MICHIGAN FARM NEWS -= Southern Thumb Co-op ItIICHICAN FARItI BUREAU April 15, 1997 Vol. 74, No. 7 sold to agribusinesses Hepatitis A outbreak infects Michigan schools Frezen straNberries linked to ~ ifo~ia ~ssing plant he USDA school lunch program brought more than nutrition to Calhoun County school children early in April when over 150 of them were infected with Hepatitis A and became ill. The prob- lem stems from frozen strawberries illegally import- ed, processed in San Diego and sold to the school lunch program as U.S.-grown strawberries. According to USDAofficials, Michigan is the only state so far where illnesses have been reponed. One school in Saginaw also had 10 children become ill after earing the contaminated strawberries. Schexlis in five mher states - Arizona. California, Georgia, Iow:I and Tennessee ~ all receired ship- ments bearing the same lot numbers as Michigan shipments. According to Michigan Department of Agri- culture spokesperson Phil Kirkwood, the Straw- berries from the suspect shipment were supplied to schools in 28 Michigan counties in the state. School officials in the affected states have been ordered to s£op serving strawberries in their school lunch programs, according to the MDA. This Marlette facility, one of six formerly owned by Southern Thumb Co-op, was sold by auction March 27. Four Michigan agribusiness According to the Ao;sociated Press, Mexican companies purchased Southern Thumb's assets in Marlette, Lapeer, Yale, Imlay City, Dryden and Richmond. agriculture official'i quickly responded to claims that the strawberries - grown in northern Baja Califor- nia, Mexico - were probably contaminated there. B.1jaCalifornia A~sistant Secretary of Agriculture Israel Camacho said he thought it W~L~ more likely Natural Resources the berries were conraminated "during processing and packing rather than during cultivation." Commission considers new Southern Thumb Manhew Kramer, a \ice president at Epitope Co-op sold Inc., the parent company to Andrew & Williamson Sales Co. (A&W), the plant in San Diego that alleg- deer hunting regulations Six facilities split and sold to four Management recommendations a step Bureau President Jack Laurie. He notes that the major agribusinesses edly contaminated the strawberries, said the compa- in right diredion, MFB proposes addi- DNR and the Natural Resources Commission have mongst tremendous turmoil and a bank- ny is cooperating with state and federal agencies to tional alternatives to the newly pro- an obligation to adopt wildlife management policies ruptcy declaration, the Southern Thumb figure out what stores the bad l)Cnies might hare posed plan based on sound scientific principles, adding that Co-op's major assets were auctioned off gone to. Kr.lmer said the USDAordered 1.7 million pounel'i of strawbenie; from A&Wfor its sch(X)llunch O ver strong concerns voiced about the escalat- ing crop destruction by deer, a plan ro re- duce the state's deer herd being proposed by the passage of Proposal G last fall established an ideal structure, combining staff expertise with public input on the new recommendations. March 27 to four agribusinesses all with strong ties to Michigan agriculture. Although each individual site's value was nor disclosed, the total of all the program and another 900,000 pounci'i went ro other Michigan Department of Natural Resources is con- "Michigan citizens overwhelmingly voted to facilities brought more than S3.5 million. customers. He said the comp;my \\ill reedl all 900,000 sidered a step in the right direction. But Michigan have the Natural Resources Commission adopt "The value is about S4.8 million on the fXllJncl'ithat went to brokeP.i for di'iuiblltion. Farm Bureau believes additional changes are need- public policy with public input to manage the books," explains former Southern Thumb Co-op USDA purchases only U.S.-grown commodi- ed to reduce the deer herd to a manageable size. state's wildlife based on sound science," Laurie said. General Manager Tom Ryan. "That's net of deprecia- ties for the school meals programs, and all suppli- The proposal developed by DNR and thor- "The evolution of these deer herd management tion. The bank sem out a letter to potential bidders ers must certify in writing that the product is, in oughly discussed by the Natural Resources Commis- recommendations, developed by DNR experts, is a telling them that their minimum overall value is fact, domestic. In addition to this requirement sion at its April 9 meeting would create a new, textbook example of how Proposal G is supposed to S3.477 million." placed upon the vendors, USDA regularly con- stand-alone antlerless license in certain areas of the work in managing our state's deer herd. It's safe to The facilities were sold in an auction format ducts compliance audits regarding the origin of state sold on a first-come, first-served basis instead say the entire agricultural industry is pleased to see offering each location on an individual basis for the the product. A false starement to federal officials of relying exclusively on a lonery system. A hunter the proposed changes." first round of bidding and allowing for a grouping of concerning the origin of a product is a criminal would be able to purchase doe permits at the rate "We believe DNR's proposal is a beginning," facilities in the second round if an individual site offense. punishable by up to five years in prison of one per day until that Deer ~lanagement Unit's adds MFB Legislative Counsel Scon Everen, "But went unpurchased. and significant fines. (DMU) quota is met for the season. the changes may not go far enough and soon According to Jim Byrum, Michigan Agri-Busi- The traditional doe permit lorrery system enough to protect Michigan's cropland. We suggest- ness Association (MABA) president, the total sale Continued on page 1 would continue, but the application deadline ed to the commission some other ideas based on wound up between S3.5 and $3.6 million from the would be moved from Sept. 24 to Aug. 1 so. the Farm Bureau policy for consideration to more auction held in Flint stanckdone anrlerless permits could be used quickly reduce the deer herd in the state. For exam- "Once I realized we were going bankrupt," during the October - November archery season. ple, last year's deer harvest was approximately explains Ryan, "my two goals were 1) to make sure The plan also calls for boundary changes in 21 300,000, and to reduce the number of deer from 2 we had a place for our growers to do business and DMUs to allow more permits in areas with ex- to 1.3 million will take substantial change. We basi- 2) to have our employees have jobs. There have cess deer, to do a bener job of micro-managing cally suggested that the DNR conduct the archery been a few layoffs, but most of our employees have local deer herds. and firearm deer season in three distinct parts to not had any interruptions in their paychecks and The only question that remains now is wheth- achieve maximum and effective deer harvest" our customers have been able to get most services, er the plan is aggressive enough ro bring population "First, we suggested opening a six-day, amler- other than grain from the co-op, even during the levels down to the established levels within a rea- less-only archery season the beginning of Septem- interim period." sonable period of time, according to Michigan Farm Continued on page 4 Continued on page 4 Capitol Corner 3 Weed Control Update 10 Conservation buffer MDA announces reorganization 4 Facts about graduated licenses 11 initiative launched 14 AMS Administrator tackles FB calls for increase Sustain ag through Tart Cherry FMO 5 in ag research dollars 12 raspberry canes 16 Market Outlook 6 USMEF takes stock Discussion Topic 17 Business Strategies 7 in Taiwan tragedy 13 Weather Outlook 20 Michigan bison industry 9 Sell products and services in the Michigan Farm News c/assifieds-Page 18 Gm3'P.t~~I~'I~ April1S, 1997 lie... ADM Milling will not FB-backedestate tax bill introduced consolidate A group of senators, led by Sens. Charles its present $600,000 to $1 million, phased in over iRJ Briiel' Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D- six years; would provide family owned businesses headquarters in Mont.), unveiled legislation that would provide with a full exemption for the first $1.5 million of Decatur; III. farmers and ranchers and others who own family qualified assets, with a 50 percent exemption up to Ingham County third- he Archer Daniels Midland Milling Co. will T businesses with much needed estate tax relief. The $10 million; and would increase the maximum re- not move its administrative offices from senators, joined by Senate Majority Leader Trent duction in value for special use valuation, which ~raders to participate Overland Park, Kan., to ADM (NYSE:ADM) Lott (R-Miss.), explained why their "Estate Tax Relief would apply to farms, from $750,000 to $1 million. In Rural Education Day corporate headquarters in Decatur, Ill., as previous- for the American Family Act of 1997" would help Across Capitol Hill on the House side, Missouri M ore than 700 Ingham County third- ly reponed. keep farms within families. Farm Bureau Federation President Charles Kruse is graders will experience Michigan's ADM spokesperson Karla Miller confirmed Representing the American Farm Bureau feder- scheduled to testify before the House Ways and rural life April 29 at Ingham County ADM has decided to cancel the consolidation plans ation, South Carolina Farm Bureau President Harry Means Committee on the need for changes in the Farm Bureau's Rural Education Day. of all its milling administrative offices until funher Bell said, "Without estate tax law changes, agricul- estate tax and capital gains laws. Kids will learn how cows are milked and how notice, and business will continue as usual. ture's contribution to our economy is threatened. Farm Bureau, while seeking the repeal of the buner and maple syrup are made. They will also "Senior management has determined that it Farmers and ranchers need a break from exorbitant capital gains tax, supports cutting the rate to 15 per- learn about Michigan wildlife, agriculture commodi- would be in its best interest to leave things as they and punitive estate taxes so that farms and ranches cent, maximum. Currently, the United States' 28 per- ties, soil conservation and gardening. Young farm are for the time being," Miller said. can be passed from one generation to the next." cent capital gains tax rate is one of the highest. "In animals will also be available to pet. Miller also said there was no plan to re-evalu- While Farm Bureau supports outright repeal order for farmers and ranchers to continue their high The event will be held at the Ingham County ate this recent decision in a future meeting. of the "death tax," said Bell, the Grassley-Baucus level of productivity, reform of estate tax and capital fairgrounds in Mason from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. fur more Originally, ADM had ideas of consolidating all proposal would go a long way toward easing farm- gains tax laws is needed without delay. The results will information or to volunteer, contact Loretta Benjamin, milling administrative offices to the Decatur, IlL, ers' concerns about estate taxes. The measure benefit farmers, consumers and the economy," Ingham County Farm Bureau, at 517-676-5578. • headquaners by Aug. 1.• would increase the unified credit exemption from Kruse's statement said .• Dutch "mad cow" incident raises EU concerns Assemblyman seeks ways to curb ag "trash talk" over feed controls A CalifOrnia assemblyman doesn't like the dis- paraging remarks concerning Golden State ter to producers. "It's not a joke at all," Hempel said. "If somebody stands up and says something false W hile the European Commission is happy with steps taken by Dutch authorities fol- lowing the death of a cow from "mad cow" disease happy with the way the Dutch had set about tack- ling the situation. "The Dutch are on top of the situation. They agricultural products, and he seeks to determine the damage such trash talk creates. Tom Bordonaro has about a perishable commodity, it causes economic harm for which there is no remedy." recently, the event has highlighted commission have slaughtered the herd, they have slaughtered the introduced a bill that would require state officials to Free speech advocates say such laws violate concerns that the EU ban on infected bonemeal progeny and they are tracking down the cohorts." study "the impact that false or disparaging state- civil rights. "We don't need a study to verify that the feed is not being toughly implemented, officials say. The official said there would be a meeting of ments about California agricultural products have First Amendment gives folks the ability to say what "Since infected bonemeal is the main theory the Standing Veterinary Comminee and that the had on the state's economy over the past 10 years." they want about fruits and vegetables," said Fran- for the cause of BSE (bovine spongiform encephal- expens would review some of the concerns arising Last year, the California General Assembly cisco Lobaco of the American Civillibenies Union. opathy), there have to be concerns that it caught from the Dutch incident. defeated a measure that would have allowed farmers The American Farm Bureau Federation en- the disease this way," one EU official said. "We will be interested to know what the to sue people who bad-mouth a perishable agricul- courages the adoption of anti-disparagement legis- But he said the commission was completely Dutch decide was the cause," the official said .• tural food product. Farmers in Arizona, Florida and lation, which provides a legal course of action Texas already have the right to sue on such grounds. against those individuals, groups or government Jasper Hempel, of the Western Growers Association, bodies who make disparaging statements against West Virginia farmers seek more control of says joking about farm products is no laughing mat- agricultural products and/or production .• deer problem T he West Virginia Legislature is studying a pack- age of bills that would expand farmers' options between farmers and hunters. The package supponed by West Virginia Farm Planting intentions released; soybeans, corn up with projected wheat plantings down across the coun- in reducing crop damage and increasing compensa- tion for damage resulting from deer. Bureau calls for, among other things, relaxing stan- dards for permits that allow hunters to shoot deer T he Agriculture Department has released a re pon on planting intentions and says farmers across the country this year will opt to plant more try to 17.8 million acres for spring wheat and 3.19 million acres in durum wheat plantings. Total wheat Earlier, the West Virginia Farm Bureau that destroy crops, allowing the Depanment of profitable soybeans and corn and forsake the cur- acreage is estimated at 69.2 million acres, down al- planned to ask the Legislature to increase hunting Natural Resources to issue more permits, letting rently lower priced wheat. USDA also says cotton most 10 percent from last year. Wheat producers last fees and use the additional revenue to increase farmers sell permits for up to $50 to increase their plantings will be slightly down. year planted 75.6 million acres of wheat, with 20.4 compensation to farmers. Hunters opposed that compensation for damages, and adding two farmer The repon shows soybean plantings will near million in spring wheat and other wheat varieties. plan, and the West Virginia Farm Bureau backed off representatives to the Natural Resources Commis- 68.8 million acres, the highest level since 1980. Farm- Conon acreage also will be slightly down this the plan because it didn't want to create animosity sion to oversee deer damage to crops .• ers last year sowed 64.2 million acres of soybeans. year at 14.5 million acres. Cotton producers in 1996 USDA'ssurvey of 55,000 corn producers planted 14.67 million acres in the fluffy white crop. Consumers support biotech food shows farmers this year will plant 81.4 million acres Government soybean and corn acreage pro- A new national survey of 1,004 U.S. adults finds high awareness of food biotechnology, strong suppon for its benefits, and endorsement for When asked about current FDA require- ments that mandate labeling of foods produced through biotechnology only when there is a of corn, the largest amount of corn acreage since 1985. Those figures are up from 79.5 million acres of corn planted last year. jections were "sharply" above commodity analysts' and traders' expectations and were expected to trigger price drops at the Chicago Board of Trade the current labeling requirements of the Food and substantial change in a food's composition, nu- Taking a hit will be the number of wheat acres, and other commodity markets .• Drug Administration (FDA) .. tritional value or allergenicity, more than three- Nearly eight out of 10 [/9 percent) Americans are aware of biotechnology, with more than half (54 quarters (78 percent) of consumers indicated they support the FDA policy. However, when Cows need to produce more in the Midwest percent) saying biotechnology has already provided benefits to them. Three out of four consumers [/8 presented with the position of some critics of the FDA policy, who believe all food biotechnol- A ccording to a repon released by Mid-America Dairymen, unless cows start producing more milk, residents of the Midwest will have to start West and Southwest, where feed and labor are plen- tiful and cheaper. Dairy production in the Southwest increased percent) predict they will benefit from biotechnolo- ogy products should be labeled, nearly 6 in 10 imponing milk and butter within 10 years. 75 percent from 1986 to 1996. Production in the gy in the next five years. Nearly half of the respon- (57percent) of Americans still maintained their Midwestern producers, says Gary Hanman of West rose 45 percent during the same period. Out- dents realized foods produced through biotechnol- support of the current labeling policy. The sur- the dairy group, are losing ground to farmers in the put fell 11 percent in the Midwest.. ogy were already in supermarkets. (Staples such as vey, commissioned by the International Food corn, potatoes and soybeans are among the foods Information Council (IFIC), was conducted enhanced through plant biotechnology.) March 21-24, by the Wirthlin Group .• AGRO-CULTURE Consumer demands will keep label issue hot E Uropean consumers' resistance to food prod- ucts made from genetically altered crops will because of consumer demands fueled by fervent environmental group protests, which Mergell said US.". Puts the Go in Grow! likely mean the labeling of products containing those were highly visible and effective. FERTILIZERS crops will continue to be a hot issue. "They (Green peace - the lead environmental "Labeling is still in the heat of the debate," group in the gene-altered crops debate) really Call for your FREE said Arnold Mergell, chairman of the German Oil- spread this mistrust," Mergell said. "So when they seed Crushers Association. (consumers) hear this message from morning to CATALOG AND RESEARCH BOOKLET "96" The European Union approved the use of gene- altered soybeans in food and seed in 1996, prompting several European nations to call for the labeling of all afternoon, they become hesitant." "It is well-known that German consumers have been very reluctant to accept genetically modi- 800-678-9029 or some products containing the crops. The Austrian fied food products, and that groups such as Green- government has called for the labeling of all "geneti- peace have seen some success on this issue as a Land Cost Machinery cally modified raw material and feeds," and several result," a U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service attache in / other nations are considering labeling requirements Germany wrote in a repon .• \ / Best Seed Best Return \ / AGRO.(ULTURE Best "" \ \ / / Weed Control "" / / / / / Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers P.O. Box 150 St. Johns, MI 48879 I~'JI [3.; I @'lm ~ r~'l3'~ April1S, 1997 ~ :; " C..,oa,pi.j~.i, :". : .'. '.::,.: 1,:, ;....... :I:: :.: . t:iLJ:J~~, D.::.'•• :- ..... - For more information on legislative topics in the Land Division Act C..; .. : / ~ ;;.;.:, ( ..;: J ) :'.:.:.: ..t r :: Michigan Farm News, call 800-292-2680. P ublic Act 591, sponsored by Sen. Leon Stille (R-Spring Lake), took effect March 31. It had been signed by the governor Jan. 22. o 7 parcels or 10 parcels if one of the re- sulting parcels comprises not less than 60 percent of the area of the parcel or Content: tract being split • Changed the name of the Subdivision Control • The following land divisions are also exempt Ethanol tax incentives Act to the'Land Division Act. (and are not included in the above number of A letter is being circulated among members of • ResullS in a net budget savings of more than • Allows cerlain land divisions to be exempt from exempt parcels and approval by the local gov- ~ongress requesting their suppon to relain $3.5 billion. meeting platting requiremenlS (Le., no review by ernment is not required): federal ethanol taX incemives. The letter is being It also states that Congress made a commit- local government, drain commission, road com- lr: Any division which does not create any circulated by Congressmen Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), Bill mem to keep incemives in place until 2000 and mission, public health department). parcels under 40 acres in size Barrett (R-Nebraska), David Minge (D-MinnesO(a) that the programs reduce American dependence • The following land divisions are exempt from {& Any division which transfers property from and Lane Evans (D-Illinois) who are members of the on foreign oil. meeting the platting requirements: one parcel to another contiguous parcel Alcohol Fuel Caucus. 1£ will also be sem to Congress- Meanwhile, H.R. 161 has been introduced by • Division of a parent parcel or parent tract that • The local unit of government shall approve the man Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House and Con- Congressman Phil English (R-Pennsylvania) and John resullS in the following (Defines a parent par- above land divisions within 30 days if all the fol- gressman Richard Gephardt, House Minori£)' Leader. Lewis (D-Georgia) to repeal the ethanol taX exemp- cel or parent tract as that parcel or tract which lowing are met: The letter opposes the repeal of the laX incen- tion. They cite a new GAO repon that says the 5.4 is lawfully in existence on the effective date of • A tentative parcel map is submitted and each tives for ethanol and explains that ethanol: cent per gallon ethanol taX exemption has cost the the amendatory act). parcel has an appropriate legal description • BooSlS net more than $4.5 billion annually; Federal Highway Trust Fund S7.1 billion since 1979. ~ 4 parcels for the first 10 acres or fraction • Each parcel less than 10 acres in size has a 4: 1 • Increases tmal employmem by 192,000 jobs; MFB Position: Farm Bureau suppons the thereof depth to width ratio unless a local ordinance • Improves the balance of trade by over $2 billion; letter being circulated by the Alcohol Fuels Caucus ~ 1 parcel for each whole 10 acres in excess diclates a different depth (0 width ratio (par- • Adds over $450 million to Slate tax receiplS each and opposes H.R. 161. of the first 10 acres, for up to a maximum of cels over 10 acres exempt) year; and MFB Contact: AIAlmy, Ext. 2040 .• 11 additional parcels • Each parcel does not have a width or area less ~ 1 parcel for each whole 40 acres in excess than required by a local ordinance 1:~YiID1l~~~ of the first 120 acres • each parcel has access to a public or private Earned income tax credit eligibility for farn,ers ~~ If the parent parcel is 20 acres or laIger, 2 road via a driveway or an easement additional parcels are permitted if either of • if the parcel is a development site: T he Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit available to low income-laXpayers who have earned income. Because of changes made in net income therefore disqualifying farmers from claiming EITe. It can be aIgued that breeding Iive- stock is not a capital asset but rather properly used the following occur: o A new road is established and none of lr: appropriate approval for on-site water sup- ply and sewage disposal the previous parcels have a driveway ~ adequate easemenlS for public utilities last year's welfare reform law, the IRS is declaring in a trade or business . access to a previously existing road • Exempt divisions are now "transferable" from a some farmers ineligible for the tax credit. Senator James Jeffords (R-Vf) and 16 other o One of the above resulting parcels com- parent parcel to a new parcel. A landowner can Low-income taxpayers can claim EITC provid- senators have written to the Internal Revenue Ser- prises not less than 60 percent of the pass on the ability to create X-number of divi- ed they do nO( have more than $2,200 of capital vice Commissioner asking the IRS to correct this area of the parent parcel or parent tract sions that would be exempt from the platting gain net income. Capilal gain net income is defined error administratively. Similar letters were proposed • The division of all new parcels created after requiremenlS. A Slatement must be included on by the Internal Revenue Code to be gains from the in the House and signed by 27 representatives. the effective date of the act if all of the follow- the deed to that effect. sale of capital asselS. MFB Position: Farm Bureau opposes the ing are met: • All deeds for parcels of unplatted land shall con- The IRS is incorrectly characterizing profit IRS action. from the sale of breeding livestock as capital gain MFB Contact: AIAlmy, Ext. 2040 .