Michigan Farm News Farm Labor Issues Raise Grower Concerns A Publication of the Michigan Farm Bureau • June 1984 Michigan Farm Bureau Buyer's Service Program Now It's Guaranteed! .. What is the Some Purchases Buyer"s Service? Made by Michigan .. The Michigan Farm Bureau Buyer's Service is a program designed to help save you hundreds Farm Bureau Members of dollars on major purchases that you may make in the coming years. Farm Bureau has Seiko Watch - Savings: $167.00 contracted with The Family Saver Co. to pro- Jenn-Air Range - Savings:$134.00 vide this service. Whirlpool Refrigerator - Savings: $117.00 G.E. Dishwasher - Savings: $140.00 The Family Saver can be your purchasing agen- Styline Table - Savings: $120.00 cy by eliminating much of the middleman's Thomasville Bedroom Suite - Savings: $421.00 high mark-up and pass these savings on to you. St. Johns Furniture - Savings: $580.00 No pressure to buy, only our help in saving Amana Radarange - Savings: $170.00 you money. Amana Refrigerator - Savings: $157.00 Homelite Chainsaw - Savings: $75.00 RCA Video Recorder, Tuner, Camera - How can we Savings: $425.00 Dressher Brass Headboard - Savings: $192.00 Richardson Dining Room Furniture - do this? Savings: $690.00 Whirlpool Washer - Savings: $94.00 Very simple. We order merchandise direct Whirlpool Dishwasher - Savings: $79.00 from the factory or distributor and ship it John Deere Chainsaw - Savings: $50.00 directly to you or to a warehouse near where Zenith Television - Savings: $135.00 you live. We do not have the high cost of in- Bassett Occasional Tables - Savings: $631.00 ventory, or large warehouse and showrooms, sales commissions, etc. As your purchasing ---------------------------- agent to help you save money, we also have Michigan Farm Bureau Buyer's Service Enrollment Form some retailers who are interested in increasing their volume and thus giving them larger buy- Please complete and mail along with your check or ing discounts by brokering their product money order in the amount of $25.00 to: through our great purchasing power. Michigan Farm Bureau Member Service Department P.O. Box 30960 Lansing, MI 48909 What does it cost? Date The Buyer's Service, at a cost of only $25 for the first year and $15 thereafter annually, allows you Membership Number to get unlimited pricing information via a toll free number. This program compares favorably Farm Bureau Membership Name with ones costing up to $795 annually. (as shown on membership card) Satisfaction IS Address Guaranteed! City Use the Family Saver for one full year. If at the State and Zip end of the year you find you could not save at least $25.00 in quick quotes, we will refund your Telephone No. $25.00 fee! Amount Enclosed $ (check or money order) JUNE 1984 FARM NEWS VOL. 63 NO.6 A publication THE COVER Michigan farmers employ 01 the migrant labor to harvest over 20 fruit and vegetable crops Michigan from May through November. Farm Bureau Photo by Marcia Ditchie In this issue: Farm Labor Issues Raise Grower Concerns Early season efforts by farmworker organizers coupled with new federal migrant labor laws has Michigan ag employers concerned about potential problems on their fruit and vegetable operations. 10 Home Dairy Marketing Has Fresh Appeal for Today's Consumer A handful of home dairy operators in Michigan are building new, local markets with old-fashioned pride. 13 Packaging That Country Feeling In the heart of northern Michigan's cherry country, orchard grower David Amon and his family are offering tourists an on-farm attraction that both entertains and informs. 19 COLUMNS Rural Route - page 4 Rural Exchange - page 16 Country Ledger - page 5 Farm Bureau Market Place - page 18 Legislative Review - page 6 Discussion Topic - page 24 Front and Center - page 15 Agrinomic Update - page 27 Michigan Farm l'Iews RURAL L1VII'IG (ISSI'I 0026-2161): Michigan Farm News Rural Living is published monthly. on the first day. by the Michigan farm Bu- reau Information and Public Relations Division. Publication and editorial offices at 7373 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing. Mich. ~8909. Post Office Box 30960; telephone, Lansing 517-323- 7000, Extension 508. SUBSCRlnlOI'l I"RICE: $1.50 per year to members, included in annual dues. $3.00 per year non. members in Michigan, $5.00 per year non-members out of state. Publication No. 3~50~0. Established Jan. 13, 1923 as Michigan Farm News, name changed to Michigan Farm News Rural Living Dee. L 1981. Third.class postage paid at Lansing. Michigan and at additional mailing offices. EDITORIAL: Connie Turbin. Editor; Mar- cia Ditchle, Associate Editor and Business Manager; Donna Wilber, Contributing Editor; Cathy J. Kirvan, Associate Editor. OFFICERS: Michigan farm Bureau; President. Elton R. Smith, Caledonia; Vice President. Jack Laurie, Cass City; Administrative Director. Robert Braden. Lansing; Treasurer and Chief financial Of- Ficer, Max D. Dean; Secretary, William S. Wilkinson. DIRECTORS: District I. Arthur Bailey, SChoolcraft; District 2, Lowell Eisenmann, Blissfield; District 3. James Sayre. Belleville; District ~. Elton R. Smith. Caledonia; District 5, Albert Cook, Mason; District 6, Jack Laurie. Cass City; District 7. Robert Rider, Hart; District 8, l.yle LeCronier, Freeland; District 9. Donald Nugent frankFort; District 10, Margaret Kartes, West Branch; District I L Bernard Doll, Dafter. DIREC- TORS AT LARGE: Dave Conklin. Corunna; Michael Pridgeon, Montgomery; Wayne Wood, Marlette. FARM BUREAU WOMEI'I: faye Adam. Snover. FARM BUREAU YOUI'IG FARMERS: Mark Smuts, Charlotte. POSTMASTER: In using Form 3579, mail to: Michigan Farm News Rural Living. P.O. Box 30960. 7373 West Saginaw Highway. Lansing. Mich. ~8909. Agriculture Pulling Together The 1985 farm bill debate has road to economic well-being, or whatever. In addition to the in- all the potential of dividing develop a united front like terdependency of the various agriculture, pitting commodity they've never seen before and commodities, we need to be group against commodity give them a squeaky wheel they aware that growing public con- group, farm organization simply cannot ignore. cern about the cost of not just against farm organization, pro- I think we took a step in the the farm program but other ag ducer segment against agribusi- latter direction recently when budget items as well, could im- ness. representatives of 30 farm or- pact on the future of marketing ganizations, commodity associ- orders, agricultural research ations and ag-related agencies and conservation — just to We have a choice: accepted MFB's invitation and mention a few. met at Farm Bureau Center in Farm Bureau and other agri- accept the "help" Lansing to discuss farm bill '85, cultural organizations that Congress decides to the common concerns we share adopt policies have been ac- and the differences in opinions cused of being too rigid and un- give u s . . .or de- on how to address those con- willing to make compromises velop a united front cerns. It was a good meeting when the need for a united with open, productive discus- front arises. Without that com- like they've never sion. While there was certainly mitment to policies adopted by seen b e f o r e . . . . not a consensus of opinion on members, we would be totally what future agricultural policy ineffective with no direction should be, at least we were and no political clout. By start- This division that traditionally together in the recognition that ing the farm bill '85 dialogue occurs during the drafting of our industry must provide ag- now, and continuing it in the farm programs gives Congress gressive, knowledgeable input months ahead, the policies all the excuse it needs to shrug into the drafting of a new farm adopted by the various organi- its collective shoulders, publicly bill. zations may come more closely bemoan the fact that agricul- I was especially pleased by together so it will be easier to ture can't come up with a the participation of farm lead- meld into a united front. united front, and go ahead and ers representing non-farm pro- Solving the complicated prob- write the kind of legislation gram commodities such as live- lems of agriculture requires and congressmen believe will bene- stock and vegetables. It would deserves the best thinking of fit them politically, with little be easy for them to say, "Why those involved in our industry. regard to the ultimate impact should we care? We're not in- By working together, we can on the industry. That's been go- volved.'' Their attendance produce that best thinking. ing on for several decades now showed their recognition that and is not likely to change. they are involved. We have a choice: accept the The farm bill debate is about "help'' that Congress decides to our profession, no matter give us under the guise of put- whether our specialty is dairy, ting agriculture back on the wheat, feedgrains, livestock, President sugar, fruits and vegetables, Michigan Farm Bureau RURAL UVim, JUriE 1984 COUNTRY LEDGER Pride in their industry and Traverse County were convinced their way of life. That's the that requests for their farm special something that charac- fresh milk products indicated a terizes farm people, but until re cent years it has been a very personal attitude, shared with P-R-I-D-E "back to basics" consumer market in their areas. The venture has proven suc- family, friends and business associates. Today, sharing that in Production cessful for these two farm families and a handful of "home pride and opening the doors to dairy" operators around the what's really happening down state. Read about this micro- on the farm is more than just marketing approach to serving good public relations; it's good consumer preferences on page business. 13. And letting people in on David Amon loves farming what's beyond the farm gate is and he loves people, so opening essential to influencing public the farm gates to the family's opinion on some very serious 400-acre orchard was a natural issues affecting agriculture. and successful step for this pro- For example, public opinion is ducer. Amon Orchards opens its an important factor in how agri- doors to thousands of people cultural employers will be each year from May through Oc- regulated in their employment tober for tours of the orchards practices. A public uninformed and the farm market. about how farm workers are According to Amon, the ven- paid and treated during their ture into the "tourism" aspect seasonal employment can lead of his agricultural enterprise to misconceptions and public combines entertainment and in- support for greater regulation, formation for the thousands of lost funding for agriculture, or visitors to the Traverse City unionizing efforts through con- area, dubbed the "Cherry sumer boycotts. Capital of the World." Apparent- Sharon Steffens, Kent County ly, the combination is a hit with fruit grower and information with little contact with the the non-farm public looking for director for the Kent County farming community can be easi- the chance to "bring back a lit- Farm Bureau, recognizes the ly swayed by inaccurate and in- tle taste of farm life" from their power of public opinion. complete information about vacations. Read about how Through her involvement on what's really happening "down Amon has turned this agricul- commissions and committees on the farm." Read about how tural sideline into one of the she has groomed herself as an she responded to this "public top tourists attractions in the effective and active spokesper- opinion" challenge in the article Traverse City area. The article son for agriculture. Steffens on page 10. The article also in- begins on page 19. went "public" last month when cludes tips for agricultural The editors of Rural Living are she heard an erroneous report employers who hire seasonal proud to bring you these stories of migrant worker wages re- labor. of farm people and farming en- leased by the Farm Labor Pride in production was the terprises each month. We hope Organizing Committee to a key behind a decision by two you find these articles in- local television station. Michigan dairy familes to start teresting and informative. What- Sensitive to the influence and "home dairy" operations in ever your comments, we'd like importance of public opinion, their communities. The Van to hear from you. she set about gathering and Qunsts of Oceana County and presenting documented facts the Gallaghers of Grand Connie Turbin, Donna Wilber about the higher wages paid to Marcia Ditchie St Cathy J. Kirvan seasonal workers in Michigan. Rural Living Editors Steffens, like many other agricultural employers, is con- cerned that an urban public RURAL LIViriQ. JUPiE 1984 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW are Reps. Carl Pursell, Donald ing farm bills since 1933 to Albosta, David Bonior, Robert stabilize prices and save the Davis, Dale Kildee, Mark Sil- family farm, the number of jander, Robert Traxler, Guy farmers has gone steadily VanderJagt, Howard Wolpe, downward. He also pointed out Budget Freeze Plan De- Harold Sawyer and Robert Carr. that since 1929, the number of feated - An FB-backed deficit Carr, a Lansing Democrat, has federal employees working to reduction plan that would have also introduced a bill to allow a "save" farmers has increased imposed a one-year freeze on 100% health insurance deduc- five fold. most discretionary federal tion for the self-employed. Calling adjustments to the spending was defeated by the MFB staff credits the increase 1981 farm bill characteristic of Senate last month. in co-sponsors to the effective "election year