SAFEMARK STEEL ... Top Quality Strong Self Sharpening -Setter Wearability -Setter Soil Penetration ORDER Made Accurately -Uniform Fit Dealer Service Farm Neighbor -Local Access NOW! Salesman -Service Around-the-Clock -Knows Your Needs Sale ends Dec. 26. Top Warrantee Contact your local Safemark Vendor Simple -No Hastie -Locally Adjusted or your county Farm Bureau office A Savings through Michigan Farm Bureau Group Purchasing, Inc. "0 Over 1, 100 polley recommendations There's were reviewed by the 20-member MFB Polley Development Substitute for Committee. People Power We are, at this moment, at which would allow for a deduc- available, but their effective- the peak of our annual "har- tion of one-half the cost of ness can be undermined by vest" season, the harvesting of health insurance costs for member inaction. Imagine their grassroots farmer concerns and farmers. powerless feeling and frustra- the gleaning of ideas for ad- This is an economic issue tion when they visit a con- dressing those concerns. This that affects the wallet of every gressman and say, "This is harvest moved throughout the farmer. I'm sure if we took a what Farm Bureau members state at county annual meet- poll today of farmer concerns, believe/' and the congressman i~gs and will continue through health care costs would be near responds, "But I haven't heard our Michigan Farm Bureau an- the top of the list. Yet few of from one of them." nual meeting in Grand Rapids them, at least in Michigan, have I truly believe that most Farm and the AFBF national conven- persuaded their congressmen to Bureau members recognize the tion in Florida next month. support that legislation. power of their organization to When this annual harvest is accomplish things they could completed, what we will have to not do on their own. But too show for our labors are thou- There is no organiza- many have forgotten the source sands of printed words in neat of that power. "Let Farm Bureau tion that invests the little policy packages. Granted, do it" may be a vote of con- they are important words human and financial fidence, but it can also be an because they chart the course resources that Farm excuse. for our county, state and na- Bureau does to develop Our theme for this year is tional organizations during the "Farm Bureau - It's Happening policy that reflects the Because of YOU." Think about year ahead. But, even though they are powerful words, they thinking of its member- that .... The best forward- have - on the own - no power ship. thinking, constructive, problem- to make things happen. solving creativity of farmers is The power to make it happen being invested in developing must come from individual There is no other organization policies for our organization. farmer members who take every that invests the human and Let's vow now to invest an possible opportunity to use financial resources that Farm equal amount of effort in ex- those words to influence Bureau does to develop policy ecuting them. decision-makers. Without that that reflects the thinking of its follow-through, policy develop- membership. Our POI PX system ment is an exercise in futility. It has written an enviable record would be like having a blueprint of legislative successes since for a new barn, but no workers the organization was born in to build it. 1919. And the reason for that President Frankly, I'm concerned about success has been the willing- Michigan Farm Bureau what appears to be a growing ness of members to "stand up apathy regarding the member and be counted" in support of dedication and discipline Farm Bureau policy. necessary for effective policy Continual success can breed execution. An example is legis- apathy and I think we need to lation that was introduced be aware of that danger. Our through the efforts of AFBF state and national organiza- tions have the best lobbyists 4. .RURAL LIVING, DECEMBER 198.3 COUNTRY LEDGER Would You Be Convicted? By Robert Delano, President are active in advancing the Too seldom does neighbor American Farm Bureau Farm Bureau cause? call on neighbor in retelling the How long has it been (if ever) need for farmers and ranchers The street-front church sign since you personally worked to to organize. We pay our dues held this eye-catching question: recruit a neighbor or solicited when the annual notice comes "If you were accused of being a someone to support a Farm Bu- in the mail and read the publi- Christian, would you be convict- reau position? Have you worked cations that help us keep up ed?" lately to advance a Young with Farm Bureau happenings. The question is a sober re- Farmer and Rancher program or Perhaps we attend the county minder of the time when Chris- with Farm Bureau Women for annual picnic and stop in at the tians were heretical outlaws the good of all agriculture? Are office a time or two during the subject to mob law and death you active in Farm Bureau ef- year. by stoning or worse. The follow- forts toward political education, .ers of Christ in those hard policy development or policy ex- You Are Farm Bureau times survived in their faith ecution? through clandestine gatherings Farm Bureau's growth in size and by identifying each other Few Worthwhile and importance is both a bless- through carefully shielded sket- Things Come Easy ing and a handicap. In the ches of the sign of the fish in minds of some members, Farm