• * At least 10 years have passed since the par- tain the following Slatement: cel or tract was recorded "This property may be located within the ~ The division does not result in more than vicinity of farmland or a farm operation. Gen- the following number of parcels, whichever erally accepted agricultural and management Senate road funding plan is less: practices which may generate noise, dust, o 2 parcels for the first 10 acres or fraction odors and other associated conditions may be T he Senate passed S.B. 303, sponsored by Sen. Hoffman (R-Horton), which would eSlablish several tra~sportation reforms and effi- would use $50 million from the unreserved balance of the comprehensive Transporta- tion Fund and $13 million of new revenue thereof and 1 parcel for each additional whole 10 acres used and are protected by the Michigan Right to Farm Act." ciencies. Several of the reforms are supported in from the new Diesel Tax for this construc- Number of -exempt- parcels that can be created Farm Bureau policy. Specifically, Farm Bureau sup- tion season. The dollars would go through Scenario 1 - land remains as 1 parcel under the same ownership for 20 years ports reforms in the bill that: the P.A. 51 formula .. Parent Initial exempt Redivision of Redivision of TOTAL for 20 year Parcel size divisions remaining parcel remaining parcel period under P.A. • End all diversions from the Michigan Transporta- • S.B. 225, introduced by Sen. Steil (R-Grand Rap- (acres) under PA 591 after 10 years after 20 years 591 tion Fund (MTF) within three years. ids), would use a one time appropriation of the 10 4 4 • Impose an administrative cap of 10 percem interest from the Countercyclical Budget and on all road projects. &onomic Slabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund) 20 7 2 9 • Require performance audits of local road and use it to repair roads. This would amount to 30 8 2 2 12 authorities. $69 million for FY 1996 -97. 40 9 3 2 14 • Local road authorities may decide how to In effect, the Senate passed $205 million in 60 11 4 4 19 spend money on primary and local roads. new money for roads. Only $45 million, however, is 80 13 6 5 24 • Requires MDOT to seek opportunities for a permanent increase - year one of the three year 120 17 7 7 31 further privatization. diversion phase out. The other $160 million in- 160 18 10 10 38 Farm Bureau feels these reforms should be part crease is only for one year. 200 19 10 10 39 of any rransporlation reform package. An Action While Farm Bureau supports the Senate's 240 20 10 10 40 Request was sent on this bill. Farm Bureau favored a efforts to provide additional monies for roads, we 280 21 10 10 41 yes vO(e. It passed the Senate 30 - 2. Sen. O'Brien (D- continue to believe a gas laX increase will be neces- Detroit) and Sen. Miller (D-Warren) voted no. 320 22 10 10 42 sary to provide a permanent increase in revenue for Two additional bills relating to transporlation the roads. Latest estimates indicate S5.4 billion 400 24 10 10 44 funding also passed the Senate. They were: over the next 10 years will be needed to bring roads 520 27 10 10 47 • S.B. 302, introduced by Sen. Hoffman, is a and bridges up to standards. 640 30 10 10 50 budget supplemental for FY 1996-97. It MFB Contact: TIm Goodrich, ext. 2048. Scenario 2 - remaining land is divided into 90 acre parcels after 10 years and then each 90 acre parcel is divided 10 years later to maximize number of exempt divisions Parent CURRENTLAW (4 ' '" Initial exempt Redivision of Redivision of TOTAl for 20 yetlr Parcel size :: additional p;!l'Cels divisions remaining parcel remaining parcel period under P.A. Truck weights (acres) aUowed every 10 yea'rs)' under PA 591 after 10 years after 20 years 591 240 27 20 10 20 50 R ep. Leland (D-Detroit), Chair of the House Transporlation Committee, will be introducing legislation to reduce truck weighlS from the current Michigan truck at 164,000 pounds. • The timely movement of several perishable com- modities is critical to agriculture. Decreasing the 280 320 31 35 21 22 10 10 24 27 55 59 164,000 pounds. He has appointed a subcommittee allowable truck weights will require the use of. 400 43 24 10 37 71 to research this issue and this committee will be hold- more trucks and, thus, will have a negative im- 520 55 27 10 47 84 ing hearings throughout the spring. In addition, Sen. pact on agricultural profilS. 640 67 30 10 63 103 Phil Hoffman (R-Honon), Chairman ofthe Appropria- MFB Contact: Tim Goodrich, ext. 2048. NOTE:All calculations using 2 acres as lot size. Two bonus lots allowed under P.A. 597 are included. tion Subcommittee on Transporlation, has indicated he will be introducing legislation to reduce truck USDA lifts restrictions MFB Contact: Scott Everett, Ext. 2046. weighlS from 164,000 pounds to 127,000 pounds. on Karnal bunt This proposal calls for an overweight truck permit he USDAresearchers determined that Kamal AII-Ag Channel Earth on the air which will include a new fee. MFB Position: MFB policy is opposed to any T bunt is not present in wheat in the Southeast. The department had set quarantines at about M illions of households can tune their televi- sion selS (0 a new channel devoted exclu- gives us the best way to reach an audience beyond the city IimilS that deserves a steady, reliable, up-ta- reduction in truck weights. two dozen sites, such as farms and grain elevators, sively to serving those who live in or love the coun- the-minute source of critical information on issues • The American Association of State Highway and in the region after Kamal bunt-like spores were try. Channel Earth, channel 283 on DIREClV, began that affect their lives every working day. And we'll Transportation Officials (AASHTO) indicated that detected. Officials said the quarantines would be ilS first day of programming March 28. Channel provide some fun, too." axle weight IimilS are substantially more impor- lifted immediately. Earth will deliver more than 13 hours of daily pro- Joining Samuelson is broadcasting col- ta~t than a truck's gross vehicle weight. USDA said last week ilS Karnal bunt testing in gramming every Monday through Friday and eight league Max Armstrong. Together they will lead • Michigan allows a gross vehicle weight of 164,000 the Southeast had been called into question by the hours (5 a.m. to 1 p.m.) on Saturdays. a team of regional and national correspon- pounds in total truck weight, which is about 15,000 discovery of ryegrass smut with spores similar to News, weather, commenlary and much more, dents, livestock and commodity market ex- pounds per axle spread over 11 axles. Other Slates the Kamal'bunt. The department based ilS decision designed for taday's rural residenlS, will be featured perts, meteorologists and talk show hosts. allew a gross vehicle weight of 80,000, which is on the fa<;tthat bunted wheat kernels were not on Channel Earth. Orion Samuelson, executive Mike Orso, a former member of AFBF's Public about 16,000 pounds per axle spread over 5 axles. found in any samples in the Southeast, whereas producer and chairman of the board of Channel Relations Division, serves as a producer for • The Michigan Department of Transporlation contamination with bunted ryegrass kernels was Earth, notes, "We're excited about the opportunity Channel Earth, and Farm Bureau programming believes that twice as many trucks on the road at common. Researchers have shown that spores from to meet the information needs of people in rural will frequently be featured on the newall-farm 80,000 pounds creates far more damage than 1 ryegrass do not infect wheat.. America. The satellite technology available today channel.. 1~'jl~~I~'I~ April1S, 1997 Michigan Department of Ag Natural Resources Commission announces reorganization considers new deer hunting Early retirement program could reduce division director, will move to the laborarory as our department by 10 percent manager of the lab retires. He's an excellent leader, regulations O ver 7,000 state employees will qualify under the early retirement program passed by the Michigan Legislature, of which 70 Michigan Depart- a great suppon of our laboratory and consumer protection programs." nmelln. for the reorganization Continued from page 1 September for private land in areas with exten- the goods and services they purchase for their sport," adds Everett ~l\nd hunters would benefit ment of Agriculture (MDA) employees will qualify sive deer numbers," Evereu explains. "After the from the added time available to harvest deer." "It'll all be in place by June 1," Wyant adds, "So forcing the department to reorganize into eight we'll move through this transition period, and my early archery season, open up a two-week antl- "We want to expand both archery and firearm divisions from 13. statT is working [0 put lOgether a transition plan that erless-only firearm season in those areas the seasons to give hunters every opponunity to panic- "The MDA has 500 employees, of which 70 qual- can make this all occur." DNR shows high deer numbers - which is about ipate in the fall harvest by increasing the number of ify to leave early," explained MDA Director Dan Wyant half of the state." days available to hunt by over 28 days with shon Wyant says that the department evaluated other "We'll probably have 50 take the early-out program "Once the early season concludes, we suggest- breaks in between, which allows the deer to resume options but feels the final decision is best for Michigan and so we're going to manage the impact of that" agriculture "There were some concerns or rumors ed an archery season be opened until Oct 31, then their normal habitat panerns," he adds. "This will "We're raking the opportunity lo reorganize our conduct an early five-day firearm deer season fol- also provide landowners additional opportunity to mat we were going to split the dairy division up be- depanment," Wyant added. "We'll go from 13 divi- lowed by the traditional archery and firearm season. provide access to private land." tween animal and food," he explains. "We took a look siems down to eight. The major changes include put- One of the DNR proposals is an experimental Sep- According to Everen, the proposal5 submined at that for efficiency reasons and concluded it was best ting all our pollution prevention programs in one tember firearm season for antlerless deer in Me- by Michigan Farm Bureau may not have to be car- to keep one comprehensive unit We recognize that division. The other is creating an office of agriculture nominee County beginning Sept 19. We simply ried out each and every year - "but the decision to what goes on in the farm atTecrswhat goes in the development to work on value-added food processing want lo expand that." increase the aggressiveness and. number of days bottle, and we have lo make sure there's a connection opportunities. And the third is puning a focus on food According to Everen, the early five-day firearm needs to be based on sound deer herd manage- or relationship. We think the new organization struc- safety and creating a dairy and food division. Our food season in addition to the traditional season would ment guidelines, and right now drastic measures ture is going to put an emphasis on food safety, and dairy, food safety programs and all will be housed provide economic and social benefirs to Michigan need to be taken." strengthen the family farm and pollution prevention, again under one division with one leadership." farmers, businesses and hunters. The DNR's Natural Resources Commission is and we'll be a stronger organization because of it" According lo Wyant, the merging of the dairy "The economic benefirs are lo the thousands scheduled to take final and formal action on the "We're going to see about a $500,000 savings and food safety programs will not atTect any current of businesses throughout Michigan's prime hunting proposals during their May meeting for the propos- with our whole reorganizational plan for the whole programs either division maintains. "The only thing areas that thrive on the 800,OOO-plus hunters and als to be implemented during the 1997 season .• depanment on an annual basis," Wyant concludes. we're doing is seeing a change at the lOp," he adds. Eight consolidated MDA divisions: ''Tom Whelan is no longer the head of the dairy divi- • Dairy and food Computer program predicts presence sion; Kathy Fedder is now in charge. Nothing else • Finance and technology changes - no diminishment of program, no dimin- • Animal industry of food pathogens ishment of resource, other than some people that we anticipate lo take advantage of th,e early-out" "I've asked Fedder, who has been heading our • Marketing and commodity • Environmental stewardship • Pest and plant management E asy to install and easy to use, an updated com- puter software package can help the food industry predict the fate of harmful microorganisms salt levels and acidity. Then the program graphic- ally predicrs the growth or death of the pathogen . The newest version of the program - the marketing etTons department, lo take on that role," • Laboratory in producrs. fifth - contains growth models for Aeromonas Wyant continues, "Tom Whelan, our current dairy • Human resources. Scientists with USDA's Agricultural Re- hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli search Service developed the Pathogen Model- 0157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, ing Program to track the survival and growth of Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus aureus, and Southern Thumb Co-op sold E. coli 0157:H7 and other pathogens. The pro- Yersinia enterocolitica. Earlier versions have Continued from page 1 The marketing instrumenrs that sent the co-op gram supplies a first-round estimate of the safe- been distributed worldwide to over 800 users. "We (managemem) will probably be in the job spiraling into bankruptcy were not completely re- ty potential of foods during product develop- Free of charge, the program can be download- market for a couple of weeks," concedes Ryan. "Right solved in late March when the assers of the co-op ment by industry or during safety evaluation by ed from the World Wide Web site of ARS' Eastern now because we're so aerively involved in this thing, I changed hands. A majority of producers have yet lo regulatory agencies. It gives microbiologists in Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pa. The don't think any of us have really pur resumes our." settle their negative equities with the Sr. Paul Bank for the food industry and regulatory agencies a WWW address is: http://www.arserrc.gov. "\X113thappened was very clearly some experi- Cooperatives and the former Sourhern Thumb Co-op. quick, accurate, inexpensive way to "engineer" Scientisrs at the center's Microbial Food Safety enced agribusiness companies wound up with the "The Sr. Paul Bank had been unable lo find a safety into foods. Research Unit"designed the program. It runs on remaining a'ise[s of [he company," explains Byrum. solution "ith [he growers, so the management made The user types in information on food formu- IBM-compatible computers with Windows operat- "L1peer Grain is going [0 be aerive in L1peer and a proposal lo our growers that about 40 percent de- lation or storage conditions, including temperature, ing systems .• Imlay City. MAC is going [0 be aerive in Marlene. cided to go with," Ryan explains. "The bank had never Grower Service COfJxJra[ion wound up with both the been \\illing to do anything other than a 5O-cenrs-on- Dryden and Richmond locations. And IMC is going (() the-dollar .senlement. Our most recent settlement mat SAREgrants worth $200,000 for on-farm be in Yale. 111ey're all experienced companies, they all we were able to negotiate averaged about 35 percent. research, marketing have major commitmems to Michigan agriculture, and We gO( about 40 percent of our growers senled and [hey will be ready (() serve farmers." "If you look at the proceedings, it cenainly those growers have this preuy much behind them now. 111eother 60 percent of those people will likely I ndividualfarmers who would like to do on-farm research might receive $5,000 or a group of farmers interested in creative marketing might re- getting started and they in turn help other inter- ested producers. The purpose of the grants is to allow farmers the opportunity to take risks or wasn't fun [0 sit there and watch something like be sued by the bank once the co-op is sold." ceive $10,000 from the Sustainable Agriculture Re- make changes they might not otherwise under- that he dismembered:' Byrum adds. '1\11 of those "111elegacy of Southern Thumb \\ill be around search and Education (SARE) program. take. operations have been profitable and provided occu- for a while," adds Bryum. "My sense is that the cards The SARE is administered by the U.S. Depart- The grant application deadline is May 1. The pa[ions for a 1m of people, and been really major and leuers will SlOpcoming from Southern Thumb ment of Agriculture's Nonh Central Region. Michi- funds will be available by midfall. forces in [heir individual communities. And this is and \\'iII probably stan coming from the St Paul Bank. gan is pan of the NeR, which consists of 12 states. To obtain a grant application and other infor- going [0 cause change." h L'itheir desire to colleer as much as they can. So I mation, contact the NCR SARE Program, 13A Activi- The grants are awarded on a competitive ba- In explaining [he decision [0 go after [he Mar- would be surprised if they weren't preny aggressive." sis. This year the SARE program will distribute ties Building, University of Nebraska-Uncoln, Un- Ime location, MAC Presidell[ Herm Geers comment- B)1"llmadcl'i [hat the severity of [his situation $200,000 in grants. coin, NE 68583-0840, or call402-472-70810r fax 402- ed that "Marlene W:l'iprobably best suited [0 us, geo- was very isolated in Michigan. "I think that's the key Farmers receiving the grants get help in 472-0280 .• graphically it's in go(xl farming coumry. Imlay City lx>im. 111e instruments that GllL'iedthese problems to would've been our second choice because of its geo- develop at Southern 111l1mbare nO[ widespread.". graphic lex-a[ion." According [() Geers, ~Iarlene's facilities were anranive Ix:cause i[ h:l'i 1.5 million bushel storage for Technology,Quality, and Value-That's Morton Buildings grain with good unloading and dl)ing capabili[y and is Glickman splashed with rotting bison on a mainline railroad. On the marketing ability MACbrings [0 grain and bean pnxlucers in the Marlenc ar~l, "\Xc're a full- service e1eva[or for the farmer with a quality line of entrails Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, in Mon- tana to discuss the bison situation in Yellowstone 824,195 • 27' x 14'6" Double End Door • I-White Walk-en Door (no glass) r feed and fenilizer. Our marketing service \\ill be the National Park, was splashed with roning bison en- same a'i before and we otTer a numlx:r of options for trails Sunday by an animal rights protester angry • Heavy Gauge Commercial Quality Steel • 50-yw Snow Load Warranty (no weight limit) Basic Machine Storage them [0 consider. We give [he Ix:nefit of bitl'i domestic about the killing of more than 1,000 bison who • G-90 Galvanizing • 5-yw Wind Warranty 54' 113' 1 90' with 7'8" or eXlxm with 20 years of marketing eXIx:ricnce. We strayed out of the park's boundaries . • White Polyester Painl FInish • KYNAR 500'IHYLAR 5kingforward (() meeting in Brussels. All QlT3IItics include mattrials and labor IIId arc ncx pnnltd. The spcciaI pricing on bolh ~T~ MORTON working with the people. We want to make the Mar- lene MACa place that people \vant to do business and Wilson, a member of the newly-formed Bison Action Group, was held by the local sher- buildinp in this ad includes ll1t3. rnaIerials. labor. DI dclivcty within 40 miles of a Monon Buildings' COIlSIIIICIion ccnltr. CUSlOIm musl proridc a levtl building silt with no undetground obslructions. lOfticb would Creale 1bc: nmI few eltra cquipmenl. DI p:vticipalt in 1bc: thm: SItp aa. BUILDINGS P. O. Box 399, Morton,/L 6/550 plymenl plan. Prices may V'Irf due 10 local building codes. Oll'er npim 41wn. o 1997 Monon Buildinp. Inc. keep gening hener at ir." iff's department and will be charged with disor- Resolution of negative equities from derly conduct. After cleaning up, the officials .\d ,-i:l II :; 17 -2(,,"l-O,:;..j I • Bm\\'11 Ci t Y .'oJIO-,"l.l(,-2702 . ',:I lI,a~I':1 (I I (1-2:;,"-2:;."0 H 0\,: I,ionl (I J()-." 7 -1-(..1 00 • S t. .I0111'''' :; , 7 -22-1-(,.'oJC)2 . TIr rl'l: Hi \"l:r .. () I ()-279-:;27I Southern Thumb Co-op resumed the meeting .• Agricultural Marketing Service administrator tackles Tart Cherry FMO MACMA annual meeting provides basically set up a program by which we solicit com- forum for growers to give Input to chief menlS from me industry and from me public and administrator men we come back out with various proposals which I late n March, the Michigan Agricultural Com- modiry Marketing Association's annual meeting in Rmhbury fearured the USD~s administrator for the we're doing now," he adds. "These proposals are really in response or as a result of meetings and various town hall gatherings Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Lon Haramiya that we've had around the coumry to gather informa- discussing what's on many ran cherry producers' tion," according to Haramiya. 'The result of working minds - their recemly adopted Federal Marketing with experrs in the field from various universities, Order (FMO). Cornell, Texas A&M, WISconsin and various omers to Hatamiya's departmem is charged with admin- take a look at what proposals mey've come up with istering all FMOs. "Il will allow an industry to come that are possible solutions to me currem system. Il is together to beuer market their product," he ex- really an ongoing iterative process by which we're plains. "There has been a lack of information as (Q looking and imeracting with the industry to make production around the coumry, a lack of real plan- sure that what we ultimately propose is something ning and strategy on how (Q grow markets, as well that everybody has seen and reviewed. as to get a beuer handle on the markets that are our "You're nm going to get consensus opinion on there." any of mese things," he adds. "But we're trying to "Amarkeling order really allows an industry to reach some kind of decision that has the utmost and collectively come togemer to determine some of mose inpur from me industry." longer term slrategies. This marketing order wim me How does the AMS receive feedback? various componems mat it has in terms of qualiry "We continue to have meelings around me comrol, supply, dealing wim surplus as well as me country, we get wriuen feedback," he explains. "Pe0- Lon Hatamiya, administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, an arm of the U.S.Depart- omer aspeclS, will enable the industry to work togem- ple have nm been hesilant to give us meir commenlS. ment of Agriculture, addresses cherry producers. He talked about Federal Marketing Orders at er, nm only in Michigan, but around me country, to We're getling different commenlS, bur we're raking it the annual meeting of the Michigan Agricultural Commodity Marketing Association. benefit from £hat creation of me rederal Marketing all into consideration and hopefully coming up wim a Order." changed program mat will benefit everyone." • "The beaury of the marketing order is the fact that it is the industry that determines how they're governed," Slates Hatamiya. '~d what regulations they work under, the kinds of plans and strategies they pur together for the future. We're nm there to dictate how the tart cherry industry should operate, bur we give them the mechanism to work among themselves to come up with those answers." According to the AMS administrator, the AMS provides the resources of dala collection, of past history on how the FMOs work, and provide helpful information on how marketing order operate heuer. "Bur those u\(imate decisions are made by the com- miuee members who are producers or handlers themselves in the fieid, and we think that's a model for a public/private partnership withour being over. burdensome on the public side," he adds. "In this day and age, people are nm looking for more regulation from governmem, bur less," Hala- miya explains. "We point to it as a prime example of how the federal governmem can really assist me pri- vate industry withom being too burdensome." The most recem efforrs of me AMShave revolved around me creation of a grower-supported FMO for cherries. "We have been very actively involved \vim the creation of me Tar( Cherry Marketing Order," Slates Haramiya. "We ceI1ainly have had a conSlant relation- ship wim farmers in Michigan on a most recem basis, bm also on a daily basis. In Benton Harbor, we have our market news reporters who collect and dissemi- nate information on the various fruilS and vegelables mat are grown in Michigan and in neighboring Slates and how that might affect me agricultural economy in me Slate of Michigan." Status of the Dairy Federal Milk Marketing Order According (Q Haramiya, the FMO for milk is undergoing a public comment period to gather pro- ducer input. In the past, Federal Marketing Orders on the dairy side have had to go through role making which requires hearings and a number of months of review. "Under this process, what we're trying to do is CRPdeferral- bad idea T he American Farm Bureau Federation has asked Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to oppose the administration's proposal to defer Late Seed Needs? the signup of two million Conservation Reserve Program acres in 1997. The administration has LG Seeds Is Ready To Fill Your In-Season Orders Fast. said that action is necessary in order to fund the $65 million Crown Butte Mines agreemem, un. CALL US der which the federal governmem would buy the mine. In a leuer to Glickman, AFBF Presidem Dean Kleckner said, "Deferring sign-up in order to fund the Cr~wn Butte Mines agreement circumvenlS Sunfield Service Center congressional intem and support for CRP." In 1997, 22 million acres of land will be re- 800.709.3333 leased from CRP contraclS. In his letter, Kleckner nmed that Congress reiterated its support for CRP in the 1996 farm bill. Kleckner also said that the action pfUposed by the administration would set a Growing. ~lLG1SEEDS Different. -.,~~. dangerous precedent of shifting funding from CRP and mher farm programs .