Election 1990- An Agricultural A New Look, A New Approach Perspective Welcome to the first edition of a new At a time when political action committees (pacs) are being portrayed as mouthpieces publication designed especially for as- for fat-cat corporate donors, I'm proud to point to the Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac as sociate Farm Bureau members. You've a truly grass roots political entity that represents the views of working men and women undoubtedly noticed that something's dif- who make their living in Michigan agriculture. ferent about your Rural Living magazine. From the first candidate interviews by local Farm Bureau committees in June of this year to the Sept. 6 meeting with gubernatorial candidates John Engler and Jim Blanchard, grass In addition to a new look you will also roots input has been the chief factor considered in making AgriPac endorsements for "Friends of Agriculture" in both the primary and general elections. The results of this find editorial changes in terms of news extensive discussion and evaluation are over 1IO endorsements for state and federal for the non-farm member. Topicswill in- candidates in the Nov. 6 General Election. (See page 4 for AgriPac's 1990 endorsements.) clude updated member services informa- tion as well as news you can use to assist In this election year, the agricultural issues under scrutiny ranged from cargo preference you as consumers. regulations for U.S. farm exports to protecting Michigan's Right to Farm law and flood disaster loans. Equally important were the fiscal, environmental and labor issues which affect small businesses and families in rural Michigan such as inheritance tax reform, The changes are the result of a com- availability of rural health care, auto insurance reform and the commercial driver's license munications audit where we asked our law. members what's right and what's wrong. Associate Farm Bureau members told us AgriPac also kept score on some long term issues such as the development of renewable they wanted more member service infor- alternative fuels (ethanol), federal deficit reduction, state and federal tax policy, education finance reform, minimum wage and more. In each chamber of the U.S. Congress and the mation and articles that will make them Michigan Legislature, ten key votes were identified and the votes tallied to reveal where better consumers of agricultural political action backed political rhetoric -- and where it did not. produce. Unlike our farm members, non- farm members told us they wanted less AgriPac's "Friends" value the endorsement highly for the status and voter commitment hardfarm news and management infor- conferred by the endorsement. Because members are a part of the process, they follow mation. through with the most important candidate endorsement of all -- their ballot. A recent study shows that nearly all Farm Bureau members are registered voters who exercise this right regularly. Our publications will be separated and targeted to meet the needs of both our If, like many others, you find the media "analyses" and emotional campaign appeals of the farm and non-farm audiences. You will past several weeks more confusing than informative, I encourage you to study the list of continue to receive the Rural Living four AgriPac endorsements in making your ballot decisions. You can vote confidently for times a year; October, January, April, "Friends" whose philosophies and voting records have been measured against grass roots issues identified by your fellow members, influenced neither by party affiliation nor paid and July. political advertising. Make your voice heard in the most effective way possible -- by casting your ballot on election day. Keep in touch. We'd like to know your thoughts as we strive to provide you an improved publication. Jack Laurie, President Michigan Farm Bureau A Publication of Michigan Farm Bureau October 1990 Photo: Michigan Travel Bureau Send a Supreme Sampler of the best that Michigan has to In This Issue offer with this 4 ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS $49.50 Supporting the friends of farmers Michigan Supreme Sampler 9 FALL LAWNCARE Seasonal tips for lawn maintenance 14 RESURRECTING A WETLAND A 200 acre makeover for the Maple River wetland 20 WOOD STOVE SAFETY How to avoid wood heat fires Of Special Interest 111 MICHIGAN'S FALL FARM MARKET GUIDE To order the Michigan Sampler mail order products, Rural Living is Published Quarterly: By the Michigan Farm Bureau Information and Public Relations Division. phone Publication and editorial offices at 7373 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Michigan 48917, Post Office Box 30960 (zip 48909); phone 1-517-323-7000. 