WHEN PERFORMA.NCE COUNTS Summer Steel Sale Sale Ends July 9/ SAFE.ABIC VJ\N VVVW Haybines #472, 477, 478, (7') I~ Farm Bureau Haybines #479, 488, (9'), #490 Part Make Member Price LWD 16.4 John Deere Share $53.28/ctn. Order Replacement Sickle Farm Bureau with bolts included Number For Length Member Price 20071814 20" 7 Gage Disk Blade 15.17 OK4 4" Vibra Tine Shovel 2.09 800-040 648832 7 ft. $ 65.80 BU215A New Holland Guard 6.31 577875 WD-3 John Deere Shin 39.18/ctn. 239883 058UV I.H.C. Landside 28.47/ctn. 800-042 648840 9 ft. 69.30 NU1036SC John Deere Moldboard 60.38 577869 (soft center) 239884 TBUV A.C., Ford, OliverI 54.46/ctn. 800-271 648003 12 ft. 100.10 White Trashboard 577874 CC124 Slash Point 10.35 246229 DP2238 Double Point Cultivator 2.44 Safemark #40 Chain ,1 .1 O/ft. Safemark #50 Chain 1 .44/ft. PLAIN Safemark #60 Chain 2.02/ft. DISC BLADE CG-124 TWISTED CHISEL Ask your local county Safemark coordinator or call your county Farm Bureau secretary. Send dealer Inquiries to: Michigan Farm Bureau Group Purchasing, Inc.; 5646 Commerce, Lansing, Mich. 48910 JULY 1984 FARM NEWS VOL. 63 NO.7 2. \984. 'J\ll A publication THE COVER The MFB AgriCom program of the celebrated two years of Michigan growth and its 150th subscriber in June. Farm Bureau Cover art by Rob Schewe In this issue: Landmark Growth for MFB AgriCom Program AgriCom celebrates 150th subscribers, Jim and Rhonda Thompson. 11 State Officials Honor America & Me Essay Contest Winners 14 Seminar Students Learn the Lessons of Citizenship 19 Cherry Promotions Have Tree-Mendus Consumer Appeal Tree-Mendus orchards offer fresh varieties of Michigan fruit and fun 21 COLUMNS Rural Route - page 4 Rural Exchange - page 17 Country Ledger - page 5 Agrinomic Update - page 24 Legislative Review - page 6 Discussion Topic - page 26 Front and Center - page 16 Farm Bureau Market Place - page 31 flIlchigan farm News RURAL LIVING (ISSN 0026.2161): Michigan Farm News Rural Llulng is published monthly. on the first day. by the Michigan Farm Bu- reau In(ormatlon and Public Relations Division. Publication and editorial offices at 7373 West Saginaw Highway. Lansing. Mich. 46909, Post Office Box 30960: telephone, Lansing 5 I 7-323-7000. Extension 508. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $1.50 per year to members, included in annual dues. $3.00 pcr year non-members in Michigan, $5.00 pcr year non.members out o( state. Publication No. 345040. Established Jan. 13. 1923 as Michigan Farm News. name changed to Michigan Farm News Rural Llulng Dee. I, 1981. Third-class postage paid at Lansing, Michigan and at additional mailing offices. EDITORIAL: Connie Turbin. Editor; Mar- cia Dltchle. Associate Editor and Business Manager: Donna Wilber. Contributing Editor; Cathy J. Klrvan, Associate Editor. OffiCERS: Michigan Farm Bureau: President. Elton R. Smith. Caledonia; Vice President. Jack Lauric. 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 4. Elton R. Smith, Caledonia: District 5. Albert Cook, Mason: District 6. Jack Lauric. Cass City; District 7, Robert Rider. Hart: District 8, Lyle LeCronier. Freeland: District 9. Donald Nugent. Frankfort: District 10, Margaret Kartes. West Branch: District II. Bernard Doll. Dafter_ DIREC- TORS AT LARGE: Dave Conklin. Corunna: Michael Pridgeon. Montgomery; Wayne Wood. Marlette. fARflI BUREAU WOfllEN: Faye Adam. Snover. fARflI BUREAU YOUNG fARflIERS: Mark Smuts, Charlotte. POSTMASTER: In using (orm 3579. mail to: Michigan Farm News Rural Llulng. f'.O. Box .30960, 7.373 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing. Mich. 48909. Building a New Students gain appreci- ation for the right and Voting Majority responsibility of voting at Citizenship Seminar. If we could send every Farm "I voted for the lesser of two decision-making process of Bureau member to MFB's Young evils," from people who played AgriPac. People's Citizenship Seminar for no part in deciding who the Those decisions will be an- a refresher course, we wouldn't candidates would be. That truly nounced in the August issue of have to be concerned about is shirking a vital responsibility, Rural Living. You can be as- election year apathy. They a classic example of passing sured that the selected "Friends would come out of that experi- the buck and a failure to under- of Agriculture" truly are friends ence with a renewed apprecia- stand that the buck stops with of your industry and supportive tion for the right and responsi- each individual voter. of the FB policies you helped bility of voting and couldn't develop. wait