• RJI(~~fi'I~~'~ April1S, 1997 NI.... : ::,a.:: . .. :" .. .. .. . ...... :.::'k -., .' .. : : e t: ' -.. " ~ - .... : . ... . Seasonal Commodity Price Trends price more sometime inJune or earl}'July. By then, we will either have had a weather scare and we will Michigan soybean producers intend to plant 1.7 million acres, an increase of 50,000 acres from 1996 Corn f ~ need to price more at higher levels, or the probability and 200,000 from 1995. I think us analysts stillhave a.lleek .... ' if,!';',}); . ' , " .. .. - .' .,..•... Soybeans Wheat Hogs Cattle (explosive) f ~ - f - - of weather problems will have decreased and we may want to price more before a drop. ~~!i:!:I~]c. _ some things to learn about how the new farm bill planting flexibilitywill be used by producers. The Stocks Report will callfor some adjustment in the supply/demand numbers for the 1996-97 Index: - = stable prices; t .. higher prices; ~ .. lower prices; TP .. topping; BT ... botcommg; 7 = unsure keep old crop com prices near $3 until the market is T he third quarter wheat Stocks Report showed no surprises, so we will move on to new crop. As reponed last December, winter wheat acres are crop year. My new estimates are shown below in Table 3. I have raised my estimate of seed, feed, and residual by 20 million bushels, although itmay turn confident about next year's crop. down; the number in this repon shows plantings out the crop was overestimated a bit.I also lowered The Planting Intentions Report showed U.S. down 3.77 million acres. This report shows spring my export projection by 5 million bushels in recog- by Dr. Jim Hilker, corn producers planning to plant 81.4 million acres wheat planting intentions down by 2.65 million nition that higher prices lower use. This stillputs Department of of corn this spring. This is almost 2 million more acres for a toral decrease in wheat acres of 6.42 ending stocks at an extremely low level.Think back Agricultural Econom- than last year, but almost the same as last year's million. These numbers were on the low side of to lastyear and corn, the firstsign of reduced yields ics, Michigan State intentions, which were thrown off by the wet spring trade expectations, but within the range. even with the high acres and the market could ex- University and late plantings. This was about a half million Trend yields would still bring a slightly larger crop plode upwards, but ifwe get a decent yield in the more than the average expectation, but well within this year than last, even with fewer acres due to last end, the market will drop quickly. the range. Using this new number in my 1997-98 year's poor yield. As we develop the 1997-98 column Where does a 4.5-million-acre increase in soy- estimates, shown below in Table 1, column 3, of the wheat Balance Sheet (Table 2 below), we also beans planted come from when corn acres planted N orhing like new, unexpected information and worries during the new planting season to keep the market hopping. On March 31, the USDA average corn prices for next year would average about $2.55, given a trend yield and middle-of-the- road use figures. have to make some assumptions about the rest of the world. For example, Canada increased wheat acres at are also expected to increase 2 million acres? In some states, the acres come from fewer winter the expense of canola acres last year in the neighbor- wheat acres, but the huge new acre,s in Iowa and released two important reports. One report was the Michigan producers intend to plant 2.6 million hood of 2 million acres. Now there is talk of switching Minnesota must come from, to a large extent, acres quarterly Stocks Report which gives us updated acres, down 50,000 from a year ago, but up 150,000 back 1.5 million acres. This should help next year's that were in the CRP. information on the rate of corn use through the from two years ago. Remember, this Planting Inten- exports as long as Europe and Australia don't have Pu((ing this planted acres figure into Table 3 first half of the year. The second report was the tions Report is nor a guarantee this number of acres super crops again. below for the 1997-98 year shows ending stocks Planting Intentions Report which gives us corn will be planted and is nor supposed to be. Rather it The bottom line in my estimation is wheat pric- would be adequate next year, even given strong producers' intentions as of March 1. is information to the market that should help in the es have just come into the bottom range of my demand. My analysis would suggest average prices The Stocks Report showed corn disappearance proper allocation of land to various crops. The mar- expectations with a trend yield asjuly futures in next year to be around $6.40, given what Iwould at a faster rate than the trade expected. This is an ket can now react and a final set of decisions can be Chicago hit $4. At this point, there are no big grow- callstrong use figures. New crop futures near $7 indication of higher-than-expected feed use. Animal made, given the weather cooperates. ing problems unless the wet planting situation in suggest higher prices. numbers on feed are slightly above last year with Old crop corn prices may be near their peak if the the Northern Plains has continued. Consider pricing Even though the situation with soybeans is ca((le on feed and poultry increases making up for planting and growing season goes well. The projected 15-25 percent of your expected wheat if summer more explosive than corn, my advice is about the the slightly smaller hog numbers. We are also start- ending stocks is not low enough to suppon $3 prices soft red wheat futures break back through $4. Then same. Have most of your old crop soybeans sold at ing to feed to higher weights, whether this contin- once the market feels we will have a decent crop next set some more pricing points considering both today's great prices. However, if you want to hold ues partially depends on the corn price from now year. As soon as the market sees the crop, I expect the price levels and crop conditions. on to your last 10 percent or so, go ahead-just do through summer. To show this faster disappearance, on the balance price to drop 20 to 40 cents, and that could be as early as late June. For this reason I would consider having ~1~}~l:~J=1i1~;I_ iton a basis contract versus paying storage. Ifeel new crop cash prices at around $6.70 are quite sheet for corn (Table 1 below), I have increased the 1996-97feed use number by 125 million bushels, to 5325 million. The USDA released their updated esti- most of myoid crop sold now. Poor weather could send the market up, so I wouldn't be adverse to keep- ing a little on a basis contract. 5 urprlse, surprise-we have significant changes in both old crop and new crop expectations after the new reportS were released, but they are in good-don't let itpass without pricing some. And have some pricing goals ifprices start up; unfortu- nately, they can turn around at any time. mate April 11. ExportS to date and export sales are New crop decisions are less clear, so consider opposite directions in a price sense. The quanerly lagging behind what is necessary to meet the 1,900 spreading them out. First of all, recognize that De- Stocks Report showed 10-30 million less soybeans in million figure projected by the USDAin February, so I have lowered the 1996-97 number to 1,875 million- we'll see what they do. These two changes lowered cember futures at around S2.90 are very good given the fundamentals. The only thing keeping them there versus $2.60-2.70 is the potential for poor weather. stock than the trade expected half-way through the marketing year. The Planting Intentions Report was also a shocker at 68.8 million acres. This is 3 million T he March 1 quanerly USDA Hogs and Pigs Report, released March 27, definitely had a bullish bent. All hogs and pigs were only 99 percent ending stocks by a net of 100 million bushels, to 859 Consider pricing up to 15-30 percent of your expected more acres than the trade's average (and my) expecta- of a year ago. Kept for breeding showed a 1 percent million. While this is adequate, it is tight enough to new crop now, if you haven't already. Be ready to tions, and 2 million more than the highest guess. increase in year-to-year numbers. And, while this was in the range of expectations, itison the low COMMODITY PRICE TRENDS side, given hog prices and returns over the past year and the pricing opportunities over the next •......•.•.••••......••.... 'J2OO ............................. 5iIO" year. Hogs kept for market were 99 percent of last ............................. 5400 year and near expectations overall. While the total number of market hogs was near expectations, within weight classes they were not. The heavier hogs, 120 pounds and up, were 99- 100 percent of lastyear, a couple percent higher than expected. Pigs below 120 pounds were 98-99 percent of a year ago, a couple percent lower than expected. This means fewer hogs through the sum- : . ~.ea.t. e. f¥I~Y.'~7 mer. .i.n JI, ~, Sep Ikt Ilou Dee J.. Fell IIu ftpr Jun J I, AIIf Sep Ikt IbI Dee J.. Fell lIu Apr Fell lIu flpr Farrowing intentions were also lower than ex- pected. March-May 1997 farrowing intentions are 11.00 110.00 equal to 1996, and June-August 1997 intentions are 18.00 up 2 percent; both of these were a couple percent ~c: lower than expectations. These are hogs that will I1J 2liO.00 it c: come to market next falland winter. Z!iO.OO ... At firstglance, Michigan numbers look bad . Z«l.00 ~Q: Hogs and pigs kept for breeding as of March 1 were .... m.oo ..c: .~ down 13 percent and kept for market were down 4 64.00 ..... ""' I' .. 220.00 66.00 ~c: percent. Upon further investigation, maybe we are :Uve Cattl. e Apr-. '97 . 63.00 .Soy Me.1 e M.y v'~7 • : .. 10.00 . 'Uve .H~s. e ~r.. '97 ... : ~:; going to rebound. December-February farrowings 64.00 In JI, ~ Sep Oct IbI Dee In Fell Ikr • Ju J IV Aut Se, Ikt Ilou Dee In Fell IIu llpr- ~ were equal to the previous year, and March-May intentions are down 8 percent, but)une-August COMMODITY SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE SHEETS intentions are down only 4 percent. The report would indicate hog prices will be good Table 1- Corn Table 2 - Wheat Table 3 - Soybeans fora longer period than previously expected. How Estimated Projected KUker Estimated Projected Hilm Projected (Million acres) 199~1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 (Million acres) 1995-1996 1~1997 1997-1991 (Million acres) Estimated Hilker good returns are stilldepends on feed prices and, 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 Acres set-aside/diverted 6.2 0.0 0.0 Acres set-aside & diverted 5.2 0.0 0.0 therefore, this summer's weather. Iwould agree with Acres planted 62.6 64.3 68.8 Acres planted 71.2 79.5 81.4 Acres planted 69.2 75.6 691 Acres harvested 61.6 63.4 67.8 the futures market that prices may reach $60 this sum- Acres harvested 65.0 73.1 74.9 Acres harvested 61.0 63.1 60.2 BuJharvested acre 353 37.6 38.0 mer and stay over S50 through the restof 1997. Howev- BuJharvested acre 113.5 127.1 129.0 Bu./harvested acre 35.8 363 38.5 Stocks (million bushels) er,I also think these are good prices.Consider locking Stocks (million bushels) Stocks (million bushels) in a price on a portion of next year's expected produc- Beginning stocks 335 183 125 Beginning stocks 1,558 426 859 Beginning stocks 507 376 474 Production 2,176 2,383 2,576 tion.There isa real riskmore hogs will show up. Production 7,374 9,293 9,662 Production 2,182 2,282 2,318 Imports 5 4 4 Itisnot real clear what disease problems in Imports 16 10 9 Imports 68 80 78 Total supply 2,516 2,570 2,705 Taiwan willmean to U.S. hog prices other than itwill Total supply 8,948 9,729 10,530 Total supply 2,757 2,738 2,870 Use: be positive.japan willhave to come to our market Use: Use: Crushings 1,370 1,420 1,430 not only for increases in their per capita consump- Feed and residual 4,711 5,325 5,500 Food 884 910 920 Exports 851 895 900 tion, but also to make up for the decrease in hogs Foodlse~d & Ind. uses 1,583 1,670 1,750 Seed 104 104 105 Seed, feed & residuals 112 130 115 Feed 152 300 260 from Taiwan, which has been their biggest source. Total dO(Tlestic 6,294 6,995 7,250 Total use 2,333 2,445 2,445 Exports 2,228 1,875 2,100 Total domestic 1,140 1,314 1,285 Ending stocks 183 125 260 ~ [~~l:.I:~~ Total use 8,522 8,870 9,350 Exports 1,241 950 1,100 Ending stocks, % of use 7.8 5.1 10.6 ~ Ending stocks Ending stocks, % of use R~ular loan rate $1.89 426 5.0 859 9.7 $1.89 1,180 $1.89 12.6 Total use Ending stocks. Ending stoCks, % of use 2,381 376 2,264 474 2,385 485 Regular loan rate u.s. season average Farm price,$,tu. $4.92 $6.77 $4.97 $7.30 $4.97 :i: $6.40 ~ " c: T he abundant number of cattle on feed contin- ues to weigh on the market and will continue to do so through summer. Fed prices willdrop into 15.8 20.9 20.3 <{ III U.S. seasolt average Regular loan rate $2.58 $2.58 $2.58 0 the mid S60s this summer before recovering to the '" high S60s by late fall.As we go into 1998, we will :;) farm price,Slbu. $3.24 $2.70 $2.55 u.s. se.son average ~:; Farm price,Slbu. $4.50 $4.20 53.75 ~ Continued on page 7 ,. ... Apri/15, 1997 ~fift:{r~ B.;;;;:.~: .::: ..... ...}' .' i.S :::I.;I.+ ::.:; s:s::. ,",: '.'.'.'-'., .;:~: ', :: ..: :::::-.- : ;: S.;~:I .. :~.r.;:....•; ' -' ,1: :: .•.. , '1:: ::1-':8"'S:: ".', . Change in net wonh is another measure of progress in a farm business. Based on the market all hope for better weather this year! Data source. Fxh group is the average of a few , '" ; ,': ' : ,.} :.i':::'::", ;. ""'.:: ~ :: :.. " ::;,. .." ;i::;:""'-'~: :;":: ;.. ,:;: - ....................... ' ,.-.-".' :; :.1' value balance sheets for 1996, the dairy, grain and farms that pnxessed their year end analysis with Michigm by Sherf/II Nott, Dept. of Agf/cultural EconomICs,MIChigan State University . hog farms had an average change in net worth of State University Extension agents. In 1996, the average Michigan farm profits in 1996 $32,200, S28,500 and S92,300, respectively. dairy data was for 53 f.ums from southern and western • low that taXes are fIled and financial results for the dairy, grain and hog farms, respectively, in Net farm income, percent return on assets, Michigm. The low and l)igh grou~ ern 1m 13farms. • 'ummarized for 1996, it's time to calculate 1996. The adjusted amount is divided by the aver- and change in net worth are all ways to measure The average grain data was for?9 f.ums. The low and high profit measures. The tables below show what groups age farm assets to get the percent return. your farm's performance for the year. Calculate one grou~ each had 7 f.ums. The average hog data was for 13 of early reponing dairy, grain and hog farms achieved Table 1 shows profits were down on dairy and or all of them for your farm in 1996. Think about f.ums. The low and high grou~ ern had 7 farms. 1995 last year, along with how they compared to 1995. Use crops farms in 1996 compared to 1995. Weather how you compare to your competitors. Then data came from "Michigm Farm I}.ua}nc;e, New Direaions them to compare with your own farm results. and prices are alleged to have much to do with the spend some management time setting goals and for 1995"by Non and Hepp in 1996. The Universityof Table 1 shows two ways to measure farm prof- drop in profits. The weather impacted crop yields, tactics that will help you to do better in 1997. We'll Minnesota's software was used for the calculation<; .• it: 1) dollars of net farm income, and 2) percent which in turn affected sales. return on farm assets. Net farm income includes all Table 2 shows how crop yields and related cash farm income plus (or minus) inventory chang- inventories compared in 1996 compared to the es. Deductions are for cash expenses, depreciation previous year. There was a dramatic decrease of and interest paid. Nothing is taken out for operator crop yields in 1996 for the farms in this sample. and unpaid family labor. The inventory changes in Table 2 are only for crop To calculate percent return to assets, any cash and feed inventories on the different farms. They are a interest is added back to net farm income. Then an combination of price and quantity differences. These opponunity cost for unpaid labor is subtracted. inventory reductions were subtracted in calculating the These unpaid labor rewards for the 1996 average net farm incomes in Table 1. They help measure the lines in Table 1 were $57,700, $29,900, and $41,300 impact of a poor growing season on farm profitability. $-37,100 Market Outlook $64,100 $192,000 Continued from page 6 has been holding steady. Since the Basic Formula -3.4 % once again see $70 fed cattle. Returns will depend Price is constructed by the market conditions for farm 5.6 % on feed prices. Because feed stocks are relatively level milk in WISConsinand Minnesota, and adjusted 11.1 % tight, we could see a significant increase in feed for changes in manufactured dairy product prices, prices if the growing season turns poor in the Corn steady production and prices mean little change in Low net income 6,600 Belt. Consider having a good ponion of your sum- the March BFP. Avera e net income $99,900 $83,800 mer feed needs priced soon. Clearly, production trends in the next two High net income $206,700 Itl~~[ri'~'!!li:~*I!_ months will help indicate the direction that Average return on assets 15.6 % 9.7% dairy prices will take. The rapid recovery of milk Larry G. Hamm production in the West appears to assure that ~e dairy markets have settled into a quiet this summer's milk prices will not run up to the • phase in anticipation of more clear-cut trends levels that the industry experienced in 1996. in dairy production in the months ahead. Dairy However, prices can go higher if milk produc- products have been trading in a narrow range. The tion does not recover in the traditional northern Corn silage yield per acre 10.4 15.9 result will be that the March Basic Formula Price tier dairy region. These current stable dairy Hay yield per acre 3.9 4.6 (BFP) will show little change. markets are holding in anticipation of a clear Inventory change, crops $-8,600 $14,900 The dairy product markets have been trading indication as to which way total milk production in a very narrow range. The wholesale price for will be going for the remainder of 1997. Corn grain yield per acre butter traded on the Chicago Mercantile Ex- Wheat ield er acre change (CME) increased by only 1 cent per Soybean yield per acre pound during the entire month of March. On the Henry Larzelere Inventory change, crops National Cheese Exchange (NCE), barrels of )IIt}fJi99~:rt/:t~.:.:;;\h:::>::::?;\.:::r::.: cheddar cheese have shown weakness through much of March. Because there is a large spread, E ggprices in March averaged about 9 cents a doz- en below March of 1996.1ttd ingredient prices were nearly 6 cents a dozen eggs below last year. Inventory change, crops by historical standards, between the price per New York wholesale prices for Grade A large Hepatitis A outbreak infects schools pound of cheddar sold through barrels versus white eggs in canons are likely to average in the 70s 14 days of exposure. Continued from page 1 those sold through 40-pound blocks, block prices during the April, May,june quarter, with May prices What is Hepatitis A 1 How to prevent Hepatitis A were bound to react. During the last trading day being the lowest of the year, getting into the 60s. Hepatitis A is a highly infectious liver disease To prevent person-ta-person spread, careful in March, 40- pound blocks on the NCE declined Hens and pullets on farms on March 1 were that is relatively mild in children, but can be more hand washing is the single most important means of 1 cent per pound. about 2 percent above a year ago. The production serious in adults, especially those who are elderly or prevention. For close contacts of a case, immune The BFP is constructed by using the change in of eggs was more than 2 percent above last year. have weak immune systems. The disease causes liver globulin shots are recommended to minimize the comJXment values generated from changes in the The egg-type chick hatch in February was 2 inflammation. Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, risk of disease. For long-term protection, a new prices of manufactured dairy products between the percent above February 1996. However, the number abdominal discomfon, vomiting, fever and dark urine. hepatitis A vaccine became available in 1995. months of February and March. The change in the of layer-type eggs in incubators on March 1 was 4 Hepatitis A causes a mild liver infection and can The vaccine, which costs about S40 a dose, is wholesale prices of manufactured dairy products has percent below a year earlier. These figures might be spread by uncooked food and the contaminated made up of killed virus that prompts the body to been relatively insignificant. Milk production in the suggest that there will be a small decline in produc- hands of food handlers. According to Director of the create antibodies of its own. It's given through an Minnesota-WISConsin area continues to be affected by tion by late summer, but the increase in egg prod- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention David injection into the arm, with a booster administered low forage quality and high forage prices. While milk uct uses and expanded export trade will continue to Satcher, the Hepatitis A infection has a 28-day incuba- several months later. Together, they provide lifetime production is increasing fairly rapidly in the West and stimulate the demand side of the egg market and tion period and usually can be combated by a shot of protection. For 90 percent of those who take it, the the Southwest, milk production in the upper Midwest prevent any sizable decline in egg prices .• immune system protein called gamma globulin within vaccine takes about two weeks to become effective .• Young farmers optimistic, innovative Despite concerns about government and facilities, cited by 8.6 percent. Fifth on the list source of agricultural income once the current consultants tied for second, with 42.8 percent. More regulations. profitability and taxes. was urban encroachment on prime farmland (6 farm program expires, 71.7 percent said farm than 40 percent of those surveyed said they use Amerlca.s young farmers are percent). This year's list of other challenges, in income should come totally from the market- futures and options to market their commodities. increasingly optimistic about the future descending order, includes: health care availability place, while 28.3 percent said farm income Nearly a third, 32.2 percent, said they are involved of agriculture and cost, availability of agricultural financing, com- should continue to be supplemented by farm in contract production, and more than a founh, ese young rural professionals are adopting petition from established or larger farms, the will- program payments. 