1985 National Farm Bill Proposals
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LAND 0 LAKES dairy beef New Heifer Nutrition Program Can Return Up To $5 For Every $1 Invested LAND 0 LAKES" new Heifer Nutrition Program works so well heifers can go into the milking line at 24 months - instead of the usual 28 months. ~ PORK Getting her into the line earlier can mean as much as $300 extra milk income for you while the added feed cost to accomplish this is less than S60. Key to the program is new LAND 0 LAKES .. Heifer Developer M. It contains Rumensin plus a careful formulation of minerals. protein and vitamins which help the animal gain faster and speeds structural growth. Heifers are ready to breed sooner ... and go into the milking line earlier . • It's worth taking a look at. Keep More Alive In '85 LAND 0 LAKES~ LITIERMILK .... Milk Replacer And Kwik Wean Make The Winning Combination Cattle For ~ry 8ag Of LlTIERMILK Milk Replacer PurchaRd Feeding Get $3 Discount On Bag Of Kwik Wean WhereThe Easier ~ Farm.to.Food (Offer ~nds 6/'50/85) • Sy.tem Be9ln. ~ Improve your cattle performance on corn stalk fields by supplementing the corn that IS gleaned from the fields with LAND 0 LAKES- Beel Cattle Blocks Beel Pro Block IS especially deSigned for cattle grazing on poor pas- tures and stalk fields. or for brood cows on stalks or poor quality roughage. Na-Pro Block IS designed especially lor beel cattle weighing 600 pounds or less to supplement corn Irom stalks belore putting them into the feedlot For the Co-op/Dealer LAND 0 LAKES Beel Cattle Blocks are convenient. economical and eHiclent. NEAREST you call: 1-800-292-2646 You can pick them up today. Wh.. e The Farm.to-Food Sy.t.... Be9in• • • R~I,I"@IQ tr~"'l1 01 ~ 0 Lalo." It"C MAY 1985 FARM NEWS VOL. 64 NO.5 THE COVER On location in Washington A publication D.C., Channel 5 "Farm and of the Garden" co-host Dean Smith interviews Jack Laurie about Michigan his hopes for FB's farm bill. Farm Bureau Photo by Cathy J. Klrvan In this issue: Farm Bill Hopes Bloom in Nation's Capital The reception to FB's farm bill proposal matched warm temperatures in Washington, D.C., during the 25th annual MFB Washington Legislative Seminar 10 Agriculture Day Rural urban gatherings and special community events promote understanding and support for farmers during Ag Week, March 17-23 20 Speak Up! Four statewide meetings are being held next month to encourage member input for MFB's five year goal plan 23 COLUMNS Rural Route - page 4 Front and Center - page 16 Country Ledger - page 5 Farm Bureau Market Place - page 18 Legislative Review - page 6 Agrinomic Update - page 24 Rural Exchange - page 14 Discussion Topic - page 26 JIIlcblgan farm "eW8 RURAL LlVI"O: Hlchlgan Farm News Rural LIvIng Is published monthly, on the first day, by the Michigan farm Bureau Information and Public Relations Division. Publication and editorial offices at 7373 West Saginaw Highway, lansing. Mich. 48909, Post Office Box J0960; telephone, lansing 517-323' 7000. Extension 510. SUBSCRIPTIO" PRICE: $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. 345040. Established Jan. 13, 1923 as Michigan Farm News. name changed to MichIgan Farm News Rural LIving Dec. I. 198 \. Third-class postage paid at Lansing, Michigan. and at additional mailing offices. EDITORIAL: Connie Turbin. Editor and Business Manager; Donna Wilber, Contributing Editor; Marcia Dltchle. Associate Editor; Cathy J. Klrvan. Associate Editor. OffiCERS: MichIgan farm Bureau; President. Elton R. Smith. Caledonia: Vice President. John Laurie. Cass City; Administrative Director, Robert Braden; Treasurer and Chief Financial Orncer. Matthew But- zin; Secretary. William S. Wilkinson. DIRECTORS: District \, 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, John Laurie. Cass City; District 7. Robert Rider. Hart; District 8. Lyle LeCronler. freeland: District 9, Donald Nugent. frankfort; District \0, Margaret Kartes, West Branch; District II, Bernard Doll. Dafter. DIRECTORS AT LAROE: Dave Conklin, Corunna: Michael Pridgeon. Montgomery; Wayne Wood. Marlette. fARJII BUREAU WOJIIE": faye Adam, Snover. fARJII BUREAU YOU"O fARJIIERS: David Lott, Mason. FH Legislative Leaders Smith and Af'8f' Secre- tary John Datt testified before a Douse ag sub- Show Commitment to committee March 27. Farm Bill Package The results of our nearly two It took more than a well- not mean that it will auto- years of grassroots involvement written bill to gain that kind of matically become law. There is in developing a farm bill that reception. Having it delivered to much work to be done. Your will put agriculture in