political tinker- The plan, proposed by Sens. work of FB legislative leaders ing," Smith said we can be Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.), during this year's Washington grateful that they did not adjust Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Legislative Seminar. loan rates or mandate exten- Joseph Biden (D-Del.), would sion of the farmer-held reserve. have cut federal deficits by Explaining FB's market- more than $200 billion over the PACAAmendment - The oriented policy for 1985 farm next three fiscal years. U.S.Senate has approved legis- legislation, Smith said keys to lation amending the Perishable The plan would have provided that legislation should be loan Agricultural Commodities Act for a one-year freeze on cost of rates at world competitive (PACA).It adds a statutory trust living allotments (COLAs)for en- levels, elimination of the provision that requires buyers to titlement programs in 1985, a farmer-held reserve for wheat maintain enough assets to cover freeze on doctor and hospital and feed grains, and a produc- their obligations to sellers. In a reimbursements for government tion control mechanism that bankruptcy, it ensures that pro- medical costs, and a freeze in will be triggered when carryover ceeds from the sales of com- discretionary federal spending. stocks reach unworkable levels. modities are first used to pay (Discretionary spending is that He called for flexibility in the debts owed to sellers. which is appropriated every new program to be in place year; it does not include pro- The legislation is designed to stop an industry trend in which when the current program ex- grams like Social Security, which pires at the end of the 1985 producers/ sellers of fruit and are automatically funded.) crop year to allow for adjust- vegetables are paid later and What sunk the plan was op- ments as conditions change. He later for their commodities, position from leadership of also listed restraint in federal despite current law that re- both parties and the adminis- spending, including spending quires payment within 10 days. tration. Republican leaders on federal farm programs, as a The USDA reports the rise in feared the freeze would cut number one priority among FB slow pay, no pay situations military spending by too much, members. costs farmers $60 to $70 mil- $50 billion less than the presi- lion a year. dent requested and $35 billion less than the Republican- backed compromise. USDA Listening Session - Democrats opposed the cuts Despite enactment of 76 pieces in domestic spending proposed of farm program legislation in the budget freeze plan. General Fund Budget I Tax since 1933, U.S. agriculture still However, more Democrats than Rollback - The Legislature re- lacks an economically sound, Republicans backed the plan. turned from its Easter recess on long-term, market-oriented farm May 1. The major issues be- program that protects farmers tween now and the mid-June Uealth Insurance Deduc- from price disaster without giv- summer recess will be the final tion - A proposal (H.R. 3487) ing false signals to the market- passage of the 1984-85 general to allow farmers and other self- place. That message came from fund budget totaling not more employed persons to deduct Elton Smith, MFB president and than the $5.383 million limit one-half of their health insur- AFBF vice president, at a USDA set by the governor, and the ance premiums on federal in- listening session in Chicago, continuing controversy of how come tax returns has received April 18. much and when the state in- co-sponsor support from I I Smith told USDASecretary come tax rate should be rolled Michigan congressmen. They John Block and others that back. The issue is in a con- while Congress has been pass- ference committee. 6 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 This is important because a Wall Street study is still critical of the state's shaky financial condition. Investors are being warned to be wary of state backed bonds in over 100 school districts. The state fiscal situation affects every local unit of government. Michigan Youth Corps - H.B. 4110, which would re- establish the Michigan Youth Corps program for a second GKASSKOOTSCOMMUNICAT~ONS - The Jackson County Farm year, is before the Senate. It Bureau board recently sponsored a breakfast meeting and farm tour for would be funded at $17.9 mil- Rep. Michael Griffin (D-50th District), in an effort to improve communi- lion with about $8 million com- cations. At the Dave Zakrzewski farm (above), Griffin viewed no-till ing from the general fund and farming. De also visited Dave 8t Sandy IoU's vegetable farm. the remaining $9.9 million from the 1982-83 local requirement year of trash and garbage go in- It also includes $131,700 for reserve. Most of the money, to landfills. Farmers and others development of the Northwest $15.9 million, would be allocat- Michigan Horticulture Research object to landfills for various ed to local government pro- reasons, including contamina- Station and funds the enforce- jects. If the legislation is passed tion of groundwater. Many cases ment of the new law requiring by May 20, there would be two have gone to court. At its April inspection of gas stations and weeks for applications. 12 meeting, the FB board unan- reinstates the inspection of Many local governmental imously supported putting the retail nursery stock. The in- units ran successful youth work proposal on the fall ballot for crease, if finally approved, will programs last year. The Youth voter decision. also help relieve some of the Corps worked on ditch banks, The Senate Natural Resources problems resulting from loss of fairgrounds, school and park and Environmental Affairs Com- positions important to other property, soil conservation proj- mittee held four public hearings agricultural programs. ects and other useful work. on S.B. 542 during the latter Many unions oppose the pro- part of May in Grand Rapids, gram claiming that it takes jobs County Fairgrounds - S.B. Jackson, Traverse City and Mar- from their members and that 443 has passed the Senate. It quette. the jobs only pay minimum would continue to exempt fair- Gov. Blanchard has announced wage. The fact is that many of grounds from property taxation. a plan to boost solid waste the young people got experi- Facilities may be rented during recycling. $187,000 is included ence and ended up getting per- the year, but any profit must be in his budget to work with local manent jobs. used for repair, renovation and governments, businesses and conducting the fair. others to operate resource re- covery projects and promote a Department of Ag Budget Solid Waste Disposal - "Buy Recycled" program. - The Senate Appropriations S.B. 542 has been introduced to H.B. 4365, which would Subcommittee on Agriculture is carry out the joint announce- amend the Solid Waste Manage- recommending to the full com- ment last month by Sen. Connie ment Act, has been referred to mittee a $1.5 million increase Binsfeld and Rep. Michael Grif- a subcommittee after several over the House passed version. fin to put a $350 million bond months of controversy. One This will make it possible to issue on the November ballot. issue was a provision that reinstate the weights and The purpose is to replace land- would reverse the court deci- measures program for both fills with 30 to 40 incinerators, sions requiring the state to pay those scales used in stores and 100 recycling centers, 80 waste local governments for the cost the heavy duty scales used in transfer centers and 110 to 200 of landfills. The courts ruled farm elevators, livestock sales composting facilities. Presently that the Headlee Amendment to barns, processing plants, etc. 85% of the 9.5 million tons a (continued on next page) RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 Legislative Review and talented programs. The its study of the act. Several pro- Senate subcommittee recom- ducers of a variety of fruits and (continued from previous page) mendations add about $80 vegetables appeared before the the constitution requires state million to the House approved committee to strongly support payment to local units. K-12 appropriation. The new the law in its present form. total would be $1.643 billion. More money will come from School Standards - The Forest Advisory Council - school earmarked sales tax Senate Appropriations K-12 H.B. 5402 would create a Forest revenues with less money from Subcommittee approved $45 the general fund. Advisory Council in the DNR to million to be used to help replace the previous Forest In- schools to voluntarily adopt dustry Task Force. FB supports recommended educational stan- P.A. 344 - Michigan's it. dards which include: six Marketing and Bargaining Act 50-minute periods a day plus for fruit and vegetables is still graduation requirements of four before the U.S. Supreme Court. Property Tax Rebates - years of English; three years Oral arguments have been heard The Department of Treasury each of mathematics, science, and a decision is expected by reports that the total for all tax and social studies; two years of July. The Michigan Supreme relief programs is about $656 either, or combination of, for- Court declared the law constitu- million. This includes the home- eign language, fine or perform- tional by a unanimous vote. stead tax credit or "circuit ing arts; vocational education However, the processors in their breaker" program and the agri- or practical arts education; one effort to deny farmers the right cultural P.A. 116 land preserva- year of health or physical edu- to voluntarily have marketing- tion program. P.A. 116 for 1982 cation; and a half year of com- bargaining programs appealed was about '$56 million to those puter education. the case to the U.S. Supreme who have signed up for the pro- The subcommittee also added Court. gram. $13 million more for transpor- The special Michigan House tation and $12 million for gifted subcommittee has completed The more you expect from your milk feed mone~ the more you're our kind of dairyman. Whatever your plans are today feed that will do all this most DHI rolling herd - to produce more, less or about efficiently. the same amount of milk as last More and more dairymen, in, averages in the year - one thing's for sure. You eluding some of the best in the top 5% earned them want the most possible income business Oikethose featured Distinguished from the dollars you spend here), find the answer at their for feed. Purina Dealer. Purina offers over Dairyman of And the key is choosing a milk, 200 different milking rations to America Awards~ ing ration that best balances any make sure there's one that will fit A third generation dairyman, roughages and grain you may your herd. And 63 separate mill David Roth of Loysvillle, Penn, have; that fits your kind of cows locations assure the feeds needed sylvania, uses the total Purina dairy - and that will produce the for your area are available. ration program - from nursing, amount of milk you expect. A Ask your Purina Dealer to help .ur:s.~ starting and growing feeds through you select the best ration for High Octane@Cow Chow@brand 36% concentrate. His DHI rolling ill ••• ~ ~ 1- I "'P"'IJIr.I'h I'" Reapportionment - Rep. Irrigation Districts - H.B. been eliminated. This adds up Donald Van Singel, House Re- 5298 (Rep. Gnodtke) would to nearly 100,000 fewer pages publican floor leader, has an- amend a 1967 law to provide of paperwork a year. Many ob- nounced that a law suit chal- that an irrigation district could solete and burdensome rules lenging the legality of the 1983 be created in any county which have been altered or eliminated legislative reapportionment will could use water from the Great and more than 700 more are be filed. It is expected that Lakes. The present law as pass- recommended for elimination. some local government will be ed in 1967 allowed such irriga- The Department of Management the plaintive in the case. The tion districts only in counties of and Budget is compiling an in- details of the case have not less than 400,000 population. ventory of all state activities been announced. The legisla- FB strongly supported the origi- that unnecessarily duplicate the tion was passed very quickly nal law in 1967. In order to private business sector. without much opportunity for qualify, irrigation districts can This results from the passage local government input. only be used when the water of H.B. 4634. The attorney general ruled can "reasonably be expected to H.B. 4348 and 4349 have that the new House districts benefit agricultural crops or passed the House to require the took effect on April 1, thereby other agricultural operations." state to pay the legal and other resulting in many citizens being costs of a state action against represented by those they did small businesses or certain in- not elect. The present law pro- Bureaucratic Efficiency - dividuals if the action by the vides that reapportionment The effort to modernize and state is "frivolous" with no does not take affect until the eliminate duplication is making reasonable legal or factual next election. This will be true progress. The object is to cut basis. as far as the Senate is concern- red tape to the degree possible. ed. The case will be highly For example, 268 forms have technical in nature. Lansing legislative topics are reviewed by Robert ~. Smith, senior legislative counsel. has been fed Purina since~'Muller says. "We have always been satis- fied with the results and felt that Purina has done more research than other companies:' David Roth, Loysville, Pennsylvania