25.4 percent consult, with agricultural marketing! new farming practices, harnessing new ingness of parents to turn over the operation's Environment, economics important for )1e management specialists. ~ technology and employing services that reins, and inadequate rural suppon services. group reponed greater use of conservation and According to the survey, young farmers' use of benefit the environment and their business. Ptvt6dlng property rights stili a priority environmentally beneficial farming practices this global positioning systems and global information Those were among the findings of an informal When asked to select the most important step year. More than 73 percent said they employ conser- services, where satellite technology is used to plot annual survey of young farmers and ranchers, ages government could take to help them and their vation tillage on the farm (69 percent in 1996). field applications, continues to see steep increases 18-35, conducted by the American Farm Bureau farm, 29.7 percent said government should do Nearly 59 percent said they regularly test soil or - 13.6 percent this year, compared to 6.6 percent in Federation, the nation's largest general farm organi- more to protect property rights. Protecting proper- crop tissue prior to nutrient application (46.3 per- 1996 and 3 percent in 1995. More than half (50.8 zation. Overall, the fifth annual survey found that ty rights has ranked first for four consecutive years. cent last year) and 58.3 percent said they practice percent) of those responding said they currently- the future of American agriculture is promising and Federal tax reform was second on this year's crop rotation with three or more crops (49 percent or plan to within the next two years - plant biotech continues to be in able hands. policy wish list with 21.7 percent of the vote. Boost- last year). One-third said they use integrated pest crop varieties. This year's survey of 339 young farmers tracked ing U.S. agricultural exports was third with 14.7 management techniques such as field scouting to Computers. Internet utilized their attitudes and choices on issues ranging from percent. Founh was providing more financial assis- reduce crop protectant use (24 percent in 1996). Overall, young farmers are on the cutting edge government regulations to the use of technology. tance for beginning farmers (11 percent). Balancing Regarding other farming practices, 33 percent when it comes to the use of electronic and communi- According to this year's survey, 28.6 percent the federal budget through spending restraint was said they regularly test their well water, 26 percent use cations technology. Computers are used on the farm of the young farmers said their top challenge was' fifth with 8.3 percent. Sixth was approving meaning- contour farming or strip cropping, 22 percent have by 83.8 percent of those surveyed. Nearly three- government regulations, followed closely by a relat- ful regulatory reform with 6.1 percent. land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program; fourths, 73.2 percent, reponed owning cellular tele- ed topic - overall profitability - selected by 26.2 Other recommendations, in order of pref- 18.8 percent actively manage wetland resources; and phones and 41.9 percent communicate by fax. percent of the respondents. Those two challenges erence, were: continue to support current farm 18 percent leave crop strips unharvested for wildlife. Internet use has exploded since last year. flip-flopped rankings from last year's survey. Over programs, fund re~earch for alternative crops ManItgernent. marteting sharpetled Nearly one-third, 32.2 percent, reponed having the survey's history, regulations have been the top and new uses for traditional commodities, en- This year's survey indicates that young farm- access to the Internet, compared with 10.5 percent concern twice, while overall profitability has topped sure the availability of crop protectants, and a ers employ a number of business management and last year. E-mail is used by 22.7 percent and comput- the list three times. tie between increasing voluntary environmental marketing practices and services to gain a competi- er bulletin board services by 17.1 percent. Home The third biggest challenge this year was tax incentives and developing better risk manage- tive edge. The most commonly used services were satellite reception was reported by 28.9 percent of burdens, selected by 14.9 percent. Founh on this ment programs. marketing information services, used by 49.3 per- respondents (62 percent of those respondents re- year's list of challenges was the availability of land When asked their opinion regarding the cent of respondents. Accounting services and crop poned having small dish technology). ~~ll'l~ April1S, 1997 - - - -- --- - --- - ...-- -- -- -=-- -- Each day we light the way for you your productivity and profitability. and other farmers across the state - We're proud to serve 20,000 farms- providing the power that keeps you in more farms than any other utility in business. But our commitment to you the state - and we're committed to doesn't stop there. helping you succeed every step of the We have a 24-hour, toll:free number way. to .answer your energy service ques- tions. Plus, we've established a dedi- For stray voltage questions cated, toll-free number so we can cal/1-BOO-252-VDLT respond to your questions about stray voltage. And, with 39 Customer For other service questions Service Centers state-wide, we're ca//1-BOO-477-5050 ready to serve you. We're also working with key agricul- tural organizations like Michigan Consumers Energy""> State University Extension and the Michigan FFA on issues that impact Count on Us The Michigan Bison industry: Rich in American history - an alternative for the future T araEndsley cholesterol, and that's a large part of our market he once near-extinct American bison has factor." made a new home on the range in Millie's Grill in Ferndale has been selling numbers and in restaurant and grocery bison meat for nine years. "You wouldn't know store popularity through the help of conservation- the difference. It tastes just like beef," owner ists and producers. Mildred Horan said. Although the bison population was esti- This tiny restaurant with a mere eight mated at 40 million at the time of European stools and three tables is a popular hangout for settlement, those numbers declined to near- bison meat lovers. "We sell more buffalo burgers extinction in the late 1800s. Now with more than regular hamburgers - we're known as the than 2,000 producers registered with the Na- buffalo place," Horan said. tional Bison Association, the number of bison is Both the smell and taste of buffalo burgers, near 200,000. hot roast sandwiches and hoagies keep buffalo The Gladwin-based Michigan Bison Associ- meat connoisseurs at Millie's Grill coming back ation was formed January 1996 and boasts 55 for more. members. Producers are scattered throughout If you would like more information about the state from Grand Rapids to Cheboygan to bison or would like to receive a copy of the Lansing. Michigan Bison Journal, contact the Michigan The Great Lakes Buffalo Company, located Bison Association secretary, Amanda DeShano, in Cheboygan, is one of the largest operations in at 517-426-1412. the state. The 1,000-head farm is owned by four producers: Walt Romanik, Orv Kabat, Bob Pulte For the curious: and Harry Peterson. The following Michigan restaurants offer As with many producers, Harry Peterson's A few of the 1,ODD-headherd roam the 3,OOO-acrerange at Great Lakes Buffalo. This herd is bison entrees bison fascination lies within their rich history. a small portion of the 200,000 bison in the United States. • Audie's Restaurant, Mackinaw City "With the mystique and the connection to the The National and Michigan Bison Associa- • The Brown Trout, Indian River American past - I was hooked immediately," tions are lobbying to have bison, beef, chicken Peterson said . • Family House Restaurant, Cheboygan " and pork inspected under the same standards. Bison at the Great Lakes Buffalo Company The Great Lakes Buffalo Company ships • Maple ValleyRestaurant, St. Helen graze for 24 to 32 months, and spend the last 90 their meat across the country to grocery stores, • Millie's Grill, Ferndale days in a feedlot, where they are fed grain . restaurants and individuals. The National Bison Although Bison are native to North Ameri- Association estimates that 15,000 bison are • Mr. Mike's Restaurant, Detroit ca, the meat is considered exotic. Unlike the slaughtered annually, yielding 7.5 million • The Old Depot, Johannesburg beef, chicken or pork industries, the bison in- pounds of meat. • One Water Street, Boyne City dustry pays for inspection of the meat. ''Allof Brenda Sangster, of Great Lakes Buffalo, our meat is USDA inspected. Since it is treated explained the growing trend toward bison meat. • Perry, Petoskey A cow and her calf spend a lazy summer day as exotic, we're paying S60 to no per animal to "I think a lot of people are becoming more • Pier, Harbor Springs. grazing the land of Great Lakes Buffalo. have our meat inspected," Peterson said . health conscious," she said. "It's low in fat and • Member Vision Care Plan from Michigan Farm Bureau The Importance of Eyecare N uVision was founded on the principle that great eyewear starts with professional eyecare. That's why you'll find an independent licensed Doctor of Optometry in every NuVision office. Comprehensive eye examinations and contact lens fittings are easily arranged. Simply call ahead for an appointment. Once your eyes have been examined by a Doctor of Optometry at NuVision, your vision records will be maintained on file for your convenience. We invite you to compare our service. You'll find that what others call special care, NuVision provides as standard procedure. Family Plan Benefits: • 20% to 50% off frames • 20% off lenses and lens treatments • 10% off contact lenses • I 5% off non-prescription items • FREE UV protection on plastic lenses -~ • _ MICHIGAN Don-t forget to use your Farm Bureau VISA at NuVlslon Optical centers nationwide. Don-r forget Member Dental or Blue Cross Blue ShIeld for more health care savings. Where Belonging Makes a DiBeren(e. • _. FARM BIJREAIJ ~~~ April1S, 1997 1 ... 11=. ::~ _::_:~ d.. ~e'.::.:./:.: "~fI' .t~.~,/ ....//"-::U.{"./ ..::.i"U ../ g:....:: rnd. p,..:.... ...... .: :: .../,.:W:: I::~"A Federal mismanagement at core of Jim Kells and Karen Renner, MSU Crop and have been changed to Roundup Ultra. bison problem Soil Sciences Command 3ME has been added to the T he National Park Service should exercise more control overYellows(Qne National Park's bur. Yellowstone Park. T he Weed Control Guide for Field Crops preemergence section of the weed guide. Complicating the situation further is the fact (Extension Bulletin E-434) was updated for Command 3ME is a microencapsulated formula- geoning bison population, according to the Ameri. that the policies of two federal agencies are in con. 1997. We have outlined below the major tion of Command that is applied preemergence for can Farm Bureau Federation. Due largely to the flict. The Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant changes in the guide for 1997. grass and broadleaf weed control in soybeans. There Park Service's indifference, the mismanaged, mal- Health Inspection Service has threatened to revoke Corn are buffer wnes required around fields where Com- nourished and disease-ridden Yellowstone bison Montana's brucellosis.free status for cattle if the The special weed problems section now in- mand 3ME is applied. Please see the label for detailed herd has become a source of concern to ranchers in bison share their grazing area. And Interior Secre- cludes only velvedeaf and triazine-resistant lambs- information. Command 3ME can be tank-mixed with Montana and neighboring states. tary Bruce Babbitt has questioned whether the quarters. Control recommendations for perennial other herbiddes such as Dual, Lasso, Canopy, or A large number of the starving qison have bison pose any brucellosis threat to cattle. He has weeds are available in the IPM Fact Sheers, which Lorox. Command 3ME will nm volatilize from soil been killed by Montana officials lately in an at- called for a moratorium on killing the bison until a were revised in December 1996. following a rainfall so vapor drift is nm an issue. How- tempt to control the overpopulation of bison. study determines the risks. A new section for weed control in Sethoxydim ever, direct application of Command 3ME to off-target The migration of bison from Yellowstone Park Montana Gov. Marc Racicot (R) says the Park resistant (SR) corn was also added to the guide. SR vegetation will cause that vegetation to turn white. resulted from the federal government's misman- Service has left state officials no option but to con- corn can be treated postemergence with Poast Plus Use caution when applying Command 3ME near alfal- agement of the park. trol the free-roaming herd. Someone has to take for comrol of annual grasses. Poast Plus should be fa, wheat, and other non-target areas. "There simply isn't enough forage in Yel- responsibility in controlling the bison, Racicot said. applied to actively growing grasses between 2 and 4 Dry Be.ns lowstone National Park to nourish the bison," Farm Bureau agrees. inches in height for best comro!. It is the most ef- Assure II has been added for weed control in said American Farm Bureau Federation Presi- "Aland management plan by the Park Service fective postemergence option in corn for crabgrass dry edible beans. Assure II controls volunteer corn, dent Dean Kleckner. "Montana officials have had would have helped avoid this situation altogether," comro!. Poast Plus can be tank-mixed with Basag- annual grasses, quackgrass, and small grains in dry no choice but to kill the bison. The Park Service Kleckner added. "Montana officials acted correctly ran, atrazine or Laddok for control of broadleaved bean fields. The application rate for Assure II varies left them no alternative." trying to protect the state's cat de and livestock weeds. Nme: SR corn is not tolerant to mher paste- from 5 to l007/acre depending on the target grass Fear of brucellosis in the bison is among the industry." mergence grass herbicides. species. Assure II should be applied with crop oil concerns of ranchers and state officials. The bison "The federal government has not been a very Table IJ - Herbicide: Insecticide Compati- concentrate when applied alone or tank.mixed with pose a threat to livestock and to Montana's brucel- good neighbor," said Dave McClure, president of bility Chart for Conventional and IT Corn sum- Basagran. Do not tank mix Assure II with Pursuit losis-free status. Brucellosis is a virus that causes the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. "They have a marizes the restrictions related to combining because annual grass control will be poor. cows to abort their calves. It also causes undulant pool of infected animals and they are not control. sulfonylurea herbicides and organophosphate Ultima 160 has also been added for postemer- fever in humans. ling them. The federal government feels once the insecticides on corn. The table includes both at gence grass control in dry beans. Nearly 4,000 head of bison roamed Yellow- bison leave the park, it doesn't want anything to do planting and foliar applications of organophos- - Ultima 160 is a different formulation of Poast. stone National Park in early winter. As forage disap- with them. phate insecticides. Ultima 160 controls annual grasses and suppresses peared, the bison were forced to wander from the "Secretary Babbitt strongly supports range- Basis Gold has been added (Q the poste- quackgrass. The label suggesrs adding Dash or a park in search of food. Montana officials, attempting land reform for cattle. We recommend that Mr. Bab- mergence section for control of annual grasses methylated seed oil as adjuYanrs with Ultima 160. to protect cattle from contracting brucellosis, have bitt institute the same rules for grazing in Yellow- and broadleaves. It is a three-way premix of atra- Frontier has been added for weed control in been forced to kill or send to slaughter approxi- stone Park that private and federal-grazing permit- zine, Accem and rimsulfuron (a componem in dry beans. Frontier can be applied preplant incor- mately 1,000 bison. Nearly 1,000 more have died in tees comply with for their cattle." • Basis). Ir should comrol most common annual porated or preemergence for control of annual grasses except crabgrass and most common grasses, yellow nutsedge, redroot pigweed, lambs- broadleaves. Ir is expected (Q give only fair con- quarters, and black nighrshade. Frontier should not trol of cocklebur, jimsonweed, and triazine-resis- be applied to dry beans that are cracking or at the tam lambsquaners. It is labeled for broadcast unifoliate or first trifoliate stage of growth. Frontier application (Q corn up (Q 12 inches or 6 collars. controls weeds under conditions of limited rainfall. Basis Gold can be tank.mixed with Banvel or However, navy and black beans tolerance to Fron- Clarity to strengthen broad leaf comro!. There tier is not as great as tolerance to Dual. Pimo, kid- are insecticide interaction and crop rotation ney, and cranberry bean tolerance to Frontier is restrictions. The following restrictions should good. Therefore, the benefirs of better black night- be followed (Q minimize risk of corn injury: shade control than Dual should be weighed against • Do not treat if nighttime temperatures are below the potential for crop injury (burning of the unifoli- 40° F or daytime temperatures are above 9'fJ F. ates and stunting of the bean planrs) when consid- • Do not treat corn hybrids with a relative maturity ering use of Frontier on navy and black bean variet- (RM) rating of less than 88 days. ies. There are some differences in dry bean variety • Risk of injury is greater following several days of response within the navy and black bean classes of cool, cloudy conditions dry beans bur information is still sparce in this area . • Risk of injury increases with corn height. Potatoes Touchdown was added to the burndown Ultima 160 has been added for postemer- tables for corn and soybeans. Ir comains the same gence control of annual grasses and suppression active herbicide as Roundup Ultra but is formulat- of quackgrass in pmatoes. Ultima 160 is a differ. ed as a differem salt. ent formulation of Poast. The Ultima 160 label Touchdown is labeled for burndown prior to suggests adding either Dash or a methylated plaming corn or soybeans only. It is NOT labeled for seed oil as the adjuvant. Roundup Ready Soybeans. Non.ionic surfactant Matrix has been registered for preemer- must be added with Touchdown. Ammonium Sul- gence and postemergence grass and broadleaf fate (AMS) at 171bs/l00 gal of water often improves weed control in potatoes. Matrix effectively con. comrol of both Touchdown and Roundup Ultra. troIs many grasses, including barnyardgrass and Survival of family farm dependent on Touchdown application rate should be Roundup Ultra rate 72. Availability ofTouchdown will be ex. foxtails, and controls some broadleaf weeds including redroot pigweed and mustard. When meaningful tax reform tremely limited in 1997. Two new producrs were added (Q the premix table for corn: Fultime and Headline. Matrix is applied to emerged weeds a non ionic surfactant must be added. SuprbHts T he heavy burden of estate and capital gains taxes threatens the future of the family farm, the American Farm Bureau Federation told the paid income taxes on their earnings. It is wrong to tax those earnings again at death." The federal government reaps little revenue Fultime is a premix of Topnotch and atrazine. Assure II has been added for volunteer com, annu- House Ways and Means Committee. from estate taxes, said Kruse. Estate taxes generated Headline is a co-pack of Laddok and Poast Plus. al grass, quackgrass, and small grain control in su~. With nearly half of America's farmers and just $17.2 billion (out of $1.4 trillion collected) in Hornet is a premix of Broadstrike and Stinger that The application rate changes from 5 to 1(X)zfacrede- ranchers nearing retirement, American agriculture fiscal 1996, according to the Office of Management was sold in 1996 under the trade name Broadstrike pending on the target grass species. Assure IIem be tank. is fast approaching a transformation. Unless estate and Budget Estate taxes produced only 1 percent Plus. It is labeled preplant incorporated, preemer- mixed with Betamix but no crop oil concentrate should and capital gains tax reform is produced soon, the of federal receiprs that year. gence and postemergence. be added. Therefore the control of grasses by Assure II survival of thousands of family farms could be en- Capital gains taxes, added Kruse, are just as Soybeans when tank-mixed with Betamix is less than if Assure II \VclS dangered. burdensome on farmers and ranchers. Farm Bu. The special weed problems section in soybeans applied alone with crop oil concentrate. "Farmers and ranchers work long, hard hours reau, while seeking the repeal of the capital gains was deleted as there are numerous herbicide options UpBeet was added for postemergence broad- over a lifetime to build their businesses," said tax, supports cutting the rate to a maximum of 15 for the comrol of velvetleaf, cocklebur, and nutsedge leaf weed control in sugarbeers. Charles Kruse, a member of the American Farm percent. Currently, the United States' 28 percent in soybeans. The no-till section now includes tables for UpBeet applied postemergence controls Bureau Federation board of directors and president capital gains tax rate is one of the highest among burndown in no-till fields and a special section for emerged velvetleaf. When applied alone, UpBeet of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. "Often, industrialized countries. comrol of marestail in no-till soybeans. Preemergence should always be applied with a nonionic surfactant farm heirs must sell business assers to pay estate "Capital gains taxes result in the double taxa- and pastemergence herbicide recommendations are When UpBeet is tank-mixed with Betamix, control taxes. When taxes drain capital from a farm busi. tion of income from capital assets," Kruse said. "I the same as in convemional tillage soybeans. of smartweed, wild buckwheat, and foxtails is im- ness, the profit.making ability of the farm is de. don't know any farmers who have bought farmland, Salute (premixture of Treflan plus Sencor) and proved compared to Betamix alone. When sugar- stroyed and the farm business dies." buildings, equipment or livestock with untaxed Lorox Plus have been deleted in the weed guide, as beers are small, nonionic surfactant cannm be add- Kruse told the committee that Farm Bureau, dollars. It's wrong to tax earnings twice." they are no longer being manufactured. New pre. ed (Qan UpBeet plus Betamix application. Crop while seeking repeal of federal estate taxes, would Kruse said farmers and ranchers are discour- mLxtures that have been added to the weed guide rotation restrictions for some herbicides have support increasing the exemption to $2 million, up aged from selling land or mher assets because of include Steel (premixture of Pursuit plus Prowl plus changed in 1997. Please consult Table 11 in the from the current $600,000, and halving the current the punitive capital gains tax. Scepter), Manifest (premixture of Galaxy plus Post), weed control guide and/or the herbicide labels. The tax rate for assets over $2 million. This would erase The time has come, said Kruse, for fundamen- and Stellar (premixture of Cobra plus Resource). rotation restriction for planting sugarbeers follow- the burden of estate taxes on thousands of farmers tal reform of the current tax system. "Consideration New herbicide names in the weed guide in- ing Exceed is now 18 months. Basis Gold has been and ranchers. should be given to a new and different taxing sys- clude Prestige (Poast Plus), Status (Blazer), and added to the table. "Farmers and ranchers should be able to save tem that encourages savings, investmem and entre- Pemagon (Prowl). The formulation for Synchrony A copy of E-434 Weed Control Guide for for the future without having to worry about shar- preneurship," Kruse said. "In order for farmers and STS~s the 42 percent OF. There are two formula- Field Crops can be purchased for $6 from your ing the outcome of their efforts with the federal ranchers to continue their high level of productivity, tions of Fromier available in 1997: a 6.OIb and a local county Extension office or from the bulle- government, especially after already paying a life- reform of estate tax and capital gains tax laws is 75lb gallon. Rates for both formulations are refer- tin office at Michigan State University (517) time of income taxes," said Kruse, a corn, wheat, needed without delay. The resulrs will benefit farm- enced in the weed guide. All references to Roundup 355-0240 .• cotton and soybean producer. "Along the way they ers, consumers and the economy .