Food Prices to see Slight Increase in 1992 Property Rights U.S. retail food prices are forecast to A Fundamental Right rise 2 to 4 percent in 1992 compared with an overall increase of slightly (Excelptedfrom Dec. 12. 1991 annual address at MFB annual meeting.) above 3 percent in 1991, according The future is still perilous for the people of the old Soviet Union. We hope and pray that they to the United States Department of will be successful in their efforts to obtain full political and economic freedom. One of their Agriculture (USDA). greatest challenges. and perhaps the key to keeping theirfreedom, is obtaining full private property rights. Up to now, there have been no property rights in the USSR. Evel}'thing has James Donald, chairman of the been owned by the state. The people had no right to own property, no right to protect from government confiscation, what they had earned or saved. World Agricultural Outlook Board, Without property rights. there is no political freedom. Property rights give people the ability predicted the increase in food prices and power to stand on their own and oppose the power of the state. this year would be well below the Our Founding Fathers understood this. That's why the Constitution includes clauses that rise of 5.8 percent in 1990. He also are designed to protect commerce and contracts, and why there's a Fifth Amendmelll that prohibits the government taking your property without due compensation. It's difficult to predicted it would be less than the believe that now, just as the formerly enslaved Soviet people are emerging out from under gain of about 4 percent expected in the crushing burden of state control, we here in the United States are witnessing ominous signs of subtle and not-so-subtle threats to the private property rights that are the keys to the overall Consumer Price Index our economic and political freedoms. Private property rights of farmers are being for 1991. threatened and eroded by governmelllal and social influences: from wetland regulations, to overly-stringent controls on pesticide use, to the animal rights movement, to local zoning He said the easing food prices this and land use decisions. year reflected increased meat sup- These threats have profound implications for the future prosperity of our industry and for the plies and a slowing of overall future quality of the environmelll in which we all live. inflation. Larger supplies of food, Two conflicting concepts underlie the law of property rights. The first belief is that property owners have a fundamental and natural right to use and develop their property and to gain particularly meat, will dampen food economic benefit from it, as long as they do not cause direct harm to others. pnce mcreases. The other notion is that all land is held in trust for the benefit of the public, othenvise known as the Public Trust Doctrine, and no landowner has the right to develop the land if to do so is not in the "public illlerest. " Under this second approach, extensive government regulation diminishes or eliminates the freedom to use or develop property. With the advent of extensive environmelllal regulations in the last two decades, legislatures and the courts have increasingly given up the concept that a property owner has some fundamental rights to use and develop the land as long as there is no harm to others. This change in legislative and regulatory policy has already affected farmers and, if allowed to continue, will seriously erode our ability as farmers to farm efficiently or even to remain in business. Farmers believe in a sound environment, we believe in preserving valuable wetlands, and yes, we even have sympathy for endangered species. But agriculture should not have to indirectly foot the entire bill for these worthy causes through unfair" takings" of our property rights. Jack Laurie, President Michigan Farm Bureau RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 _= A Publication of Michigan Farm Bureau Winter 1992 • J Photo: Michigan Travel Bureau In This Issue 14 FOR THE BIRDS MACMA Tips on feeding and observing birds MID-WINTER SALE 16 THE MAPLE SYRUP STORY A 100% pure gourmet treat SAVE $2.00 21 FIRE PROTECTION on a case of Prevention is the first line of defense microwave popcorn also featuring ... • Frozen Fruits Of Special Interest • Gift Packs AUTO INSURANCE Understanding automotive insurance • Croissants • Citrus • Nuts The RURAL LIVING (ISSN ---) is published Quarterly in the months of October, January, April, July, as a service to associate members, by Michigan Farm Bureau, 7373 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI 48917. Jan. 30, 1992, Vol. 11, NO.1. Member subscription price of $1.50 included in annual dues of Michigan Farm Bureau associate • Dirt Squad members. Additional subscription fees required for mailing Rural Living to non-members and outside the continental U.S.A. Application to mail at Second-Class Postage rates is pending at Lansing, MI and additional mailing offices. Letters to the editor and statewide news articles should be sent to: Editor, Rural Living, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, MI 48909- 8460. ORDER DEADLINE POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rural Living, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, MI48909-8460. February 19 Editorial: Dennis Rudal, Editor and Business Manager. DELIVERY Staff Contributors: Mike Rogers; Connie Turbin; Donna Wilber; Henry Huisjen. March 16 to 20th Officers: Michigan Farm Bureau President, Jack Laurie, Cass City; Vice President, Wayne Wood, Marlelle; Administrative Director, Chuck Burkett; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Tom Parker; Secretary, William S. Wilkinson. For more information contact Directors: District 1, Jim Miller, Coloma; District 2, Blaine VanSickle, Marshall; District 3, Diane Horning, your county Farm Bureau Manchester; District 4, Tom Guthrie, Delton; District 5, Mark Smuts, Charlolle; District 6, Wayne Wood, Marlelle; District 7, Larry Snider, Hart; District 8, Richard Leach, Saginaw; District 9, Joshua Wunsch, Traverse City; or call 1-800-292-2680 District 10, Margaret Kartes, West Branch; District 11, Robert Wahmhoff, Baraga. At-Large: Douglas Darling, Maybee; extension 2305. Jack Laurie, Cass City; Faye Adam, Snover; Jan Vosburg, Climax. Promotion and Education, Leona Daniels, Sterling. Young Farmers, Steven Gonyea, Spruce. RURAL LIVING. WINTER 1992 Understanding Auto Insurance Rates Auto insurance rates have come under close scrutiny all across the country, as consumers shop for the best rates to help deal with a tighter family budget. This search has lead consumers and politicians alike to ponder what, if anything, can be done to slow the growth of auto insurance rates, as well as other insurance costs. Michigan's experience with auto insurance rates and rate increases has been more positive than in most parts of the country. In 1988, the last year figures are available, Michigan's average premium of $509 was slightly below the national average of $517, but far below the national in some of the more costly states, including: Massachusetts, $834; New Jersey, $733; and California, $673. From 1982 through 1988, average premiums in Michigan rose 65 percent, ._ FARM BUREAU compared to a nationwide average of 73 ,.". INSURANCE percent. (Source: AM Best) Q. "Why does my auto insurance cost so much?" Q. "I've never had a claim. Why As a practical matter, at today's prices, it A. The cost of automobile insurance, like are my rates up?" would take only one average accident to everything else, has been rising steadily in This is the most common and bitter incur costs that would exceed ten years of recent years. Even so, for most Americans, complaint of consumers. The answer, of auto insurance premiums. If auto insurance