, Announcing a new irrigation incentive rate that could reduce your electric bill by as much as 26 %. With Consumers Power's new irrigation incentive rate, about the only thing that won't be comin' up is your electric bill. In fact, the new rate could reduce what you pay for electricity by up to 26 % if you agree to irrigate during "off-peak" hours (10p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and all day on weekends and holidays). The 260/0 is based on an annual usage of 40,000 kilowatt-hours. In addition, electricity is more convenient, cleaner and requires less maintenance than diesel, the fuel most ,commonly used to power irrigation equipment. So keep thingscomin' up for a lot less. Call your nearest Consumers Power office and ask a Marketing Consultant for full details. Our number is at the bottom of your bill. someoneAnd thesaysnextit'stimetoo ~~~ Consumers expensive to irrigate Power with electricity, tell flflWERINIi • him he's,well, all wet. MICHlIiAN'S PlUJIiRf55 1789-E RURAL ROUTE It was eight years ago candidate evaluation com- that delegates to the MFB mittees as the key factor in annual meeting called for the "Friends of Agriculture" our organization to develop " selection. Who better can a political action program. measure candidates' The action ended a 60- ~ . ~ qualifications than the year tradit~on of ta~~ng ~ people who know them a non-partisan position * MFB AgriPa"c JII{ , personally and have ex- at election time. If agri- perienced the interaction culture (and Farm Bureau and sharing of common con- specifically) was to maintain cerns between farmer and and increase strength in the We have the potential elected representative? legislative and regulatory areas, to be a majority at the J know of no other organiza- members decided, farmers tion that places more emphasis must be more aggressive and polls. Farmers, more on local involvement in political visible in partisan politics. It than any other seg- action than Farm Bureau does was time for AgriPac! ment of society, take and this has earned us recogni- "By supporting those who our citizenship rights tion among other PACsas well support us, the MFB AgriPac is and responsibilities as with candidates. beefing up agriculture's politi- Candidate evaluation commit- c~l muscle and serving notice seriously. tees throughout the state have that, when it comes to the ball fulfilled their charge and their game of politics, farmers are recommendations carried a going to swing a heavy bat," minority, but we have the poten- tremendous weight in AgriPac's was how we announced the in- tial of being a majority at the selection process in early July. itiation of our political action polls because we, more than any The results of that selection program. With the strong sup- other segment of society, take process are reported in this port of members, we followed our citizenship rights - and issue of Rural Living. J urge you through on that publicly stated responsibilities - seriously. to carefully study it before you commitment. The first year of AgriPac's already high credi- cast your vote in the Aug. 5 wielding our "heavy bat" at the bility increased a few years ago primary. You can be confident polls hel ped put 90% of when our voting delegates said: that these candidates have AgriPac-endorsed "Friends of this program is so important earned the title of "Friend of Agriculture" in office. that we need to provide oppor- Agriculture." Compared to other PACs, our tunities for members at the Also, please join me in a "war chest" was modest but our county level to be part of the salute to the members of coun- credibility was high. Both can- "Friends of Agriculture" selec- ty candidate evaluation com- didates and voters recognized tion process. The result was the mittees and MFB's Agripac for that Farm Bureau does not pass appointment of county FB can- taking precious hours away out titles indiscriminately. They didate evaluation committees .. from their farms to help all of knew that to be an AgriPac The small group of bi-partisan us go to the polls as well- "Friend of Agriculture" meant farmer-members who serve on informed voters. exactly that and there was MFB's AgriPac welcomed that broad public awareness of the action and today view the rec- vital importance of the farm in- ommendations of county dustry to the economy. Wealso had the ability to Elton R. Smith, President "deliver." True, farmers are a Michigan Farm Bureau 4 RURAL LIVING, JULY-AUGUST 1986 FRONT &. CENTER During July and August county FBs across the state will be contacting local Great Lakes ,Radio Network station managers to encourage the airing of the new "Farm Bureau Review" radio show. The weekly five-minute program, which debuts Aug. 9 via satellite, will feature information about FB news and events. Nearly 18,000 