the right our congressmen by a group of legislative leaders did an out- direction in the years ahead committed legislative leaders standing job of laying the were witnessed by the over 100 who had obviously done their groundwork; it is now up to you Michigan Farm Bureau members homework was a vital part of to follow through. who participated in this year's our total efforts on Farm Bill I strongly urge you to first Washington Legislative Seminar. '85. I was extremely proud of study FB's farm bill and com- Before our group left for our group and congratulate the pare it with other proposals so Washington, D.C., I said there county FB leadership who you become familiar with all of had never been a time, during selected them. its "selling points." (Seepage the 25 years that the MFB 12 for this comparison.) Then, Women have sponsored this ac- We have already in- get involved in an aggressive "sales campaign" to convince tivity, that our mission was vested nearly two years more crucial. Now, after we've others that FB's proposal is the returned home, I can say with in the development of best. equal sincerity - never has our farm bill. By invest- Talk to other members who may not be as familiar with the there been a time when our ing a little more time position on an issue been more bill and the grassroots involve- enthusiastically received. and effort, we can make ment in drafting it as you are The investment of time and it happen. and gain their commitment. effort in developing a Farm Bu- Visit with members of other reau farm bill paid off in divi- farm organizations about FB's Because of the broad accep- dends of respect for our organi- farm bill and convince them tance of FB's farm bill to date, zation and its proposed legisla- that it is a good alternative. there is danger, especially as tion. Our national legislators Take every opportunity you can farmers become busy in their were ready for a reasonable, to share with non-farmers, fields, in assuming that our well-drafted, fiscally responsible through your local media and task is completed. Believe me, proposal that would move your community organizations, it is not! Ours will be only one agriculture gradually toward be- the reasons why passage of our of many proposals put into the ing a market-oriented industry bill would be beneficial to con- legislative hopper - and not without pulling the rug out sumers and the entire economy .. only by farm groups. There are from under farmers who are suf- Most important, write to your many others outside of produc- fering the impacts of an ailing congressmen and tell them, in tion agriculture who want input farm economy. your own words, why they into the writing of Farm Bill '85. We delivered that kind of should co-sponsor FB's farm There will be many pressures on package and it was obvious bill. our congressmen, from many that they were eager for a pro- We have already invested directions, to compromise, to posal that was an alternative to nearly two years in the develop- consider other alternatives, to the administration's approach ment of our bill. By investing a appease and please other con- that would force producers into little more time and effort, we stituencies. a free market situation with lit- can make it happen. Simply because we have tle government support or as- drafted and delivered a bill that sistance, and programs that are would be good for agriculture being advocated that would re- and good for the national quire tremendous government economy to the doorsteps of outlays such as guaranteeing Elton R. Smith, President Congress and were successful 100% of parity. Michigan Farm Bureau in having it introduced, does 4 RURAL LIVING, MA Y 1985 COUNTRY LEDGER live satellite news conference for Michigan radio stations, a satellite video feed to TV sta- tions, a briefing for Washington- based Michigan news services, daily feeds to the Michigan Farm Radio Network, a long list of photo and interview requests to fill for county newsletters and the news media back home - plus the gathering of infor- TWENTY-FIFTU.ANNUAL SEMINAR mation and photo support for a full-fledged feature in Rural Liv- ing . By Donna Wilber .Karker, then the coordinator of The news releases I sent back women's activities. She was a to FB Center for delivery to the The Washington Legislative high energy dynamo and intro- Michigan news media were en- Seminar, March 26-29, was spe- duced me to Agatha Christie's tered on a portable computer in cial for many reasons, one of mysteries as a great way to our hotel room, then trans- . which was marking the silver relax after a full day.