auto insurance is a relatively small expense, course, is that no driver pays only for his or rates strictly reflected a person's driving averaging $636 a year in 1988. Nationwide, her personal experience. They're paying for record, the rates for a good driver could the cost of auto insurance is only one- other people's accidents, too. They're also decline steadily as long as he or she remains seventh that of owning and operating a paying for uninsured motorists, accident- accident-free. vehicle, or about 2 percent of the average prone drivers, drunk drivers, thievery and But what happens if the driver has an household income. fraud. The underlying costs include items accident in which someone is injured? The Price increases in auto insurance are entirely such as medical and car repair charges and average bodily injury claim amounts to a result of the higher costs involved in legal expenses. $7,594, according to the National Associa- providing insurance protection. Two factors This may prompt many to wonder why not tion of Independent Insurers' Fast Track are primarily responsible: relieve good drivers of all those added on Monitoring System. What should the costs by basing their rates strictly on their driver's rate be then, the year after such an - The way the insurance system is designed accident? $8,000? Such a system would own loss record. This, however, would by law to work. never be accepted by the public. defeat the whole purpose of insurance by not - Underlying costs that keep going up spreading out the risk and sharing losses so and are beyond the control of that the full financial burden of an accident insurance companies. doesn't fall on the individual. RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 Motor Vehicle Registrations As a result of the way the insurance system losses they cause, so again average drivers Millions of Vehicles operates, all drivers - the good along with the help compensate for the difference. Up 10% bad - must share the costs of some programs or activities that don't directly benefit most of CAR THEFTS - Auto thefts cost the public them. Some of those programs include: more than $7 billion a year. More than 1.5 million motor vehicles were stolen in this The Good, country in 1989 - a rate of one vehicle every 20 seconds - and another 2.9 million were looted of valuables or accessories, according to the FBI's 1989 Uniform Crime Report. The nationwide theft rate for the first half of 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 TheBad& 1990 was 6 percent higher than for the same period in 1989. All insured drivers must, again, share in this cost which is written into every auto insurance policy. Total Drivers Millions of Drivers Up 15% The Ugly FRAUD - The National Auto Theft Bureau's 1989 annual report estimated that fraud adds at least $1 billion to auto insurance claims. They estimate that 15 percent of all vehicle theft claims are fraudulent. Other fraud o ~ 0 0 M 0 ~ m M m ~ m m 0 ~ N N N M M UNINSURED MOTORISTS - Despite cases being submitted include staged ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ laws that require all drivers to carry accidents, and inflated and duplicated or 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 insurance, approximately 13 percent of the post-dated claims. drivers (or 21 million people) on the road RISK SHARING - Insurance isn't an are uninsured, according to a 1989 All- indiscriminate sharing of risk. Insurance Industry Research Advisory Council report. Deaths companies try to protect good drivers as Number of Deaths (Some experts estimate 22 percent in Down 8% much as they can by distributing costs fairly Michigan or more.) within a specific area or category. It's estimated that collisions involving Insurers are sometimes accused of pigeon- uninsured motorists cost the insurance holing drivers according to classifications industry more than $1.8 billion in 1987. N M 0 that drivers cannot change, such as age or MOM Those costs were ultimately paid by ~ "': ~ gender. But it is clearly unfair to lump all drivers who obeyed the law and had 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 good drivers with all bad drivers. Insurance insurance coverage. companies use decades of statistical proof to HIGH RISK DRIVERS - The law requires make rates as fair as possible by grouping insurance companies to make coverage people with more or less equivalent Injuries available to all drivers, even those with poor characteristics, which holds down rates for Thousands of Injuries records who present abnormally high risks. many drivers. Up 7% There are approximately 10 million high-risk Because more accidents and car thefts occur drivers in the U.S., covered by assigned risk in urban areas than in rural areas, everyone plans, joint underwriting associations, and living in an urban area has a greater chance state funds, according to the Automobile of having an accident or a car stolen. m ~ m ~ ~ 0 M ~ It) Insurance Plans Service Office. ~ M ~ c:i Iri c:i ~ cD ~ Iri oj, Therefore, the only equitable approach is for .... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In populous states with big cities and many the urban dweller to pay a higher insurance 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 drivers, the rates allowable by law for high rate than a rural resident. (Source; Michigan Department of State Police, risk drivers are insufficient to pay for the Michigan Traffic Accident Facts. 1989) RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 Understanding Miehigan~s No-Fault System In 1973, Michigan enacted a modified no- 1987. Average bodily injury liability costs in fault auto insurance system, allowing no fault states such as New York, Florida, In the United States, two lawsuits under only certain conditions. and Michigan rose 73 percent, 7 I percent conlpensation systems are used Supporters point to four major benefits of and 112 percent, respectively, compared to a to provide compensation to no-fault: national average of 146 percent. people injured in automobile I. More money is available for injured In Michigan, a no-fault insurance policy must parties because less is paid to lawyers and pay all reasonable and necessary charges for accidents: tort and no-fault. other litigation costs. medical care, including rehabilitation. A tort is a civil wrong, injury, 2. Long delays inherent with tort litigation (Michigan is the only state that does not put a cap on medical benefits.) The Michigan or dalnage other than breach are avoided. policy also provides up to three years of lost of contract. Under the 3. Victims suffering similar injuries receive wages and replacement services. comparable payments rather than being at traditional tort compensation the mercy of juries. Maximum wage loss benefits currently are systeln, the person at fault in $35,268 per year for three years, adjusted 4. Automobile insurance premiums are lower annually for inflation, and up to $20 per day an accident or their insurer because total paymen.ts for pain and suf- is paid for such replacement services as meal fering are lower. pays damages. This requires preparation and other activities that injured Under a true no-fault system, fault or persons previously performed for them- a finding of fault, sometilnes responsibility for the accident is not at issue; selves. Under no-fault, these benefits by court, before benefits are one's own insurance company pays for usually are paid without the need to file paid. Thirty-eight states rely medical expenses and lost wages, regardless a lawsuit. of who caused the accident. Policyholders on a tort or fault-based injury give up the right to sue to recover damages Reform DiFranco - Cut Costs compensation systeln. in every instance. (No absolute no-fault A lawsuit for damages