to get involved in the Many important decisions in- political process. If we could send every volving your industry will be That can't happen, so I strug- Farm Bureau member to made by the people who are gle to find a new approach that elected next November, at both will shake out any apathy that MFB's Young People's the state and national levels. might exist in our membership Citizenship Seminar, we But we can't wait until Novem- ranks and unleash all the politi- would not have to be ber to make sure the "Friends cal power we could conceivably of Agriculture" are candidates concerned about elec- for those decision-maker posi- have. That's why I appreciate the help of Pete "87776" Simer, tion year apathy. tions. an inmate at Southern Michigan I strongly urge you to, first, Prison in Jackson, who knows make sure every eligible Farm firsthand what it is to lose the As this is written, members of Bureau member in your area is right we take for granted (read our political action arm, Agri- registered to vote and, second, Country Ledger on opposite Pac, are reviewing the recom- to really get involved in sup- page). mendations of county FB Can- porting "Friends of Agriculture" We think of incarceration, cer- didate Evaluation Committees, in the Aug. 7 primary election. tainly, as a loss of freedom. But studying the voting records and Farm Bureau members, be- Pete Simer reminds us of some- interviewing political candi- cause they are a minority by thing we don't often consider - dates. In a few days, they will virtue of their vocation and that nobody votes in his "town" announce their decisions on their good citizenship tradition, - Jackson Prison. Hopefully his which of the candidates are can have an impact on the out- words will make every reader worthy of the "Friends of Agri- come of the primary. look at the right to vote from a culture" title and the support of They could become a majority different perspective and ask Agripac in the Aug. 7 primary by saying, "Every farmer in my themselves, is it only in losing election. town votes." something that we really ap- Many of you served on the preciate it? county Candidate Evaluation In view of the traditional light Committees and I'd like you to voter turnout in primary elec- know what a valuable service tions, it would seem that few do you provided. Like Pete Simer, appreciate the right to vote, or you shared the "firsthand" ex- Elton R. Smith, President feel that casting their ballots periences and knowledge others Michigan Farm Bureau can have an impact on the out- could not provide and your in- come. I've often heard the re- put was vitally important to the mark, after a general election, 4 RURAL LIVING, JUL Y 1984 COUNTRY LEDGER Nobody Votes in My Town By Pete "87776" Simer three bucks to buy a jug of As for myself, I seem to be a spud juice - contraband, locally- fixture in the chronic misfit The vote-hawks never land in distilled booze. At 42, he is category. Now 72, I have served Conville, USA. Its residents, serving 7112to 15 years for run- 33 years in one Conville or myself included, have lost their ning down and mangling a pe- another - nearly all for coun- voting rights. I am convict No. destrian, leaving three little terfeiting and cashing bad 87776 in Southern Michigan people with no mom. (Twice be- checks. But I rarely neglected Prison (population 5,300), just fore he had been found guilty of voting when free and I have off 1-94at Jackson. drunk driving and merely fined.) high hopes of voting again (in After a magazine editor ex- "I never blew a turn at the 1988). Meanwhile, the burglar's pressed interest in how my ballot box," he said. "1 even words keep echoing to enhance "neighbors" felt about not be- voted in school board elections. my contention that, on either ing allowed to vote, I talked I'm an alcoholic, but I'm also a side of the walls of Conville, with nearly 300 of them - most hardworking, honest, patriotic USA, it is invariably the non- of whom are chronic misfits American. And I'm up on voting voters who are most addicted to who merely shrugged or other- because I'm down on lousy griping. They seem unable to wise indicated lack of concern. deals like Watergate, Debate- understand that the only shots But there were some unusual gate and Scandal gates of all heard 'round the political world responses to my question, "Did kinds. I know that if enough are the wee small voices of vot- you vote when you were free?" Americans attend to patriotic ers at the polls. One came from a retired cap- duty, someday