter- will be auctioning assets used in the business of petroleum, TBA, and Master Card Number Exp. Date line Rd, Constantine, Ml farm supply distribution. Items include: tire changers, pneumatic tools, 49042. can 616-435-7560, office equipment, safe, shelving, fuel handling equipment, floor jacks 616-435-9665. Classified Rates BIRD FERTiliZER and stands, selected tires, and many other farm supply merchandise. A complete sale bill will be provided by contacting Farmers Petroleum $8 for up to 24 words SERVICES. 1100 N lrvinq, Greenville. Fertilizer, chemI- Cooperative, Inc., between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mon. through Fri. prior to Wed, March 24, 1993. Phone: 1-800-451-6873 or cals, seed, lime, food. Soil 30 cents each additional word testing, truck spreading and custom spraying. Call by FAX: 1-517-323-6786. Sale bill will not be provided by telephone. - Pat Lause, Auctioneer- Write your ad here, including phone number and area code 616-754-3684. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MCIA SEED TESTING LAB EXPERIENCED ANALYSTS 9 10 11 12 2 REGISTERED SEED TECHNOLOGISTS FAST RELIABLE SERVICE 13 14 15 16 SEED TESTING PERFORMED ON FIELD 17 18 19 20 CROPS, VEGETABLES, Be FLOWERS TESTS PERFORMED: Standard Germ Cold Germ I Vigor 21 22 23 24 Purity TZ Viability I Vigor Noxious Weed Exam Seed Counts 25 26 27 28 Moisture Accelerated A in 32 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 29 30 31 MICHIGAN CROP IMPROVEMENTASSOC. , P.O. BOX 21008, LANSING, MI 34 35 36 48909, PHONE517/355-7555, FAX 517/355-4554 33 L ~ SERVING FARMERS SINCE 7904 Michigan Farm News II. February 26, 1993 - Michigan Corn Information Exchange - _ CORN SELLERS - ~ynn Griffin, Charlotte, Eaton John Richey, Ottawa Lake, Citizens Elevator, Ver- Garry Harper, Onstead, Final MCIE County. Estm. 400 acres. Call Lenawee County. Estm. montville, Eaton County. Lenawee County. Estm. Larry Wineland, Dewitt, Clin- 517-543-1856 45,000 bu. Call 517-486-4147 Estm. 1,000 - 50,000 bu. Call 25,000 bu. Call 517-467- ton County. Estm. 76 acres. anytime. Trucking could be ar- 517-726-0514. Will also haul. 4758. Program Listing Trucking available. Call in P. John Parrent, Sandusky, ranged. p.m. 517-482-6556. Sanilac County. Estm. Gerald Martinez, Rodney, Larry Butchen, Wheeler, This is the fifth and last 50,000 bu. Call 313-648-3009 Hogle Truck Lines, Middleton, Mecosta County. Estm. Gratiot County. Estm. 300 Michigan Corn Informa- Vaughn Vondrasek, Bath, or 648-2151 - Ask for John or Gratiot County. Estm. 4,000 2,000 bu. Call 616-867-3440 acres. Call 517-842-3189 Cllnfon County. Estm. 300 Randy. bu. Call 517-236-7225 be- anytime. evenings. tion Exchange listing ap- acres. Trucking available. Call tween 8 a.m and 5 p.m. Truck- pearing in the Michigan in a.m. 517-641-4584. Robert Friederich, ing available. Gene Weisenberger, New Dodge City Coop (Mike), Fann News. The program, Petersburg, Monroe County. Lothrup, Saginaw County. Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. sponsored in cooperation Marion May, Quincy, Estm. 50 acres. Call 313-279- Roger Bloss, Swartz Creek, Estm. 100 acres. Can dry and Estm. - large quantity. Call Hillsdale County. Estm. 200 2539 Genesee County. Estm. quick and easy loading. Call 414-887 -7671. with MSU's Cooperative !