is permitted in system exists, however.) Michigan only when a victim's injuries The objective of a no-fault system is to result in death, serious permanent disfigure- eliminate the delays and court costs ment, or serious impairment of associated with a tort system. No-fault also body function. Residual Bodily Injury Uability, Average Paid Claims per Vehicle in Michigan, ensures prompt payment of insurance A 1986 Michigan state Supreme Court ruling, 1982-90 benefits and a larger percentage of return of known as the DiFranco decision, lowered the Paid Claims Annual premium dollars to the consumer. requirements or threshold that must be met in Year per Vehicle Change Before Michigan enacted a no-fault order for a person to file a lawsuit, and that a 1982 536.31 jury, not a judge, would determine whether 1983 0 36.04 -0.7% insurance system, approximately 69,000 automobile injury lawsuits were filed each the threshold had been met. 19840 36.59 1.5 19850 32.23 -11.9 year. It was estimated that about 35 cents of The DiFranco ruling is contrary to the intent 19860 34.43 6.8 every premium dollar was spent for legal of the no-fault law, which was intended to 1987b 38.47 11.7 costs to determine who was at fault in an reduce the number of lawsuits and associated 1988b 44.46 15.6 1989b 51.45 15.7 accident. While the lawsuits dragged on, legal costs. By setting a lower threshold at 199Gb 54.43 5.8 injured parties worried about medical bills which a person may sue for damages, it and lost wages, and successful claims often allows more cases to reach the courts and SOURCE: Notional As.'iociation of Independent In- surers. Fast Track Reports (Des Plaines. III.). were insufficient to cover an injured requires a jury instead of a judge to NOTE: Residual bodily Injury coverage provides protection in case the insured becomes legally person's costs. determine cases. responsible for bodily Injury resulting from on automobile occident. A 1989 study by the Industry Research Insurers point out that prior to DiFranco, °Cassidy decision in effect. bDiFranco decision in effect. Council found that states with strong no- liability lawsuit claim payments generally fault laws were more successful in holding had been declining. Since 1986, however, down automobile injury costs from 1977 to they have increased significantly (see chart). RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 [}YA]o@C=OO~D@ @~ ~[;{J{]O@ @[1E:ill[1YIl@ ~lTI]@~ During the recent insurance debate, the By the end of 1990, MCCA had paid out Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association about $320 million for 1,189 claims. What (MCCA) has been discussed perhaps more isn't included, however, is the future costs of than any other auto insurance related issue. those injuries. It's estimated that by the end The controversial MCCA, an organization in of 1991, there were approximately 1,700 existence since July 1978, reimburses additional catastrophic losses which MCCA insurance companies for injury losses in will have to pay for in the future. Ultimately, excess of $250,000 under Michigan's it's estimated that these approximately unlimited medical benefits provision of the 2,900 cases will cost Michigan motorists 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 no-fault law. $12 billion. Collision (pays for vehIcle damages sustained Each insurance company selling insurance in Future liabilities of MCCA are increasing in c oIIfsioo) Michigan is required to be a member of this so fast that at the end of 1990, the organiza- organization and share the costs of cata- tion was about $900 million underfunded, strophic traffic accidents injuries. It is, in according to the Michigan Association essence, a reinsurance company established of Insurance Companies, meaning insurance strictly for Michigan's unlimited Personal assessments for motorists will grow Injury Protection coverage (PIP). faster still. State legislators, insurance industry 8000 Insurance companies are assessed on a regular basis to pay for MCCA's present representatives, consumer leaders and others 6000 and future liabilities. Those costs are passed have been discussing changes that might onto individual policyholders in the form produce savings or at least control the future of higher premiums. Some companies show costs associated with our unlimited PIP 2000 the MCCA assessment as a separate charge benefit system. Some ideas that have been on the billing notice which they send to proposed, but not yet agreed to include: o their customers. 1. Establish a limitation on the amount PersonaIlnjwy Protetllon Why all the hubbub? Since its creation, costs which health care providers may charge for (pays for haspitaVm.ed:lC.al expenses to fund the state mandated program have specific service~ rendered on behalf of auto and woe\( loss benettts) skyrocketed from a mere $3 per insured accident victims, similar to the workers compensation program already in effect. vehicle in 1978 to $110 in 1992. During its first few years of operations, assessments 2. Permit motorists to purchase a specific were quite low, but assessments jumped to maximum amount of PIP coverage, such as $44 in 1989, $67 in 1990, and $101 for 1991. $250,000 or $500,000 or $1 million, for a reduced premium, instead of requiring him! Simply stated, the actual costs of cata- her to buy unlimited coverage. lSOOO strophic injury claims were grossly underes- 3. Permit insurers to establish contractual timated, especially in the earlier years, due 1‫סס‬oo agreements with health care providers to lack of loss experience for unlimited which agree ~o provide services at a coverage. It's estimated that 91 percent of discounted cost. SOOO such claims involve injury to the brain and! 4. Establish a case management system or spinal cord, which commonly results in o within MCCA for monitoring claim handling 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 serious and permanent disability, i.e., of the member insurers. This approach is paralysis, coma, loss of speech, memory designed to assnre that statutory benefits are IQdIIy Injwriy UabIIIty (coveroge tOf lawsuits and otner Iegol reasoning ability, etc. being provided to injured persons as ~esponsl0imes resulting trOl'l'\ on auto OCCIdent) efficiently as possible. TIPS To KEEPING PREMIUMS As Low As POSSIBLE • Select your car carefully. Rates are based on its cost, repairability, and performance characteristics. • Coordinate personal injury protection coverage if you have other accident and health insurance. The no-fault law requires insurance companies to offer a discount on An impoitant factor to keep in mind about their no-fault insurance if you "coordinate" auto insurance costs is the potential your health insurance or sickness-accident destructiveness of automobiles. The benefits with no-fault policy. Insurance Information Institute reports that To coordinate your sickness or accident in 1989, 46,900 persons died in auto crashes. benefits with no-fault means that if you have There were more than 34 million auto an automobile accident, your no-fault policy accidents that year, injuring 5.5 million pays you only for that part of your lost people. The total costs of settling private wages and medical expenses not paid by passenger' auto insurance claims in 12.89- your employer or your sickness-accident amounteo to.$6t billion. An insurance insurance policy. Because your auto insurer system that pays for that level of destruc- pays less in claims, your insurance cost is tion can never be.