• Apri/15, 1997 Facts about graduated licenses MC/A, Michigan Foundation Seed A long standing Farm Bureau policy called for the adoption of graduated licenses for • road driving with an instructor. Pass a vision test and meet health standards Association merge young people who need more experience on Mich- igan roadways. Mter passing the Michigan legisla- • set by the Secretary of State. Obtain written approval from a parent or legal A ll but the final paperwork is completed on the merger of the Michigan Crop Improve- ment Association (MCIA) and the Michigan Founda- founded in 1938, which in turn grows that seed for certified seed to be sold to farmers for planting. ture, the new graduated licensing for young drivers guardian to obtain a Level 1 license. Both organizations operate on a non-profit went into effect on April 1, here are some of the To obtain a Level 2 license, teens must: tion Seed Association (MFSA), which are dedicated basis and are funded by growers who are members major questions answered by the Secretary of • Be at least age 16. to providing top quality field crop seed to farmers. of each or both organizations. State's office about our new system for licensing • Successfully complete six months of practice Randy Judd, MCIAmanager, says the move has Judd says that the combined operations will young drivers: driving at Levell. been considered by the directors of both associa- mean better and new services for the association • Complete segment two of a driver education tions for several years. members and other customers, and the ability to Graduated Ucensing Questions and Answers course approved by the Michigan Department "The decision was made during the respective respond more quickly to crop production trends. of Education. annual membership meetings this winter," Judd says. fur instance, oat production acreage in Michigan Q. What is graduated licensing? • Have no convictions/civil infractions, license 'The reason is to improve efficiency and reduce over- has been declining the past decade while demands for A. Graduated licensing is a step-by-step process suspensions or crashes during the 90-day head, which we think can be done quite easily since MCIAquality conuul services to growers who are pro- for issuing driver licenses to young people. It period immediately prior to applying for a both o~tions serve the same clientele." ducingspecial crops have increased,Judd relates. is designed to help young drivers gain the Level 2 license. There will be no reduction in employee num- "We have talked with our membership, Michi- knowledge and skills they need to drive a • Complete a minimum of 50 hours of behind- bers, the names of both organizations and their gan State University agronomists and officials at the motor vehicle safely. the-wheel practice driving, including 10 hours respective functions will be unchanged, and Judd Michigan Department of Agriculture, which gives us This is accomplished by gradually increasing of nighttime dri'ving, that is certified by a par- will oversee both operations. our power to certify seed, and everyone appears to driving privileges as the young driver gains ent or legal guardian. The purpose of the MFSA,which was founded think the merger is a good idea," Judd says. "We are experience behind the wheel. While graduat- • Pass a road test conducted by an independent in 1949, is to increase or grow out new seed (foun- looking at this as an exciting opportunity to provide ed licensing is a relatively new method of road testing agency approved by the Secretary dation seed) varieties that have been developed by better leadership and better and more efficient licensing young drivers, it has been intro- of State. universities, then turn that seed over to the MCIA, membership services.". duced in some states, including California, To obtain _ Level 3 license, teens must: Florida, New York and Wisconsin. The goal of graduated licensing is to reduce crashes, seri- • • Be at least age 17. Hold a Level 2 license for six months. MFB applauds Supreme Court's ous injuries, and traffic-related fatalities involv- • Complete 12 consecutive months of driving "common sense" decision on ing new, young drivers. without a moving violation, an at-fault crash that resulted in a moving violation, a license Endangered Species Act Q. Why do we need graduated licensing? suspension or a violation of the graduated A. Evidence shows that young, inexperienced drivers pose serious safety threats not just license restrictions. l1ic graduated licensing program ends for all young C ommon sense has been restored to the feder- al Endangered Species Act (ESA) thanks to the Supreme Court's unanimous decision that farmers Associate Justice Antonin Scalia agreed. "The lower court erred in concluding that (farmers and ranchers) lacked standing under the wne-of.inter- to themselves, but to other drivers who drivers when they reach age 18. and ranchers have legal standing to challenge ac- est test to bring their claims under the ESXs citizen- share the road. Statistics show teen drivers tions under the Act, the American Farm Bureau suit provision," Scalia said in Bennett v. Spear. are over represented in at-fault crashes and Q. Who has to take a road test? Federation said today. The Court decision over- The agricultural community had much at stake fatal crashes. Young drivers lack experience A. Anyone age 16 or older who obtains an origi- turned a 1995 opinion that said farmers and ranch- on the Court's decision. and are often prone to risk taking behavior. nal driver license on or before March 31,1997, ers do not fall under the "wne of interest" of the "If the Court hadn't reached this decision, The restrictions in place at each level of and has not held a driver education certificate ESA,and had no legal standing to challenge over- farmers and ranchers would have had no protection licensing are intended to help young driv- for more than one year, will not need to take a zealous implementation of the Act. from overzealous regulations under the Endan- ers develop safe driving habits, while allow- road test. Any person who is age 16 or older "This is a very significant win for farmers and gered Species Act," Kleckner said. "This restores the ing them to gain knowledge, skills and who applies for an original driver license after ranchers across the United States," said American necessary checks and balances over government experience. March 31,1997, must take a road test. This Farm Bureau Federation President Dean Kleckner. regulations under the ESA. includes anyone who has completed driver "It reinforces their right to protect their interests "This decision sends a clear message to gov- Q. When does graduated licensing go into effect? education on or before March 31,1997. from being trampled under the ESA." ernment agencies that they must respect the prop- A. Public Act 387 took effect on April 1, 1997. The American Farm Bureau Federation, along erty rights of farmers and ranchers when they im- Q. Are there other restrictions when driving with with the Oregon, California, Texas and Idaho Farm plement Endangered Species Act provisions." Q. Who will be affected by the new graduated a Levell, Level 2 or Level 3 license? Bureaus, argued in a friend of the court brief that The Court recognized that environmental laws licensing law? A .Teens and their parents. . A. ' Yes. Levell allows a young driver to operate a farmers and ranchers are regulated and economical- ly impacted by the ESA.And because their property may impose limits on the scope of governmental regulation, and it provides property owners with Teens who begin a driver education course after motor vehicle only when accompanied by houses so many listed species, farmers and ranchers judicial avenues of relief from overregulation. March 31,1997, will be subject to the new grad- either a licensed parent or licensed legal are reasonable candidates to monitor the govern. "This levels the playing field once again with re- uated licensing requirements. Any teen who has guardian, or a licensed driver over age 21 who ment's compliance with the Act. spect to accountability under the ESA,"Kleckner said .• started a driver education course on or before has been designated by the parent or legal March 31,1997, will not be subject to graduated guardian. licensing. However, everyone applying for an Level 2 allows teens to drive without supervi- Cloned gene may benefit cattle feeders original license after March 31,1997, will be required to take a road test. sion except from midnight to 5 a.m .. Driving is only permitted from midnight to 5 C ompanies that manufacture lactic acid for food and industrial uses would like to find a way to make greater amounts of the acid while cut- ble up more glucose from the grain than they need and, in turn, spew out an abundance of lactic acid. The animals can develop lactic acidosis-a giant a.m. if driving to and from employment or if Q. ting production costs. But cattle feedlot managers stomachache. How will parents be affected by graduated driving with a parent, legal guardian or desig- licensing? would like to find a way to reduce the lactic acid Sometimes life-threatening, lactic acidosis nated licensed driver over the age of 21. A. that's naturally produced in cattle's stomachs, be- inhibits animals' weight gain and can lead to liver Before a young driver can obtain driving privi- • Level 3 offers full driving privileges with no leges at Levell, written approval from a par- cause it means big headaches for them-and big abscesses and other abnormalities. The result: loss- restrictions. ent or legal guardian is required. stomachaches for the cattle. es of up to SIOO million annually for the U.S. cattle Lactic add is produced naturally by the bacterium feeding industry. A parent or legal guardian must certify that Q. Does the graduated license replace Michigan's Streptococcus bovis with help from an enzyme called At the other end of the spectrum, commercial the young driver has accumulated at least 50 probationary system for new drivers? lactate dehydrogenase. The Agricultural Research Ser- manufacturers of lactic acid also could benefit from hours of behind-the-wheel experience before A. No. In fact, graduated licensing complements advancing to Level 2. vice (ARS) scientists have isolated the gene that's reo manipulation of the lactate hydrogenase gene. the probationary program to create a stronger The young driver's parent, legal guardian, or sponsible for production of the crucial enzyme. To produce more lactic acid where it's wanted-- program. Probation begins whenever a new responsible adult will be given an information Armed with that information, the scientists for the manufaCture of industrial products such as bier driver receives an original license. Probation packet that contains a Log Book to record could someday genetically manipulate S. bovis to degradable plastic-the ARSscientists hope to trans- lasts for three years and until the driver has behind-the-wheel experience. produce less lactic acid in cattle. form microbial species other than S. bovis to make been violation and crash-free for the last 10 Under the graduated licensing program and When cattle switch from a high-forage diet to more lactic add. They've already genetically engineered months of the probation period. until the young driver reaches age 18, a parent a grain-rich finishing ration, millions of S. bovis in multiple working copies of the lactate deh~nase In addition to the requirements estab- or guardian will be sent information by the the cattle's rumen-a stomach compartment-gob- gene into the bacterium Escherichia coli.• lished by the graduated driver license pro- Secretary of State about any violation of the gram, drivers are also subject to the proba- graduated license law received by the young tionary license requirements. Both pro- Oliver 1555, fourth in Series -It isn't too late!!! driver. Q. How will driver education differ under gradu- grams may result in an extension of proba- tion or delayed advancement to the next licensing level. M ichigan FFACollector Tractors have a limited supply and can only be purchased at Michi- gan Quality Stores. Quality Stores, in partnership with tion series of FFA tractors for five years with all the profits going to benefit the Michigan FFA Association. The funds raised help support and ated licensing? ER1l Toy Company, have made available the Oliver develop young leaders for the future through A. The curriculum will be developed by the Q. Where and when can I enroll in driver educa- 1555 for 1996. leadership conferences, state FFA conventions, Michigan Department of Education and con- tion? This model was produced from 1969 to 1975. and helping to ensure that FFA activities contin- sist of two segments. Segment one must be A. Driver education requirements are established They were powered by a 232 cubic inch, six cylinder ue to be available. completed before obtaining a Level 1 license by the Michigan Department of Education. For diesel gas engine, guaranteed by Oliver to produce Quality Stores is among the largest financial and segment two completed before the Level information on where and when you can en- 53 horsepower at 2200 rpm's. The 1555 collector sponsors of the Michigan FFAwith donations total- 2 license is issued. roll in driver education, contact your high tractor is available in the row crop axle with dual ing over $62,000 .• school principal. narrow front wheels. Q. How many levels of licensing are there and The Oliver Collector Tractor comes with spe- , what do they require? Q. What fees will be charged for a graduated cial FFAdesignations and a certificate of authentici- A. There are three licensing levels under the license and road test? ty. It retails for $34.99 and is available from your graduated license law. Here is what they re- A. Driver license fees remain unchanged. The Quality or County Post Store. quire: S12 fee for an operator's license will be col- Earlier collector tractors in this series include To obtain _ IAvel' license, teens must: lected at Level 2. the Farmal1350, Masey-Harris 44 Special, and the Ford • Be at least age 14 years, 9 months. A separate fee will be charged for the road 8N. The Oliver 1555 is the 4th in the collector series. Complete segment one of a driver education test. The amount of this fee will be deter- In a successful campaign to raise funds to course approved by the Michigan Department mined by the independent agency conducting support the FFA, Quality Stores and ERTL Toy of Education, including six hours of on-the- the test.. Company agreed to manufacture a limited edi. .- • :-ci: 1~'~I~~I~'I:trm April 15, 1997 FB calls for increase in ag Honeybee may be headed for a comeback research dollars A ll is not lost in the battle to save the honey- bee, the champion crop pollinator that is There is fear that mites will build up resistance to the menthol and the Apistan. The Environmental Pro- F arm Bureau has told the Senate Agriculture Committee it strongly suppons funding for standing that a significant ponion of those funds would be reinvested in programs that could give us under siege from two varieties of mites in 49 states. Two methods of controlling the mites are showing some success and the federal government is work- tection Agency is looking at formic add, an anti-mite treatment approved for use in Canada. Formic acid is an irritant found in ants, spiders and nettles. It cannOt agricultural research programs so farmers can main- a better chance to be competitive in an increasingly tain their competitive advantage in world markets competitive global agricultural economy." ing on a third. be used when the hive is producing honey, usually and respond to the growing needs of consumers. Warfield added that research is also vital to Ken Saylor, in northeast Tennessee, avoided from May to June. There are concerns that formic Ron Warfield, president of the Illinois Farm farmers as both the world population and consum- the catastrophe that has struck many of his fellow acid could contaminate the honey. Bureau and a member of the American Farm Bu- ers' concerns about environmental, food safety and beekeepers. He began treating his hives in 1992 Kim Kaplan, a spokeswoman for the federal reau Federation board of directors, testified at a nutritional issues continue to grow. with menthol pellets. The bees inhale the fumes Agricultural Research Service in Greenbelt, Md., says hearing concerning reauthorization of agricultural Warfield srressed Farm Bureau's concern with and the tracheal mites are killed. the mites are in every state except Hawaii. Last year, research programs. Warfield also serves on the improving agriculture Extension programs, saying that Nearby,Joe Stephens, of Afton, uses Apistan Maine lost 80 percem of its wild honeybees. Losses in USDA National Agricultural Research, Extension, while many of the traditional functions of Extension suips to treat his bees for Varma mites. Bees rub against New York and the Midwest were about 60 percent. Education and Economics Advisory Board. are being addressed by the private sector, new de- the strips, killing mites clinging to the bees. Stephens Honeybees are not the only crop pollinators, The Illinois farm leader told the committee mands in agriculture dictate that outreach programs said his bees have had an excellent year so far. but they are the best, according to Troy Fore, execu- that because of reduced government spending on are still useful. He added that the benefits of research Each treatment costs about $12 a year per tive director of the American Beekeeping Federa- agricultural programs, the American farmer is and Extension activities "will accrue not just to agricul- colony, which is about 20,000 to 30,000 bees. When tion in Jessup, Ga. Although bumblebees, butterflies forced to place greater reliance on the markets tural producers, but also to the general public." a hive is producing honey, that swells to about and hummingbirds also pollinate, honeybees are rather than government programs. He said farmers 'i\mericans spend a lower percentage of their 100,000 bees. the most available and manageable .• suppon this change, but that they need the suppon disposable income for food than all other coun- of an active, innovative ag research program if they tries," Warfield said. "This does not happen byacci- WeedCastpredictions save farmers money are to remain competitive in the global market. dent It is a testament to the effectiveness of the "We believe agriculture has already sustained many billions of dollars in cuts to farm programs," research and technology transfer system in the U.S. and the ability of producers to apply the results of C orn farmers in the Morris area of west cen- tral Minnesota see a glimpse of the future tributed by us or a private company," Forcella adds. whenever they click on their computer's mouse The forecasts can be used with other farm Warfield said. "This has been done with the under- that research to benefit all Americans." • or leaf through their local newspaper for weed management aids, such as the WeedSim model forecasts. United Kingdom clears food safety of Nr brand For example: from late April until early July developed by the University of Minnesota in conjunction with ARS. That model advises farm- St corn hybrids 1996, the Morris Sun weekly paper carried ers if and when to use herbicides and mechani- Two United KinbOOm (UK) agricultural advi50rycom- grain products. The ACNFP noted that normal pro- charts showing height predictions for 11 com- cal weed control based on predicted weed dor- • minees have confinned the safetyof processed food cessing procedures would destroy any material from mon weeds. The last forecast for weed seedling mancy, emergence, and speed of growth. prrouctS made from NKbrand Bt com hybrids. the insect resistance gene present in the com grain. emergence made by using weather data from In tests at Morris, Forcella and his col- . Endorsement by the UK is the first step in the The R:x.xi AdvisoryCommiuee (FAC)concluded the Morris area was posted on the Internet on leagues have grown corn and soybeans with European Union (EU) 901220 procedure to obtain that ~pedallabeJing should not be required for prrouctS July 1. It showed from 90- to 100-percent fewer herbicides because predictions reassured impon approval for grain prOduced from NK Bt made from grain prrouced from NKBt com hybrids. sprouting of pigweed and lambsquarters for them that the weed numbers wouldn't harm hybrids. Novanis Seeds' Field Crops division ap- Novanis~, Jnc. is an affiliateofNovanis Seeds farms in the area. The information helped area yields. Their profits were $20 an acre more than plied for food safety clearance in the UK as pan of AG located in Switzerland. Novanis Corporation is the farmers plan their weed control strategies. where standard weed control practices were this process. parent company for all U.S.Novanis operations, includ- "We're working to expand the forecasts used. Occasionally, there were slightly more The Advisory Commiuee on Novel Foods and ing Novanis Seeds, Inc. Novanis Seeds AG is a leading nationwide," says Frank Forcella. He is the ARS weeds, but never enough to affect yields in the Processes (ACNFP) concluded that the products pro- worldwide research organization that develops genetics agronomist who developed the weed forecasting current or following year. cessed from the NK Bt corn were safe for use in food, and value-added prrouctS and procedures, and sells computer model, called Weed Cast, that gener- When combined with information on yield and that food made from the grain of NK Bt corn was corn, soybean, alfalfa,sunflowers, sorghum, sugar beet, ates the predictions. losses from weeds and delayed planting, Weed- no different in composition than conventional corn wheat, vegetable and flower seeds .• "Right now, we just share the model's results Cast predictions help determine the best com- on the Internet or in the local newspaper. We're promise date for seedbed cultivation to substan- Evaluate a'fa'fa surviva' based on p'ant health, working on putting the model itself on the net so tially destroy weeds, instead of using herbicide yield potential farmers everywhere can type in their local weather before planting. data and get predictions for their farms." Forcella has worked closely in develop- H eaving, ice layering, cold temperatures and saturated soil aUmake alfalfa survival difficult in the upper Midwest. Because the crop faces so many square foot, but when densities drop below 39, yields are often significandy reduced. Download the WeedCast software from the World Wide Web at http://www.infolink.morris. ment and implementation of these models with weed scientists and agricultural econo- If prroucers dedde to replace a field, Dam- mn. us/ -Iwink/prod ucts/weedcast. h tm. mists at the University of Minnesota, in cooper- challenges during the winter and spring, Herb Dam- steegr says they can plow and re-seed stands less than "We're also considering adapting the mod- ation with their counterparts in most of the steegt, Novanis Seeds agronomist for WISCOnsin, one year old with little im(Xlct from autotoxicity.Howev- el to user-friendly software that would be dis- Corn Belt states. Minnesota's Agricultural Utili- advises producers to evaluate alfalfa fields each year. er, since decaying alfalfa plants kill new seedlings, growers zation Research Institute also helped fund this Field evaluation is a two-step process. Produc- should rotate older stands to an alternative crop. ers should first determine the field's overall plant Alfalfawinterkill results from a combination of U.S.,EUstil11far apart' research. Frank Forcella is at the USDA-ARS North health, then estimate its yield potential. To assess environmental and management conditions. While on meat inspection Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, plant health, Damsteegt advises growers to dig up heaving and ice suffocation in early spring cause the agreement plants from several locations in a field, split the Morris, MN 56267, phone (320) 589-3411, fax majority of alfalfa stand loss, variety selection, man- crowns and look for healthy, white plant tissue. If there are less than five viable plants per square foot, agement and age all playa key role in a stand's abili- ty to survive. The crowns on some alfalfa varieties T he United States and European Union are expected to continue meetings in an at- (320) 589-3787, e-mail fforcella@mail.mrsars.usda.gov .• tempt to come to agreement on meat inspec- he advises producers to replant the field. grow lower in the soil, making them less susceptible tion "equivalency" standards, which will allow Lean, mean fighting To complete the evaluation, Damsteegt rec- to heaving damage. As a result, producers in nonh- U.S. meat and meat products to continue to be ommends growers use stem density as a guide to ern regions should select wimer-hardy alfalfa variet- shipped to the EU, according to Agriculture machine needs fat yield. Growers should count the number of stems ies. Harvest management also impacts alfalfa surviv- Wanted: High-energy beef sticks to Department officials. in a square foot in several locations. Yield is rarely al as a poorly timed fall cutting can reduce the sustain u.s. military troops during "There's not much reason for optimism at the limited when stem counts exceed 55 stems per plant's winter food reserves .