=lcres.Trucking available.Call 10,000 - 15,000 bu. Call 313- 517-845-3366 early a.m. or Extension Service, In a.m. 517-869-2322 a.m. Dale Seyfred, Galien, Berrien 635-3788 after 8 p.m. Truck- evenings. Trucking available. Joe Schweitzer, Sparta, Kent Michigan Farm Radio Net- County. Estm. 45,000 bu. ing available. County. Estm. 9500 bu. Call work, and the Michigan Dean Shrontz, Olivet, Cal- Call 616-545-8358 (anytime) Diffin Farms (Francis), Burt, 616-78'4-6182. houn County. Estm. 400 Trucking available. Brad Goslin, Gagetown, Tus- Saginaw County. Estm. Farm Bureau, was initiated acres. Trucking available.Call cola County. Estm. 40,000+ 50,000 acres. Dry but low test Dan Hart, Freeland, Midland in late November to allow in a.m. 616-781-2180. Scott Baker, Jonesville, bu. Call 517-665-2549 p.m. weight. Call 517-624-9166 County. Estm. 900 acres. Call farmers an opportunity to Hillsdale County. Estm. Trucking available (30 mile anytime. Trucking available. 517-695-5409. deal directly in making the Edward Feuerstein, Belding, 10,000 bu. Call 517-894-2864 radius) Ionia County. Estm. 100 (anytime) Trucking available. Richard Belson, Pittsford, Omega Farms, Webberville, best of a tough 1992 har- acres. Trucking available. Call Gary Harper, Onsted, Hillsdale County. Estm. Ingham County. Estm. vest season. Hopefully, in a.m. 616-642-9798. Auburn Bean & Grain, Lenawee County. Esmt. 10,000 bu. Call 517-383-2280 50,000 bu. Call 517-468- those of you using the list- Auburn, Bay County. Estm. 25,000 bu. Call 517-467-4758 p.m. 3366. ing got some beneficial Jeff Bristle, Manchester, 450,000 bu. Call 517-662- after 6 p.m. Trucking avail- Washtenaw County. Estm. 4423 either a.m. or p.m. able. Terry Roggenbuck (Roggen- Bill McClintic, Saginaw, results that allow you to set 20,000 bu. Call 313-428- Trucking available. buck Farms Inc.) Harbor Saginaw County. Estm. 40 your sights on a new grow- 7113. Richard Kessler, Jr., Mon- Beach, Huron County. acres. Call 517-681-5771 ing season in 1993. Jerry Jacobs, Birch Run, tague, Oceana County. Estm. 100,000 bu. dried -- 400 (days) or 517-643-7163 after Paul Thelen, Fowler, Clinton Saginaw County. Estm. Estm. 6,000+ bu. Call 616- acres standing. Call 517-479- Sp.m. County. Estm. 3,000 bu. Call 30,000 bu. Call 517-624-9496 894-8876 after 8 p.m. No 6902, 479-6515 or 479-6761 Schlicht Farms, Vassar, Tus- 517-587-6874. in a.m. Trucking available. trucking available. anytime. Trucking available. Dale Schmitt, Standish, cola County. Call 517-823- Arenac County. Estm. 3,000 3483 or 517-823-7886. Dewitt Grain CorR., DeWitt, Larry HortonALansing;...corn lo- Gail Bennett, Caro, Tuscola Jack Gerber, Scottsville, bu. Call 517-846-6745. Clinton County. Estm. Un- cated in \:Iratlot ,",ounty. County. Estm. 40,000 bu. Mason County. Estm. 4,000 Ken Davis, Ashley, Gratiot limited. Will deliver and also Estm. 10 acres. Call 517-337- Call 517-673-6934 anytime. - 6,000 bu. Call 616-843- Pater Brothers Farms, County. Estm. 6,000 bu. Call do grinding. Call 517-669- 5085 Trucking available. Trucking available. 2n3. Grandville, Ottawa County. 