-ih'expensive. OtHer cost \.. lower. However, before attempting to factors include: coordinate coverage, make sure your health Legal Costs insurance will provide benefits for auto- Over 50 percent of the money paid out by related injuries. insurance companies for injuries from auto • Choose higher deductibles on collision and accidents goes for lawyers (for both filing comprehensive coverage. suits and defending drivers) and pain and • Choose a different type of collision suffering awards, not actual medical insurance, but make sure you understand expenses. Lawyer involvement in auto when you're covered and when you're not. claims rose by 60 percent from 1977 to 1988, according to industry figures. • If you have an older car, consider dropping Drunk Driving both collision and comprehensive coverage. A1edical~xpenses In the U.S., someone is killedlby a drunk The average bodily injury Claim in) ~8~ driver every 24 minutes. Of the 46,900 • Look for the best combination of price, cost insurance companies $7,594, a 138 traffic fatalities in ] 989, 2~,OOOwere alcohol service and coverage. Ask about special percent increase from 1970 when the relafed, according to the National Safety discounts. Most companies offer rate average claim totaled $3,195. Doctor fees Council''5 ~cciden{ ...EaG~.report. discounts for safety belt usage, anti-theft increased 117 percent, medical care shot up Nearly].8 million persons were arrested for devices, and insuring two or more vehicles 121 percent, and hospital room rates soared drunk driving in 1986, the last year figuf6s, under the same policy. ]63 percent according to the U.S. Depart- were available. The costs of paying those Finally, and most importantly, drive ment of Labor, Bureau of Statistics. Added claims will continue to burden the average, carefully. Most traffic violations and reliance on litigation in accident cases has responsible driver until drunk driving is at-fault accidents will automatically also contributed. brought under control. increase your rates. RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 legal costs that now eat up so much of bodily MILK CARTONS injury claims. CHANGING •••••• An old drink, milk, is coming to school in new containers. For decades, the dominant package for -- school milk has been the half-pint, plastic- coated paperboard box with a gable top. Now two challengers have arisen: a squishy, pillow-shaped plastic pouch, remiu and a rigid plastic bottle. ~ ~ven wh~n-1l~1 elr Income from The Mini-Sip Pouch, • iftit'estments, auto insurers still lost money, made by Du Pont's incurring $101.40 in losses for every $100 Canadian unit, is they took in from premiums. If it were not held in the hand for expectations of eventually being able to and stabbed with a earn profits, the companies would not sharp straw. A continue to offer insurance at all, as million U.S. demonstrated by several large companies, students in a dozen withdrawing from states where their states already drink operations continued to remain unprofitable. their milk from Mini- Sips. The plastic bottle, made of Lexan 1989 Compared to 1988 resin from General • Total accidents increased Electric's plastics 1.7 percent. unit, is clear • Fatal accidents decreased like old- 3.9 percent. fashioned • Number of persons killed glass but far decreased 4.3 percent. less likely • Injury accidents decreased to break. 0.8 percent. • Persons sustaining "A" type injuries (the most serious) decreased 3.1 percent. • Vehicle occupants, driver, ~~e"~\\\tes,t.L,Og llol1J(l~ and passenger deaths increased ~ ~ 4~ 0.5 percent. • Nonvehicle occupants, pedestrians, All the comforts and beauty of a bicyclists, motorcyclists, farm log home are now within your equipment, and other deaths reach. Purchase the basic outside decreased 21.1 percent. close-in structure and "Do it Your- self," or we can construct it for • Drinking was a factor in 44.7 you. Send $6.95 for our catalog of percent of all fatal accidents models and floor plans. where the drinking condition was reported, a decrease of 7.6 percent. Phone (517) 785-3071 P.o. Box 537 Atlanta, MI 49709 RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 Next time you look into your medicine chest Along with the savings, every FELD Drug to take stock, don't forget to get a copy of ~og comes complete with extra discount the latest FELD Drug discount catalog. It s to earn even more off the price of could save you quite a bit of money e orders. Not only are the in the process. prescription drugs available, but generic, non-prescription, over the "Ours has been a popular program," counter medications, vitamins says Chuck Cooper, vice president of lotions, braces, heating pads, canes, marketing for FELD Prescription walkers and other medical device are Service, a pharmacy that delivers available as well. prescriptions through the mail. The company has operated for nearly Cooper says that FELD's profes- 30 years with its home office in sional service is of the highest Omaha, Nebraska. It currently offers standard. "We fill our prescription discount services to two million the same way your local pharmacist Farm Bureau members in 25 states, does - by hand with a registered including Michigan. FELD Drug has pharmacist. We just fill a lot more of offered special rates to Michigan them." The orders are then mailed to Farm Bureau members for nearly customers in heat-sealed, tamper- five years. proof containers. "We provide a shopping option," Cooper estimates that Michigan Cooper says. "We also offer good Farm Bureau members could save pricing and convenience seven days from 30 to 50 percent on their a week." generic prescription services with savings also available on all name- Not only can prescriptions and non- Only registered brand products. prescription orders be mailed to the company, but they can be called in as pharmacists fill To receive the latest FELD Drug catalog, call 1-800-228-3353. Cooper is sure well on the firm's toll-free line at prescriPtions through Michigan Farm Bureau families will be 1-800-228-3353. The service may be best suited for older FELD Drug, pleased with the services and the savings. Farm Bureau members who may need to ensuring accurate and take regular medication, Cooper explains. professional service. RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 FREE RX CATALOG SAVE UP TO 50% Michigan Farm Bureau's Mail Service Pharmacy Program Offered by Feld Prescription Service 5023 Grover St. Omaha Nebraska 68106 Most Commonly Prescribed Prescription Medications Call 1-800-228-3353 if you don't see yours . • • Calan Tabs 80 mg 100's 36.75 12.95 Micro-K Extencaps 8 mEq 100's 12.50 120 mg 100's 49.50 15.95 10 mEq 100's 13.50 7.95 Clinoril Tabs 150 mg 100's 73.50 49.95 Motrin Tabs 400 mg 100's 15.50 7.95 200 mg 100's 89.25 59.95 600 mg 100's 20.25 10.95 Coumadin Tabs 2 mg 100's 39.95 800 mg 100's 24.75 15.95 2.5 mg 100's 41.25 Ortho-Novum Tabs 1-35 21 or 28 19.50 8.95 5 mg 100's 41.75 I-50 21 or 28 19.50 8.95 7.5 mg 100's 63.75 Persantine Tabs 25 mg 100's 25.95 5.95 10 mg 100's 65.75 50 mg 100's 39.25 7.95 E.E.S. Tabs 400 mg 100's 19.95 15.25 75 mg 100's 51.95 9.95 Entex LA Tabs 100's 49.95 12.95 Premarin Tabs 0.3 mg 100's 20.25 10.95 Eryc Caps 250 mg 100's 28.50 16.95 0.625mg 100' s 26.95 13.95 Flexeril Tabs 10mg 100's 74.25 50.95 1.25 mg 100's 35.75 15.95 Inderal Tabs 10 mg 100's 20.75 5.95 2.5 mg 100's 61.95 29.95 20 mg 100's 28.25 6.95 Proventil Tabs 2 mg 100's 30.75 10.95 40 mg 100's 35.95 7.95 4 mg 100's 43.25 15.95 60 mg 100's 47.75 9.95 Provera Tabs 10 mg 100's 46.75 16.95 80 mg 100's 53.75 10.95 Siow-K Tabs 100's 16.75 8.95 Isoptin Tabs 80 mg 100's 37.25 12.95 Synthroid Tabs 0.025 mglOO's 13.25 6.95 120 mg 100's 48.75 15.95 0.05 mg 100' s 14.50 7.95 Lanoxin Tabs 0.125mg 100's 9.75 2.95 0.1 mg 100' s 16.25 3.95 0.25mg 100's 9.75 2.95 0.15 mg 100's 18.95 4.95 Lasix Tabs 20 mg 100's 13.75 5.95 0.2 mg 100's 21.75 5.50 40 mg 100's 17.75 6.95 0.3 mg 100's . 