we'll send a In the end, in a strict patriotic tain of a plant security team president to Washington who sense, I feel that nothing is who, at age 69, is serving 3 to will fum igate." worse than losing one's right to ] 0 years for felonious assault I found a 39-year-old bandit vote in Conville, USA - except (he had shot a toe off his an- busy at a sewing machine in the your city, town or village, where tagonist during an argument garment shop. He is doing "all each and every registered Amer- over a minor auto accident). day" (natural life with no provi- ican citizen may vote and "take "I've been a good American," sion for parole). "Sewing, huh?" pride in the privilege" - he said. "I served on juries I asked, idiotically. And you don't. seven times. I have donated He finished a seam, shut off hundreds of hours to civic ac- the machine, rose and replied, tivities. When it comes to voting "Nope. I'm reaping." A chuckle - well sir, I have never shirked or two later he responded to the my duty." I interrupted: "Duty, voting questions. "My dad was rather than privilege?" a strict three-D man: discipline, He flashed a smile. "Not duty and democracy. Our house rather than," he amended, "du- was run that way. Any family ty first, then take pride in the crisis that could be voted on privilege." called for balloting. Me, mom And this from a 39-year-old and dad, one brother and three burglar, doing 10 to 30 years as sisters all toed the three-D line. a habitual offender: "Hey, man Dad believed that no democracy - I ain't never voted 'cause it could survive without the other keeps on lookin' like no matter two D's and that all three D's who gets elected president, must start and flourish in the ain't no poor folks ever gonna home. So, naturally, it bothers get nuthin' but more of nuthin' me that part of my punishment just like they been gettin' all is being unable to vote. I never along." had a chance to vote in a public The next guy ignored my election." questions until I loaned him RURAL LIVING, JUL Y 1984 5 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW FB will support any action which includes research money taken by pork producers to get for brucellosis eradication and import relief under existing avian flu. trade laws, such as countervail- ~The Cooperative State Re- ing duties on subsidized im- search Service will receive Fast Track Legislation - ports, when such subsidies are $254.4 million in 1985. This in- fruit and vegetable growers proven. cludes funding for agricultural could benefit from "fast track" Live hogs shipped into Detroit experiment stations, special legislation currently being con- from Canada in 1983 were research grants and competi- sidered by Congress. The bill, 127,208, compared to 27,364 in tive grants. H.R. 5449, would grant quicker 1981. During the first three -The Extension Service bud- relief when an influx of im- months of 1984, there were get will receive an increase to ported products floods the 144,000 hogs from Canada nearly $340 million. However, domestic market. Under current shipped into Detroit. the Renewable Resources Exten- law, growers must file a petition sion Act was not funded due to with the International Trade budget constraints. Decision on Milk Pricing Commission and wait weeks or -The Animal & Plant Health Rules - The U.S. Supreme months for a decision. Inspection Service will receive Court has unanimously ruled The legislation is especially restored funding for many that consumers do not have the important to fruit and vegetable miscellaneous plant and animal right to challenge milk pricing producers during peak harvest disease programs, including rules. In an 8-0 decision, the and marketing months. $5.8 million for gypsy moth and court said Congress has approv- Simultaneous import competi- $75 million' for brucellosis ed only the USDA, milk pro- tion in these commodities from eradication. ducers and processors in the a foreign country, such as -The Federal Crop Insurance price regulation process. Allow- Canada, damages the growers' Corporation's federal subsidy ing consumers to sue would domestic markets, but by the will be $126 million. Adminis- disrupt the "complex and time a petition is filed under trative- and operating expenses delicate admininistrative current law and the ITC reviews will total $202 million. scheme" which controls the the case, the harvest may be -The Commodity Credit Cor- pricing process for milk prod- completed. Under provisions of poration will be reimbursed ucts, the justices said. the "fast