517-847-3861 p.m. Trucking 5950. Estm. 20,000 bu. Call 616- available. Nile Clevenger, Stanton, Chuck or John Adams, Jack- Harry Kline, Wacousta, Clin- 896-9387 anytime. Trucking John Hamilton, Manchester, Montcalm County. Estm. 57 son, Jackson County. Estm. ton County. Estm. 7,000 - available. Gordon E. Thompson, Washtenaw County. Estm. acres. Call 517-831-4274 25,000+ bu. Call 517-536- 8,000 bu. Call 517-626-64n. Hillsdale, Hillsdale County. 9,000 bu. Call 517-592-8444. anytime. 4625 or 536-4454 p.m. Truck- Raymond Oates, Waldron, Estm. 100 acres. Call 517- ing available. Doug Shannon, Fairgrove, Hillsdale County. Estm. 437-4287 a.m. Dave Kent, Alto, Kent Coun- Hitchcock Brothers (Scotty), Isabella County. Estm. 80,000 - 90,000 bu. Call 517- ty. Estm. 3,500 bu. Call 616- Williamston, Ingham County. John B. Hersch, Chesaning, 40,000 bu. Call 517-693- 286-6241. Jim Clark, Mondon Ind. Estm. 165-3073 or 616-765-3094. Estm. 30,000 bu. Call 517- Shlawassee County. Estm. 6369. 10,000 bu. Call 219-253-7132 655-3198 anytime. Trucking 3,000+ bu. Call 517-g45-6238 Joe Catarinia, Tecumseh, a.m. Trucking available. Harold Mennemix, Alto, Kent available. after 3 p.m. No trucking avail-' Dennis Heffron, Belding, Kent Lenawee County. Estm. County. Estm. 195 acres. Call able. County. Estm. 100,000 bu. 15,000 bu. dry, shelled. Call Raymond Cowles, Belding, 616-86"8-6639. Ruggles Beef Farm, Kingston, Call 616-794-2527. 517-423-4007. Ionia County. Estm 40,000 Tuscola County. Estm. Elwyn Schnick, Owosso, bu. Call 616-794-1862 Don Borgic, Wayland, Al- 15,000 bu. Call 517-683-2459 Shlawassee County. Estm. Warfins Bros., Hemlock, Jeff Knoblauch, Blissfield, anytime. Trucking available. legan County. Estm. 8,000 Trucking available. 6,000+ bu. Call 517-845-6570 Saginaw County. Estm. Lenawee County. Estm. bu. Call 616-792-2627 after after 3 p.m. Trucking possible 12,000 bu. Call 517-642-5849 7,000 bu. dry com and 5,000 Dexter or Richard Snyder, 4:30 p.m. Albert Ruggles, Kingston, after 1f1 /93. or 642-8590. other. Call 517-486-4627. Mendon, St. Joseph County. Tuscola County. Estm. Estm. 120 acres. Call 616- Bob Humpert, Fairgrove, Tus- 50,000 bu. Call 517-683-2849 John Seif, Caledonia, Kent Jim Cosenblik, Lennon, David Gross, Midland, Mid- 496-7093 early a.m. or after 2 cola County. cstm. 100 County. Estm. 50,000 bu. Genesee County. Estm. land County. Estm. 4,000 bu. p.m. Trucking available. acres. Call 517-693-6415 in Call 616-8n-0046. 10,000 bu. Call 313-621- Call 517-638-7422. Trucking a.m. Trucking available. Lonnie Kester, Millington, 3662. available. Stanley Thelen, Fowler, Clin- Tuscola County. Estm. Paul Austin, Cass City, ton County. Estm. 5,000 bu. Gerald Resner, Pinconning, 25,000 bu. Call 517-871-4949 Sanilac County. Estm. 6,500 Gary Krug, Bad Axe, Huron M. Marshall, Richfield, (52 test weight). Call 517-593- Bay County. Estm. 120 Willing to custom store in a bu. Call 517-872-2249. County. Estm. 50,000 bu. Hillsdale County. Estm. ~370 anytime. acres. Call 517-879-4760 Harvestore until needed at a Call 517-269-9697. 