28.50 5.95 80 mg 100's 28.50 11.95 Tegretol Tabs 200 mg' 100's 29.95 13.95 Maxzide Tabs 100's 55.95 10.95 Theo-Dur SA Tabs 100 mg 100's 14.50 8.95 200 mg 100's 19.25 10.95 All your non-prescription vitamin and pain relief products are also available at a savings! r-----------------------------------, I Michigan Farm Bureau : Michigan Farm Bureau I I FREE BIC PEN I FREE CATALOG : I Return this coupon with any order and receive I Simply call Feld at 1-800-228-3353 and receive I a Free Bic Pen compliments of Feld Prescription I your catalog detailing savings on over 5000 health I I I L I Service. Call 1-800-228-3353 for instructions on how to order. Offer expires June 30, 1992. I care items. Included will be a $3 coupon good on your first prescription order. ~II MICHIGAN'S HARVEST GATHERING "A Helping Hand In Time of Need" Michigan's Harvest Gathering, a food and More than 120 Michigan businesses or fund drive designed to benefit the Food Bank organizations have participated, including Council of Michigan (FBCM) and Michigan those who sponsored employee or customer citizens in need during the holiday season, can drives. Can drives were also held in surpassed its objective in both monetary schools, in state government offices, and even tenns and in donated food items. The 21 apartment complexes in Kalamazoo. donations were distributed by the FBCM to At least 16 Michigan businesses have given local food banks to help meet increasing $10,000 or at least 10,000 pounds of food, demands for donated food items for those earning the distinction of being named particularly hard hit by the downswing in the , "benefactors" of the Michigan Harvest Michigan economy. Gathering.-Those businesses include: Awery At last count, over 350,000 pounds of food Bakery; Bil Mar Farms and its parent items and another $206,932 in funds had been "This outpouring of generosity speaks volumes abollf company, Sara Lee; Blue CrosslBlue Shield donated, according to the Michigan Depart- the compassion of Michigan's citizens, .. said Schuette. of Michigan; Cherry Central; Country Fresh; Pictured with MDA Director Bill Schuette (right to left) ment of Agriculture (MDA), surpassing the are his wife Cynthia, MFB President Jack Laurie, DOW Chemical; Ford Motor Company; original goals of lOO,OOOpounds of food Govemor John Engler and his wife Michelle. General Motors; Glen's Markets; Kellogg items and $100,000 during the first five Company; Little Caesars; Meijer; Michigan weeks of the program. Bell Telephone; Michigan Blueberry with them to present to MDA Director Bill Many of Michigan's fanners participated Schuette, who launched the program last GrowersIPacker Foods; and Spartan Foods. by donating products through one of 16 fall to help the FBCM restock local food "We've had everyone from a pre-schooler participating commodity organizations or bank shelves. carefully handing us a can of vegetables to a through drop off points at 20 different unifonned truck driver backing a huge truck "Agriculture has a tradition of neighbor county Farm Bureaus (see list of partici- full of food items to a loading dock at a local helping neighbor," said Schuette. "There is pating counties). food bank," said Schuette. "Even the Pistons no better evidence of this than the generosity Farmer members attending the Michigan shown by members of the Michigan Farm got in on the act, asking their fans to help out; Farm Bureau annual meeting in Grand Rapids Bureau. Together, we are making a difference in one evening they collected over 6,800 also played a key role in the food drive effort, in Michigan and in the lives of thousands pounds of food items." bringing nearly 5,000 pounds of food items of families." Other county Farm Bureaus with drop off County Farm Bureau's Monroe County Montcalm County points at their county offices included: Provide Local Support Oakland County Saginaw County Bay County Sanilac County Approximately 20 county Fann Bureau's conducted local "Harvest Clare County Gathering" activities, with drop off points located at their respective Shiawassee County county offices. St. Clair County Clinton County Arenac County, one of the first to kick off a local food drive, Tuscola County Genesee County accepted donated food items for a four week period, according to Gratiot County county president Gerald Golimbieski. "Using our Farm Bureau Wayne County Insurance office in Standish as a collection point, people dropped off Isabella County their canned goods donations there for distribution within the Kalamazoo County community," he said. Livingston County Golimbieski said the Arenac County Fann Bureau worked directly Direct Donations: with local charitable organizations to assure that local community Macomb County needs were met. "I think most people wanted their donations to help Berrien County Midland County those in their own communities who are less fortunate," he said. Gladwin County RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 ,. Health care coverage isn't medical underwriting and simple anymore. The bottom carry no pre-existing condition line, however, remains the clauses. Prescription, dental and same: everybody wants the best vision coverage options are also possible coverage at the lowest available to qualified groups. possible rates. This is where Farm Bureau has good news If you're a small business owner for small business owners. who is dissatisfied with your present employee health care With over 40 years of experience plan - or a small business in providing individual health owner who is ready to initiate care plans, Farm Bureau is now your first employee health care offering six Blue Cross Blue plan - contact your local Farm Shield plans and two Blue Cross Bureau office. We'll listen to Blue Shield PPO plans specially your health care coverage needs, designed for groups with 2 to 99 tailor a package to suit your employees. All plans have no preferences, and then cut to the bottom line. Protecting the interests of small business Farm Bureau, specialists in by understanding the interests of small business... all business insurance needs, can be depended on to protect the interests of small business because we understand the interests of small business. What matters to you matters to us. For further information, call 1-800-292-2680 or contact .L. your local Farm Bureau office. WHERE BELONGING T . Blue Cross BI~,,= MAKES A __ IIIIGHleAN DIFFERENCE. _. FARIII BUREAU Native Americans were the first to discover The quality and quantity of the sap depend important to randomize the placement of the the sweetness of maple sap, according to the on the variety, age, health and size of the tapping holes so you don't girdle the tree. International Maple Syrup Institute. The tree, as well as soil and weather. Some The amount of water lost in the tapping Algonquin word for maple syrup is individual trees are even genetically sweeter process is minuscule. A tree can lose more "sinzibuckwud", which means "drawn from than neighboring ones, according to Fogle. water from one day in the middle of the wood." They would use their tomahawks to "We have devices to test the sugar content of summer than it would from tapping for sap make V -shaped cuts in the maple trees. sap," he said. "That way you can selectively all spring," he said. Reeds or concave pieces of bark would tap the trees to skip the ones that produce the So the only guilt associated with maple direct the dripping sap to birchbark buckets. thinnest sap." syrup may come from over-indulgence in Next, you need at least a few spiles, which this delicious, natural treat. It's the preferred are the taps that go through the bark of the pancake topping, but don't neglect the maple tree. Larger trees can handle multiple dozens of maple-syrup recipes. They include taps. Buckets or plastic bags are hung from maple syrup pie, maple bars, maple ham, the spiles to collect the dripping sap. maple egg nog, maple cream puffs, maple tapioca, maple mousse, maple