Arnold Oechsner, Jr., Brownsville, Wisconsin herd average is 19,476Ibs. "I tried herd average of 20,309lbs., says to increase milk production with he has fed Purina milking ration another feed:' he says, "but it didn't for more than five years because it work - so I went back to Purina. "has given me the most milk pro- It's a lot better feed:' Richard Muller, Washington, Illinois duction ~r cow per year:' Another third generation dairy- Richard Muller, Washington, man is Arnold Oechsner, Jr. of .Recognition o( dairymen who have (ed Purina milking Illinois, who also feeds Purina Broumsville, Wisconsin. He feeds rations (or over 12 months and whose DH1 rolling herd High Octane brand 36% con- his 115 head herd both Purina averages are in the top 5% in their state (or their breed. centrate, reports a DHI rolling High Octane brand 36% concen- herd average of 19,962 lbs. "My trate and Purina Milk Generator@ father started feeding Purina Cow Chow about 1925 and the herd brand 1056 complete ration. Oechsner, who has a DHI rolling C R8'''0, Pu""' CO, 1984IXI e Farm Labor Issues Raise Grower Concerns By Donna Wilber and possibility of farm worker union Steffens, who serves as infor- Connie Turbin organization efforts in the state mation director for the Kent add up to a lot of challenges for County Farm Bureau, is sen- A cool head, understanding of sitive to the public perception ag labor employers this year. and compliance with the laws, of farm labor issues and the "I think one challenge to each and a willingness to counter individual grower - and to the potential damage misinforma- emotional public reaction with tion can do, not only to the im- industry as a whole - is to straight facts - that's what will make sure we have 'all our age of agriculture, but also to be needed during the potential- efforts currently underway to ducks in order,' that we have ly long, hot summer ahead for address some of the problems. done everything we're required agricultural employers, accord- to do by law to the best of our ing to two west Michigan fruit ability," said Steffens. "Those Quick Response and vegetable growers. who aren't sure they under- Counters Inaccuracies Sharon Steffens, Grand Rapids, stand what they should be do- Observance of National Farm and Robert DeBruyn Jr., Zee- ing (to be in compliance) should Worker Week (April 3D-May 6), land, are producers experienced definitely seek the information spearheaded in the Grand in managing the human re- they need." Rapids area by the Farm Labor sources involved in farm labor, Organizing Committee (FLOC), and both share that expertise through service on commis- sions and committees. The Steffens operation, a family partnership specializing in apples and pickling cucum- bers, employs between 25 and 35 farm workers. Steffens represents employers on the Michigan Agricultural Labor Commission and also repre- sents the commission on the In- teragency Migrant Services Committee. DeBruyn has vegetable farms and packing operations in sev- eral locations in Michigan and other states and uses many migrant and local workers. He serves on the labor advisory committees of both MFB and AFBF. New and still pending laws dealing with farm labor, an an- Demonstrations supporting farm worker organizing efforts such as this ticipated large influx of mi- one held in Lansing last year are small, but frequently gain media atten- grants to Michigan, and the tion. Sharon Steffens, Kent County fruit grower and county FB information director, urges farm people to respond quickly to inaccurate media reports. Be prepared to offer documented facts to the news person, she advises. 10 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 provided recruiters with a tells about the wages being is the great amount of support forum, through the news media, $1.96 an hour, how the wells the very churches we attend to promote the Campbell/ Libby are contaminated with pesti- and support are giving to all boycott. A lead story on a local cides, police harrassment, etc.," kinds of radical farm labor ac- television station focused on Steffens said. "There are a lot of tivities," DeBruyn said. "I think the farm worker's wage of "less farmers' spouses who are teach- we need to realize how rapidly than $2 an hour." Steffens call- ers and members of the educa- we can move out of the context ed the station immediately to tion association. I think they of farm labor into the context protest the misinformation and need to be monitoring educa- of 'economic justice: arrangements were made for tion organizations and do all "Somehow, as growers, we're her to be interviewed for a they can to correct any miscon- going to have to figure out how follow-up newscast. ceptions." to deal with this. There are no Using information from Farm Steffens is also concerned easy answers. It's where a lot of Bureau and the latest statistics about the impact misinforma- money is coming from; it's from the Michigan Crop Report- tion will have on a Kent County where a lot of political support ing Service, she told viewers program to rehabilitate migrant is coming from, so I think we that the average rate for farm housing. have an obligation to educate workers in Michigan in 1983 "We've been working over the people to try to keep our funds was $4.03, not "less than $2 an past year on a program to pro- from being used to hit us over hour." The average rate for the vide loans to farmers, at 3% in- the head. North Central region, which in- terest, with the growers match- "There are some things that cludes Michigan, is $4.37, and ing the amount that is loaned. urban people just don't under- the national all-hired labor rate If a grower takes the $5,000 stand about farm work. They for 1982 was $3.96 per hour loan maximum, he would have view it as difficult, unrewarding, and $5.91 for piece rate, she to match that with another something to be looked down reported during the interview. $5,000, for rehabilitation of upon. What they don't realize is "None of these figures in- migrant housing - not for new that farmers aren't asking farm clude the cost of housing, construction. It can be used for laborers to do anything that utilities, Workers' Compensa- such things as wiring, roofing, they and their families don't tion, unemployment, the em- wall replacements, windows and do," he said. ployer's contribution to Social flooring, basic things that have Serving on the state and na- Security or any other benefits," been deteriorating over the tional labor advisory commit- Steffens said. "FLOC's figure of years. Migrant housing gets tees for Farm Bureau takes time $1.96 an hour is used in their very rough use, so upkeep is a from DeBruyn's already hectic literature. When the Interagency real problem. schedule, but he calls that ser- Migrant Services Committee "The program is right at the vice "one of the things I need to questioned a FLOCspokesper- final stages of approval. Then, do:' son, he admitted it was a 1976 along come crazy statistics like "The American Farm Bureau figure from an Ohio study. That farm workers getting only $1.96 is making some real moves puts a whole different perspec- an hour, which could jeopardize toward taking the initiative in tive on it." the whole thing. There are the farm labor issue nationwide Steffens shared the "real those who say, why should we that, in my opinion, we've really facts," plus a suggestion that lend those growers any money needed and which should be en- reporters request documenta- at 3% if that's all they're paying couraged." tion whenever they use informa- those workers? Frankly, we're The solution to challenges tion furnished by any group, concerned," she said. facing ag employers, according with all the news media in the to DeBruyn, "is not going to be Grand Rapids area. Public Needs Education on cheap and it's not going to be As a result of her TV appear- Farm Worker Status fast, but somehow we've got to ance, Steffens was contacted by DeBruyn, too, is concerned seize the initiative on a lot of a grape grower who is also a about the impact of compas- these issues instead of only teacher, expressing her concern sionate, but uninformed, groups yelling when we're stomped regarding the Grand Rapids of people who respond to the upon. It's just terribly impor- Education Association's news- "plight of the downtrodden tant to any of us who hire farm letter article on the plight of farm worker" with no thought labor, not just migrant labor, farm workers. of checking the documentation but any farm labor:' "The article uses the material of their plight. Following his first meeting of from FLOC's brochure which "Something that has to tor- the AFBF Labor Advisory Com- ment every churchgoing farmer RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 11 mittce, DeBruyn listed field Perhaps the key factor to anticipated 20% to 25%, there sanitation standards, illegal workers and their families, Gon- is a stress on the resources of alien regulations and migrant zales said, is assurance from state agencies. housing as some of the front the grower that they have em- The Michigan Migrant Services burner issues this year. ployment, housing if it is pro- Office is encouraging growers vided by the employer, and an to do the necessary pre-plan- farmers Must Keep Up to agreement on the approximate ning and information gathering Date on Labor Laws beginning date. to be prepared for the season, While farm worker unioniza- The department utilizes a and the agency has been involv- tion plans for Michigan are series of migrant bulletins to in- ed in various grower informa- uncertain at this time, both form workers of the labor, hous- tion meetings held in the state Steffens and DeBruyn believe ing and social services re- prior to the start up of the agricultural employers need to sources in the state prior to the migrant labor season. be well-informed on their rights migrant labor season. Those meetings have attempt- as property owners, the rights Basically the bulletins en- ed to bring information to agri- of their workers and the rights courage the workers to pre-plan cultural employers about of organizers. DeBruyn already for employment by contacting changes in federal regulations, has what he calls "lots of scars" the growers to determine the such as the Migrant and Sea- from organizing efforts at his terms of employment. Early in- sonal Worker Protection Act south Texas farm. dications this year are that (MSPA),and to create "a plan "We've had some experience more growers are getting calls ahead" awareness among grow- in keeping organizers out of the in advance of the season. In ad- ers. fields where people are working dition, Gonzales said, they are Gonzales does not believe and that seems to be a fairly seeing an increase in the prac- that there is grower resistance common right. They can stand tice of sending one family to the new MSPAregulation, in the roads because that's ahead which represents a group rather he is concerned that public property. But they've of workers to determine that growers are not taking the time also become pretty adept down work and housing will be avail- to be knowledgeable and aware there at finding out where there able for the rest of the group. of the provisions of the act as it are old rights-of-way that have Gonzales estimated that ap- applies to their own situatio'n. not been formally quit-claimed proximately 75% to 80% of the He said he has been disappoint- back to the owners. They've migrant farm labor in the state ed in the response from growers used those and they've used the is pre-arranged, based on a sur- to the various interagency infor- irrigation ditch rights of way," vey conducted in 1981,and he mation meetings held in the he said. said that state agency re- state. "There are some limits to sources are able to handle the what they can do in the fields, human and economic servu:es U.S. Department of Labor but housing is much touchier. situations created by the 20% Enforces Workers' Rights I've always had a hard time ac- or so who have not. His concern is shared by cepting that even though it's "Services in the state (Michi- Russell Clark, regional agricul- my housing they have the right gan) are, across the board, bet- tural specialist for the three to come onto my property to ter than in our border states of state area of Michigan, Ohio talk to the workers. Of course, Ohio and Indiana, and far above and Indiana. Clark, whose agen- the workers have some rights most or all states in the nation cy is charged with enforcement because it's their home, wheth- with the possible exception of of MSPA,explains that since er I own it or not." California," Gonzales said. "In MSPAwas enacted in April Michigan, we have been more 1983, the U.S. Department of State Agency Uelps conscientious in the fair treat- Labor has made attempts to get Migrants and Growers ment of workers, i.e, higher information out to agricultural There are common sense steps wages, higher piece rates, bet- employers through organiza- the agricultural employer can ter housing and working condi- tions such as the Farm Bureau, take to reduce the possibility tions, resources and services. In through news releases and that labor problems will com- fact, the situation in Michigan public information meetings. plicate his farm operation this is often better for migrants "We have not been over- season, advises Manny Gonzales than in their own home states." whelmed with response," Clark of the Michigan Department of However, he' cautioned, if the said, "and, unfortunately, the Social Services Migrant Services percentage