80,000 bu. Call 517-452- early a.m. or late p.m. Truck- later date. Dave Eltman, Pigeon, Huron 3162. Mike Zwerk, Vassar, Tuscola ing available. County. Estm. 18 acres. Call Clifford Besaw, New Lothrup, County. Estm. 150,000 bu. Schmandt Farms, Vassar, 517 -453-2507. Shiawassee County. Estm. Tom Todd, Croswell, Sanilac (50-53 test weight). Call 517- Neil French, Munger, Bay Tuscola County. Estm. 18,000 bu. (dried). Call 313- County. Estm. 8,000 bu. dry S23-7070 anytime. Trucking County. Estm. 10,000 bu. 100,000 bu. Calf 517-823- Erwin Rytlewski, Auburn, Bay 638-7528 (home) 695-4660 and 15,000 bu. wet. Call 313- available. Call 517-755-0977 (work) or 8639. Trucking available. County. Estm. 90 acres. Call (office). 679-9829. 517-659-2265 (home). Truck- 517-662-6746. -TRUCKING- ing available. Bremer Brothers (Dale), Jenuware Bros., Armada, Pete Ratajezmak, Munger, Munger, Bay County. Estm. Don Rickett, Carsonville, Macomb County. Estm. Bay County. Estm. 35,000 - Trucking Services (hopper John Welke, Mayville, Tus- 10,000 bu. (dried; hi-quality Sanilac County. Estm. 10,000 bu. Call 313-784- 36,000 bu. dry. Call 517-659- trailers and grain trains) and cola County. Estm. 4,000 bu. corn) Call 511-659-2497 in the 12,000 bu. Call 313-657- 5956. 3320. access to large HMC volume. Call 517-843-5320 in p.m. p.m. Trucking available. 9712. Vick Parker, Charlotte, Eaton Trucking available. Neil Clezenger, Stanton, Robert Boettger, St. Johns, County. Call anytime at 517- Pete Rufenacht, Waldron David VandenBunte, Martin, Montcalm County. Estm. 58 Clinton County. Estm. 5,000 543-3761 (office) or 616-967- Bill Buckenmeyer, Swanton, Grain & Fuel, Waldron, Allegan County. Estm. 250 acres. Call 517-831-4274. bu. Call 5f7-224-3048 1554 (mobile). OH 'Estm. 600 bu. Call 419- Hillsdale County. Estm. acres. Call 616-672-7266. anytime. Trucking can be ar- 829-4717 anytime. Trucking 700,000 bu. selling wet or dry. Ron Balder, Auburn, Bay ranged. Scott Baker, Plainsite Farms, available. Call 517-286-6201 during Ralph Ruggles, White Lake, County. Estm. 2 million bu. Jonesville, Hillsdale County. working hours. Trucking Oakland County. Estm. 100 Call 51"7-662-4423. Tom Zyrowski, Brown City, Call 517-894-2864 anytime. Jeff Reed, Owosso, Shlawas- available. acres. Call 313-887-4992. Sanilac County. Est. 60,000 Truck capacity: 900 - 1200 bu. see County. Estm. up to 100 Gene Meijer, Shepard, bu. Call 313-346-3711 p.m. acres. Call 517-723-5205 in Roger Root, Cass City, Tus- Hawkins Homestead, Mason, Isabella County. Estm. 150 Trucking available. Terry Wright, Lake City, Mis- the a.m. Trucking available. cora County. Estm. 10,000 Ingham County. Estm. 400 acres. Call 517-S28-6476. saukee County. Call 616-839- bu. Call 517-872-3718 p.m. acres. Call 517-628-2050. Albert Faust, Britton, 4957 either early a.m. or late Gerald Hubbard, Freeport, only. Trucking available. Carrol R. Parr, Charlotte, Lenawee County. Est. 5,000 p.m. Truck capacity: 22 ton. Kent County. Estm. 3,000 bu John Hersh, Chesaning, Eaton County. Estm. 50 - 60 bu. Call 511-423-7551 dry & wet ear com. Call 616- David Houghtaling, Reese, Shiawasse County. Estm. acres. Call 517-543-4709. anytime. Rocky Wright, Gaylord, Ot- 765-5301 Tuscola County. Estm. 350 3,000 bu. Call 517-845-6238. sego County. Call 517-732- acres. Call 517-868-4219 or Willard Jurgess, Bad Axe, Jon Gamer, Vassar, Tuscola 1021 either early a.m. or late Doug Shepard, Birch Run, 659-2478 early morning or Alvin Bickle, Vassar, Gratiot Huron County. Estm. 50,000 County. Estm. 80,000 wet p.m. Truck capacity: 22 ton. Saginaw County. Estm. 100 late evening. Trucking avail- County. Estm. 20 acres. Call bu. (Dry, sheTled.) Call 517- and dry. Call 517-823-8814. acres. Call 517-042-5677 517-652-2380 (After Jan. 1). 