fritters, maple You can buy more elaborate equipment from cookies, maple bread pudding, maple suppliers. That can include state-of-the-art pralines and maple fruit sauce. plastic tubes connected to all the trees in your woods, along with a vacuum system to (Recipes courtesy Michigan Maple Syrup increase sap flow. Producers Association) The tapping season begins when the daytime temperatures rise enough to get the sap Photo credits: Mark Eifert running. That can be anywhere from the MAPLE SYRUP PIE middle of February to the first part of March. The first settlers and fur traders introduced 2 cups pure Michigan Maple Syrup Sap flow needs the alternate freezing and wooden buckets to the process, as well as 4 eggs thawing commonly found in north temperate iron and copper kettles. Later, they bored 1/4 tsp. salt regions at this time of year. holes in the trees and hung their buckets on Set oven at 350 degrees. Beat ingredients home-made spouts. It takes thirty to fifty gallons of sap to yield together. Pour into an unbaked 9 inch pie one gallon of maple syrup, depending on the shell and bake for 30-35 minutes. Top A hundred to a hundred and fifty years ago, sugar content of the sap. Sugar content tends with 1 cup chopped nuts if desired. most Michigan farmers tapped trees for to start low, increase and then taper off maple syrup, said George Fogle, owner of through the tapping season. MAPLE BARS Sugarbush Supply Company of Mason. His company is one of the Midwest's leading Boiling the sap is a simple, but time (and 1/2 cup sugar suppliers of maple syrup equipment. fuel) consuming process. "It doesn't have to 1 egg be any more elaborate than a shallow pan on 2/3 cup flour "In the days before sugar was widely 1 cup rolled oats the backyard grill," Fogle said. available, maple syrup was the staple 1 tsp. vanilla sweetener for rural people," he said. Sap should be converted into syrup by 1/2 cup shortening boiling the same day it is collected from the Maple syrup is big business in Michigan, 1/2 cup pure Michigan Maple Syrup trees. Finished syrup should be filtered and with 300 commercial producers selling 1 cup chopped nuts bottled at 180 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent , 90,000 gallons a year. But producing your mold and yeast growth. 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup coconut own syrup can be a rewarding and tasty hobby. Start with sugar maple trees. "Maybe Does tapping harm the trees? "I've got trees Set oven at 350 degrees. Mit ingredients a dozen trees will produce all the syrup a in our woods that I'm sure have been tapped thoroughly. Spread in an 8x8 square family can use," said Fogle. for 125 years," according to Fogle. "It is greased pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. While wamz cut into squares. RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 SAVE \!VATER SAVE~ONEY In South Florida, the Water Patrol tickets accounting for 22 percent of household use. Running Toilets a Problem? anyone seen watering their lawn or washing If the flow rate is over 2.5 gallons per The toilet tank is a prime target for no- their car during restricted hours (20 minutes minute, the kit directs the homeowner to sacrifice savings, as it's one of the biggest of car washing uses almost 100 gallons of install a low-flow shower head and save four water guzzlers, with 45 percent of household water) ...Califomia fines households whose to eight gallons per minute and up to $250 water going for flushing. If the toilet leaks, it water usage exceeds state imposed per year for a family of four-that's savings is wasting enough water to keep a small limits ...New construction must meet tougher, of up to 70 percent in energy and water. creek flowing. national standards, so that water flows from This doesn't mean making do with a trickle, the tap at slower rates ... Leaks easily go undetected, considering that which most people associate with a flow a toilet has to leak 250 gallons per day for When originally unveiled, energy conserva- restrictor. Now, low flow shower heads such the leak to be heard. If the toilet is beyond tion meant doing without. Now, technologi- as The Incredible Head from Resources repair, a water saving toilet can be instaIled cal advances enable consumers to cut water Conservation are designed with pressure only one to one and a half gaIlons per flush use in half without even noticing the compensating features which have the feel of versus the standard six. difference. According to the Environmental a powerful shower but all the water-saving Protection Agency, a family of four living in benefits of a low flow head for a no-sacrifice Otherwise, water saving technology in the a house with old plumbing can save about switch to conservation. form of inexpensive plastic and steel water $200 a year on water, sewer, and energy bills dams can convert an older toilet into a water Check Those Faucets saver. Two to four gallons per flush can be by replacing water guzzling fixtures with efficient ones. A leaky faucet can waste 75 gaIlons per trimmed while maintaining pressure for week for a slow, steady drip, and up to 1000 force flush-a 50 percent savings. That Considering the average family uses 240 gallons per week for a steady stream. translates into year 'round savings of up to gallons of water per day, and saving half that Leaks hurt homeowners three ways-in the 12,000 gallons for a family of four...a is a realistic goal, conservation can result in water bill, sewage bill and the cost to heat painless way to trim 20 percent off the reductions of 47,000 gallons annually! water. Once the leaks are repaired using the average water bill! Conservation also benefits the whole infra- structure of the country, the dam system, faucet drip fixer enclosed in the kit, a low For those who wish to take water conserva- water system, power supply and aquifers. flow faucet aerator is recommended. tion one step further, the kit comes complete And Resources Conservation is the company A taps aver can reduce water use in faucets by with over thirty water-saving tips and ideas that makes it easy with a Do-It-Yourself up to 60 percent by reducing the flow from for using water efficiently in and around the Home Water Kit and a complete line of five to seven gallons per minute down to 2.75 home. water conservation products for the home. g.p.m. with enough force for kitchen chores. Once the water audit is complete and water For under $50, homeowners can retrofit their The flow can be further cut to .5 or 1.5 for saving devices are in place (all installed entire house with water saving devices and bathroom faucets, where a lower flow is without tools as easily as screwing in a light save both money and water! adequate for hand washing and bulb), the homeowner can sit back and toothbrushing. watch the savings roll in and feel good The water audit kit includes simple step-by- about the global benefits of conservation. step instructions that take the homeowner Then there's the trickle down effect-lower through a water assessment from the water taxes, fewer rates, no new power plants, meter to the tap, toilet and shower. With waste water and sewage capacity an analysis of current water usage, maximized ...just more to feel directions on how to detect and good about. repair leaks and guidelines on when to install water saving To order your kit, or for more devices, the homeowner is ready to put information call 1-800-243-2862 an end to water waste. or write: Checking the Shower I Resources Conservation, Inc. A flow gauge device provided in the kit is I P.O. Box 71 .,.....-' .