of the uncontracted information phase of MSPAis Office. Michigan migrant labor force goes too much higher than the (continued on page 21) 12 RURAL LIVING. JUNE 1984 Dome Dairy Marketing Das Fresh Appeal for~Today's Consumer By Marcia Dltchle it processed, bottled and in the got people on a waiting list who stores within two days. Our want us to put milk in their Pride in their farming opera- whole philosophy is that we can store," he said. tions and the belief that they provide fresher milk than Several of the on-farm dairies can supply local residents with anyone else." sell milk at the retail level, but fresher milk than many of the Convinced that they could the Van Gunsts decided to sell larger dairies has led some succeed with their own dairy, their's wholesale to local super- dairy farmers to process and groundbreaking for the plant markets and gas stations in the bottle their own milk. The Van was held in early December Hart and Shelby area. Gunst family of New Era and the 1982 and the first milk was bot- "We started out with plastic Gallagher family of Traverse tled in mid-May 1983. containers because we felt that City are two of a handful of Between the time the ground- had the most acceptance in the dairy families across Michigan breaking was held and when the stores. We bottle milk three to who operate on-farm dairies. first milk was delivered to local four times a week and deliver to For over 80 years the Van stores, the Van Gunsts conduct- our customers three days a Gunsts have farmed in Oceana ed an extensive advertising week," Wendell said. County, and as times changed, campaign to announce the "We date milk two weeks, so did their commodities, evolv- opening of their dairy. which is the longest dating any- ing from fruit and vegetables to "We did a lot of advertising one has on milk and we feel we dairy. Wendell & Ruth Van for about a month and half are doing some things right to Gunst, who are the third gener- prior to getting into operation," get that kind of shelf life," he ation to operate the 300-acre he said. "In addition, we had an said. "Inspections at the plant family farm, opened the View open house here at the dairy to have been frequent and we've Home Farm Dairy in southern coincide with when the milk been very frank with the inspec- Oceana County a year ago. The went into the stores and about tor from the beginning. We told milk for the dairy is supplied by 1,500 people came out. him to be as tough as possible their herd of 120 registered "By the end of the summer, and if there is anything wrong, Holsteins. we were bottling all the milk we we want to know because every "We've always prided our- had. We're on our second major gallon of milk can be traced selves on a clean herd and expansion within a year trying right to our dairy." operation," said Wendell. "We to keep up with demand. We've When the dairy began opera- felt that we could take milk tion, the Van Gunsts only bot- directly from the cows and have tled white milk, but have since WENDELL VAN GUNST RUT" VAN GUNST View "ome farm Dairy View "orne farm Dairy RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 1.3 expanded their product line. "We branched out to choco- late milk, then we began to make cream line milk, the old style milk where you don't ho- mogenize it and the cream comes to the top. The demand for that has gotten consistently larger and more people and health stores are interested in it. Last August we started our ice cream business." In the year that the View Farm Home Dairy has been in operation, demand for their products has increased, but their marketing area is limited to a smaIl radius from the farm. "Our basic market has been about a IS-mile radius. Just in The Van Gunsts have urged tough inspection of their dairy products and the last couple months we've processing right from the start of their home dairy business. lilt there is branched into Muskegon, about anything wrong,1I says Wendell Van Gunst, we want to know because II every gallon of milk can be traced right to our dairy.1I .30 miles from here. Ninety per- cent of all the milk, however, is sold within 11 to 12 miles of the dairy," he said. pasteurize the milk instead of market their product in the Bottling operations at the homogenizing it, so the cream more old fashioned glass bot- plant are conducted by two full- comes to the top. They chose to tles which also have a special time employees in addition to appeal to their customers. Ruth and their four daughters, They bottle whole milk, skim who also help with deliveries. milk, chocolate milk made with Further expansion of the dairy whole milk and heavy whipping and product line will probably cream. be made in the future, Wendell Unlike the Van Gunsts who said. "There isn't a week that sell their milk at the wholesale goes by now that we don't get a level, the Gallaghers have a call from someone who wants retail store at the farm, which is us to put milk in their store." located three miles west of Traverse City. Their products Old Fashioned Appeal are also sold at a local food For Douglas & Joanne Gall- cooperative. agher, who have a 2S0-acre "Our store is open Monday family farm in Grand Traverse through Saturday year round," County, the decision to open an said Tina. "We sell our own on-farm dairy seven years ago products, plus we have a bakery resulted from several requests and a smaIl grocery. We process from local people who wanted and bottle milk twice a week to purchase milk from their from our milking herd of 60 farm. Holsteins. We produce more "A lot of people wanted to milk than we are currently uti- buy our milk, but state law pro- lizing in the dairy, so a local hibits the sale of raw milk," At Gallagher Farms Dairy, milk is dairy cooperative purchases the said Tina Apsey, general man- processed and bottled twice a excess." ager of Gallagher Farms Dairy. week from their 60-cow milking The oldest of 12 children, To keep that raw milk appeal, herd. According to Tina Apsey, Tina assumed responsibilities who supervises the dairy store the Gallaghers decided to and bottling facilities, the herd for the store and bottling plant produces more milk than is sold a year and a half ago, while through the home dairy, so the Douglas and Joanne oversee excess is sold to a local dairy the daily farming operations. cooperative. 14 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 FRONT &. CENTER Members enrolled in Farm Bureau's bealtb insurance plans will bave tbe oppor- tunity to make cbanges in tbeir coverage during the annual reopening period, June 17-30. If eligible, members can change health care plans or add a dependent child who is between the ages of 19 and 25. Health plan changes will be effective with the Aug. 20 billing. The June reopening period was established to coincide with the annual rate adjustment period and will eliminate the need to conduct a September reopening period. Members considering changes in their health care coverage through the MfB group should contact their county fB secretary. Plans for MFB'sYoung People's Citizensbip Seminar are almost complete. The seminar will be held June II-IS at Albion College. Selected by county fBs throughout the state, the high school juniors and seniors will learn about the American free enterprise market system, peoples and countries around the world and our country's political system. There may be a few openings left - check with your county secretary if you know an interested student. Six Ag Accident Rescue Seminars bave already been beld tbis spring and more are scbeduled. Seminars scheduled for June are in Kalkaska County, June 2; Lapeer County, June 9; and Monroe County, June 23. Gladwin County has scheduled the training for July 7. for more information about these seminars or to learn more about sponsoring an ag accident rescue seminar in your county, contact: MfB Public Affairs Division, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, Mich. 48909; phone 517-323-7000, ext. 559. Mark your calendar now Ifor tbe MFBWomen's State Leader Conference, scheduled for Sept. 20-21 at the Lansing Hilton Inn. The conference will focus on education, with work- shops emphasizing the fB organization. Details will be announced soon. Tbe Five Lakes Community Action Group is tbe state's first winner in a membersbip contest for Community Groups. As a reward for their efforts, the Clare County group will receive a MACMAsmoked ham and members will get a 10% discount on purchases from MACMA's Christmas sale. To qualify, groups must write a minimum of three new, regular members. Tbe Occupational Safety and Uealtb Administration (OSUA)bas scbeduled a public hearing on its proposed field sanitation standard for June 19-20 in Toledo, Ohio. The hearing is one of five scheduled in May and June to allow interested persons to present infor- mation and evidence on the proposed rules. The proposal would require agricultural employers who hire 11 or more field workers to provide toilet and handwashing facilities and potable water close to the employees' work location. MfB Public Affait:i staff will attend the hearing and have requested the opportunity to present testimony on behalf of Michigan agriculture. First place winner in tbe statewide FFAextemporaneous speaking contest, spon- sored by fBIG, was Beth Stuever from Capac High School. She was among eight finalists who competed for top honors in the contest held during the 1984 ffA convention at MSU.first run- ner up was Karen Hellow, Sault Ste. Marie. Gold award winners were Karen Mesco, Cassopolis; Leslie Hoxie, Cedar Springs; and Ernie Birchmeir, New Lothrop. Silver awards went to Wendy Rogers, Camden-frontier; Dale Johnson, Lakeview; and John Jerome, Alma. fBIG has been sponsoring the contest for several years. Tbe top 10 winners of FBIG's America 8t Me essay contest and their parents were honored during special ceremonies at the state capitol on May 23. The winners, whose essays were selected the best out of thousands of entries from 550 Michigan schools, received plaques and savings bonds ranging in value from $200 to $1,000. This year's top 10, in their order of ranking, are: Cathy Rumpf, St. Anne School, Warren; Brent Penfold, Petoskey Middle School, Petoskey; Dora Wong, St. Linus School, Dearborn Heights; Patrick Gessner, St. Mary's School, Monroe; Phuong Thai, Lee High School, Wyoming; Bobby Glover, Donovan-Mayotte School, flint; Karen Lynn Steinhaus, North Christian School, Kalamazoo; Roman Kuchersky, Hillel Day School, farmington Hills; Patrick Adent, Reed Middle School, Bridgman; and Leah Samuel, Post Middle School, Detroit. The annual contest, open'to eighth graders, was started by fBIG in 1968. As sponsor of the contest, fBIG has earned 11 national awards from the freedoms foun- dation at Valley forge. RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 15 RURAL EXCHANGE Nuclear Energy Michigan Farm Bureau recent- If you all grew vegetables and Affects Everyone ly agreed to an all-member mail- fruit, we'd all be healthier and ing, paid for by Consumers farmers would profit. A real problem for the state of Power, seeking support for com- Michigan is the completion of Phyllis Johnson, Ravenna pletion of the Midland nuclear nuclear energy plants. It affects Muskegon County power plant. MFB's cooperation everyone alike - farmers, busi- with this utility was based on nesses, city dwellers. The question of health and diet the belief that the long range It has been a subject most was the topic at a recent Farm viability of agriculture and ag- have steered clear of support- Bureau-sponsored nutrition ricultural processing in Michi- ing. A few who oppose it have symposium held in Chicago. gan is dependent upon adequate had lots to say and have re- Farmers, nutrition professionals, supplies of electrical energy. ceived television and news educators and scientists gather- Many FB members, especially coverage extensively. ed for the meeting to hear Dr. retired farmers, stand to lose Michigan needs Consumers Jeremiah Stamler, professor of considerable investments in Power and Detroit Edison cardiology at Northwestern Consumers Power stock if the nuclear plants that are now University and a proponent of a utility is unable to raise money nearly completed. We would be low cholesterol diet, and Dr. for the completion and opera- worse off with enough coal Donald McNamara, associate tion" of the Midland facility. plants to produce the necessary professor of biochemistry at energy. Acid rain is already a Rockefeller University, New York serious problem. By the time City. Individual Approacb to they were built their costs While Dr. Stamler encourages Diet and Nutrition Needed would be a serious problem to people to stop smoking and re- finance and meet regulations. It is a lot cheaper to grow duce cholesterol intake of dairy As a Farm Bureau member, I vegetables and fruit than cattle products, meat and eggs to feel our organization has been and pigs. Lots better for you, reduce risk of coronary prob- reluctant to take the firm stand too. We cut way down on our lems, Dr. McNamara said that that appears to be necessary to meat. We read health and vege- "treating an entire population complete the Midland plant. tarian books. I hope Michigan by reducing cholesterol intake Time is running out. It may be meat growers don't ban our because 20% of them may need too late even now. Delays cost hero, Richard Simmons, from money ($22 million in interest coming here like other states per month) as do loss of con- have. fidence in utilities (decrease in value per share of stock they have to sell to raise money). As a stockholder, I realize we should bear some of the costs, FARMETTE even in a Public Service Com- By Andrea Hofmeister mission controlled utility. Most Tuscola County utility stock is held for retire- ment earnings. J. Sheridan Stewart Rives Junction Jackson County These concerns are shared by many Farm Bureau members in Michigan and throughout the nation. In fact, 1984 AFBF policy supports "the use of nuclear power generators, Including tbose under con- struction, as a source of need- ed energy with adequate safe- guards to insure their safe and environmentally sound use ... " "Ah, Spring ... so fresh, so crisp, so beautiful." 