1-800- 968-4438 Subscriptions: $1.50 per year to associate members, included in annual dues. $3 per year non-members in Michigan $5 per year non-members out of state. Publication No. 345040. Established Jan. 13, 1923, as Michigan Farm News, name changed to Michigan Farm News Rural Living Dec. 1, 1981. Third-class postage paid at Lansing, Michigan and To order citrus and other MACMA sale at additional mailing offices. itemsfrom the county Holiday Sale, Editorial: Dennis Rudat, Editor and Business Manager. return your order to your county Farm Bureau no later than Nov. 14. Officers: Michigan Farm Bureau President, Jack Laurie, Cass City; Vice President Wayne Wood, Marlette; Administrative Director, Charles Burkett; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Tom Parker; Secretary, William S. Wilkinson. miCHIGan'S Directors: District 1, Marlin Outman, Constantine; District 2, Blaine VanSickle, Marshall; District 3, Diane Horning, Manchester; District 4, Tom Guthrie, Delton; District 5, Mark Smuts, Charlotte; District 6, Wayne Wood, Marlette; District 7, Larry Snider, Hart; District 8, Lyle LeCronier, Freeland; District 9, Joshua Wunsch, Traverse City; District FaRm BeST 10, Margaret Kartes, West Branch; District 11, Robert Wahmhoff, Baraga. At-Large: David Conklin, Corunna; Jack Laurie, Cass City; Faye Adam,Snover; Richard Leach, Saginaw. Promotion and Education, Holly Porter, Manchester. Young Farmers, Karen Stoneman, Ithaca. Republican gubernatorial candidate John Blanchard about their views on important Engler earned the Farm Bureau endorse- issues. ment as Friend of Agriculture after an over-whelming 81 percent endorsement from county Farm Bureau candidate In a media statement following the Agri- evaluation committees, reported AgriPac- Pac announcement, Engler said, "I am ex- Chairman, David Conklin. tremely pleased to learn that the farmers of Michigan are supporting me for gover- nor. ...I won't let them down." "John Engler was clearly their choice for governor," said Shiawassee County farmer David Conklin. "Of 47 county In addition to Engler, the following new Farm Bureaus that made recommenda- endorsements for "Friends of Agriculture" tions, 39 cast their votes for Engler. That were made by the AgriPac Committee: overwhelming margin left no question of who would receive the endorsement." u.s. Representative Bob Davis (R-Gaylord) 11th District Schuette, who received the primary en- John Dingell (D-Dearborn) 16th District Engler's posi- prOf47 county tions on issues re- dorsement by AgriPac in August, con- Bob Traxler (D-Bay City) 8th District tinues to rely on the support of the Farm Bureaus lated to agricul- political action committee in a tough ture closely Mich. State Senate making recom- parallel Farm race for the U.S. Senate against incum- bent Carl Levin. John Pridnia (R-Harrisville) 36th District mendations, 39 Bureau policy, Conklin said. Mich. State House of Representatives cast their votes James Docherty (D-Port Huron)76th Dist. "His strong sup- for Engler." port for David Robertson (R-Gr. Blanc)83rd Dist. Michigan's Dale Shugars (R-Portage) 47th District animal agriculture initiative, his recogni- tion that agriculture has a crucial need for Attorney General -- Cliff Taylor inheritance tax reform and property tax State Supreme Court -- Patricia Boyle relief, his commitment to agricultural re- and Judy Hughes search and education, and his opposition Secretary of State -- Richard Austin of mandatory insurance rollbacks without MSlJ Board of Trustees -- Dee Cook reforms were some of the key issues that and Jack Shingleton tipped the scales so strongly in favor of U of M Board of Trustees -- Marvin John Engler." Esch State Board of Education -- Richard Conklin praised the work of the county DeVos and Lowell Perry Candidate Evaluation Committees saying that the Engler endorsement is an ex- The following Friends of Agriculture, en- ample of grass roots county input based dorsed by MFB AgriPac in JulyI990, Engler, like Senate challenger Bill on the best available information. County were sucessful in the primary. The endor- Schuette, has received the Friend of Farm Bureaus met in Lansing Sept. 6 to sements continue for the Nov. 6 General Agriculture endorsement from Farm hear from John Engler and James Election. Bureau throughout his career. I ' Rural Living Autumn 1990 u.s. HOUSE of REPRESENT A TIVE MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES District 2 Carl Pursell (R-Plymouth) llist &en District 3 Brad Haskins (R -Ceresco) 13 William Bryant, Jr. (R-Grosse Pointe Farms) District 4 Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) 