• times of high physical stress. moment. We're still far apan," said Paul Drazek, United Farm Workers may sue growers USDXs top trade negotiator. EU nations plan to implement new inspection A low-fat diet is normally recommended for healthy eating. But when military personnel T he United Farm Workers are threatening to sue three nonhern California strawberry growers 12environmental groUpi, ischaIging that growers don't provide field warnings of exposure to caplan, a fungicide, guidelines that they say are better than U.S. stan- dards. The U.S. disagrees, saying its meat inspection are in combat or other situations where physical demands are enormous, they need the extra nutri- to "win new protections against exposure to a sus- under provisions of the state's Proposition 65, the Safe rules are just as safe as the EU's. tional energy that a high-fat snack can provide. An pected cancer-causing pesticide banned on dozens Drinking ~ter and ToxicSullstances Act. The stale law "There are a number of different ideal snack for this purpose would have 40 per- of other crops," according to a story in the San says buc;inessesmust warn if they expa;e people to can- things ...that they continue to insist we comply cent fat, 30 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent Francisco E\'aminer. cer-cIusing chemicals at unsafe levels.Residents must with that would make it economically impossible protein and 5 percent moisture. The only prob- The United Farm Workers filed a notice of give district attorneys and the anomey general 60 days to for us to expon (to the EU), which may be the lem: The high temperatures needed to make such intent to sue Gargiulo Inc., Scurich Brothers and filebefore they sue. In addition, AFL-CIOPresidentJohn objective," Drazek said .• a product would melt the fat out of it. Garrett Farms under an anti-toxics law if the Santa Sweeney sent a letter to Carol Browner, administrator of Scientists with USDXs Agricultural Research Cruz County district attorney or the attorney gener- the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, asking for a Service (ARS) have discovered that adding fiber al doesn't do so within 60 days. longer waiting period before worker.; are allowed to enter Pork checkoff use from the insides of peas helps meat retain almost The UfW, oocked by the AFL-CIOand a cooJition of a captan-treated field. questioned all of its fat during heating without affecting flavor. Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference May 20 and 21,1997 • Grand Wayne Center. Fort Wayne, Indiana Q uestions recently arose concerning the Na- tional Pork Producers Council's alleged use of producer checkoff dollars to fund research to Fat isn't always stable in foods. It naturally breaks down over time, and cooking or refrigera- tion can speed up the process. When fat degrades Sponsored by: Ohio State University - Michigan State University - Purdue University monitor activities of activist groups, a charge NPPC in low-fat foods, flavor fades. The ARS scientists A free pre-conference dairy management symposium will be sponsored by PROTIVA, a unit of the Monsanto Company, at the Hilton Location: Grand Wayne Center 120 Westjefferson Boulevard denies. The Agriculture Depanment said producer funds were not used in the study in question, but that it continues to investigate other reports on will evaluate pea fiber's potential as an ingredient in low-fat meat products, where any loss of fat during cooking can be detrimental. Hotel prior to the Tri.State Dairy Nutrition Con- Fon Wayne, Indiana 46802 activists by a Washington-based firm-paid for with The ARS researchers have tested the fat- ference. A welcome reception will be held in the Phone: (219) 426-4100. FAX:(219) 420-9080 S51,300 in checkoff monies-to determine whether holding potential of several plant -based binders p.m. of May 19, with a program running from Registration Fee: they were proper. including soy fiber, rice and sunflower meal. Of all 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 on the morning of May 20. noo per person. Deadline: May 2, 1997. Checkoff funds may only be used to fund pro- the additives, only pea fiber retained essentially all For more information about the symposium, Information: motion, research and consumer information projects. of the fat. Pea fiber also improved cooking yields contact PROTNA Northeast Regional Office at For more information about the conference, NPPC said the repons in question were "pan of ground beef. Next, the scientists will help the 1-800-455-5965. contact: Dr. Herbert Buchlotz, (517) 355-8437, of a program NPPC has utilized since May 1996 to military find the right combination of pea fiber, Objectives of conference: Michigan State University; Dr. Maurice Eastridge, strategically monitor environmental, animal rights, starch and fat for maximum nutrition in their meat Disseminate current information on the feeding of (614) 688-3059 or Ms. Cheryl Hall, (614) 688- industry structure and food safety issues .... They are sticks. They'll also take a look at how well the dairycau.le primarily to individuals who provide 3143, The Ohio State University; or Dr. Timothy issues that are likely to have an impact on the way formula holds up under extrusion machines need- nutritional advice to dairy farmers. Johnson, (219) 481-6316, Purdue University .• pork producers do business in the future." • ed to make the snacks .• - USMEF takes stock in Taiwan tragedy he u.s. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) T took stock as the full impact of a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Taiwan began to emerge. According to USMEF Japanese Pork Imports by origin (metric tons) President and CEO Philip M. Seng, the FMD outbreak in Taiwan is a tragic reminder for all °/0 of Import Market countries about the importance of animal health 41°/0 in international trade . Seng explained that the Council for Agri- . . 22°/~. culture in Taiwan suspended all exports of pork 18°/0 and breeding pigs from that country on Thurs- 6°1o day, March 20. The pork industry in Taiwan gen- erates $3.24 billion in annual revenues and ex- 5°1o ports approximately 30 percent of its annual 8% pork production. As of Friday, March 21, the Total 580,628 100°/0 653,164 100°/0 outbreak had spread to 20 farms, infecting 3,000 hogs in 210 of Taiwan's 23 counties. "The FMD outbreak in Taiwan makes us all Source: Japan Ministry of Finance Compiled By: Meat Export Federation appreciate how important it is for the meat and livestock industries in the United States to up- hold the highest standards in animal health and 77,231 metric tons. The U.S. industry's com- year," said Seng. "It's too early (0 predict how programs, the USMEF contracts with the na- food safety," said Seng. "We are very fortunate petition for frozen pork sales in Japan will the market will respond and how Japanese tional Cattlemen's Beef Association and the to be able to speak out with confidence about now come principally from Denmark, with consumers will react-250,000 to 300,000 met- National Pork Producers Council. USMEF also the safety of U.S. red meat products in interna- growing interest in pork from Canada and the ric tons is a lot of pork; price will be an impor- receives funding and support from the USDA, tional markets. Animal health is a vital part of Republic of Korea. tant factor." exporting companies, and a number of corn, that food safety message." "Before the FMD outbreak in Taiwan, our The U.S. Meat Export Federation is a na- sorghum and soybean groups. Headquartered While Taiwan has never been on the U.S. export goal for sales of U.S. pork and pork tional trade association responsible for devel- in Denver, USMEF has more than a dozen mar- Department of Agriculture's list of FMD-free variety meats to Japan in 1997 was 224,000 oping international markets for the U.S. red keting offices in foreign countries, including countries, the United States has been certified metric tons, which is a 22% increase over last meat industry. For its beef and pork export offices in Taiwan and Japan .• FMD-free since 1931. The last outbreak of FMD in the United States was eradicated in 1929. As a precautionary measure, the United States does not permit the importation of animals or animal by-products from countries known to have FMD. The United States and Taiwan have been rivals in the lucrative Japanese pork market for much of the past decade. In calendar year 1996, I Roundup mtra. with IransSorb"lechnology. Japan imported 653,164 metric tons of pork. Taiwan's share of this pork import market was 41% compared to 22% for the United States. Other countries that export pork to Japan are noted in the table, at right. According to Seng, the United States in lherels no other herbicide like it. recent years has been chipping away at Tai- Roundup Ultra™herbicide offers something no wan's share of the Japanese market, by promot- ing the superior quality of U.S. fresh chilled other herbicide can claim - TransSorb™ Technology. pork in Japanese supermarkets. Seng pointed It's what gives Roundup Ultra improved uptake, out that the U.S. share of Japan's pork import market in 1994 was 15%, before climbing to allowing quick penetration into the weed. For the 19% in 1995, and then reaching a record high of 22% in 1996. superior weed control you expect from Roundup@in Japan imported 42% of its total pork con- one complete, convenient formulation. sumption in 1996. This compares to 34% and 40% in 1994 and 1995, respectively. As such, Taiwanese pork accounted for 17% of all pork • One- to two-hour consumed in Japan last year. "The U.S. industry is in an excellent posi- rainfastness. tion to fill a significant portion of the void left by Taiwan," said Seng. "The emphasis of our • No surfactants American pork campaign in Japan over the past several years has been on the retail sector where needed. quality and appearance are so important. With- out Taiwan in the market, our export growth in • Less waiti ng after this sector should increase substantially." In CY96, 30% of Taiwan's pork sales to application. Japan were fresh chilled, amounting to 79,636 metric tons. By comparison, 55% of U.S. pork Ask for Roundup Ultra sales to Japan were fresh chilled at with TransSorb Technology. The Taiwan begins pork campaign next generation of Roundup. T aiwan has weekend reopened hog trading at 19 of the nation's 22 wholesale sites follow- ing a mass slaughter of animals suspected of being infected with foot and mouth disease. To highlight the occasion, government officials handed out free box lunches of pig's trotter and noodles. It was so popular they ran out before all who wamed the lunches could be served. "Starting today, don't be afraid, let's eat pork together," said Taichung Taiwan's acting mayor Un lhe Next Generation of Roundup~ Hsueh-cheng, who ate the lunch with a smile . • To further appease the public, shoppers can ask pork vendors (0 produce a certificate showing that-the pork they are buying is not from a diseased animal. The Taiwanese foot and mouth outbreak started with nine breeding herds infected as of March 20 and quickly spread to more than 1,000 of the t'lbumry's 25,000 hog farms by late last week. Government officials said more than 880,000 hogs Always read and follow the label directions. Roundup~ Roundup Ultra'" and TransSorb'" are trademarks of Monsanto Company. will be destroyed to comain the disease. The out- @1997 Monsanto Company. break has forced the cancellation of several con- tracts for feed grains .• MICHIGAN F A R M NEWS April 15. 1997 Conservation buffer initiative launched T ie USDA is launching a multi-year effort known as the National Conservation Buffer Initiative in hopes of encouraging all land- owners to find out more about buffer strip estab- lishment and the incentives available through the ers, cross wind trap strips, alley cropping systems and streambank protection areas. Benefits listed Benefits of buffers include: • trapping sediment, fertilizers, bacterial and viral 1996 Farm Bill. pathogens, chemicals, and heavy metals before The initiative's immediate efforts are focused they reach water on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract • enhancing infiltration in the buffer area holders whose land may not qualify for the March • trapping snow to add moisture to the soil signup but who mayfindbuffer strip establishment • reducing blowing soil in areas with strong winds opens the door for participation in the continuous • protecting livestock and wildlife from harsh CRP option. weather Buffer incentives • serving as a primary food source for wildlife USDA Natural Resource Conservation Ser- • providing habitat and connecting corridors of vice (NRCS) Chief Paul Johnson notes that in habitat for wildlife addition to the continuous CRP, incentives are • protecting buildings from wind damage available for buffer strip establishment through • reducing noise and odor the Wildlife Incentives Program (WHIP), the • stabilizing streams and reducing water temperature Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the Environ- • serving as a turn row, and supplying forage or mental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and trees for managed harvest. state and local programs. NRCS started the buffer initiative and is working Buffers described with other public agencies as well as private sector USDA defines a conservation buffer as an area corporations and organizations to promote the adop- or strip of land maintained in permanent vegeta- tion of several million acres of buffers nationwide. The National Conservation Buffer Initiative promises to help landowners gain education tion (grass or trees) to help control pollutants and Landowners should contact their local USDA about buffer strips. manage other environmental problems. Buffer Natural Resources Conservation Service office for strips can be used along streams, onfieldedges, or technical information and options on buffers. within a field. don't meet the new eligibility requirements, an tion of CRP," writes Glickman. He adds, "They can Those wishing to help market the use of buff- "Buffers are most effective if they are planned opportunity to participate in the continuous CRP be accepted automatically if the offers do not ex- ers should contact Max Schnepf for more informa- as part of a comprehensive conservation system sign-up. ceed established rental rates and other eligibility tion, phone (202)720-2889 or FAX (202)720-8520. which could include conservation tillage as well as "If you plan to put some or all of your con- criteria are met." What is the continuous CRP? nutrient management and integrated pest manage- tract acres back into crop production, please con- Continuous CRP sign-up practices can be The continuous CRP provides incentive pay- ment practices," says Johnson. sider leaving small, strategic portions of your cur- approved quickly and do not require submission of ments for people who enroll their environmentally A CRP option rent CRP acres in grassed waterways,filterstrips, a competitive offer in the 15,h sign-up. sensitive land or put their land into the highest During a recent news conference on the final contoured buffer strips, riparian (streamside) buff- Other practices considered as buffers or closely environmental use possible by using it to grow CRP rules, Ag Secretary Dan Glickman pointed to ers,fieldwindbreaks, shelterbelts, or similar prac- associated (which may or may not be eligible for the filter strips, riparian buffers,fieldwind breaks, etc. buffer strips as a way to improve the possibility of tices. Acres devoted to these practices are eligible continuous CRP but may qualify for other programs) It is an ongoing enrollment option and is not de- re-enrolling eligible acres in CRP and, for acres that for enrollment under the continuous sign-up por- include hedgerow plantings, herbaceous wind barri- pendent on any periodic CRP sign-up. m Company "puts the go in grow" Japanese companies pledge to use HACCP-based system to improve meat safety in Japan A St. Johns-based company, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, hopes to revolutionize the fertilizer industry with its alternative to conventional fertilizers - which wefindenhances performance," Wilhm said. The North Central Research Station is Agro- Culture's discovery zone for their products. Located J apanese companies pledged last week at a bina- tional food safety symposium in Tokyo to take U.S. red meat industry well into the next centu- ry," said Seng. "As an industry, we need to come a liquid fertilizer aimed at being efficient and reducing near St. Johns, the 40-acre farm provides the foun- new steps to improve the safety of food products in together and work with our trading partners the amount of fertilizer applications. dation for Agro-Culture's research. Japan. The symposium was organized by the U.S. around the world to identify food safety risks Agro-Culture's pro-germinator fertilizers are "Our research farm is where we are doing Meat Export Federation (USMEF) with USDA and and deal with them before they have a chance to applied at planting alongside the seed, right where scientific replicated experiments to develop our U.S. industry support. become real problems." the plant needs it. The liquid fertilizer combines new products, as well as to refine rates of our exist- More than 200 industry leaders from Japan The companies in Japan that are handling primary nutrients with micronutrients. An advan- ing products," said Wilhm. and the United States took part in the event. Much U.S. meat are becoming more committed to food tage of the liquid fertilizers, particularly in no-till, is The Sure-K liquid potassium fertilizer can be of the discussion revolved around the seven prin- safety, observed Seng. "I was very encouraged to that we can put the fertilizer down by the seed and mixed with other fertilizers to supplement the ciples of "HACCP" and the important role that see that many of Japan's largest importers, retailers they are more that they are more concentrated than grower's needs, explained Wilhm. The foliar fertiliz- these principles play in food safety. HACCP is an and food processing companies were represented conventional fertilizers, therefore reducing the ers were designed to treat nutrient deficiencies that acronym for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control by their top-level executives at the food safety sym- number offillups,according to Agro-Culture Re- appear after planting. Points and is the guiding influence in the U.S. posium last week." search Manager Jerry Wilhm. meat safety and inspection system. One of USMEF's primary goals in 1997, Agro-Culture was established in 1963 by Dou- The High NRG-N fertilizer is 27 percent nitro- glas Cook and has since grown to serve more than Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of the Japa- explained Seng, is to build on the progress that gen and contains additional nutrients. "We supple- 20 states and 200 customers. Their slogan, "Liquid nese companies that attended the symposium said USMEF has made with the Japanese trade and to ment it with additional chlorophyll-building nutri- puts the go in grow," is an attribute to the compa- they now planned to pursue the implementation of reach out to consumers with a strong, credible ents such as sulphur, zinc, iron and magnesium, ny's recent expansion, m HACCP-based systems to improve product safety. In food safety message. "With support from the addition, 52 percent of the companies in attendance Japanese trade—particularly retailers, distribu- said they were more confident in the safety of U.S. tors and food manufacturing companies—the Newton wins 1997 Beef Ambassador Award meat as a result of the information they received U.S. industry will have the foundation it needs B ll Newton, son of Beverly and Dean Newton, Hemlock, Mich., recently received the 1997 Michigan Beef Ambassador Award. Sponsored by the Minn., in October. Contestants will compete for $2,500 in cash awards, and the winner will have the opportunity to travel nationwide promoting the during the symposium. "Our members from the production and packing sectors spoke in great detail about what to be most effective in targeting its food safety messages at Japanese consumers." Key presenters at the food safety sympo- Michigan Beef Industry Commission, Michigan State beef industry. their companies are doing to produce safe sium were Dr. Kunio Morita of Japan's Ministry of University Extension and The American National Cat- The 1997 Michigan Beef Ambassador, Bill meat," said Philip Seng, president and CEO, Health and Welfare, John Reddington of USDA's tleWomen Inc., the Beef Ambassador Program is a Newton, is an eighth-grader at St. Peter Lutheran USMEF. "Then leading companies from Japan's Foreign Agricultural Service, Dr. Phillip Tarr of competition for youth ages 15 to 19. The purpose of School and is involved in a variety of extracurricular transportation, distribution and retail sectors the University of Washington, Merlyn Carlson of the program is to develop knowledgeable spokesper- activities. He is currently vice president of the West- presented information about specific programs the Nebraska Beef Council, Duncan Highmark of sons for the beef industry. Participants are educated sider's 4-H Club and has won numerous awards for they have instituted to protect Japanese con- Purina Mills, Stan Miller of Excel Corporation and on the positive attributes of beef in order to promote animal showmanship. In addition, he also partici- sumers and to further ensure the safety of U.S. Dr. Drussell Cross of the International Meat and its nutritional value, the economic value, product pates on athletic teams and likes outdoor activities. meat as it works its way down the food safety Poultry HACCP Alliance. The program also includ- safety, environmental stewardship and versatility. Newton enjoys his involvement in agriculture and chain to the Japanese consumer." ed Japanese industry spokesmen from the retail, Contestants mustfirstwin at the state level to their family farming operation and is looking to- According to Seng, the E. coli 0157:H7 distribution and transportation sectors. have an opportunity to advance to the National Beef wards a future in beef or swine management. outbreak last year in Japan has focused industry The U.S. Meat Export Federation is a nation- Ambassador Contest. Participants are required to For information regarding the Michigan Beef attention in Japan on food safety and the need al trade association responsible for developing present an illustrated talk on the attributes of beef Ambassador Contest, contact the Michigan Beef to restore consumer confidence in the safety of international markets for the U.S. red meat indus- and prepare a beef recipe. The 1997 National Beef Industry Commission at 2145 University Park, Suite imported meat. Although the cause of the E. coli try. For its beef and pork export programs, US- Ambassador Contest will be held in Rochester, 300, Okemos 48864. m 0157:H7 outbreak was never identified, Seng MEF contracts with the National Cattlemen's Beef noted that Japanese consumers have become Association and the National Pork Producers Management changes for Michigan and more concerned about the safety of many im- Council. USMEF also receives funding and sup- Kentucky Livestock Exchange ported food items, including meat. He added port from USDA, exporting companies and a that none of the cases of E. coli 0157:H7 poi- number of corn, sorghum and soybean groups. ichigan Livestock Exchange (MLE) an- the Coldwater and Archbold markets. Before soning were attributed to imported meat. Headquartered in Denver, USMEF has more than nounces with great pleasure and excite- coming to MLE, he worked for the Producers "Food safety will be a defining issue for the a dozen marketing offices in foreign countries, m ment that Don Frey has accepted managerial duties Livestock Marketing Association in Fort Wayne, of Kentucky Livestock Exchange (KLE) effective May Ind. Don and his wife, Connie, will be relocating 1,1997. Frey will be the general manager of markets to the Kentucky area. Wooster, Ohio, has rejoined the MLE family and Mich., is a farmer-owned cooperative represent- for KLE and will be based out of the Bourbon Stock- Dan Ruth of Archbold, Ohio will be taking will be assisting with cattle buying in the Arch- ing more than 60,000 members in Michigan, yards in Louisville, KY. over managerial responsibilities at the Archbold bold, Ohio area. Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, and is the largest Frey has 31 years of valuable knowledge in and Coldwater markets. Ruth has been with MLE MLE would like to congratulate Don, Dan livestock marketing cooperative in the United cattle marketing, which will help tie the two for the past eight years at the Archbold branch. and Joel on their new positions. These promo- States. The cooperative operates livestock mar- Marketing companies together. Frey began Previous to working for MLE, Ruth was em- tions are a great move for the company and kets throughout the Midwest region and in 1996 working for MLE in 1988 at a branch in Northern ployed with the Lugbill Brothers at the same those individuals as well. marketed in excess of $700 million of livestock Indiana. Currently, he is the manager of both location. Additionally, Joel Rosenberger, of Michigan Livestock Exchange, East Lansing, on behalf of its members, m L u' -- Up To $500 Cash Back To Farm Bureau@Members. As if our powerful Magnum@ ~' engines weren't enough incentive for Farm Bureau tiff. .....:: . members, now there's an extra $300 to $500 in the deal. $500 cash back on '96 and '97 Ram Vans and As a member, you qualify for $300 back on Ram Wagons. That's on top of any other all new 1996 and 1997 5.9L V-8 Magnum Ram national Dodge cash back offer.t All you need 1500 pickups. to do is get a certificate from your state's Farm $500 back on '96 Bureau validating that you've been a member and '97 Ram for at least thirty days. Then stop by your 2500 and 3500 Dodge dealer. Where you'll discover it pays to pickups with a be in the Farm Bureau. 