16 RURAL LIVING, JUNE: 1984 to is misleading and fails to deal with a whole spectrum of addi- tional risks." He said that ad- vocates of the so-called "pru- dent diet" should Justify it by asking three questions: Will it reduce plasma lipid levels in the majority of patients? Will it significantly reduce the in- cidence of cardiovascular dis- ease? Is it free of any long-term, undesirable side effects? Dr. McNamara advocates an individual approach to diet and asserts that the public is con- fused, with good reason, over the difference between choles- terol in the diet and cholesterol in the blood. People may avoid milk, eggs and other good foods RURAL RASCALS DO GROW UP - This group of rural rascals for no good reason, out of fear gathered at S a B Farms, St. Johns. following the wedding of partner created by a faulty premise or Gordon Boward's daughter, Sandy, in April 1983. Sandy married Dennis misinterpretation of data, he Jury, also of St. Johns. Pictured on the ground are, left to right, ScoU Bavens, AI Bavens, Kathy'Boward, Dale Jury, Joe Thelen, Tim Motz, concluded. Cheryl Jury, Dana Kirk, Pam OU, B.J. Bullion, Glenda Jury, Michelle Armsbushmacher and Ken Fox. Standing on the tractor above the newlyweds is Albert Otto Defense Expenditures Part of Budget Problem In the discussion topic growth of the military budget. even adjusted for inflation, is material for April, you talk Is that such a sacred cow that it the highest since World War II. about the huge deficit. You was not even mentioned - ex- Or that this year's budget asks mention Social Security, Medi- cepting very briefly in discuss- for $305 billion for the Depart- care, food stamps and farm pro- ing the Grace Commission re- ment of Defense, including items grams as those showing "un- port when you mention "with- such as 40 MX missiles, 34 B-1 controlled growth." out weakening America's need- bombers, increased request for I am very curious why you did ed defense build up"? Trident II missiles, nearly a not mention the uncontrolled You did not mention that President Reagan's budget, (continued on page 28) FARMERS OF THE WEEK The Farmer of the Week program, co- April 9 - Boward Straub, 35, a April 23 - William RUhllg, 39, is a sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance dairy farmer from St. Johns, milks 80 vegetable grower and greenhouse oper- Group and the Michigan Farm Radio cows and farms 300 acres in partner- ator from Taylor. He is president of the Network, honors farmers for their con- ship with his father. He is a Cub Scout Wayne County Soil Conservation Dis- tributions to the community and the ag leader, a Clinton County FB board mem- trict, current board member and past industry. Five farmers were honored in ber, a member of the First Church of president of the Wayne County FB, April 1984: God, a guitar player in a local gospel member of St. Johns Lutheran Church, group. a member of the Independent past president of the St. Johns Lutheran April 2 - Reuben Rehault, 53, of Milk Producers and has served as an School Board, and member of the Met- Lake Linden operates a 600-acre potato, ASCS convention delegate for the past ropolitan Flower Growers Association. poultry and beef farm. He is active in three years. St. Joseph Catholic Church, a member April 30 - Lawrence Drunink, 64, and past president of the U.P. Potato April 16 - Wayne Spray, 47, is a of McBain, operates a 600-acre dairy Growers Association, and a member of dairy farmer from Cheboygan who milks farm and milks 120 cows in partnership the Copper Country FB, the Houghton 30 cows and has a herd of 90. He is a with his two sons. He is on the local County Agricultural Society and the 4-H leader, a member of St. Thomas Farmers Co-op board, a member of the Knights of Columbus. Lutheran Church, chairperson of the Lucas Christian Reformed Church, a Cheboygan Co-op board, chairperson of member of the local Farmers Home Ad- the Cheboygan County Soil Conserva- ministration board, a member of the tion District board, and a Cheboygan Missaukee County FB and has served on County FB member. the FB board for 18 years'. RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 ~I. 17 1'. FARM BUREAU MARKET PLACE FARM EQUIPMENT LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK DOGS Paint lIorses - Weanllngs, yearlings, SIIf:f:P. C tit S Curtis. Registered Suf- Registered giant Black Schnauzer Starr flush Trays. Farrowing Stalls, folks and Registered Southdowns. Help- available for breeding purposes. Nursery Pens. Free literature Includes bred mares. Lawerance Baumunk, Big Ing small flock owners and 4-H'ers our 616-67.:5-6759, (6-.:5t-9p) weights, pricing. Some dealerships Rapids, Mich. 616-796-2.:546. available. Starr National. 219 Main, Col- (9-lOt-12p) special Interest. 200\ N. Williams, Stockbridge, Mich. 517-851-704.:5 - chester, IL 62.:526. .:509-776-.:50\0\6. (6-20\p-ts) Duroc and Yorkshire Boars. Ready for 517-851-8017. (7-12t-22p) NURSERY STOCK service. Delivery available. Mark Palm- reuter, Vassar. Phone 517-82.:5-.:5745. Tree Source. Quality hybrid poplar lIog f:qulpment - Dei-Air Heat Ex- (.:5-5t-1.:5p-ts) stock for: commercial energy planta- changers, Osborne Feeders, K.G. John- tions, home heating, fast growing shade fast growing Cornish Cross. Over 20 son Farrowing Crates, Chore-Time Feed- varieties popular and fancy chicks. Ban- MISCELLANEOUS trees, wind breaks. Consulting and Ing, Mix-Mill Systems. Hamilton Distri- custom tree planting services . .:50.:5S. tams, ducks, goslings, turkeys, guineas, buting Company, 616-751-5161. Veronica Ct., St. Joseph, Mich. 0\9085. Pharoah Quail. Pictured Brochure - "United States Organ" - Whitney and (6-12t-2.:5p-ts) Phone 616-98.:5-755 \. ( 12-7t-.:5.:5p-ts) 25(. Cackle Hatchery, Box 529JJ, Raymond, Cleveland, Ohio. Excellent Lebanon, MO 655.:56. (1-8t-28b-ts) condition. Original finish. Austin Green- Berry Plants - Raspberries. strawber- 27 ft•• 32 ft. and 40 ft. aluminum hoe, Crystal, Mich. 517-2.:55-4207. ries, blueberries, currants, gooseberries, Rare, fancy, exotlc and old fashioned semi-trailers for storage. some fully (6-2t-16p) others. Free catalog. Maklelskl Berry bantams, chicks, ducklings, turkeys, Insulated, most stili roadable, located at guineas, geese. Pictured brochure free. Satellite antenna dealers needed - Nursery, 71.:50 Platt Road, Dept. RL, Yp- Beaverton, Mich. Prices start at $850. silantI. MI 48197. Phone .:51.:5-0\.:54-.:567.:5. Country Hatchery, Wewoka, Oklahoma no experience required - buy direct Contact John Burdick at 517-0\.:55-7580. (4-6t-22p) 74884. (1-6t- 20p-ts) from distributor - bypass middlemen - (5-2t-27p) wholesale $599. - retail $1,195. Call Corrledale Sheep breeding stock. Blue day or night: .:50.:5-6.:56-066.:5 or write: Chain Saw flies - Swedish made quali- ribbon fleeces. Phone .:51.:5-429-7870\. Antennas, Box 160.:55,Colorado Springs, FOR nOMEMAKERS (.:5-12t-8p) ty. Only $9.88 per dozen postpaid. 5/.:52" Colorado 809.:55. (5-4t-.:51b-ts) or 7/.:52". Send check or money order Quallty Registered Angus breeding Pecansl Quart each halves, pieces, Stanton Hardware, 102 N. Mill. Box .:566, Auctioneer Vaughn "Joe" Lewis. meal. .:5quart sampler, $12.95. Postpaid. stock, reasonably priced. Delivery avail- Stanton, Mich. 0\8888. (5-o\t-28b) .:5.:510 Paragon Road, Tipton, Mlch, able. Bordner Angus farms, Sturgis, Canecreek Farm, Dept. MF, Cookeville, 49287. Phone 517-4.:51-257 \. Purebred TN .:58502. (7-12t-16p-ts) Mich. 616-651-8.:55.:5 evenings. (.:5-6t-16p) livestock, farm machinery, estate, and Grain Dryers - Stormor Ezee-Dry, Farm Duroc Boars and Gilts sound and antique auctions. (2-1 at-18p) Cabbage Patch-Like DolIsl Make your Fans Automatic, Used Dryers, PTO and durable. Delivery available. Jim own I Complete Instructions, patterns, Automatic. Hamilton Distributing Com- AI"IS/Oll - Are you Interested In using Birth certificate. $2.50. Hamlltons, Box Prevlch, 8147 Forrlster Rd.. Adrian, pany,616-751-5161. (6-12t-17p-ts) or selling this synthetic product? We Mich. 49221. 517-265-4112. 652-1.:51. New Ulm, Minn. 5607.:5. have used It In our car, mini home and (6-20p-ts) (6-12t-18p) pick-up for a couple of years and are very Squeeze chute for salel Teco model - Coldwater 011I Plcklesl - Can In min- 1"1Ilk. breeding and show goats - satisfied with the results. For more Infor- portable or stationary. Squeeze two utes! No hot brine. Delicious, crisp. Fac- Registered and grade LaManchas with mation call 616-258-8.:526 or write sides or one headtable and new tires. tory secrets! Recipe $1.00. Hamlltons, grand champion and star-milking back- Advent-Age Products, Inc .. Rt. 1, M-72 Safe for handlers and animals. Will pay Box 652-1.:51, New Ulm, Minn. 5607.:5. grounds. Mostly young stock but a few East. Williamsburg, Mich. 49690. for self more than once - $.:5,000. 517 (6-20-ts) established does. Also a few Alpines and (6-2t-50p-ts) 278-8989. (6-.:52p) Saanrens. Windswept Farm, 6770 S. "Gentle Years," hair and body sham- Why die without a will? Two legal "Will Edon Rd .. Reading, Mich. 49274. 517- poo, used In hospitals and nursing John Deere f:qulpment for Sale - Forms" and easy Instructions. Only 28.:5-2921. (5-2t-.:57p) $4 ... Order Todayl Guaranteedl TY- homes, yet deep cleaning for rough 70\0 16' wheel drag, No.5, 7' mower, 0\90\ I"IlIklng Shorthorn: Young bulls, year- Company, Box 1022-MF, Pryor, OK hands. No bathrub ring. Ingredients In- corn planter. cultivator 0\ row front lings and calves for sale. Write or visit 74.:562. (.:5-6t-22p-ts) clude: jojoba oil, aloe vera and glycerin. mount spring tooth, 710\55/16 bottom Stanley M. Powell and Family. Ingleside 16 oz. plastic bottle only $.:5.50 Including plow, 965 wagon gear, box, hoist. Brit- Overweight? No pills, powder. Just sen- Farm, Route 2, .:5248 Powell Hwy., Ionia, postage. Available In gallon, $16.00. For ton, Mich. 517-0\51-8275 or 0\51-8588. sible eating, Conway Diet Idea Cook- Mich. 48846. (6-6t-27p) free sample send 50 cents for handling (6-.:56p) book. No sugar or fats. 180 pages of to: Advent-Age Products, Inc .. Rt. 1, M-72 recipes plus diet. Send $7.00 postage East. Williamsburg, Mich. 49690 or call paid to: 1.:5280 Lime Lake Rd.. Hudson, 616-258-8.:526 or 616-.:569-2812. Mich. 49247 or call 517-.:58.:5-257.:5. (6-2t-65p) CLASSIFIED AD POLICY (6-.:58p) I"III-Rite Chain Saw 1"111I - Save $$$. Cut your own lumber, log home timbers REAL ESTATE Through August 1984. members pay 10lt per word for non- and veneer. $495.00 F.O.B. Warren commercial ads and 15lt per word for ads which promote a com- Groth, 586 Amnets Hwy .. Iron River, 60 acre fruit farm. apples, peaches, Mich. 499.:55. (6-5t-26p) tart cherries. Full set of buildings and mercial business other than agriculture. All other advertisers two bedroom home. Phone 616-6.:57-5009, 1980 ford 600 Truck for Sale - .:570 pay 20lt per word for one insertion and 15lt per word for two or evenings. (5-2t-21 p) motor. 8.25 tires with 12 ft. aluminum more consecutive insertions. See the announcement below for Insulated van body. Truck and body In Smokey l"Iountaln Riverside home. excellent condition. Call Crystal. 517- for rent dally In Townsend, Tennessee. new ad rates. .2.:55-0\207. (6-2t-25p) Pictures on request. Carl Morgan, 0\09 The deadline for ads is the first Monday of the month pre- Save postage I mailing fees with Lambert Lane, Maryville, Tenn . .:57801. Phone 1-615-982.1667. (4-.:5t-2.:5p-ts) ceding publication and the publisher has the right to reject "Mail-A-Glf" money saving offer when purchasing from colorful 144-page 100 acres with rustle .5.000 sq. ft. any advertising copy submitted. All ads must be pre-paid and catalog. We mail/ship purchases direct home. Good tree farm, over .:50,000 may be pre-paid up to one year in advance. Please indicate if you to you, or chosen stateside, military ad. pines planted. Write P.O. Box .:5.:51,Mill- are a Farm Bureau member. It is the responsibility of the adver- dress, APO - etc., U.S. Virgin Isles/Puer- Ington, Mich. 0\8746. (5-.:5t-22p) to Rico for free. Learn how you can save tiser to re-insert the ad on a month-by-month or year-by-year Approximately 39 acres on paved even more money by sharing catalog county road. Three bedroom house, basis. with friends. Send $.:5.00 check/money central gas heat. fireplace, Two-car order, deducted from first order to: Send ads to Rural Living, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, garage and barn. Good soil, approx- Edwin L. Milburn, Milburn's Mall-A-Gif. Imately 20 tillable acres, sugarbush. Mich. 48909. No ads will be taken over the phone. 11416-105 Avenue S.W. - No. 12, Also have two parcels on Black Lake Tacoma, Wash. 98498. (6-76p-ts) available, Many potentials. 