18 Sid Ouwinga (R-Marion) District 5 Paul Henry (R-Grand Rapids) 19 Don Van Singel (R-Grant) District 6 Bob Carr (D-East Lansing) 20 Claude Trim (R-Waterford) District 9 Guy Vander Jagt (R-Luther) 23 Phil Hoffman (R-Horton) District 10 Dave Camp (R-Midland) 25 Roman Kulchitsky (R-Warren) District 18 William Broomfield (R -Birmingham) 26 David Jaye (R-Utica) 28 Robert DeMars (D-Lincoln Park) 29 Gregory Pitoniak (D-Taylor) MICHIGAN SENATE 33 William Keith (D-Garden City) 35 Lyn Bankes (R-Livonia) DisL faIn 39 Jeny Bartnik (D-Temperance) 1 John Kelly (D-Detroit) 40 Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) 4 David Holmes (D-Detroit) 41 Michael Nye (R-Litchfield) 5 Michael O'Brien (D-Detroit) 42 Glenn Oxender (R-Sturgis) 6 Robert Geake (R-Northville) 43 Carl Gnodtke (R-Sawyer) 7 Christopher Dingell (D-Trenton) 45 James Middaugh (R-PawPaw) 8 Matt Dunaskiss (R-Lake Orion) 48 Don Gilmer (R-Augusta) 9 Doug Carl (R-Mt. Clemens) 49 Bill Martin (R-Battle Creek) 10 George Hart (D- Dearborn) 51 Susan Munsell (R-Howell) 11 Norman Shinkle (R-Lambertville) 54 Paul Hillegonds (R-Holland) 12 William Faust (D- Westland) 56 Frank Fitzgerald (R-Grand Ledge) 13 Jack Welborn (R -Kalamazoo) 58 Dianne Byrum (D-Onondaga) 14 Jon Cisky (R-Saginaw) 59 Lynn Jondahl (D-Okemos) 15 Denise Alexander (R -Southfield) 60 Willis Bullard (R-Highland) 16 Doug Cruce (R-Troy) 61 Tom Middleton (R -Ortonville) 19 Nick Smith (R-Addison) 63 Gordon Sparks (R-Troy) 20 John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) 64 Maxine Berman (D-Southfield) 21 Paul Wartner (R -Portage) 68 Shirley Johnson (R-Royal Oak) 22 Harry Gast (R-St. Joseph) 71 SalRocca (D-Sterling Heights) 23 William VanRegenmorter (R-Jenison) 75 Ken DeBeaussaert (D-New Baltimore) 24 Debbie Stabenow (D- Lansing) 77 Dick Allen (R-Caro) 25 Joe Conroy (D-Flint) 78 Keith Muxlow (R-Brown City) 26 Gilbert DiNello (D-East Detroit) 82 Thomas Scott (D-Burton) 27 Art Miller (D-Warren) 84 John Strand (R-Lapeer) 28 Dan De Grow (R-Port Huron) 85 James O'Neill (D-Saginaw) 30 Fred Dillingham (R-Fowlerville) 86 Lewis Dodak (D-Montrose) 31 Dick Posthumus (R-Lowell) 88 Robert Bender (R-Middleville) 32 Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) 89 Gary Randall (R-Elwell) 33 Phil Arthurhultz (R- Whitehall) 91 Walter DeLange (R-Kentwood) 34 Jim Barcia (D-Bay City) 93 Richard Bandstra (R-Grand Rapids) 35 Joanne Emmons (R-Big Rapids) 94 Ken Sikkema (R -Grandville) 37 George McManus (R-Traverse City) 95 Alvin Hoekman (R-Holland) 38 Don Koivisto (D-Ironwood) 97 Nancy Crandall (R-Muskegon) 98 Bill Bobier (R-Hesperia) MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 100 Roland Niederstadt (D-Saginaw) 101 Tom Hickner (D-Bay City) 6 Morris Hood, Jr. (D-Detroit) 103 Ralph Ostling (R -Roscommon) 8 Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Detroit) 104 Thomas Power (R- Traverse City) 10 Ted Wallace (D-Detroit) 107 Pat Gagliardi (D-Drummond Island) 12 Curtis Hertel (D-Detroit) Rural Living Autumn 1990 -HIGHER FARM EXPENSES WILL NOT CAUSE HIGHER FOOD PRICES u.s. FARM EXPORTS Michigan farmers are facing higher energy costs and lower commodity prices due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. However, it is anticipated that higher farm expenses will TO IRAQ CALENDAR not trigger higher food prices, according to Michigan Farm Bureau Economist Bob Craig. YEAR 1989 The price farmers paid for diesel fuel jumped by as much as 17 cents a gallon in some % of Total areas of the nation. According to Craig, each $5-a-barrel increase in the price of crude 1J S Exports oil means an additional $l-billion boost in farm operating costs or a 20% increase in Commodity energy costs for U.S. farmers. Wheat 2.9% $170 Rice 13.7% $133 Feedgrains 1.1% $85 This $l-billion projection covers fuel costs for cultivation and harvesting of 350 million Dairy Products 6.2% $16 acres. Also included are costs for other farm tasks, such as trucking, irrigation, and crop Eggs 17.1% $15 drying. According to Craig, farmers typically will spend about $4.5 million to $5 billion each year on fuels and oils. "If agriculture was the only component, consumers would actually see a decline An economic recession caused by higher energy in food prices due to the loss of the prices could spell more bad Iraqi market for farm products. " news for farmers, by send- ing bearish waves through commodity markets and tumbling livestock prices. Consumer demand for beef and pork are tied to consumer income, which generally falls with employment figures. Since the farmer receives only 24 cents of the average U.S. food dollar, consumers could expect to pay for increases in other energy related