the dust of the streets. For most of us it is easy to be Bureau exists only in the state It is easy to be a Christian a Farm Bureau member now ... capital or in Washington, and now ... perhaps too easy. perhaps too easy. there, only in the work of staff. We forget how other people in There was a time when join- For these members, the issues other times, including Christ ing a Farm Bureau group and of water rights, zoning, tax cuts Himself, paid for our heritage of being considered a member was or spending control are the Christian freedom and how in much more difficult and far tasks of others - when quite many countries of the world more demanding. the reverse should be true. this freedom remains sup- Farm Bureau is unique - For many years, T.C. Petersen, pressed or denied. nobody had ever built one then director of program devel- before. The early members gave opment for the American Farm A Question for Today much of themselves in deciding Bureau Federation, asked coun- what needed to be done and in ty leadership this hard ques- There is a real temptation to shaping and reshaping their tion: "Could you 'sell' Farm ,. address a similar question to organization to meet those Bureau based only on what your each of us in Farm Bureau: "If needs. county does?" you were 'accused' of being an I would suggest that this "Involvement and More" - active Farm Bureau member, shaping remains a continuous the theme for the coming an- could you be convicted?" process requiring your direct in- nual, meeting of the American What "evidence" could be volvement. It is so easy to Farm Bureau Federation - used? When were you last seen forget that paying dues is just speJls it out. You are Farm at a county Farm Bureau meet- the first step toward true mem- Bureau. ing, or in the company of bership which requires much How well the organization known Farm Bureau people more than money from each of does now and in the future planning some action? When us. We must not forget that the depends on you. have you last taken part in most important Farm Bureau To repeat: If you were "ac- policy discussions? Is there a work is done by us personally - cused" of being an active Farm record of your personal service in the communities and coun- Bureau member, could you - on a committee, or other evi- ties in which we live. on the evidence of your per- dence that you (me, all of us) sonal involvement - logically be convicted? It is a question all of us need to ask ourselves over and over again. RURAL LIVING, DECEMBER 1983 5 LEG ISLATIVE REVI EW since they unilaterally reduce cull on the beef and pork in- duty rates on products entered dustries. into the U.S. without oQtaining Following conference commit- a counter concession from trad- tee agreement, the legislation ing partners. FB believes that will be sent to the White House. Miscellaneous Tariff Bills any reduction in duties should The price support legislation, - AFBF Vice President/ MFB be done in the trade negoti- passed by the House, is what President Elton Smith was pre- ating process rather than AFBF President Robert Delano pared to give testimony before through unilateral action called "a string of defeats for the House subcommittee on \without any trade benefit in dairy farmers and almost every- trade, Nov. 14, regarding six return for the reduction. body else." Delano said reduc- miscellaneous tariff bills. - H.R. 4296 - Orange Juice: tions in production of milk pro- However, witnesses were not FB supports establishing clearer vided under the bill will be called in the hearing, and the definition of the intended duties " ... temporary, token reduc- FB testimony will be entered in- on concentrated and not con- tions for a period of 15 months to the hearing record as written centrated orange juice in order during which culling of cows comment. A summary of the to counteract the practice of could be disruptive to cat- comment appears below: avoiding proper duty on con- tlemen primarily engaged in -H.R. 2711 - Apple Juice Im- centrated juices. beef production." ports: FB is keenly interested in - H.R. .3795 - Wine Tariff Ad- the passage of this bill. It was justments: FB contends that ad- introduced by Congressman justments in wine duties are Social Security - The Social VanderJagt and has 47 co- proper subjects for future multi- Security Administration has an- sponsors. The bill would impose lateral trade negotiations. If the nounced that for 1984 the a duty of 1/10 of 1 cent per U.S. were to take unilateral ac- amount of income subject to gallon on apple and pear juice tion to raise the duty on wine Social Security taxes will be imports in order to place sub- imports, the EECwould have an $.37,800. For employers and sidized Argentine apple juice excuse to eliminate the zero- employees the 1984 tax rate imports in a dutiable category duty bindings on U.s. soybeans will be 7%; however, employees and enable apple growers or and corn gluten negotiated in will get a ..3% credit resulting in their processing cooperatives to the Toyko round of trade nego- an effective rate of 6.7%, the file a countervailing duty peti- tiations. same rate as the employees tion without incurring the -H.R . .3727 - Sugar: FB op- contribution in 198.3. tremendous expense of proving poses this bill, which would pro- Self employed individuals will "injury" to the domestic apple hibit the