-1--- used to check the flow rate in the shower, Greenwich, CT 06836 RURAL LIVING • WINTER 1992 Compare the interest rates. The interest rate on the MemberLine VISA and Gold MasterCard is just 15.9 % A.P.R. -one of the lowest interest rates available. In addition, you pay no hJleres/on 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 & ~lasterCard offer a wide array of complimentary features and options for Gold MasterCard. Two good reasons your protection and peace of mind. And when you carry a Gold MasterCard, you'1\ enjoy the added advantages 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 ... warranty extension program - valuable "extras" you and your family can depend on. Easy to apply for. Simply remove this page from the magazine and fi1\ou[ the application on the reverse side. Lenerfold and staple the form with the mailing address on the outside. No postage necessary! ... /tIICHIGIiN ._. FAR/tl BIJREAIJ a FIRSfoFAMUIO\.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, M I 49003-9917 APPLY NOW M for a Farm Bureau MemberLine VISA or Gold MasterCard FARM BUREAU MEMBERLlNE- APPLICATION First Name Middle IMIaI Last Name I Social Security Number Present Street Address Time at Present Address I Date 01 Birth Yrs. Mos. I City, State I lip Code Home Telephone Number (Include Area Code) ( ) u.. Previous Address (If less than two years at present address) City State Zip ...J LLI en Present Employer Income trom ahmony. cI1ild support. or maintenance payments need not be revealed a:: If you do not wish to have rt as a basis for repaying this obligation. :;:) o Employer's Telephone Number I Posrtion Time at Present Employmen.t o Monthly > ( ) I Yrs. Mos Gross Income from Employment 0 Yearly City, State, Zip Code o Monthly Other Income 0 Yearly Source of Other Income PrevIOus Employer (if less than two years al present employer) Time at Previous Employer I Yrs. Mos. Nearest Relahve (not hving With you) I Address Telephone I ( ) First Name Middle Inrtial Last Name I Social Security Number i: 5 Present Street Address Time at Present Address I Date of Birth C,,) C,,) Yrs. Mos I nJ i: CIty, State I Zip Code Home Telephone Number (Include Area Code) ( ) ~ PrevIOUS Address (it less than two years at present address) City State Zip !Z Present Employer Income trom alimony. cI1lld support. or maintenance payments need not be revealed ct If you do not wish to have rt as a basis for repaying this obligatIOn. U :::::i Employer' 5 Telephone Number I PosrtlOn Time at Present Employment o Monthly CL CL ( -- ) I Yrs. Mos. Gross Income trom Employment 0 Yearly ct City. State, ZIp Code o Monthly 6 Other Income 0 Yearly Source ot Other Income u PrevIOus Employer (If less than two years at present employer) Time at Previous Employer a:: :;:) I Yrs. Mas o > Nearest RelatIVe (not Irving with you) I Address \( Telephone ) en Credrt References Monthly Payments Balance Due o Monthly Payment LLI DwniBuying Home o Other o Rent S U Z $ Mortgage Holder or Landlord Mortgage Balance LLI S a:: LLI $ Estimated Value u.. o Checking Account (Bank Name) LLI S a:: S ..... Have You Ever DYes o LLI o Savings Account (Bank Name) Declared oNo S Bankruptcy ? a:: U Optional Group Credit Insurance Please check your card preference IIwe hereby certify that each of the answers on this application is true and correct, and is made for the purpose of obtaining a loan or allOt from (choose one design only) the Bank. lIwe certify that all debts owed whether individual, joint or The cost to you, the Primary Account holder LLI (applcant). is $,60 per $100 for each month's o SCENIC VISA o STANDARD VISA contingent have been disclosed above and that none of my/our debts are U Z ct a:: average dally balance, The insurance WIll be- come effectrve when your credrt begins, You must be less than age 71 to be eligible tor rov- r~ - delinquent or in defauh, except as IIwe have indicated above. lIwe hereby authorize the Bank to investgate my/au credit record to the extent rt deems necessary and to venfy my/our credit. employment and income references lIwe further authorize and instruc1 any person or consumer reporting :;:) erage, A certlfcate which more tully descnbes en the Insurance Will be sent when your credit ~~ agency to furnish to the Bank any informatIOn that it may have or obtain in ~ appIcatlOn IS approved. Underwntfen by The response to such credrt inquines. lIwe further agree that this application ..... shall become the propeIty of the Bank, whether or not n is approved . o LLI Prudentl3l Company ot America. Newarll. New Jersey, and Prudenttal Property and Casualty OR Apply for a Gold MasterCard IIwe agree that If this application is accepted and a card or cards are issued that any use ot the card(s) will be governed by the tenns and a:: Insurance Company, Holmdel. New Jersey. o rondrtlOns of the Bank's VISNMasterCard Agreement and Disclosure U Those chooslng to enroll will be mailed a cer. YES. I'd like the extra freedom and flexlbihty provided before or with delivery of the card(s). IIwe assume, d more than CL of a Gold MasterCard Instead of the VISA one jointly and severally, liability for all cI1arges incurred in any use of :;:) hfcate of Insurance explaining benefits, limita- card. If I do not qualify for the Gold the card(s). o tIOnS and provisions and indICating the effec. MasterCard. ronSlder my appIcation for the a:: tlVe date ot coverage. CJ Farm Bureau VISA card. ...J x ct Z o YES, Please enroll me in the ApplICant's Signature Date o Group Credit Insurance Program. X ~CL o ADDITIONAL CARD FOR AUTHORIZED USER Co.Applicant's Signature Date o ~ ~T AppIcant's Signature Print name here AGENTUSE ~ _ Ann ... I .... nc. Annual F_ Grac. Period tor Percent.ge R.t. C.lcu .. tlon Aepa~otttw Method None for scenic or standard VISA .... nc. tor Cash Advance Fee - none 15,9% $20 for Gold MasterCard N.w Purcha ... Transaction Fee - none Average Daily Balance (rebated every year net annual Late Fee - $10.00 (excludIng new purchases) purchases exceed $3,000) 25 Days. starting with the billing Over Limit Fee - $10.00 date on statement. Minimum Finance Charge - none .Flnance Charges are Charged on cash advances and MemberL.ne CheCks trom the dale they are posted Please letterfold and staple this form with the mailing address on the outside (reverse side) FIGHT FIRE Rescue Your Dying Septic System NOW! Just Pour Safe, Easy-To-Use Powder into your Commode and Finally Fire kills about 5,000 Americans a year and causes property damage in BEFORE the millions of dollars - a ledger of destruction that also accounts for SEPTIPRO Solid waste terrible emotional suffering. But if you take proper steps involving pre- clogs pipes, tank & vention and preparation, you can keep from being a victim of the horror drainfield. of a fire in your home. Prevention is the first line of defense. Remember ... AELD AFTER Have your furnace checked annually • You should install quality smoke SEPTIPRO~ by a professional. detectors that sense smoke and sound a Solids digested GREATER and liquified high alarm to w~ke you in time to escape. SATURATION • Clean or change your furnace AREA • now absorbed in open drainfields. filter regularly. • Smoke detectors should be placed on the ceiling or high on walls outside bedroom • Before you use a portable heater in your SEPTIPRO. SAVES YOU MONEYI No more costly areas. In a multilevel home, each level home, check with local fire officials to mechanical cleaning, digging or pumping: should have one. SAFE AND EASY TO USEI Just pour Septlpro into be sure its use is allowed by code in your commode; let it work! Results usually visible over. your community. Smoke detectors should be tested weekly, night! Non-toxic, poisonous or corrosive, harmless to especially when children are present. humans, animals or plumbing. Will make your system • If you use a portable heater, keep at least odor-free. SEPTIPRO IS GUARANTEED TO KEEP The testing will allow kids to learn what three feet between the heater and the wall YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM TROUBLE-FREE OR WE WILL the alarm sounds like and they won't be REFUND EVERY PENNY YOU PAID FOR YOUR or other objects. SEPTIPRO •. If it does not do as claimed, return the afraid or confused if the alarm goes off unused portion within 30 days and get refund on product. • Follow instructions carefully and use in a fire. 1 lb. for initial treatment of 1000 gal. tank or 4-oz. once only approved fuel in a portable heater. a month. Order now! Fill out & send to: • Smoke detector batteries should be Never, for example, use gasoline in a replaced annually. Non-working detectors SEPTIPRO~ kerosene heater. are a growing problem; about a quarter of P.O. BOX 395 • Check that all electrical appliances all U.S. homes have detectors that don't Lester Prairie, MN 55354 and cords have been approved by an work because the batteries are dead or CJ lib. $9.95 plus S2.5OP & H lolal $12.45 Check.:J o 2Ibs.