expenses added between the farm and the grocer's shelf. This includes higher costs for refrigeration, manufacturing, transportation and even lighting the supermarkets themselves. "American consumers should not see much of an increase in food prices from the farmer's end, " said Craig. "If agriculture was the only component, consumers would ac- tually see a decline in food prices due to the loss of the Iraqi market for farm products." Nevertheless, Frank Panyko of the Food Institute, a food industry organization specializ- ing in all aspects of food distribution, said consumers can expect to see an overall one percent increase in consumer food costs. Rural Living Autumn 1990 Compare the interest rates. The inrerest rate on the MemberLine VISA and Gold ~lasterCard is juSt 15.9 % A.P.R. -one ofthe lowest inrerest rates available. In addition, you pay I/Oil/lereslon new credit card purchases when your full balance is paid by the due date. Compare the fees. The MemberLine VISA has no annual fees, no mem- bership fees and no application fee. The annual fee for the Gold MasterCard is $20 - far lower than the fee charged for most gold cards. For added savings, the $20 fee is rebated every year that you make $3,000 or more in net purchases. Compare the premiums. Both the MemberLine VISA and the Gold The Farm Bureau MemberLinesM VISA& MasterCard offer a wide array of complimenrary features and options for Gold MasterCard. Two good reasons your protection and peace of mind. And when you carry a Gold MasterCard, you'll enjoy the added advanrages of a higher credit line, executive travel why it pays to compare before you privileges, emergency road assistance, purchase protection insurance and a apply for a credit card ... warranry extension program - valuable "extras" you and your family can depend on. Easy to apply for. Simply remove this page from the magazine and fill out the application on the reverse side. Letterfold and staple the form with the mailing address on the outside. No postage necessary! ".MICHIGAN ._. FARM BUREAU o FIR.S[°FAMUIO\.Bank No Postage Necessary If Mailed Within The United States Business Reply Mail First Class Permit No. 2334 Kalamazoo, MI Postage will be paid by addressee FIRST OF AMERICA BANK REVOLVING CREDIT DIVISION ATTN: FARM BUREAU MEMBER SERVICES P.O. BOX 2349 KALAMAZOO, MI 49003-9917 APPLY NOW for a Farm Bureau MemberLine'M VISA or Gold MasterCard FARM BUREAU MEMBERLlNE- APPLICATION FIfSlName Middle Initial Last Name I Social Security Number Present Street Address Tme at Present Address Yrs. Mos. I Dale of Birth City, State Home Telephone Number (Include Area Code) ( ) LL. Previous Address (~ less than two years at present address) City Stale Zip ...J W rn Present Employer Income from alimony, child suppolt, 0( mainlenance payments need not be revealed a: ~ you do not wish to have it as a basis fOf repaying this obligation. ::::) o > Employer's ( Telephone ) Number I Position I Time I at Present Employment Yrs. Mos. Gross Income from Employment o D Monthly Yearly City, State, Zip Code D Monthly Other Income D Yearly Source 01 Other Income Previous Employer (~ less than two years at present employer) T II1lIl at Previous ~pIoyer I Yrs. Mos. Nearest Relative (not living with you) I Address I Telephone ( ) First Name Middle Initial Last Name I Social Security Number 'E 5 o o Present Street Address T II1lIl at Present Address Yrs. Mos. I Date of Birth co 'E City, State I Zip Code Home Telephone Number (Include Area Code) ( ) ~ Previous Address (~ less than two years at present address) City State Zip ~ Present Employer Income from alimony, child support, 0( maintenance payments need not be revealed < ~ you do not wish to have it as a basis for repaying this obligation. I (,) ~ Employer's Telephone Number Position Time at Present Employment D Monthly Q.. Q.. ( ) I Yrs. Mos. Gross Income from Employment D Yearly < City, State, Zip Code D Monthly 6 (,) Other Income D Yearly Source 01 Other Income Previous Employer (~ less than two years at present employer) Time at Previous Employer a: ::::) o I Yrs. Mos. > Nearest Relative (not living with you) IMUess I Telephone I( ) rn Credit References Monthly Payments Balance Due Monthly Payment W D OwnIBuying Home D Other D Rent $ (,) Z $ Mortgage Holder or Landlord Mortgage Balance w $ a: w $ Estimaled Value LL. D Checking Account (Bank Name) W $ a: ~ $ Have You Ever DYes C D Savings Account (Bank Name) Declared w $ DNa a: Bankruptcy? (,) Optional Group Credit Insurance Please check your card preference IiWe hereby certify that each 01 the answers on this application is true and correct, and is made for the purpose 01 obtaining a loan or cre