president from impos- begin paying a 14% self em- industry. ing import quotas on sugar and ployment tax rate. This rate is Over the past seven years, the repeal existing quotas. If enact- equal to the combined rate for quantity of apple juice imported ed into law, this bill would employers and employees. In into the U.S. has grown from destroy the domestic sugar pro- 1984, self employed individuals .34 ..38 million gallons (single gram. Farmers are having a will be able to take a credit of strength equivalent) in 1976 to most difficult time staying in 2.7% of self employment in- 10.3.76 million gallons in 1982. business. This bill would further come to help offset the increase Foreign apple juice is imported reduce farm incomes and would in the self employment taxes in concentrated form for recon- drive many farmers out of busi- due. stitution in this country. This ness. represents the equivalent of more than .30 million bushels of apples, a figure greater than Dairy Legislation - House- the average annual production Senate conferees met Nov. 14 to of Michigan and Pennsylvania begin resolving differences be- combined. tween their respective versions State Income Tax - Michi- -H.R. 4255 - Duty Reduction of recently adopted bills on gan's income tax will automati- on Imported Fresh Asparagus, farm price supports and other cally drop 1/4% on Jan. 1, 1984 and H.R. 2776 - Duty Reduc- provisions of dairy and tobacco from 6 ..35% to 6.1%. This repre- tion on Imported Gut for programs. One area where dif- sents a .35% reduction of the Sutures: FB opposes these bills ferences exist involves how to .38% increase enacted last limit the impact of a large cow 6 RURAL LIVING, DECEMBER 1983 March. The tax will continue to decrease to 5.1 % in 1986. If at that time unemployment drops below 9%, the rate will drop to 4.6%. Michigan is turning around college or university anywhere." and has averted near bankrupt- A line up for one Saturday cy. The short term bond rating lunch included steamship . ,. rounds of beef served on onion has gone from the worst in the nation to one of the best. buns, navy bean soup, aspar- Schools will be receiving in- agus soup, pumpkin nut bread, .creased state aid this year relish tray, cherry and blueberry which will relieve further pres- pie, cherry apple drink, coffee sure on local property tax. and soda. In addition to the buffet meal, apples and soybean snacks were provided at the sports Welfare Workfare - Legisla- writers' tables, and two conces- tion is expected to pass after a sion areas and the buffet line bipartisan group of legislators remained open throughout the worked out a compromise dur- game to serve the media. ing the summer recess. Instead With the cooperation of Mrs. of spending $43 million on wel- Mackey, a serving table was fare increases, the money - also placed in the president's along with federal matching box. Guests, which on occasion funds of $20.5 million - will be include the governor, corporate used for a variety of programs. presidents and university It will provide work for about 8,500 welfare recipients; donors, were also served some of Michigan's farm best prod- ,another 200,000 would receive "Michigan Food Products on ucts. job training. Parade" was the billing for a The highly successful promo- About $10 million will be promotion throughout the foot- tion came about through the used for "workfare." All able- ball season at Michigan State work of Jim Byrum, executive bodied persons on welfare, with University sponsored by Michi- secretary of the Michigan Bean some exceptions, will be re- gan agricultural groups in Commission, and Dick Stuec- quired to work or lose their cooperation with MSU.The ken, president of the MSU benefits for three months. traditional pregame lunch in Agriculture and Natural Re- Another part of the program the stadium press box was up- sources Alumni Association. will hire about 7,000 on welfare graded to a pregame feast of They met with MSUofficials in minimum wage community Michigan foods for members of from the Athletic Department, jobs at $13.1 million. the media and guests of M5U the Sports Information Depart- One million dollars would be y. President Cecil Mackey. ment and Union Food Services used to subsidize wages for Replacing the previous years' to devise a promotion that training purposes for six generic fare of hot dogs and would benefit both the universi- months for 1,000 jobs for potato chips, this year's menus ty and Michigan agriculture. welfare people hired by private showcased a different meat They also coordinated the par- employers. Two million dollars product each week, including ticipation of many Michigan will create 500 welfare jobs in ham, turkey, beef, pork and commodity groups representing state parks in the Michigan sausage, complemented by a producers of apples, asparagus, Conservation Corps. host of Michigan's farm best beans, beef, celery, cherries, A total of $38 million will go fruit and vegetable products. dairy products, onions, plums, to home heating and weatheri- The buffet style meals, pre- pork and potatoes. zation programs. pared by MSUUnion Food Ser- Their efforts resulted in the vices, fed some 600 persons popular prefootball feasts, each Saturday, prompting com- which have had a positive im- Tbree Old Laws Repealed ments that MSU's press box had pact both from the standpoint