269-2305. Will deliver. Trucking available. Larry Cline, St. Louis, Gratiot able. County. Call 517-681-5305 Jim Kozunplik, Lennon, Pat at Sheridan Farm Limited, Irvin Wisinski, Bay County. J. William Schmidt, Kaw- after 8 p.m. Steve Hord, Breckenridge, Estm. ? Call 517-662-6746. kawlin, Bay County. Estm. Midland County. Estm. Shlawassee County. Estm. Fairgrove, Tuscola County. Estm. 40,000 bu. Call 517- 60,000 bu. Call 517-684- Norm Mihills, Jones, Cass 50,000-60,000 bu. Call 517- 80 acres. Call 517-621-3662 John Schaffner, Manchester, 842-3830 673-2984. 1865. County. Call 616-244-5056 or evenings. Washtenaw County. Estm. 646-5105. Steve Holsten, Birch Run, 700 bu. Call 313-475-8802. Smith Brothers, Lake Odessa, Robert Hoffmaster, Hopkins, Zeeb Farms, .Bath, Clinton Ionia County. Estm. 200,000 AblIegan County. Estm. 5,000 County. Estm. 35,000 bu. Saginaw County. Estm. Citizens Elevator, Ver- 2,000 - 3,000 bu. Call 517- Randy Walden, Birch Run, bu. Call 1-800-878-2767. montville, Eaton County. Call u. Call 616-793-7116 Call 517-641-6419 or 641- Saginaw County. Estm. 652-9722. 517-726-0514. Truck Jeff Beebo, Alma, Gratiot CCounty• Estm. 45,000 bu. 42n in the a.m. Trucking available. Tom Hess, Tuscola County . 2,000 bu. Call 517-624-5279. Mueller Bean Co., Sunfield, Eaton County. Estm. capacity: 35 ton. . Estm. 6,000 bu. Call 517-823- McClintic Farms (Art), Alma, 250,000 bu. (dry - 15%). Call K & R Trucking (Roger Pitts), all 517-463-4656 Larry Meyer, St. Louis, Isabel- Gratiot County. Estm. 517-566-8031 anytime. la County. Estm. 10,000 - 7026. Camden, Hillsdale County. 25,000 bu. Can 517-463- Trucking available. Call 517-254-4119 anytime. OonDay, Ceresco, Calhoun 15,000 bu. Call 517-681-2672 1140 anytime. Dryer avail- County. Estrn. 7,000 bu. a.m or late p.m. Trucking Neil Link, Ravenna, Mus- Bottom unloaders. kegon County. Estm. 8,000 - able. Harold VanBonn, Winn, '(popcorn). Call 616-781-5097 available. Isabella County. Estm. 150 David Uloth, Golden Valley 10,000 bu. Call 616-889- 5530. Richard Carpenter, Three acres (28-29% moisture) Call Farms, Jasper. Call 517-443- Dean Lindemann, Dexter, Nyle VanSickle, Bellevue, Rivers, St. Joseph County. 517-866-2275 a.m. or even- Eaton County. Estm. 85 5495 anytime. Truck capacity: Washtenaw County. Estm. Estm. 1,000 bu. Call 616-279- ings. No trucking. 900 bu. 5,000 bu. Call 313-426-4342 acres. Call 616-763-3110 Steve Short, Archbold Ohio. Estm. 4,000 bu. Call 419-446- 2364. anytime. 