60 additional f:xtra Income - Addressing labels. acres In same township. Second growth ATTENTION CLASSIFIED ADVERTISERS Easler than addressing envelopes. Free timber, creek running through. Ideal details. Send two stamps: LISTS, Box hunting property. Phone 517-7.:5.:5-8201. Beginning in September 1984. classified ad rates in 90028-RR, East Point. GA .:50.:564. (5-2t-55p) Rural Living magazine will change as follows: (4-20p-ts) Charming modern 2-story country Lose weight foreverl 20 Ibs. monthlyl home. Central Thumb. Marlette schools. - Members will pay 25 cents per word. No diet pillsl No starvatlonl Enjoy loslngl Black top '/2 mile north M-46. Electric Even when all else has failedl New weight stove and refrigerator. Hot water heat. -All other advertisers will pay 50 cents per word for one control tapel Use the power of the sub- Fireplace. Bath and a half. Two car insertion and 45 cents per word for two or more consecutive conscious mlndl Stay trim foreverl This garage. Large tiled garden space. Ex- insertions of the same ad. cassette tape will change your life! Only cellent water. Landscaped. Large maple $12.50. Hamlltons, Box 652-1.:51, New trees. Price: Mid-forties. Call Ward -All advertisements will be subject to a 15-word minimum Ulm, Minn. 5607.:5. Satisfaction guaran- Hodge, .:51.:5-.:546-2224or 517-8.:55-5727. charge. including member ads. teed. (6-51 pots) (6-50p) RURAL LIVING, JUNE 19841 Packaging That Country Feeling By Cathy J. Kiruan They purchased a tour wagon Recipe Cherry Cobbler" served that resembles a trolley car and with a hot or cold cherry drink. As you've walked through the put together a program. Since "The first year we promoted countryside, soaking in the Traverse City is the "Cherry the tour by putting brochures sights, sounds and smells of Capital of the World," they con- in the rooms at the Grand nature at her best, have you centrated on answering peo- Traverse Resort and took some ever thought that the "country ple's questions about the cherry of their employees on a free feeling'' should be bottled and industry. sold? Well, David Amon and his family haven't gone quite that far — yet — but they have created a package tour of their farm with a goal to share that feeling with others. David, his wife Judy and his sister and brother-in-law, Janet & John Marnett, own and oper- ate Amon Orchards, located a few miles north of Traverse City in the heart of Michigan cherry country. In 1980 they set their sights on a new business ven- ture, Amon Orchard Tours, aimed at getting tourists to visit their farm, taste their products, purchase some to take home, and spread the word about this down-on-the-farm ex- perience. A tour of Amon Orchards, north of Traverse City on M-31, is "entertain- ment first and foremost," says partner David Amon. "My philosophy is David and Judy got the idea that we are an attraction — just like g o i n g to the show, going bowling, during a Carribean cruise. "We or taking a canoe ride." visited a plantation in Jamaica and really enjoyed seeing the different types of things grown Tour Designed to tour so they'd be knowledge- in that climate,'' David said. "It Entertain, Inform able if anyone asked about it. gave us the idea that maybe "Our tour is entertainment From there, we have expanded people who visit Michigan first and foremost," David said. to other area motels," David would like to know more about "We entertain them, we feed said. Residents and visitors can our agriculture. them and we educate them, not also take the tours — not just "When we got back we ap- necessarily in that order. Our resort or motel patrons. proached the Grand Traverse primary motive is to show them But their biggest expansion Resort, which is just down the a good time." has been into the motor coach road. We asked if they'd be in- The hour-and-a-half program, tour business. terested in a program where which costs $3.50 per person, "We have several small road- we'd take groups of people from includes orchard tours con- side markets and used to panic the resort on an orchard tour. ducted by a guide, a stop at the when a bus would stop because They liked the idea and asked farm market where visitors can all of the sudden you had 50 that we start it that summer." taste the products prior to mak- people wanting fast, courteous ing purchases, and a hot piece of "Grandma Anion's Secret RURAL LlViriG, JLV1E 1984 73 service," David said. "Well, one year during the Cherry Festival the festival office asked if we could accommodate a busload of people who wanted to stop at a farm market. We said, sure, send them over. "When the bus arrived, I got on and gave them a little public relations on the cherry industry. We had three scheduled buses that year and the first one we kept in the yard. When the next two buses came we took them right into the orchards, and that's how we got started in the motor coach tour business." Now the Amons contact the motor coach companies directly The cherry shaker illustrates the innovative technology in the industry, through their computer mailing David believes, so they demonstrate it on all tours. "Even when we're not list. Last year they hosted 50 shaking cherries, we have this old, grundgy tree that we always hook on to and start the machine up," he says. "The people love it - they grab buses and were expecting 30 onto the nets and take lots of pictures." buses in May alone this year. "The more people become in- my land growing cherries, it's volved in high tech jobs, the also servicing tourists." more relaxing time they need When tourists stop at the for their own sanity. This kind farm market, they're given of activity lends itself really well samples of both fresh fruit and to escaping from the hustle and processed products. The Amons bustle. Where else could you go have their own brand of jams to drive through an orchard, and jellies and also promote the pick fruit, have a picnic, walk Wilderness Foods brand of by a creek or through a flower cherry pie filling. A co-op they garden and overlook the bay? deliver to is a member of People will come out just for Wilderness Foods and the pie the experience of taking a bite filling is used in "Grandma of a tree ripened apple or peach Amon's Secret Recipe Cherry and eating it right there and Cobbler." getting juice all over their "The greatest compliment we face." can get is: 'The next time I go to the grocery store and I buy Creates Good Cash Flow. Wilderness, I'm going to think "We're getting double use of our Uses Resources Efficiently of you.' You almost want to assets," David says. ""ot only is One thing that motivated the grab that person and kiss them my land growing cherries, it's also servicing tourists." While Amons and Marnetts to start because that's what you're after Amon Orchards' major interest is the tour business was increased - repeat sales. in growing cherries, David says cash flow. "You take a tour, you "The business is still growing the tourism aspect has increased give me the money, it's cash in by leaps and bounds and there the cash flow for the overall my pocket," David said. "That's are times when we wonder if operation. not the way it usually is in the . we're in tourism or in farming," cherry industry where some- David said. "50 far, farming is They've had some problems times you have to wait a year or still bringing in the bread and with people wondering why they more to get paid. " butter. should pay to visit a cherry or- Another incentive was the "We've kept a pretty tight chard, but David has an answer desire to make their investment handle on the tour business for them. "My philosophy is as efficient and productive as because we know how we want that we are an attraction - just possible. "We're getting double it done. We want to make the like going to a show, going use of our assets. Not only is contacts because the feedback bowling, taking a canoe ride. (continued on next page) 20 RURAL LIVING, JUNE J984 Country Feeling plaints form a part of that but tor. The employer must be able (continued from previous page) not the total," Clark said. to verify that the agreement The department procedure is was given to workers; that the we get helps us in future plan- to conduct unannounced visits, housing provided meets the re- ning. We have employees who but he said the agency repre- quirements of state and federal give the tours but I sometimes sentatives will be reasonable laws; and that the workers are do one just to keep in touch." and accommodate growers. paid properly. "Proper pay- Would he recommend the tour "Generally, our people are ment" involves a MSPArequire- business to other farmers? professionals who treat the ment to maintain hourly "Yes, but you've really got to grower with respect and we records as well as piece work love people," he said. "You've respect the fact that we have records and a requirement to got to firmly believe that the some influence on this opera- provide an explanation of any customer is always right, and tion. We try to do our function charges to the employee. While be able to put up with people's in as efficient a manner as there are other provisions of the idiosyncrasies. possible and get out of the way. act, Clark said that these are "Most farmers are production We do have to talk to workers, the major provisions. oriented and don't: see their but we respect time constraints operation as an attraction - or Some Growers and try not to interfere with the the attraction as being a way to Exempt From MSPA grower's operation," he said. market their product. The agency, according to There are two important ex- "1 think there's a growing op- Clark, is mandated to enforce emptions to the MSPAlaw which portunity in agricultural the law and there are very clear Clark said employers should tourism, but you can't do it obligations for U.S. Department become familiar with. The first over night. When we first got of Labor personnel. First, to get is the small business exemp- started we sent 500 mailings to employers into compliance and, tion. That exemption relieves motor coach tour companies second, if the non-compliance employers who employ workers and didn't get one response," is substantial, to assess penal- for less than 500 man days. David said. "Talk about being ties. Generally, 500 man days is demoralized! We were ready to Basically, he said, the MSPA equivalent to employing seven chuck the whole thing. But we law replaces and clarifies to ten full-time employees in a hung in there and when the previous farm labor contractor quarter. Persons whose opera- Traverse City area became a legislation. Speaking candidly, tions fall below that level of destination for motor coach Clark admitted that there were employment would not come tours we were ready for it. some" gotcha" words and under the act. "How many times you can phrases in the previous Farm The second exemption is for utilize something is going to be Labor Contractor Registration family business operations. the key to keeping farmers in Act (FLCRA)that were subjest Clark said that this exemption business. You can't sit around to misinterpretation and vary- has caused some confusion and hope that you're going to ing judicial interpretations. But, among growers. The exemption make it just on growing cher- he said, the new law clears up simply provides that as long as ries or whatever. You have to be the words and phrases that had all of the employment activities innovative." created the confusion and pro- are conducted by the farm own- vides a clear direction for rights er or members of his family, the Labor Issues and responsibilities for all par- operation is exempt from MSPA. ties. Those activities include fur- (continued from page 12) According to Clark, the basic nishing and recruiting the over. Following the regional premise of the MSPAlaw is that crews, employment, hiring, public meeting in Sodus, Michi- the employer who contracts housing and transportation. "If gan, this May, no other meet- labor either on his own or the employer does all those ac- ings are planned for this year." through a labor contractor tivities, we don't care how big During the coming months, must meet certain obligations his operation is," Clark said. the U.S. Department of Labor to provide information to However, if a non-family will conduct an enforcement workers and maintain records. member conducts or carries out program with visits to growers Substantive changes from the any of those activities, the and complaint investigation. previous law are that the employer loses the exemption. "We will probably gear the employer must provide workers If the non-family member is a (compliance actions) toward with details of employment full-time hired employee who people who have had problems either himself or through a recruits labor, the requirements in the past or areas where there registered farm labor contrac- for an agreement, housing, pay- have been problems. Com- (continued on page 29) RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 1/1 21 By Leslie Leitz, Information Chairperson, Berrien County They say a picture is worth a thousand words and these photos taken during the 1984 Blossom Queens Farm Tour, sponsored by Berrien, Cass and Van Buren County Farm Bureau Young Farmer groups, tell the story of a successful farm city event. The tour was part of the annual Blossomtime Festival of southwest Michigan which celebrates the apple blossom, our state flower, and all orchard blossoms. Between 28 and 32 communities in Berrien, Cass, Van Buren and southern Kalamazoo counties participate in the 51 year old blossomtime tradition. This year queens were selected from 29 participating communities. The farm tour is the newest event in the festival activities planned to give each of the blossom queens the opportunity to increase their knowledge about agriculture in southwest Michigan. Four farms were on