track" legislation, $8.5 billion for previous losses. The ruling has positive im- growers would benefit from a -Farmers Home Administra- plications for the future of all faster time frame for having im- tion, the agricultural credit in- agricultural marketing orders port cases heard and decided surance fund which makes because it spells out where the by the ITC. loans for farm operating, farm authority for marketing orders ownership, soil and water pro- lies and will give some protec- grams, flood prevention and re- Canadian Pork Import tion against intervention by source conservation develop- Duties - Proposed legislation, other agencies of the adminis- ment, will have a loan level of H.R. 5206, would authorize the tration. $2.9 billion. The rural develop- imposition of additional duties ment insurance fund will have a on Canadian exports of swine Agricultural Appropria- recommended loan level of and pork products to the U.S. in tions - The agriculture spend- $805 million. order to offset subsidies that ing bill approved by the House -The Rural Electrification and are allegedly provided to Appropriations Committee for Telephone Revolving Fund will Canada's pork producers. consideration in the House of have a loan level of $1.1 billion. However, such unilateral ac- Representatives provides $35.1 -The Soil Conservation Ser- tion would result in retaliation billion in fiscal year 1985. vice program funding will total against U.S. agricultural ex- Highlights of the bill include $356.3 million. ports. Under terms of the GATT the following: -The Agricultural Conserva- (General Agreement on Tariffs -The Agricultural Research tion Program will be funded and Trade) subsidy code, the Service will receive funding of with $190 million. U.S. would be obligated to com- approximately $487.4 million, - P.L. 480 budget recommen- pensate Canada by allowing a dations are set at a total pro- greater quantity of some other gram level of $1.7 billion. agricultural products to offset restrictions on pork imports. 6 RURAL LIVING, JUL Y 1984 ceptable language to tighten The farmer, upon delivery of the Grain Dealers Act and the the grain, is considered to have Uniform Commercial Code. If an automatic lien for 20 days the substitute bills pass the following the purc~ase of the House, they must return to the grain by the grain dealer. If the 1984-85 Ag Department Senate for agreement. It's likely farmer records the lien during Budget - The House refused that other changes may be that time, the lien is considered to agree to the Senate version made before final passage. to have been filed from the date and the issue went to a con- Some of the main provisions of the transaction. The filing ference committee. The Senate of substitute S.B. 56 are: date is important in event of had increased the MDA budget - A licensed grain dealer bankruptcy, because the court by $1.5 million and reinstituted would not be liable to pay a se- considers the liens filed first as such important programs as cond time if the grain dealer re- having the first claims on the weights and measures, funds quested the seller to sign a available assets. for the Northwest Horticultural sworn statement at the time of Substitute S.B. 55 amends the Research Farm, nursery stock sale that there were no liens on present Grain Dealers Act to inspection, PCBsilo replace- the grain. The forms would be allow a farmer to obtain a "pur- ment, horse industry funds, etc. prescribed by the MDA. If the chase money security interest" A provision was also included to statement was false, the seller (PMSI).The grain dealer must, lessen the serious impact that would be guilty of a felony on request, provide a farmer a the personnel limitations have punishable by up to three years PMSIwhich gives the farmer a on MDA programs. in prison or a fine of up to secured interest in the grain $10,000 or both. If the dealer delivered and placed under a does not obtain a sworn state- price later agreement (PLA).The Grain Dealers Act! Uniform ment, his liability for paying filing of the PMSIby the farmer Commerical Code - S.B. 55 any lien is limited to two years. with the Secretary of State and 56, introduced by Sen. Nick The dealer would also be liable places the farmer in the status Smith, would strengthen the if he had actual knowledge that as a "secured creditor." Under Grain Dealers Act to give there is a lien on the produce. current law, farmers are nor- farmers a priority interest on - A farmer buying grain from mally considered as "unsecured their grain in case