9493. Has truck for lease. John Coon, Mt. Pleasant, Ron Baumeister, Deckerville, ~eter Kern, St. Johns, Clinton Jeff Knoblauch, Blissfield, Isabella County. Estm. Sanilac County. Call 313-376- Olul nty. Estm. 10,000 bu. Elmer Gross, Montrose, Lenawee County. Estm. 15,000 - 20,000 bu. Call 517- 8410 anytime. Truck capacity: Ca 51"7-224-3422 Saginaw County. Estm. David Skjaerlund, Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Coun- 5,000 in field - 7,000 dried. n3-3328 a.m. Trucking avail- 900 bu. 9,000 bu. Call 313-639-261.2 Call 517-486-4627 a.m. able. after 7 p.m. Trucking avall- ty Estm. 18,000 bu. Call 517- 626-6966 anvtime. Truckina available. Ahle. - Michigan Farm News Study the •• February 26, 1993 f \ -r \ numbers in USDA to Survey 1m \ Farm Financial , \ \ this book A Conditions' major survey on costs of production and before financial conditions throughout the farm sector began in February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced. In mid-February, local enumerators started you put, knocking on the doors of around 850 Michigan farms as part of the ninth annual nationwide Farm Costs and Returns Survey. The survey will be conducted in Michigan by the Michigan numbersm Agricultural Statistics Service (MASS). The survey will continue through late March. Enumerators will be collecting 1992 data about your sheel. farm expenses, finances, capital purchases, and costs production. The information will be used to determine farm production expenditures, measure farm income, and assess farm sector debts, assets, and cash flow - key indicators of the economic well-being of farmers. Survey - Crow's 482. 498. 667. 669. These findings will also be used to estimate costs and numbers posted big wins in farmers' test returns of producing individual commodities. plots last year. To get the best return on USDA will publish the results in various reports to be released beginning next summer. "This your '93 seed investment, use our new survey goes directly to the source, farmers themselves, to develop an accurate picture of Yield Results book to compare Crow's the diverse financial conditions in agriculture, II single-cross hybrids and your numbers. said MASS State Statistician Don Fedewa. It's hot off the press. "The cost-of-production data help farm policy makers understand the costs of farming and Call your dealer. Study the ranching. Other information helps researchers results. You may just put analyze the financial situation in the farm sector - how it's changing, and where problems are some more Crow's in your located," Fedewa said. shed this winter. "The survey lets farmers and those who repre- sent them know what's happening in different regions and sectors of agriculture," he said. "State agricultural officials and policy makers Your in Washington base many of their decisions on Grow's dealer information gleaned from this survey. It allows delivers results. decisions which affect the farmer to be based on Milford, IL • Nevada, IA • Greenville, OH Gall to get reliable data. " results from There's Only One Craw's area yield trials. Statistical sampling techniques ensure that the farmers selected for survey interviews represent a broad cross-section of American agriculture. For more information, call one of these Crow's Dealers or 1-800-331-7201. The survey is expected to yield roughly 15 million pieces of data, permitting analysts to look beneath the national averages so that farmers, legislators, farm support industries, and the public can better understand how finan- cial conditions vary among different