$16.40 plus $3.50 P & H total $19.90 C.O.D.Extra 0 independent testing organization such missing. Make changing the batteries a o 4Ibs.$23.30 plus $4.00 P & H lotal $27.30 Mastercard.:J as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or special occasion - something you do on CJ 8 Ibs.S38.5O plus $4.50 P & H tolal $43.00 Visa 0 Factory Mutual (FM). your birthday or during a Fire Prevention • Have your electrical wiring checked by an Week in October. electrician if you blow fuses or trip circuit • Families should gather to discuss and Signature breakers frequently. practice a fire escape plan. Be sure to Street • Keep all areas clear of combustibles have a main and alternate exit for each City (newspapers, magazines, rags, etc.) and room. Always specify a place outside to keep broilers, ovens, and ventilation ducts meet so everyone is accounted for. and hoods free of grease. • Keep a portable fire extinguisher on each level of your home and in any outbuild- • Keep a close watch while cooking. ings you may have. Inspect extinguisher • If you smoke, use deep ashtrays and never monthly to be sure they are fully charged smoke in bed or when drowsy. and ready to use. Also be sure you know New Hearing Aids how to use them, and be sure to know • Store flammables only in safety containers and outside your home. what their limitations are. • All models AVk...f\\'a Preparation, the second line of defense, Pay special attention to the hazards • Huge Savings L//J,..:J \] includes early warning devices and fire fire presents to older persons and • No Salesman will call extinguisher as well as a prearranged and children. Fires are the leading cause practiced emergency plan. Remember ... of accidental deaths among children, Try Before You buy! and every year more than I ,300 adults • Most fires happen between 10 p.m. and Write: Better Hearing over age 65 die in fires. 6 a.m., and most victims die from smoke 202-B E. 2nd Street • Brookport. IL 62910 1-800-662-5522 (24 Hrs.) and poisonous gas inhalation long before flames reach them. (Courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance) RURAL UYI$ • WINTEJ\ 1892 ~a Week in Mexico ,\~ ~~st: $J052perperson. Rqmper: yoorself at the Hotellxtapan Delasal, a world known Spa fde!ity:~a' ~Jtures deluxe accommodations. Included are 8 days of4~11spa facilities like three meals daily, unlimited facials, as~es, .~nicures and exercise programs. Airport transfers are approxiMoJely $72 per person - one way and gratuities are not inc~8d for spa week. This is a very special package for very I >- special people. Pamper yourself! (ancun, the Jewel of the Caribbean cost: $569 per person. Eancu is a great warm weather destination because of it's 14 "\iles o~~ utiful beaches and the friendliest people in the world. flle PI~ De Oro Hotel has a great special starting January 1 ~rou9Nanuary 24th, 1992. This package includes round trip ~l~re ,bm ' Detroit, hotel for 7 days, airport transfers, baggage a~~ ~~dling service, hotel tax and a Welcome reception. This hor;1 is~nown for it's great location on the beach. Cancun is the ]rf8& get-a-way for anyone seeking the sun and relaxation. DlsKy World, It's Everyone's favorite Vacation! ThisMackage includes anything that you prefer at a member only discount. You can pick the number of nights you want to stay, you ca?1tay on the Disney grounds or off premise, and you have the op~~n to Ay or drive. Farm Bureau has admission tickets available. Cu tOmize your Disney Vacation just the way you want, and still get a great discount! ... /tIICHIGAN ,.~ FAR/tl BUREAU For more information on how to book your GETAWA YCALL J -800-748-0289 Michigan Farm Bureau's members can get • If you see more than one deer, watch for deer warning devices at considerable savings more. They often travel as a group. from Farm Bureau Insurance, to protect • If a deer runs in front of your car, don't against the hazards of car-deer incidents on swerve to miss it. You could lose control of Michigan roads. Nearly 46,000 car-deer your car, creating a more dangerous situation related accidents took place in Michigan than hitting the deer, such as hitting a tree. during the 12 months ending June, 1991, killing one person and injuring 1,957 people. • Don't go near a deer after you hit it. A stunned deer can suddenly leap up and inflict The device, activated by on rushing air, ~ serious injury. emits an ultrasonia tone, inaudible to • Report the accident to police immediately. humans that startles deer and usually sto them in their tracks before they cross}oads More tha arm Bureau Insurance offers one more The deer alert device is available from F night, so pol' 'nder: Even though half of all car-deer Bureau Insurance Agents and Count~ 1- especiall c ts occur in the fall, deer are a year Bureau offices across the state. Po . ger. County Akona 12 7 Alger 6 17 Allegan 32 58 Alpena II II Antrim 18 Ingham 18 Arenac 16 Ionia 33 Baraga 6 Iosco 54 Barry 8 35 Iron 15 Bay 296 15 Isabella 23 Benzie 240 Jackson 10 Berrien 593 Kalamazoo 21 Branch 691 22 Kalkaska 8 Calhoun 1,368 52 Kent tsego 13 Cass 659 25 Ottawa 29 Charelvoix 527 14 La Presque Isle 15 Cheboygan 315 10 Lapee Roscommon 10 Chippewa 290 7 Leelanau Saginaw 30 Clare 665 24 Lenawee St. Clair 36 Clinton 652 31 Livinston St. Joseph 42 Crawford 301 12 Luce 90 Sanilac 37 Delta 698 23 Mackinac --J54 Schoolcraft 13 Dickinson 586 13 Macomb 441 Shiawassee 33 Eaton 801 41 Manistee 283 Tuscola 40 Emmet 382 21 Marquette 521 Van Buren 22 Genesee 756 34 Mason 439 Washtenaw 42 Gladwin 482 25 Mecosta 865 Wayne 20 Gogebic 135 11 Menominee 883 Wexford 14 Gr. Traverse 335 13 Midland 758 TOTALS 1,957 (Prepared by Departmellt of Highway Safety Planning, June J 99 J ) Nail down a lifetime retirement income ... and high interest earnings, too With a Single Premium Deferred Annuity from Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company of Michigan With just a one-time deposit (from $5,000 to $250,000). you can guarantee yourself an income for life. You can also lock in interest rates for up to five years at a time, and withdraw funds without penalty (within limits). Save on taxes, too: You pay no taxes on your interest earnings until you withdraw them, so your fund can build up for years, protected from taxes. Your funds are safe: There's no risk. Farm Bureau Life is one of only a few life insurance companies in America that has earned the highest rating (A+, Superior) from A.M. Best for the past 16 years in a row. We are backed by over 40 years of financial strength and quality investments, so you know your future is safe with us. Call your Farm Bureau Insurance agent today ... and nail down a secure financial future. MAKING YOUR FUTURE MORE PREDICTABLE ... FARM BUREAU ••• @ INSURANCE FARM BUREAU MUTUAL • FARM BUREAU LIFE • FARM BUREAU GENERAL • FB ANNUITY Michigan Farm Bureau Rural Vving Magazine P.O. Box 30960 7373 W. Saginaw Hwy. Lansing. MI48909