this year's tour. 22 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 Photos courtesy of Portraits by f'riesan, Coloma, Michigan Radewald Farms (Niles) is a fourth generation farm co-owned by Edwin & Virginia Radewald and Stanley & Barbara Radewald. It includes 550 acres of strawberries, tomatoes and grain for rotation, U-pick strawberries and packing house facilities. Brookside Farms (Cassopolis), owned and operated by Ben & Frances Bement and Jerry & Julie Bement, is a 1,100 acre far- row to finish hog operation. Ed & Phyllis Oxley (Lawton) raise grapes, sour cherries and asparagus on the centennial farm they bought 20 years ago. It was one of the first in the state where vineyards were planted. Moser's Farms Nursery, Inc. (Coloma) is owned by third generation farmers Matt & Maryann Moser. The farm includes 350 acres of fruit orchards, tomatoes, squash, peppers, a fruit tree nursery and 10 greenhouses where some 200 varieties of flowering vegetable plants are raised. RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 2.3 The Discussion Topic is used by Community Ac- tion Groups for monthly polley discussions. Unified Policy Front Needed to Serve All of Agriculture This past session of Congress, pressed at the national level all special commodity interests we witnessed a split between primarily through general farm under one umbrella, to find special interest commodity organizations such as the solutions beneficial to all of groups and farm Bureau in the American farm Bureau federa- agriculture. debate over the dairy bill and in tion and the National farmers Commodity producers inevita- proposals for the new farm bill. Union and groups such as the bly have differences in their Agriculture is weakened when National Council of Farmers' Co- points of view (they also have a special interest groups weaken operative Associations. During great deal in common). These farmers' ability to speak for this period, the legislation that differences are eventually themselves, or when short-term was supported by farmers and resolved somewhere. The ques- solutions are applied to long- their organizations was primari- tion is, should they be recon- term problems. If farmers are to Iy general social legislation. ciled by farmers themselves have a voice in providing direc- Legislation, which in an agrari- within their own organizations tion for their industry, general an society, affected everyone. or should each segment of agri- farm organizations and com- However, starting in 1933, culture go to a third party such modity organizations must legislation was enacted that as the legislative or regulatory commit themselves to work in provided price supports for a bodies and plead their separate harmony and work out any poli- few politically favored "basic" cases? cy differences between organi- crops. This began the fragmen- Many congressmen will tell zations, so that agriculture can tation of general social legisla- you they would like to see a present a united front. tion into specific commodity united front, but do not believe Much of the fragmentation legislation which motivated pro- it. Congressmen love to have within agriculture, as well as ducers to organize themselves everyone divided so they can the increase in outside interests to influence policy for their par- write whatever they wish. that playa part in the forma- ticular commodity. General farm organizations pro- tion of national agricultural Coupled with this was the fact vide the mechanism for working policy, can be traced through that agricultural production out some of the differences of history. and marketing was becoming commodity interests prior to Up through the 1930s, farm- more specialized and farmers' going before the Congress. ers' economic interests were ex- /\\ problems were often com- There are those in some - ::- ~~LI modity oriented. Thus, groups, for example the milk in- P--.. /- ~t~J:1'f ,~the birth of commodity dustry, who feel that no one /'. /.' - l.l organizations and their should be involved in making .. subsequent use as a the policy for their industry ex- ~ ~ vehicle for political cept the producers themselves. '....... ;= expression of farmer This is simply not true. There .... interests. are many commodity groups to- ~ However, general day that want to be involved in _ farm organizations any new legislation regarding have always recognized the milk industry because they -) that many farmers' prob- feel they are infringed upon by lems are commodity orient- decisions made in the milk in- ed. Commodity interests dustry and they would like to have long been an important have something to say about it. part of their program. But A perfect example is the re- the vital reason for general cently implemented dairy diver- farm organizations is to bring 24 RURAL L1VINO, JUNE 1984 MAKE SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS ON YOUR MONTHlY HEALTH CARE RATES! And still get the same comprehensive benefitsl If you enjoy all the benefits you receive from our Comprehensive Plan but would like to reduce your monthly premium, here are two great alternatives: DIMENSION III This plan gives you the same comprehen- THE NEW ECONO-PLAN sive benefits, and, because of the deduct- Again, you receive exactly the same ible and co-payment requirements, you'll benefits as you would with the Com- be able to save substantially on your prehensive Plan-after you've met monthly rates. these requirements: This plan pays 100%of covered services M DEDUCTIBLE FOR HOSPITAL after you meet the following requirements: ADMISSIONS- ~ Pay a nominal deductible. $500 per admission, up to three IV After your deductible has been met, such deductibles per contract. Dimension III pays 80% and you pay a M CO-PAY FOR ALL SERVICES 20% co-payment. For private duty nurs- 20% co-pay up to the annual stop ing and psychiatric care, the program loss. pays 50% and you pay 50%. ~ ANNUAL STOP LOSS LIMIT . !if Once co-payments reach $1,000. no fur- Co-pay requirements are limited to ther co-payments are required for that $1,000 per person and $2,000 per benefit period. Dimension III pays 100% family. of reasonable and customary charges. Consider the advantages of these plans before you enrolll For enrollment information and complete details regarding all plans. call your Farm Bureau secretary. NOTE:Farm Bureau members (and their dependents) who are eligible for Medi- care may not enroll in the Dimension III or Prescription Drug Programs, but may enroll in the Econo Over-65 Program . '- Blue Cross AI .... Blue Shield ~.~ •• aIM ...... ' • • v CAN YOU AFFORD LESS? Discussion Topic For several years, Congress good relationships is largely a has operated with subcommit- matter of attitude; organiza- (continued from page 24) tees composed of five, six or tions must decide first that sion program, a real concern to seven members of Congress. they want it. Discussion on cattlemen because of the num- These subcommittees possess issues must take place before ber of cull cows coming on the an immense amount of power. policy is set. If discussion takes market. There are examples in Also, the time horizon over place after policy is set then other commodity areas as well. which politicians plan and compromise becomes unlikely. The PIK program did a great make decisions has never been Good relationships among the deal to awaken the livestock long, usually no more than to organizations are imperative to component to the importance the next election. It is even provide the kind of thinking of farm programs. shorter now that a decentraliza- necessary to shape a farm poli- tion of power has taken place cy that will assure us a sound within Congress. Getting com- industry. Many congressmen mitments for long-term policy is virtually impossible. It is quite Discussion Questions will tell you they obvious what commodity organ- - What is the purpose of a would like to see a izations with large political ac- general farm organization? tion funds might be able to ac- - What is the purpose of a united front, but do complish in advocating short- commodity organization? not believe it. Con- term solutions to their benefit. -Should policy decisions for gressmen love to It appears now that general specific commodities be left farm organizations will playa to those commodity producers have everyone divid- revitalized role relative to com- alone? ed so they can write modity organizations. With the -Can a general farm organiza- growth in international trade tion effectively balance the whatever they wish. and dependence on foreign needs and demands of all markets, the marketing and commodity groups? How? commercial activities of general - How can general farm organi- If you raise livestock, your farm organizations have be- zations-and commodity groups feed costs have been hiked by come increasingly important. work together to achieve the grain programs. Even fruit General farm organizations sound policy decisions? and vegetable growers are not can also playa major role in immune to the decisions made helping to formulate farm on national farm policy. Al- policy that balances the in- though less tangible, it's safe to terests of all commodities. MID-SOUTU TRACTOR say that the general dissatisfac- Short-sighted solutions for nar- PARTS, INC. Rt. 2, Box 316-M6, Sikeston, MO 63801 tion with farm policy has spilled row interests cannot continue if CALL TOLL FREE over to nibble at marketing we are to serve world markets Out of State: 1-800-325-7070 orders, which, in general, have and take advantage of our effi- Missouri Res_: 1-800-392-0929 "For good used parts at low prices. " worked well. ciency of production and our The challenge is to balance adoption of new technology. all the competing needs and Just as important to agricul- demands. Things can be made ture's future is the role that ~ FISHFOR~ 4 very attractive for one com- commodity organizations play ,--' STOCKING' ~~~ modity, but always at the ex- in market improvement, promo- -Ponds Our Specialty Since 1969- pense of another commodity. tion, consumer education and Although the number of mem- research. Hybrid Sunfish - Largemouth Bass bers in a general farm organiza- If agriculture is to be suc- Channel Catfish - Rainbow Trout tion is often several times the cessful in achieving these -Fathead minnows sold by the gallon. -Optimum genetic strains selected for membership of a separate com- goals, general farm organiza- fastest possible growth in Michigan modity group, the general farm tions and commodity organiza- waters. organization is not always tions must achieve a strong -All fish can be surface fed for family fun. recognized as a spokesman on working relati0'1ship. Building - Write or call for FREEinformation packet- commodity problems. Why this Spring Valley Trout Farm has been true is no mystery. 12190 Island Lake Road, Dexter, MI 48130 Phone 313-426-4772 26 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 AGRINOMIC UPDATE Agricultural Options - Practical Applications Trading of commodity options eliminating the chance to sell the November futures contract will soon be available to agricul- higher or buy lower. is at $6.50 per bushel. You tural producers. This is the first These two benefits will be- want some price protection really new marketing alternative come more clear as we look at without margin calls and with- for farmers in many years. How- specific hedging examples. out locking yourself into $6.50 ever, options must be under- Farmers will use options to if bean prices should go higher. stood before they can be used short hedge the production of So, you buy one 5,000 bushel as an important risk manage- both grain and livestock and to put option with a $6.50 strike ment tool by producers. long hedge inputs, such as price and pay a premium of 25 This month's Agrinomic Up- feeder pigs, feeder cattle, grain cents per bushel or $1,250 to date is the last of a three-part and soybean meal. the options seller. series to help Michigan farmers While farmers can buy or sell If soybean futures prices become more familiar with op- options, they most likely will be decline to $6.00 per bushel, you tions trading. This month's col- interested in buying put options would exercise the option to umn deals with the practical ap- to hedge production and buying sell your contract at $6.50 plication of options in a farm- call options to hedge inputs. when they were valued at only er's hedging program. Generally, farmers will not be $6.00 (see example 1). This on the selling side of puts and would give you an immediate "edging With Options calls, as this tends to expose 50 cents per bushel profit or Agricultural producers will producers to more risk than $2,500 on the 5,000 bushel use options in a hedging pro- they may be willing to accept. contract. This profit must be gram similar to the current use reduced by the amount of the of futures contracts. However, Buying a Put (Short "edge) premium for a net profit of options offer two distinct ad- Buying a put allows the $1,250 on the options hedge. vantages over traditional fu- holder to assume the short Of course, your cash soybeans tures hedging. (selling) side of a futures con- would also be worth less in this One advantage is that no tract. This is essentially a example, but your options margin calls are involved. The bearish position. hedge protected you from the other benefit is that options, Here is an example of buying price decline. unlike futures contracts, let you a put to short hedge soybean If, on the other hand, the set a minimum selling price or production: It is May, you have price of soybeans rises to maximum buying price without finished planting soybeans, and BXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLB 2 [(];I"] BUY $6.50 PUT FOR 25c/BU [5"] BUY $6.50 CALL FOR 25c/BU 52,500- $1,250 - 51,250- o , , Soybean o . Soybean 56.75 57.00 56.00 Futures Futures Price Price (51,250)- ~ (51,250)- .... (52,500)- (52,500)- RURAL LIVING. JUNE 1984. 