sizes and Les & Orville Sieler James D. Crow Andy Sparks Doug Noveroske, DSM Richard Bella Adrian, MI types of farms in different parts of the country. Camden, MI Fremont, MI Kalamazoo, MI Ottawa Lake, MI 517 -263-2458 517-254-4512 616-924-5945 616-375-6304 313-856-5612 Responses to survey questionnaires are con- Art Blight fidential. All questionnaires will be destroyed Carl Sparks Ray Lowman Richard Zenner James F. Crew Albion, MI after the data are summarized. Cassopolis, MI Gobles, MI Kingsley, MI Quincy, MI 517-629-2582 616-445-3195 616-628-5079 616-263-5339 517-639-8352 Study Shows Low- Till { Loren Clemence Mark Morgan Grand Ledge Produce Wendell Norder Battle Creek, MI Charlotte, MI Grand Ledge, MI Laingsburg, MI Dolphie Eisenlohr Farming More Profitable Shelby, MI 616-965-4034 517-543-2498 517-627-2743 517-651-5409 616-861-2318 A study involving about 500 farmers in 80 of Ross Vander Band Robert Molyneux Steve Baldus Iowa's 99 counties showed that farmers using Richard Stank Bill E. Morgan Belding, MI Coopersville, MI Hartford, MI less tillage on row crops don't have to take less Lake Odessa, MI Sherwood, MI 616-761-3585 616-837 -8710 profit from their operation. 616-621-2313 616-374-7394 517-741-3698 Ron Wenger Noble Harper Herbert Haight In fact, the study showed that farmers leaving Addison Brooks Larry Roberts Belding, MI Deckerville, MI Homer, MI the most residue from the previous crop on Litchfield, MI Three Rivers, MI 616-897-8958 313-376-4987 their fields were the most profitable. 517-568-4072 517 -542-3273 616-279-2117 Donald Isley Thomas Ruehs Mark Hilaski In one study of com fields that followed John Bihlmeyer Ned Cutler soybeans, profits averaged $56.80 an acre for Blissfield, MI Dundee, MI Hopkins, MI Manchester, MI Weidman, MI 517-447-3683 313-529-3825 616-793-4541 farmers who left more than 30 percent residue 313-429-7527 517-644-3367 on the land. That compared with $42.92 an Stephen Smith, DSM Roger Theodorski acre profit for fields with between 15 and 30 Don Hassevoort Paul Smith Edgar Miller Blissfield, MI Eagle, MI percent residue and to only $41.01 net return Hudsonville, MI Mason, MI White Pigeon, MI 517-486-2854 517-626-6853 616-875-8403 for fields with less than 15 percent residue. 517-676-4413 616-483-7284 Jeff Haack .' Carlton Wells Scott Lantis. Jim Graham, a farmer who served as fi~ld Jay Gould Bronson, MI Eaton Rapids, MI coordinator for the study, said the results Jackson, MI Morenci, MI 517 -369-2207 517 -663-3380 517-536-8246 demonstrate that profits consider many things 517 -458-2573 besides yield-per-acre at harvest time. Lance Kalbfleisch Joe Bennett Golden Acres Cyril Van Brandt Brown City, MI Edmore, MI Jasper, MI Morenci, MI "There has been a huge increase in fanners 313-346-2234 517-762-5480 517 -443-5526 517-458-7248 using crop residue systems for erosion control and to reduce labor. Now we're seeing Ed Groholski Dennis Lasceski DeMann Dairy Ron Gudakunst farmers fine-tune these systems for maximum Burlington, MI Filion, MI Kalamazoo, MI Onstead, MI profit," said Jeff Zimprich, a crop residue 517-765-2111 517 -269-7980 616-372 -3887 517-467-7041 management specialist for the Soil Conserva- tion Service.