5.9L V-8, trhis cash back offer is valid for members of participating Farm Bureaus, is scheduled to expire 9/?IJ/97, and is subject to change. It may not be used in combination with any Cummins Diesel other Chrysler Corporation certificate program or certain other special programs. Ask •• for restrictions and details. Farm Bureau~ is a registered service mark of the American or V-10. Even Farm Bureau Federation. .......................... America's Truck Stop I!'The New Dodge ::::: :::: " 1~'11[~~1~'1:t'~ April1S, 1997 Sustain agriculture through Environmentally friendly program available to producers raspberry canes Clean Sweep pesticide collection sites . ~~~"~~~,~w~~:'~:rn<$':,~ ~k..W,.t~~>.~~~;i~i~J:9S~,;j t~~~LJ»L~"1 F armers are nOlthe only people who can sus- tain agriculture. We all share in the responsibil- ity of establishing and promoting responsible farm- between 6.0 to 6.8 and a high soil organic content. To maintain healthy and high-yielding Heritage raspberries, simply Cllt the canes in late winter or at your disposal A re those half-empty pesticide containers stacking up? A program coordinated by the I Berrien County John Gruchot, Planning Department 1 1 II Room 104 County Court House ••. ~ ing, from the foods we buy at the grocery store to early spring with a lawnmower. The crop will ripen Michigan Department of Agriculture and seven 811 Port Street 1 the gardens we plant in our yards. The W.K. sometime between lare August and early Septem- counties is offering producers agricultural chemical S1.Joseph, MI 49085 ~ Kellogg-funded Thumb Innovative Communities ber. Other aspects to consider include which direc- disposal facilities. . 616-983-7111/ext8350 fax: 616-982-8611 1 Group looks to sustain agriculture in many different tion the slope (if any) the plant will be placed What started as a one-day pesticide disposal ways. One project looks to sustain agriculture at its (south-facing slopes will speed the fruiting pro- program coordinated by the Michigan Department Ionia County I.,:.!::: Don Lehman, Solid Waste Coordinator very heart: to provide people with the necessary cess), and "frost pockets" (where cold air can col- of Agriculture developed into the establishment of 100 Library Street plants and information. For a limited time, the lect in low areas, thereby damaging the canes.) permanent disposal sites in Berrien, Ionia, Isabella, group will offer Heritage raspberry canes at a dis- Canes will cost 80 cents each. Orders may be Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Oakland and Ottawa counties. Ionia, MI 48846-1691 616-527-5357 fax: 616-527-5312 I,.'::::::::.i: counted price through the Indiana Berry and Plant placed until April 18, 1997, by calling the MSU [x- Each county disposal site will accept outdated Company. tension-Project Office at (517)269-6099. A 50 per- pesticides by appointment only. Before you call, Isabella County In addition to receiving the canes at a reduced cent down payment is required when placing the know the pesticide's trade and common name, the Dawn George, Director price when purchasing through the Thumb Innova- order. Growers will be notified as to when they may expiration date and the estimated weight and vol- Resource Recovery Isabella County I,': tive Communities, individuals can network ideas pick up their canes at the Huron County [xpo Cen- ume. Contact the county MSU Extension office in 4208 E. River Road with other growers, cooperate to purchase addition- your area for more information. M1.Pleasant, MI 48858 l 1 al items at a reduced price, and eventually market ter, where information on how to plant and care for your raspberry canes will be distributed. Canes will Nine safe transport tips for waste 517-773-9631 fax: 517-773-0835 I their products together and form a Thumb Area arrive for planting around April 25, 1997. MSU Ex- agricultural chemicals Kalamazoo County . 1. Unusable fungicides, herbicides and insecticides t,,::~: small Fruit Growers Cooperative. Individuals will be tension liability ceases when canes are picked up. Tom Dewhirst, Coordinator asked to complete a survey after the first year outlin- The Thumb Innovative Communities goals are acceptable at the collection facility. Household Hazardous Waste Program ::..;. ing their successes and/or concerns with the project. include enhancing the community by developing or 2. Keep products in original, sealed and labeled Environmental Health Division containers. Heritage raspberries are the most common, initiating a project that is environmentally sound, 3. Do not mix the contents of unknown or unla- 1301 Lamont Avenue l and the easiest, variety of raspberries grown in socially acceptable and economically feasible. Areas Michigan. Heritage should be raised as a fall-bearing of interest for the Specialty/Niche Group include beled containers. Kalamazoo, MI 49001 616-383-8741 fax: 616-383-8747 !t~!:::::. crop to receive the best production, with spring those that do not fit under the realm of dairy and 4. If portions of an agricultural pesticide are placed in a new container, duplicate the existing label Lapeer County planting in April taking place as soon as the soil can livestock or crops. The group continues to explore l and place it on the new container. Renee Wrublewski, ! be worked. Heritage raspberries prefer well- aquaculture, fqod processing and other potential !1 Lapeer County Recycling Coordinator drained, sandy loam or loam soi~s, with a soil pH projects .• 5. Ensure that containers are not leaking prior to transporting to the collection facility. 255 Clay Street Lapeer, MI 48446 i ! • inspect steel drums for excessive rust, pin- New products help Michigan beef producers holes or deficient seams. 810-667-0452 fax: 810-667-0369 i enhance marketing • over-pack all leaking containers in a clear, Oakland County ! ! 1 hen it comes to convenient, versatile fresh more :ontemporary image, says Hawkins. plastic bag or a rigid, leak-proof container. Mike Czuprenski, Operations Director ! W meat pnxlucts, nothing heats ground beef. Representing about 40 percent of all beef sold by "Many consumers love the taste of roast, bur don't want to be bothered with the cooking and • if a container is at all questionable, over-pack it for safety. SOCCRA 3910 Webster Road i i ! volume, ground beef is by far the largest single meat preparation needed," according to Hawkins. "With 6. Do not transport containers with open tops. Royal Oak, MI 48072-2761 I prexluct marketed today. In fact, a'i hamburgers and this product, a supermarket shopper could take 7. Secure all containers in the vehicle to ensure 810-288-5150 fax: 810-435-0310 1 ! that they cannot slide, tip or spill contents during ! cheeseburgers alone, ground beef represents 75 per- home a pre-cooked roast, open a bag of pre-made ~ransport. Ottawa County i cent of all away-from-home beef eating occasions. salad, microwave some potatoes and have a quick Darwin Baas i But many other beef products aren't as readily meal for the family in no time." 8. Place chemicals in transport vehicle away from County Environmental Health Division i associated with convenience, according to Kathleen Another new beef product in development passengers. 12251 James Street Suite 2000 ! Hawkins, executh'e director for the Michigan Beef will demonstrate that beef is not JUStfor dinner or 9. Toover pack a large container, likea 30- to 55- gallon drum, call the collection facilityfor assistance. I Holland, MI 49424 ! Industry Commission. That's changing tlianks to new beef product dc.:relopment efforts being fund- lunch anymore. A new product tentatirelr called Beefeatas DI is IJrgeting the enormous appetizer Source: Ottawa County Pesticide Collection Facility l_~~61~9~~!~~.~::~~~:~~-5643 ~~~~ __ J ed in pan by ,\Iichigan's beef and dairy producers market, at the same time adding value to curs from through their $ I-per-head checkoff inrestments on the chuck and round. Building animals they markel. Beefeatas are finger foods that are breaded These ne\\' efforts are part of a program that and deep fried. making them ideal for restaurant encourages the derelopment of new product idea.; and innovath'e ways of marketing beef. says Hawk- appetizers. The product is curr~ntly being promot- ed to foodservice chains through product demon- The you want. ins. ~1anyof the efforts il1\'olvc enhancing the \'alue strations. The Lease you need. of beef Cllts that traditionally bring lower prices at "Today's consumer is fascinated with innova- the meat case, such as the chuck and round, turn- tive products that stand out from traditional foods," ing them into products that \\'ould have unique according to Hawkins. "The beef industry must be consumer appeal. creative in its thinking, production and marketing Whether your new farm or commercial building is of pole, timber Roasts, for example, hare sometimes been to offer these kinds of products. Thanks to the in- column, stud, steel or block assigned an "old fashioned" label by con~umers. A \'estmenrs of beef and dairy producers in new prod- consrruction;choose new fIltisserie beef product is being developed that uct development, we're helping make new items will compete with rotisserie chicken in supermar- possible and creating ways of cost-effectively meet- Telmark kets and restaurants, giving the bed roast a new, ing the demands of consumers.". lease financing. Telmark has been leasing equipment for over 30 years. We've been leasing new buildings for that long too? Consider: Increase Yield Potential with ACA@Plus @ • Tax deductibility and accelerated write-offs: Lease A CA Plus can be impregnated on dry or blended into liquid starter payments are income tax deductible over the term of the fertilizers, placed infurrow or on the side at planting, broadcast lease compared to 20-year depreciation of farm buildings pre-plant, or top-dressed on a wide variety of crops to help boost yields. and 39-year depreciation of commercial buildings. 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And call your Telmark representative: Rob Render Luann Kubacki Clem Power Ann Briggs Southwestern MI UP & Northern MI UP & Northern MI Southeastern MI 616-659-8915 906-283-3878 517-345-4734 517-319-8698 Jack Cripe Colin Zehr Jim Mac Kay Nancy Blaauw Northern IN Grand Rapids Area Thumb & East Central MI Thumb & East Central MI 219-894-7362 616-281-9745 517-743-4630 517-862-5192 For more information please contact your local A CA@ dealer or call: Marc Hooper ~ Grower Service Corporation A United Agri Products Company TEIMARKlNc. www.telmark.com Lansin Michi an 517-333-8788 800-451-3322 Discussiion Bovine tuberculosis infects Topic four-county deer herd vine tuberculosis has the widest host range of any species you have TB in, ifyou've got TB in Michigan, Stopping the spread _,1997 of the TBs," he said. "So most mammals, including why should we get cattle from your state?'" Kevin Kirk, Michigan Farm Bureau commodity A monthly resource man, are susceptible." "With the current federal law, with us not specialist, is a member of the TB Core Committee for the Community Since the TB was found in a white-tailed deer finding tuberculosis in our livestock, we will not working to solve the tuberculosis dilemma. He, Action Groups in 1994, Schmitt and others have been busy tracking lose our status," Chaddock said. "If, however, if we along with representatives from MDA, DNR, the of Michigan Farm the disease. "We've been doing surveys trying to find tuberculosis in our livestock, then we are at Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau find out exactly where it is and at what prevalence risk of losing the free status." (MDCH), MSU Extension, hunt clubs and others, rate," he said. Chaddock is quick to point out that while TB- have formed subcommittees to study the situation. What does this mean for agriculture? Coyotes, red foxes, badger, opossum, raccoon free status is not threatened with current legisla- They will recommend solutions to the directors of W hen a hunter bagged a buck on Alpena County hunt club land during the 1994 season, little did he know what his trophy would mean for Michigan's wildlife, agri- and bobcats are among the wildlife tested, "mainly because these animals might feed on a TB-infected carcass or bait pile and become infected them- selves." So far, research has shown the coyote that tion, questions are beginning to surface from for- eign countries that purchase U.S. livestock. "There are discussions out there that if you have bovine tuberculosis in your state - in any species - then, the three state agencies - MDA, DNR and MDCH - by Aug. 1 for consideration and implementation. "The only way you eradicate a disease is to eradicate the host," Kirk said. 'i\nd that means you culture and public health. tested positive in 1996, is a "spillover" host, one should your state still remain a free state?" eliminate all hosts - and that means zero popula- While gutting the deer that November, the that simply carries the disease but does not transmit Public health tion of a deer herd." hunter noticed several pea-sized yellow nodules in it. Therefore, white-tailed deer remain the focus of Besides putting interstate or international "To eliminate a disease in domestic animals on its lungs and on its rib cage. Concerned about this testing. "We will continue monitoring these other shipping of livestock in peril, human health could a farm, we move in and eliminate all those animals," strange finding, he notified the Department of Nat- animals," Schmitt said, "but the deer - that's where be at risk if the disease continues to spread. he continued. "Deer don't stand in one township or ural Resources. The cause of the odd lesions, they action needs to be taken." "Currently, of course, the risk is very low as far stand on one piece of acreage and say, 'Come take found, was bovine tuberculosis (TB) - rare among According to Schmitt, the respiratory route is as spreading from the deer to the livestock," Chad- me, I know I'm a problem.' They move - they move free-ranging wildlife. the main way TB is transmitted. This requires close, dock said. "It's also very low spreading from the 10 or 15 miles in a day. That's the challenge." While no one knows for sure where it came even nose-to-nose, contact among animals. "There's deer to human beings. But it is a possibility." Kirk believes all citizens should be concerned, from, an isolated case of a TB-infeqed deer was not a lot of close contact between deer and cattle," It's important to remember that there is no but not alarmed, about the TB situation. "We have a found in the area in 1975. Prior to the '94 finding, he said. "The most likely would be a round bale out threat of contracting TB from properly cooked meat disease that is a human disease problem and we have only eight cases of bovine TB had ever been report- in the field. A deer feeds on at night and a cow dur- or pasteurized milk. It is also very unlikely that a to take this thing seriously. We have to protect our ed in all the United States and Canada. ing the day. There's not a great deal of risk there. person field-dressing or eating adequately cooked food chain," he said. "We all have a responsibility." The northeastern Michigan TB problem did Let's say there's some bacteria there in the hay and venison from a deer infected with TB could become One solution to stop the spread of bovine not stop at that one buck. A disease surveillance it's taken in orally. You need about 3,000 times infected. tuberculosis is to curb winter feeding of deer, ac- effort was immediately put in place and, the next more bacteria to become infected through the oral How TB infects animals cording to Kirk, who cites this Michigan Farm Bu- year, 48 deer tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. route than the respiratory route." So why is bovine tuberculosis infecting the reau policy: By the end of last year's hunting season, another Effects on the livestock industry white-tailed deer herd? DNR's Schmitt says the deer We support legislation to eliminate two dozen positives were found. While extensive At issue for the agriculture industry is maintain- are no more or less susceptible than cattle, but winter feeding from Dec. 1 through April 1. testing of all livestock within a five-mile radius ing statewide TB-free status. Michigan earned this usually only get the disease when a nearby domestic Short term, farmers in the affected four-county hasn't uncovered any positive livestock, a 1996 car- Bovine Tuberculosis Accredited-Free status in 1979. livestock herd spreads it - not the case this time. area can move round bales away from areas where nivore collection turned up a coyote carrying TB. "Many other states recognize the TB-free sta- Where it came from is yet to be determined, deer may try to feed on the hay. Kirk also suggests The affected area includes A1cona, Alpena, Mont- tus, which is granted by USDA,and therefore they but to figure out why it spread is a slightly easier that farmers utilize electric fences to keep the deer morency and Oscoda counties, and r.JW Presque will let cattle from Michigan come into their state task. "We feel that it's somewhat due to the high out of feedbunks and other possible sources of Isle, where one positive deer was turned in. without individual testing of those animals," said Dr. deer numbers, but more important is the concen- cross-contamination. '~d then let's hope that Moth. This bovine tuberculosis problem in north- Michael Chaddock, Michigan Department of Agri- tration of deer at these feeding sites - baiting some- er Nature, through its severe winters, will help elimi- eastern Michigan white-tailed deer could have far- culture (MDA) state veterinarian. what, but more importantly, the winter feeding," he nate a few of the weaker ones," he concluded .• reaching implications for the state's domestic live- ''The other thing I'm sure the industry will want said. "This concentrates them nose;to-nose, and stock, and even public health. to look at is if we lose our TB-free status, should we're kind of treating these wild deer like livestock. Discussion Questions Bovine TB in the wild there be requirements to move cattle from one point We're creating, in some situations, kind of a feedlot 1."How can we assure the public that The Mycobacterium bovis TB strain is mainly to another within Michigan?" Chaddock asked. situation out there, and that's what's allowing TB to ~ntracting T8 from the;r food is not a spread through repeated and prolonged direct "There would also probably be some serious study- be transmitted from one animal to another. If we concern? exposure to bacteria coughed up or exhaled by ing of our exhibition requirements. Ifanimals are could let the animals go back to being truly wild, 2. Shouid intens;ve surveillance or test- infected animals. Most often, the disease is spread going to go to exhibition at a fair,especially where stop the feeding, then our transmission rate would ingof wi"ldlife,livestock and at-risk humans continue? Why or why not? by aerosolized droplets or when closely confined the public is involved in being close to those animals, drop and we could slowly start to work our way out livestock consume feed or water contaminated by should they be TB tested to go to those events?" of the problem." 3."Bison in Yellowstone National Park . have brucellosis, and the disease is an infected animal. As this disease progresses, af- "Other countries looking to import cattle from "With cattle, the only thing found to be effec- threatening domestic livestock. How fected animals may develop lesions in the lungs, the United States certainly look at those states that tive is to quarantine and depopulate ....Schmitt con- does this wildlife/domestic livestock lymph nodes and internal organs. are free ofTB," Chaddock said. "So there would cer- tinued. "So, with the deer, we've got to work on the problem compare to Michigan's TB According to Dr. Stephen Schmitt, DNR veteri- tainly be an impact on our export market. And I'd say feeding of the animals, which concentrates them, situ"ation? narian at Rose Lake Wildlife Disease Laboratory, there probably already has been an impact on it, and then also the deer numbers." . 4. If you were a member of the core com- most mammals are susceptible to the disease. "80- because some countries are saying 'I don't care what mittee, what recommendations would you make to solve the 18 problem? MSU, DHIA cite the 100 bushels of oats possible, MSU trials show outstanding dairy industry G rowers considering a longer. crop rotation might want to plant oats this spring. Oats can al horses and race horses," says Larry Copeland, MSU Extension agronomist. produce upwards of 100 bushels per acre and, with Oat planting in Michigan usually takes place in late leaders for 1996 prices around $2 per bushel, provide a fair return on investment. March or April, depending on how quickly soils warm and dry. Oats grow best on fenile, well-drained soils. D airy farm families from Ottawa and Missaukee counties were among those honored March 19 at the Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement Associ- Haverdink is also active in his community church, Michigan Farm Bureau, the Ottawa County DHIA, the executive board of the united Dairy The best performer in Michigan State University field trials last year was Prairie, which produced 115 Copeland says soil testing for needed phos- phorus and potassium levels, lime and minor nutri- bushels per acre, followed by Ida (114.3 bu.), Newdak ent requirements is essential to good yields. About ation (DHIA) annual meeting. Industry of Michigan and numerous other (113 bu.), Mi-88-0-30(111 bu.) and Ogle (111.8 bu.). 40 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre should be . The Mic~igan State University Department of organizations. In MSU's field trials the past three years, Ida applied prior to seeding and final tillage. Animal Science Dairy Farmer of the Year Award was The Vandermeers began assembling their herd and Ogle averaged 115 bushels per acre and Mi-88- More information on the merits of growing presented to Wayne Haverdink, who, with his son, in 1989 with the goal of being one of the state's high- 0-30 averaged 120 bushels per acre .. oats can be obtained from Copeland by calling him Kirk, manages a 12O-cow,500-dairy operation near est producing herds in five years. Last year they won "White-seeded oat varieties are the most pop- at 517-353-9545. Check with the local elevator for Jenison. the high dollar value, highest milk average and high- ular because they can be sold as feed for recreation- oat seed sources or call the Michigan Crop Improve- The DHIA Progressive Dairyman of the Year est individual producing cow awards. mentAssociation at 517-355-7438 .• Award went to Frank and LyleVanderwal of Lake City. This year they received the highest dollar The four top DHIA production awards were value and highest milk average awards. They man- MCA leadership changes hands given to Donald and Pam Vandermeer, of Lake Odes- age 65 cows with a rolling herd average of31,647 sa;John Buth, Coopersville; and Larry Webster, Elsie. The Vanderwal brothers manage a herd of 125 pounds of milk (in 1996 it was 30,600), 1,042 pounds of butterfat and 997 pounds of protein. The T he Michigan Cattlemen's Association (MCA) experienced a change in leade'rship Jan. 9. The three retiring board members who opted 30-member board. These are Jim Baker of St. Louis, Phil Hutchison of Onondaga, Chuck Markley of Byron, Tim Ruggles of Kingston, Rich Schapman of Holstein cows that last year had a rolling herd aver- per cow dollar value is $4,200. not to run for another term are: Larry Cotton of Romeo, Walt Stafford of Richland, and Dave Stone- age of 28,640 pounds, an increase of 8,447 pounds The Vandermeers also received the DHIA Howell who served as MCApresident from 1992- man of Breckenridge. of milk per cow per year and a corresponding per Gold Club award for having the highest five-year 1993, Pat Harrison of Coldwater, arid Bill Hinga of 1996 President Quentin Harwood of Ionia cow dollar increase of $1,562 in the past five years. rolling herd average - 28,719 pounds of milk per Climax who, with his wife, linda, will be recognized passed his gavel to incoming President Gary Voogt ijaverdink was also cited for his contribution cow per year - in the state. as MCAMember of the Year at the Summer Round- of Marne. MSU Extension agent Maury Kaercher of to the diary industry through the Independent Buth won the highest individual cow dollar Up in June. Their devotion and dedication to the Kalamazoo was named President Elect, feedlot op- Cooperative Milk Producers Association, where he value award for a 31-month-old that in the past year MCABoard is very appreciated. erator Rick Schapman of Romeo as Vice President, has been president for the past 12 years and a memo produced 40,532 pounds of milk, 2,690 pounds of These three seats were mled with new board and Kurt Hrabal of Breckenridge as Secretary Trea- ber of t.he board of directors for 21 years. butterfat and 1,247 pounds of protein, and a dollar members including Kevin Gould of Muir who is the surer. Also, Tim Ruggles of Kingston, MCXs 1993 "Most notable have been his efforts to pro- value of $6,619. Area of Expertise livestock Agent for Central Michi- You~g Cattleman of the Year and 1995 MCArepre- mote unity within Michigan's milk industry by work- We~ster won the highest individual producing gan, Patti Jarvis who owns a feedlot in Concord with sentative at the National Cattlemen's Association's ing wit~the cooperatives and milk handlers, milk cow award for a 49-month-old cow that in the past her father, brothers and husband, and Mike Kar- Young Cattlemen's Conference was named Director processors and all Michigan dairy producers," said year produced 43,716 pounds of milk, 1,455 pounds weik, a purebred breeder and owner of a meat trad- at Large and former MCA president Chuck Markley Maynard Hogberg, MSU department of Animal Sci. of butterfat and 1,317 pounds of protein, and a er and brokerage operation from Hopkins. In addi- of Byron as the Mega-Conference Representative .