P.A. 116 contractholders, representing over four million acres of Michigan farmland, are ON the invitation list for a 10-year celebration of the state's land preservation program. The reception and dinner, hosted by MFB, is set for Aug. 18 at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Lansing. Special invited guests include Gov. James Blanchard, newly confirmed Department of Natural Resources Director Gordon Guyer, and members of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. Letters of invitation, which were mailed in mid-July, include cost and reservation details. MFB'saward-winning policy development process will get underway with the an- nual series of district PO meetings and the statewide PD meeting. Dates and locations for the meetings follow. Contact your county FB secretary for reservation details. District 1 - Aug. 28, Van Buren County FB Office, 7:.30 p.m. District 2 - July .30, Hillsdale County FB Office, 8 p.m. District.3 - Aug. 1.3,Wayne County Extension Office, 8 p.m. District 4 - Aug. 1.3,Kent County FB Office, 8 p.m. District 5 - Sept. .3, Farm Bureau Center, Lansing, 8 p.m. District 6 - July 21, Sanilac County FB Office, Sandusky, 8 p.m. District 7 - Aug. 28, Fremont Fairgrounds, Fremont District 8 - Aug. 12, Bay County FB Office, 7:.30 p.m. District 9 - Aug. 14, McGuire's, Cadillac, 7:.30 p.m. District 10 - A~g. 27 (location to be announced) District 11W - Aug. 18, North Town Hall, Crystal Falls, 8 p.m. (EST). District 11E - Aug. 19, Garfield Township Hall, Engadine, 8 p.m. Statewide - Aug. 21, Clarion Hotel and Convention Center, Lansing, 9: 15 a.m. "Funl Rewardingl Great TO be involved I" That's how volunteers in the MFB "Agriculture in the Classroom" project describe their experiences in Michigan elementary school class- rooms. You can get the feeling, too, and help project a positive image of your industry as a volunteer in this worthwhile local program. Mark Sept. .30 or Oct. 1 on your calendar to attend an "Ag in the Classroom Workshop" in Lansing or Gaylord, respectively. Watch for more details as they become available. Saginaw County FB members will celebrate their 50th anniversary Thursday, Aug. 28, with special FB guests and activities at their county annual meeting. AFBF President Dean Kleckner has accepted the county's invitation to attend. Two neighboring counties are also holding their annual meetings in August. Gratiot County's 51st annual meeting will be Satur- day, Aug. 16 and Bay County will hold its 52nd annual meeting on Sunday Aug. 24. Dates- have been set for the qualifying round of Young Farmer Discussion Meets in nine MFBdistricts. Young Farmers who successfully compete for the top three district spots earn the right to participate in the round of competition at the MFB annual meeting in Grand Rapids this December. The Discussion Meet competition concludes with the national contest at the 1987 AFBF annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif., next January. District Discussion Meet dates scheduled thus far are: Dist. 1 - Sept. 8; Dist. 2 - Sept. 9; Dist. 4 - Sept. 17; Dist. 5 - Sept. 4; Dist. 7 - Sept. 2.3; Dist. 8 - Aug. 26; Dist. 9 - Sept. 10; and Dist. 10 - Sept. 11. For details of time and location contact your county FB secretary or Young Farmer chairperson. A listing and description of the topics is available by contacting the MFB Young Farmer Department, P.O. Box .30960, Lansing, Mich. 48909. RURAL LIVING. JULY-AUGUST 1986 5 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW Grassroots support for FB's current rate. Banks that move position on the capital gains quickly to improve their loan provision and the health in- volume and borrower relations surance tax deduction for self- may be granted additional rate employed person will reinforce reductions. Tax Reform - House and FB efforts. MFB members should Senate conferees on the tax cont~ct Michigan Congressman Conservation Ruling - The reform bill are scheduled to Guy Vander Jagt (R- Luther), USDAhas issued interim rules to begin working on provisions of who is a member of the House implement part of the conserva- a conference bill on July 16. Ways and Means Committee. tion section of the 1985 farm They are expected to conclude bill. The new regulations mark conference work on Aug. 15 Farm Credit System - the first time farm programs when the next congressional Federal regulators have given and conservation programs have recess begins. the Farm Credit System banks been linked together. During the conference, FB will permission to reduce interest Under the bilL farmers plow- be highlighting several issues rates to keep their borrowers ing highly erodible land after of importance to agriCulture from shopping for lower inter- June 25, 1986, will be ineligible and ask the conferees to adopt est rates at commercial banks.