27 $7.00, then you will simply option to buy one soybean con- have written earlier to ask why abandon the option, allow it to tract at $6.50 and then resell it you have given us such an un- expire and sell your cash beans at the higher value. Your profit balanced discussion. on the higher market. You have would then be reduced by the Dorothy Stoel, Charlevoix not been subject to margin $1,250 premium which you had Charlevoix County calls as the market moved originally paid to the options against you and all you've lost holder. The defense budget surely has a is the $1,250 premium that you By purchasing the call option "waste component" as do en- originally paid. you have locked in a maximum titlement programs in Social Remember, the option is bind- purchase price for the meal, Security, Medicare and farm pro- ing on the seller only. The buyer while at the same time allowed grams. However, defense is not has the right, but not the obli- yourself the opportunity to pur- in the runaway federal spending gation, to exercise the option. chase the meal at a lower price category. As a share of total In this example, you can see if the market fell. federal spending, defense de- that purchasing the put option The Future clined steadily during the last protected against a price de- 15 years. As a share of GNP, cline, but also limited your loss Trading of agricultural com- defense spending at 5.9% is as the market rose. modity options will be available well below entitlement spending by this fall. While exchanges are Buying a Call (Long "edge) at 9.5%. The April Discussion still establishing procedures Topic was intended as an exami- Buying a call option allows and operating details, we can nation of those areas of govern- the holder to assume the long expect that options will be ment spending that fall in the (buying) side of a futures con- available for hogs, cattle, corn, runaway spending category. tract. It is a bullish position and wheat and soybeans. Options These are the areas that need is essentially the opposite of will initially be available in a immediate attention if federal buying a put. three-year pilot program design- deficits are to be reduced. Here is an example of using a ed to test their effectiveness. call option to fix the price of Options trading has already soybean meal: proven to be a boon to the If you have news, comments or You're a cattle feeder who securities industry. Agricultural opinions you would like to uses soybean meal in your feed commodity options have the share in Rural Exchange, please ration and you would like to potential to be equally impor- write Rural Living, P.O. Box lock in the price of your future tant to farmers and agribusi- 30960, Lansing, Mich. 48909. soybean meal needs. Since op- ness. However, much will de- tions will not be initially pend on how well farmers available for soybean meal, you understand options. The pilot will use soybean options for program should be able to de- your hedge. Bean futures are termine just how valuable op- trading at $6.50 per bushel. If tions can be to agriculture. you find this price acceptable, you buy one 5,000 bushel call option with a 25 cents per bushel premium for $1,250. Kural Exchange If prices fall to $6.00 per (continued from page 17) bushel, you would abandon your option and buy your cash doubling of money for "Star meal at the lower price (see ex- Wars" (which is really extending ample 2). All you have lost is the arms race into space), $100 your premium. Remember, the million for chemical weapons maximum amount you can lose and the administration request Precious Life on this hedge is the amount of of $1 billion in additional funds 51. Jude Hospital stands on the your premium, even if the for foreign military aid. I am threshold of a dream - that someday market continues to go lower. really shocked that such infor- no child will lose his life to catastrophic However, if prices rise above mation as this was totally lack- illness. But there is still much work to be $6.50, you would exercise your ing in the discussion topic. done, more diseases to conquer. I wish I had read the article Life is a precious gift. Give the gift of previous to my Community Ac- life. Dall"Y Tholnas. Founder tion Group's meeting. I would .. ST.JVDE CHILDREN'S lIIII RESEARCH HOSPITAL Box 3704, Memphis.TN 38103. 28 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 Labor Issues (continued from page 21) roll records, etc., must be met, but the full-time employee does not have to register as a mi- GREAT TV grant crew leader. "The law clearly states that a RECEPTION FOR RURAL fixed based operator is never going to have to register as a HOMEOWNERS ... FINALLY! farm labor contractor nor any If you live beyond the reach of most TV broadcast and full-time employee of that oper- ator," Clark said. cable services, then Satellite TV was designed for you! Managing Your STARTING AT Labor Environment While the smart farm manag- er will be prepared to respond effectively to organizing efforts through self-education of the laws and regulations or through legal advice, a noted agricultur- al labor consultant asserts that no significant portion of the agricultural labor work force is ever going to be unionized. "The vast majority (of farm- workers) don't want a union and Channel Master it isn't the least bit economical- ly feasible for the union to try satellite earth station! to organize them," says Dr. James Holt, who has done ex- Even if you get only two, or one, or even none of the popular TV tensive consulting with Califor- channels right now, with a Channel Master satell ite earth station nia employers and the Universi- you could get dozens of channels of the best entertainment and in- formation in the world! (Some programs require viewer fees.) ty of California. He points out that despite all the talk about Satellite TV is amazingly sharp and clear. It comes direct from the unionization in California, only studio to the satellite to you - as clear as a studio monitor. You've 5% of the entire California ag never seen TV like this before! labor force is unionized. CALL YOUR NEAREST CHANNEL MASTER DEALER TODAY! "A maximum of 20% to 25% ALLEGAN COUNTY MASON-LAKE COUNTIES of California agriculture will Otsego TV 616-694-2810 Augustine's Antenna 616-757-2369 ever be organized and the rest ALPENA-ALCONA COUNTIES MANISTEE COUNTY is not attractive (to unions) to Myron's TV 517-727-2583 Country Roads TV 616-864-2446 BENZIE COUNTY MECOSTA COUNTY organize. The percentage in House of TV 616-352-4912 Ray's Electronics 616-972-7181 other states is far, far lower':' MIDLAND-BAY COUNTIES CALHOUN COUNTY he says. Eastern Electronics 517-965-7297 Dels TV 517-496-3580 National farmworker figures Kipps Antenna 517-968-6838 MONTCALM COUNTY Millards TV 517-831-4294 compiled by AFBF appear to CHARLEVOIX COUNTY Six Lakes TV 517-365-3506 Sherman Appliance 616-536-2961 support Dr. Holt's projections. MUSKEGON COUNTY CHEBOYGAN COUNTY According to those national Alltronics 616-627-6841 Able Antenna 616-744-1363 Galaxy Satellite 616-766-3184 figures, only 28% of those in CHIPPEWA COUNTY OGEMAW COUNTY the hired farm workforce con- Kings Radio & TV 906-635-5183 T & A Service 517-345-1671 sider themselves primarily en- CLARE-ISABElLA COUNTIES OSCODA COUNTY Video Technologies 517-386-7688 Taylor's TV & Appliance 517-848-2789 gaged in farm employment. Of EATON COUNTY ST. JOSEPH COUNTY the remaining 72%, 24% are Ron Heinze TV 517-645-7676 K.B. Electronics 616-483-9293 non-farm workers, 48% are EMMET COUNTY VAN BUREN COUNTY students, 11% are housewives, Puffs Home Center 616-347-3811 Antenna Service - Zane Dekreek 5% are unemployed seeking GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY 616-434-6191 Interlochen TV 616-276-6356 WEXFORD-MISSAUKEE COUNTIES work, 7% are otherwise not in f Van Drie Home Furnishings LEElANAU COUNTY (continued on next page) Moes Microwave 616-271-6012 616-775-3483 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 1984 29 Labor Issues ic labor management program. what Holt terms "smile a while" (continued from previous page) He notes that "once (agricultur- practices. al employers) have gotten into "What we're talking about is a the labor market; and 5% are labor management, they have comprehensive approach to af- farmers who work for other often found out that the greater fecting the level of (employee) farmers on a part-time basis. value of it has nothing to do performance. I think sometimes However, says Holt, the threat with collective bargaining and labor management is perceived of farm labor organizing has that it is valuable in its own as something you do to be a prompted many agricultural right." good guy or because it's a kind employers to adopt a systemat- Labor management is not of requirement for citizenship, but I'm looking directly at the economic viability of the (agri- cultural) firm and the profitabil- BUY YOUR NEXT CAR AT 1% ity of the firm.' "I see labor management as OVER FACTORY INVOICE being one of the significant farm management challenges in Save hundreds of dollars on the next couple of decades. It's a new American car or truck! probably going to be one of the key factors that sorts out those Sav-On Cars is furnishing Farm Bureau members important who survive ... and those who car-cost information which will save you substantial time don't." The goals of systematic farm and money when shopping for your next car. * labor management are to re- Save-on Cars with Your Farm Bureau - HERE'S HOW: duce manpower requirements • Select as many cars or trucks as you are seriously considering. Fill in the appropriate in- while increasing worker produc- formation on the coupon below. tivity and worker retention with • Within one business day of receiving your request we will return to you a computer increased profitability as the printout personalized for the specific model(s) you have selected. This Car-Option Printout will show you the wholesale and retail cost for the base model and for each result. and every option available on that particular model. "We are talking about enor- • You pick the options YOU want, at home, without being pressured. Then, at the bot- mous increases in productivity; tom of your Car-Option Printout you will find a simple form to fill out which will help you calculate the final dealer invoice cost, including any mandatory charges. not marginal savings in labor • Use this price to negotiate your best deal with your local dealer, OR, if we list a par- costs," Holt says. The present ticipating factory-authorized dealer in your general area, you can buy the car from costs for farm labor are signifi- him at an average of just 1% over dealer invoice. cant. The combined farm pay- roll in the United States now ex- Please send me a price and options printout for each model listed below. ceeds $12 billion annually, ac- counting for $1 out of every Style Model Year Make Model IMPORTANT $12 of farm production ex- Exi1lmple penses. LESABRE 4-DOOR 1984 BUICK Management areas that em- LIMITED SEDAN ployers should explore include labor management planning; nd measuring and monitoring per- 2 car formance; personnel adminis- rd tration skills, including recruit- 3 car ment, hiring and employee eval- PRICES: $9 for 1 car, $17 for 2 cars, $24 for 3 cars. uation, policies and procedures; Please Print interpersonal relations; super- visory skills; and human re- Name source development. Holt recommends that em- Address ployers avail themselves of op- City "tate Zip portunities to increase their Here is my: OCheck OMastercard or Visa Card # Expiration Date labor management skills through Farm Bureau Membership # conferences offered by associa- Mail with payment to: Sav-On Cars tions such as the Farm Bureau, 26711 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 336 Extension bulletins, and contin- Southfield, Michigan 48034 uing education through state 'Due to demand, some models may not be available for prompt delivery. colleges and universities. I .30 RURAL LIVING, JUNE 19841 AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 66th Annual Meeting • January 7-10, 1985 Lush and emerald green, sparkling against the beautiful blue Pacific, HAWAII offers you the adventu re of foreign lands while pro- viding you all the amen- ~ ities of home ... and more. Blue lagoons, ~¥ ~~\'.'-. '~ ./ '''11/ graceful palms trees, white --~ sand beaches, awe-inspiring snow-capped mountains, peaceful valleys, luxurious resorts and bustling cities-a fascinating blend of old-world Polynesia and new-world 20th Century, flavored by the immense charm and informal style of the gracious, friendly Hawaiians. Sightseeing, shopping, touring, sports and entertainment in this spectacular 50th State, with its perpetual early summer climate and continual sunshine, will color your days with the deep tan of relaxation and your nights with the rosy glow of excitement-creating memories you will never forget. uAlfl-ho/ n ,f(l!/~r Ii all. .%lIl/aii ha,r il aliI ---------------------------------------------- [l? Please rush a copy of the official Hawaii Convention brochure to: MAIL TO: (Please print or type) Michigan Farm Bureau Information Division NAME _ P.O. 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