• ence chairperson, in making the presentation. dollar value of $5,701.. tion, seven board members were re-elected to the ~~~ April1S, 1997 Mr. Corn Farmer: Are you pleased with the price you pay for seed corn? AG-BAGGED FEED In 1995 BaysideSeed Com was tested in sevendifferentMichigancountiesby CAN BE ENTERED INTO seven different county ag agents.When the resu~swere in, BaysideSeedshad the YOUR COMPUTER AND FED SANILAC COUNTY highest actual yield in four of those seven counties. REGISTERED MINIA- BACK THE WAY IT'S CALCULATED 1993 BELARUS 825. TURE Siccliau don- LEXINGTON TWP. When you order seed com for next year, I would like you to think aboutthat. BECAUSE THE LOSS IS ELIMINATED 4x4, cab, Interna~ keys. Very gentle. Full Operation Baysidewas tops four times,the entire rest of the Seedcom world combinedwason WE HAVE JUST YOUR SIZE BAGGING SYSTEM tional 715 combine, Excellent conforma- Farm For Sale top three times. Considerthat our com costsmuch lessthan any singlecrosscom in LARGE OR SMALL. BEEF OR DAIRY - LEASING OR plow, disc, planter, tion. Two pregnant PURCHASE - BETTER PROFITS ARE IN THE BAG 90 Acres, additional cultivator, sprayer, the industry,why would anyone want to pay more to get less yield? Bayside 1796 females, one male. property for sale or drill, $18,250. Will had the highestactual yield in three countiesincludingan all time high of 216 dry bu. Excellent stud! Six Used JR7DD 8' bagger lease. separate. Make of- in TuscolaCounty.Bayside86 was the winnerof the OgemawCountyTrials.Also, in month old female. 3 Demo G6DDD9' bagger 1 Used Henke roll miller w/blower Buildings include fer or trade on lake 1995, Michigan State Universitytested Bayside 1796 in six mid-Michigancounties 1-616-271-3177. property. 1-517-862- 1 Used 9DDATG Automatic roller mill HIP Barn, Hay, Loaf- and 1796outyieldedPioneer'sexcellent3751 and 3769 in all six counties.The aver- 4346 mornings. REGISTERED SCOT- ing, and Calt Barns. 3 ages for those six county trials by MichiganState Universityare below: TISH HIGHLAND CAT- Steel tab work - stor- 7200 JOHN DEERE Yield Moisture TW TLE, breeding stock age shops totalling 1230 fertilizer cross Bayside 1796 165.01 20.63 56.58 and semen for sale. Visitors welcome! 20,000 square teet. auger. Monitor, Pioneer 3769 151.60 19.63 57.08 front mounted coult- Call evenings or 6 concrete silos Pioneer 3751 157.68 19.00 56.66 have unloaders with ers. Used 2 years, weekends. 2,000 acres, Bayside 1796 and all the other Bayside com can be bought 1-517-543- 7979. 3,200 ton capacity to 1-810-651-8241. in March for $59 per 80,000 kemal bag. Charlotte, Michigan service 650 head. REGISTERED Homestead in- AT Farrell grain cleaner, 998D, $975. AT Far- Super Lyle Grigg-Bayside Seeds TEXAS LONG HORNS, Maple ane Ag-Bag cludes 5 bedrooms, 3 bath tow story home. rell seed cleaner, 89A, $675. AT Far- 259 Bowker~d., Munger, MI 48747 weanlings, heifers, yearling heifers and 2152 E. Beaver Road • Kawkawlin, MI 48631 GLEN KNOCHEL FARM In-ground pool, deck and attached garage. rell seed clean, #33, Phone: 517-659-2845 or 517-659-3115 bred cows. 1-616-676-1462. (517) 684-7869 (517) 684-1581 For crop yield or $420. Forsberg more information, When MSU tested com in 1996, in SaginawCounty,Bayside had 7 hybrids bean stoner, $225. REGISTERED TEXAS contact: Two 5000# platform that averaged 165.1bushels/acre.Anyone of thesefine hybridswould do very well LONGHORNS: Top Conveniently localed for you and would cost only a fraction of what you are paying now. Lance G. Weyeneth scales, $750 each. quality and selec- K AV to all attractions: Broker/Owner Bryant corn cracker tion! Breeding age -~( ). Pigeon Forge &. Gatlinburg (coarse, medium bulls, guaranteed Thumb Real Estate • '. Kitchens. Fireplaces and fine cuts), 100% calving ease. ~ • Hot Tubs. Large Pool Croswell, MI $1175. Two bucket Cows, heifers and Toll Free: elevators, 10' high LOG CABINS Open Year Round ~vesmck calves available. Al- 888-821-8433 with 2x3 cups, $275 so, lean beef and Call Toll Free each. Four grain IN THE skulls. 1-888- 200-0625 spreaders, $50 1-616-945-2153., SMOKIES for a FREE color brochul't each. 18' diameter UQUID MANURE LLAMAS: Herd re- x 6 ring high grain SPREADERS: ANGUS & GELBVlEH: SIMMENTAL BULL, Breeding stock. duction due to job bin (disassembled), New and used. promotions. Peruvi- three years old, sol- $1150. Free delivery! id red, good blood- Balzer, Better-Bilt an Chilean Bolivian D/S Services, Inc. Border Collie Stock lines, semen check- parts. UPS daily. and domestic blood Cass City Dogs. ed, high quality. BUYING FARM LAND Also, grain dryers lines. All ILR regis- 1-517-872-3318 Call today. 1-517 -423-2343 or and recreational and handling equip- tered. Call for more ment. Bordner Farms 1-517 -263-5352. property throughout Sturgis, MI information. BEAUTIFUL GRAY EXPERIENCED Hamilton Distributing northwest Michigan. Case International 1~16-651-8353 The UamaZoo Arabian stallion for Michigan agribusi- Company Kalamazoo SIMMENTAL BULLS: ness attorneys with Call Ron McGregor 1250 feed grinder, sale. Eleven years 1-800-248-8070 1~16-372-2863 Purebred red year- farm backgrounds. at 1-616-943-7709 like new, no scales, old, extremely ver- for details. ANGUS BEEF: ling; 7/8 blood black satile, trained Eng- Knowledge and ex- $4500. 1968 Inter- NEW IDEA KINZE Bulls, heifers and 3 year old, and 1/2 lish and Western. perience in all farm national truck, tan- FARMS AND LAND cows with calves . LLAMAS ARE blood black white areas; restructure, dem, 20' steel rack, 6-row no till corn Produces Typey throughout Michi- Performance test- GREAT, and now yearling. stray voltage, bank- wood sides, needs planter, $6500. JD foals, good disposi- gan, agricultural ed, semen tested. they're affordable! 1-517 -689-4696. ruptcy, estate plan- brake work, $2000. 8200 grain drill, tion, 1/2 brother to and recreational. Free delivery! Call These docile, intelli- ning. EAST SIDE: 13 1/2' Case disc, $2500. JD 12' culti- TEXAS LONGHORNS National Champion Large parcels pre- anytime. gent animals make Thomas J. Budzyn- $1200. packer, $600. White BULLS: Three year and grandson of ferred. We have wonderful pets for ski, 43777 Grose- 1-616-784-1676. 12' field cultivator, SHAGBARK old, solid black and Ferzon. 1-517-833- buyers! hiking, packing, pic- beck Highway, Mt. $1300. FARMS a yearling, black 7821. Call Dan VanVal- FOR SALE: Alto, Michigan nicking, pulling Clemens, Michigan. 1-616-554-2398. and white. kenburg, Rural 490-14 Industrial ro- 1-616-868-6040 carts, or to just plain 48036. enjoy. Their wool is Also, several bred Property Specialist. to-mix feed wagon. 1-810-463-5253. $24,000. FOR CURRENT LIST valuable and they heifers. Faust Real Estate WESTSIDE: Carson City, MI of available Angus also make out- Diamond 6 Ranch Adrian Robert A. Stariha, 1-517-263-8666 1-517 -584-6286. Cattle. write: Secre- standing guard ani- 1~16-642-9042 40 West Sheridan, tary, West Michigan mals. Call for a visit Fremont, Michigan, HUNTING LAND Angus Breeders, today! SEEKING FARM- 49412. wanted to rent in FORD, NEW HOLLAND TOP QUALITY HOL- ER to plow/plant 585 36th Street 1-616-677 -3309. 1-616-924-3760. Jackson and/or tractors and equip- STEIN breeding age FOR SALE: Green- SW, Grand Rapids, Ron & Nancy laferriere. crops. Approximate- Washtenaw area or ment from Symon's house, 1 00'x30'. bulls, from high pro- ly 80 acres for fu- MI49509. Laferriere llamas WEST MICHIGAN southern Michigan. in Gaines. For 43 Old wood grainary ducing cow family. ture hay field. Isa- Marne, Michigan BARN RESTORA- 40 acres or more, years your best HORTON BAY LLA- Top AI sires, $800- bella/Clare/Mecosta for barn lumber. (Just northwest of TION: We repair or responsible hunter. deal for the long MAS is reducing $900. County area. Call 1- Both to be re- Grand Rapids) replace founda- Call after 5pm, run! moved. 12-lnterna- herd size. Four bred Pasch Farms 81 0- 749-5865 after tions, roofs, floors, females available. 1-517-644-3519 1-313-379-4875. Symon's tional wheel disc. LLAMAS: 6pm. beams, walls and 1-517-271-8445, Call after 8pm., 1- Due this spring and North American Sit- doors. Structural WANTED: 80-120 TWO 3/4 Belgium Gaines 616-853-2418. fall. We also have ting Bull and Essex strengthening and acre farm, Ionia Blue Bulls, 12 weanling males. bloodlines. Pet painting. area. Young couple HAY BINES, balers, months old. Agricultural Photos sent on re- males and weanling relocating due to off i rakes, round balers, Wemett Beef Farms No Sunday calls! quest. females. Reasona- 1-517-967-8407 Services 1-616-924-4151. farm employment soil savers, soil fin- Jack & Barbara Danly bly priced! and urban sprawl ishers, discs, Vibra 06300 Boyne City Call for more infor- pressure at present Shanks,chisel plows Seeds Road mation and visit. YORKSHIRE SAVE MONEY. Re- location. Contact culti-mulchers, drills, Charlevoix, MI 1-517 -645-2719. HAMPSHIRE BOARS: cycle your diesel Steve, 1-517-675- grinder mixers, 49720 Ready to breed. BAYSIDE SEED Miller's Uamaland and industrial air in- 5472. spreaders and off- 1-616-582-7473 Potterville, MI Delivery available! take filters using the sets discs. 1-517- corn. All maturities! ~alEstate Fax 1-616-582-6540 Robert Harper, 9016 Sonic Dry Clean HUNTING LEASE n3-5374 after 1pm. Dairybrand alfalfa. NINE REGISTERED Bayside 169 soy Exy Avenue, Vicks- System. WANTED: Courte- Dan Reid. Polled Hereford burg, Michigan, ous, mature hunters beans. L1MOUSIN BULLS, No liquids or deter- breeding age bulls 49097. gents used. 50% with experience in HYDRAULIC LOADER B&MSEED bred cows, heifers, for sale. Optimum with 50 inch bucket. 1-517-463-2846 1-616-649-2803. savings over new FARM FOR SALE: leasing Southern open heifers, both and Rocky Banner $1500 firm. Two red and black, reg- filters. 108.8 acres, 90 till- Michigan farm land blood lines. able, with 5 bed- seek property for solid gravity boxes, istered. Excellent Rye Hereford Rec;ycle No\!I. Inc. McCurdy and Kil- MICHIGAN CERTIFIED Holland, MI room home, 2 car 1997 -1998 hunting pedigree! Good dis- Farm bros, no gears, SEED: Bowers bar- position and 1~16-396-n24 garage, 30x48 barn. season. Will pay Rogers City Very good soil. you to help control 225+ bushels each, ley, Newdak, Prairie E.P.D's. 1~16-396-8102, Fax oats, Felix soy 1-517-734-3005 Buildings in good nuisance deer. Ref- $1000 for both. 24' 1-616-751-5373 extra heavy duty tri- beans. evenings and week- Pledmontese Cattle: shape. Call 1-517- erences available. axle trailer, used B&MSEED Lean, tender, dou- FREE HOME DELlV- 866-2455. 1-517 -676-0486. ends. mostly to haul hay, 1-517-463-2846 1-616-393-1 029 ble muscled, good ERY!Simply the steel deck, $2500. weekdays. calvin~ ease. Quali- best! Complete MICHIGAN CERTIFIED Horse Feed. ELITE Clipper fanning mill ty regIstered breed- package, includes 2 augers, 2 motors, SOYBEAN SEED: Har- din-91, Kenwood- PUREBRED BOER ing stock. Also avail- able, embryos and +, 10% or 12%. Dealer inquiries METAL ROOF COAT- INGS: Heavy fibered FARMER BANDUPTCY 30 bushel bin and 2 94, Conrad-94 BSR-1 01. Also New- and GOATS. MlchFlock. Stud Service availa- semen. welcome! For infor- or white roof coat- IMMIGRATION laW small gravity wag- Redbird Farms mation or delivery, ings. H.J. Butzin. Throughout dak certified oats. ble. ons for seed, set-up Lapeer, Michigan Mathie Energy Supply Call anytime, earl;, to do soys at this Call Schmidt Farms 612 North Madison, 1-810-667-7389 Co.,Ine. or late. Michigan and Ohio of Auburn, 1-517- Lapeer, MI48446. 1-800-467-7340 time, $1500 firm for all. 662-6705 or 1-517- 1-810-667-0169 REGISTEREDCHARO- 1-517-777-9815. Lawrence 662-2695. any time. LAIS HEIFERS and 1-517-834-2576. bulls. Average EPD'S G. Reinhold, Attorney at Law IH 1300, 7' bal- on bulls. +2.3, 810-350-2250 anced head mower . Quick coupler up. Nice! $800. Two set SILAGE + 19.4, +21.3, +4.5, + 14.2 .. Also semen and embryo's •J()II~S()~ ~SYSTE,MI 750x16, 6-ply Good- years on 6 bolt HYBRIDS SKWRanch 1-517-733-2578 Onaway, MI Complete Grain System I • INVENTORY MUST BE SOW! wheels, 90%. $135. Deerfield, 112 Day Maturity • Grain Bins • Bucket Elevators • Hopper Bins • Dryer Service STEEL BUILDINGS REGISTEREDMINIA- 1-517-447-4897. 1sf Quality Seed TURE DONKEYS: • Millwright Service • Crane Service SUPER HEAVY STEEL • Airstream Auto Dryers • GSI Top Dry IRRIGATION PIPE: 900/0 + Warm Germ Breeders, pets, geld- ings. Nicely built, 25 x 30 12LEFn 40 x 50 11LEfTl 30 X 40 13LEfT) 50 X 100 IIlEfTl 42 x 6412 LEFT) 82 pieces, 3", 40' long, 75e per foot. 80 sprinkler heads, 80% Gold Germ Extra Leafy - Great for Sileage very friendly. $450, up. Great for driv- ·L~eg:.""C.~:hnso~::::. Inc UP TO 40% OFF!!! 20 Year Warranty $3.50 each. 20 1's, ing, showing, guard animals. Marshall, MI 49068 United Steel Span, Inc. $5 each. $30.00/80M Volume Discount Pygmy goats. o 1-313-971-1804. 800-951.5669 Toll Free 1-888-776-7333 Acker's Ass-Key Acres 1-800-962-1495 ~ Ask for Regional Manager 1-517-547-4418 HERITAGE STILL LOOKING FOR GOOD HELP? BUILDING SYSTEMS 800-643-5555 When you invest in a Shiwers Automatic BUILD IT YOURSELF AND SAVE 30 x 40 x 10 $4.189 50 x 75 x 12... $9.979 Loans For Continuous Grain Drying System 40 x 60 x 12 $7,487 60 x 90 x 12 $13.198 60 x 60 x 12 $9.380 120 x 200 x 14-m2 $47.913 Homeowners with a Comp-U-Dry, The system Commercial steel buildings featuring easy bolt up assembly from America's largest distributor. We have over 10.000 sundard includes a hired man, Wick Columns Are Guaranteed sizes of shop. farm. industrial. commercial and mini-warehouse buildings. All are complete with engineer stamped permit Regardless of who's main job is For 50 Years. drawings. 20 year roof and wall rust warranty. Call us for a fr.:e credit history, information package and a quote on our component pans. to please you at Wick pressure-treated columns are :\Iini \\'.Irclwusl' Sail' call for same- all times during backed for 50 years against decay and $9.999 day approval. ~.-! insect damage. That gives you an idea of 111',1111' "ith 1~ unit, clllllJlklc h II Jl :/Illll'l.11 hltlj:.n'i.lIl.t "ith Jl.lrtitiIlIlS$ your drying how Wick buildings are made. They're constructed with roof and wall season, is I~~ steel screw-fastened for added strength and C~CASH never late for work, structural integrity. And these colored ~ FAST! and documents all his work panels are tough, full-hard base steel. To learn more about strong Wick build- STANDINGTIMBER WANTED: WHO SAID GOOD HELP IS HARD TO FINDI ings, contact us today. @ AND VENEER: Black River Hard- Old motorcycles, snowmobile and off CommonPoint Mortgage FREY CONSTRUCTION • Wick woods,lnc. Buildings" 1-810-657-9151,days. Call 1-517-845-3345 road vehicles. 1965 and older. Call JD /SHIWERS l Lake Odessa, MI Wauseon,OH Dick Alwood, Wick Buildings Dealer evenings. at 1-517-676-0583. 1-800-968-2221 616-374-8027 419-446-2791 202 Pearl, Charlotte, MI 48813 Office: (517) 543.0996, Home: (616) 623.8780 WANTED WANTED: r-----------, Fax: (517) 543.9475 STANDINGTIMBER: Buyers of timber of all types. Cash in advance! 1-517-875-4565, ask for Tim. Used equipment, alumi- num tubing, PTO pumps, hard hose and soft hose trav- elers" Buy, Sell or irrigation -------------------, Deadline for next issue is Noon, April 22, 1997, FARMERS Maple Rapids Trade! Call I. Livestock & commodity prices too low? I Rain Control I -. Lumber Mill, Inc. i ·Cash flow too slow? I St. Johns, MI 1-800-339-9350 I ·Mortgage payments and bills overwhelming? I Call1-80o-968-3129 to Place Your I • Want someone who understands lenders? We Buy I • Do ·you Want someone to talk to your lender? understand your options with P.A. 116? I Damaged Classified Ad Today! I ·Do you need to restructure your farming business? I Grain or use the coupon below and mail or fax your I • Do you need to consider changing your vacation? I Wecan, we have and we do all of the above. I classified ad to Michigan Farm News I Let us help tum your life around. I Buverand I Buy Line/Daily News seller 01: CAMPERS! FAX: L _ C.!I.!..1..:.8.!!«t4.2!t.9 .1~ _ .I • Cash grains Fun place for P.O. Box 6, Stanton, MI 4aa~8 1-517-831-5063 •I r family. Watersled, swimming, fishing . L • Feed ingredients Cabins and RV • Milling quality rentals. Call, ask for I grains calendar of events General General Monroe KOA Kamp- I licensed and bonded ground FISH FOR STOCKING: STOCK-UP: With over 20 vears US 23 at Exit 9 I Giant Hybrid Blue- Sheepskin mittens, 01experience 1-800-562-7646 Classified Ad Codes gills, Walleye. Rain- hats, gloves, slip- 1. F:JOn M;Jchlnery 10. Work W;Jnled 20. W~nled To Ouy I bow Trout. Large- pers, woolen gar- mouth, Smallmouth Bass, Catfish, Fat- ments, yarn. Cata- log available! 800-818-8900 2. Llveslock Equlpmenl 11. Agricullur;J1 Services 21. Specl31 Evenls I head Minnows. Bellair's Hillside Michigan J. F;Jnn Commodilies 12. Buslnoss Services 22. Aecre3110n Perch. Farms Agricultural Laggis' Fish Farm and Commodities, 4. Seeds 1J. Duslnoss Opportunities 2J. Fln:lnclng 09888 35th Street The Sheep Shed Inc. 5. Livestock 1.(. Real ESI:lle 24. Investors W:lOled. Gobles, MI 49055 8351 Big Lake Days, 1-616-628-2056 Road, Clarkston. 445 North Canal PROBLEMS WITH 6. Poultry 15. Real Estate W3nted 25. Dulldlng s Evenings, 1.616.624. 1-810-625-2665. Lansing, MI 48917 YOUR LAND CON- 6215. Visa/MasterCard Open 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. TRACT? 7. Dogs :snd Puppies 16. Esbto S;tles 26.l:swn And G:uden Mon.-Fri. Late payments? HYDRAULIC CYLIN. STRAW CHOPPERS: Back taxes? Prop- 6. PoniesIHorses 17. Auctions 27. Announcemonts DER and hydraulic We rebuild and bal- erty damage? 9 of pump repair. Seal ance. Some ex- 10 qualify for pur- 9. Help Wanted '8. Anllques/Collecllbles 28. To Give Away kits and chrome changes. We stock ~ chase. We can work, all makes. chopper parts. help. 19. Gener.11 29. Vehicles Strawchoppers bal- ENGINE REBUILDING WANTED TO BUY: 1st NATIONAL anced and rebuilt. our specialty. Standing timber. Phone ( ) _ Venture Tool & 1-800-879-2324'. Name Auto-Truck-Tractor- 1-313-429-4322. Metalizing Antique-Continental- Sebewaing, MI Kohler-Onan-Wis- Address 1-517-883-9121 consin engine deal- Mineral Owners er. ROOF, REROOF, PATCH Cily Slale Zip 70 years of service! Gas/Oil: Investol HART'S AUTO It's easy to do it yourself with proven interested in pur- PARTS Classified Ad Code Requesled Number of Issues lYt,-\. chasing, producing royalty income for Cecil, OHIO immediate cash. 1-419-399-4777 Desired Insertion Date(s): Prefer Antrim gas. I Other formations considered. Call Jay, 1-800-968- :f!..~~-:;::::~~-:: Method of Payment 7645. Check $ (payable lo Michigan Farm News Clas,sified) SAVE 75% ON WORK CLOTHES! Visa Card Number Exp. Date Good, clean, recy- cled in very best quality. Money back Master Card Number Exp. Date guarantee. Free CASH, NOT OPINION for quality tractors, I brochure Classified Rates - $8 for up to 24 words - 30 cents each additional word Suntex Recycling combines, heads and round balers. 'Write your ad here, including phone num~er and area code I Toll Free 1-517-439-2440 1-800-909-9025 24 hours-7 days. evenings. 2 3 I MFM 8uicing ProchKts Corp. '" I TRAILERS: P.O. Box 340 • Coshocton, OH 43812 .800-882-ROOF 5 6 7 8 Complete line of Avenger enclosed I cargo units availa- 9 10 11 12 ble at low prices. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS I Preseason specials 13 14 15 16 on snowmobile and ATVmodels. Michigan Farm News I 17 18 19 20 TAG-A-LONG TRAILERS has joined USAgnet, your one-stop Internet I address showcasing ag c1assifieds! 21 1-800-515-6846 517-659-3478 22 23 24 I Munger, Michigan Your classified line ads in 25 26 27 28 I PROFESSIONAL CAT- Michigan Farm News 29 30 31 32 I TLE HOOF TRIMMING. can now appear on the Statewide! Over 16 years experience. Internet! 33 34 3S 36 I Prices start at $8. Call, Ask our classified personnel Circulation over 46,000 In State of Michigan. I ----------------- - Norman Beale for more information 1-616- n5-0488 or visit our site at http://www.usagnet.com I L L- W. I'h •....... .. ... ...... ........ :: Qmf.:"."OO: ...... .... ......... ..... ;: . .. .. ",' .. . . .................................... .. .. .:: ' ,: ... ... ...... .......... ..... .. ~ •• .... ", ..... " .. - .. ." : II' k . .. .. .. . - " . .. . .... ". . ........ .... ... : : . -. " . ... :: '. . . : " ... : ;. ' ' , ". .... .... . :: ' :: ... ... .. - " .. .. : '..... .- . :: " ".":.",.: ,', ... . 31.2 '.33.2 33.8 38~5 2.4 35.8 .33.4 36.7 0.4 0.6 . 0.2 . 0.4 O~ . 1.1 2.13 2.98 1.13 2.20 4.85 2.02 3.10 2.04 2.04 2.48 2.48 2.26 2.26 2.32 33.3 0;5 2.38 2.32 ww 39.9 4.2. 2.05 2.32 by Dr. Jeff Andresen, Agricultural :!or sensat/lonaL Meteorologist, Dept. of Geography, Michigan State University 5 pringlike weather finally moved into Michigan by late March and early April, melting snow cover in all but northern areas of the state and leading to early greenup of some overwintering crops. The milder temperatures were the result of a large upper air ridge retat!e act/V/lOtY9 and southwesterly flow across much of central u.s. An active jet stream pattern is likely to continue across the u.s. during the next few weeks, leading to wide swings in temperature. Precipitation for the same period is likely to remain at above normal levels. !oo~ It is important to remember that while severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are most common in Michigan during the late spring and early summer seasons, the most violent storms occur in March no jurtter ttan and April, when temperature contrasts are greatest. NOAAlong lead oudooks for the upcoming 1997 growing season are somewhat similar to those issued at the same time last year. For the May-July late spring! early summer period, the oudook calls for an elevated risk of below normal temperatures in northwestern Bptamo sections of the state and for above normal temperatures in the extreme southeastern Lower Peninsula. Odds elsewhere for temperature and statewide for precipita- tion during the same period are rated as equal for be- low-, near-, and :Ux)Ve-normalscenarios. Following a forecast of near equal odds for all three categories for temperatures and precipitation for the June-August period, the outlooks call for in- creased odds of below-normal temperatures across much of the midwest region including Michigan dur- ing the late summer and fall. Should this outlook verify, it would likely favor field crops in growing areas to our south and west, where cool and wet summers are strongly correlated with above average crop yields. In Michigan, however, the relationship is not as clear, You don't have to go to Yellowstone to witness sensationaL, as cooler than normal weather during the growing reLiabLeactivity. Just make EPTAMthe foundation of your weed seasons can increase the risk of crops not reaching controL program. physiological maturity prior to first killing freeze of the fall, especially if the crops were planted late .• EPTAMiIherbicide consistentLy protects dry beans and potatoes CRP interest Ilbetter from over 44 broadLeaf weeds and grasses, including nightshade, wild than expected ll oats and quackgrass. Used at full-rate, EPTAMprevents weeds from get- A griculture Secretary Dan Glickman told a House appropriations subcommittee that there has been more interest in the revamped Con- ting a toehoLd in your fieLds, so dry beans and potatoes are free to thrive. Yet EPTAMtreats your young dry bean and potato seedLings gently, servation Reserve Program than the depanment just as carefully as it treats your herbicide budget. EPTAMis cost-effective, expected. tankmix compatibLe and can be appLied in a variety of ways. What more "CRP interest is higher than we thought it would be," said Glickman, who said that more than couLd you want from your herbicide? 13.5 million acres had been offered for enrollment in the program so far. Sign-up for the program closed March 28. Glickman said the Agriculture Depanment would ~. Great control. Every time. make a final decision on CRP acres "no later than lENECA C1997. uneca Inc. Zeneu Ag Products Is a business unit of Zeneca Inc. EPTAMe is iI tndemAfIr fila late May, early June." • AllP,""'" uneca Group (om . Farm Safel . Alwa reild and follow label dlrKtions. or-a12-G1411