MFB Makes Goal For the eleventh consecutive year, Michigan Farm Bureau has had a continuous growth in membership. With goal of 62,011 member-families, MFB joins 14 other" state Farm Bureaus in attaining 1978membership quota, reporting state goal on April 13. A total of 34 counties and six regions have surpassed, their quota, In addition, five districts have attained 1978 goal .. Complimenting members who worked on the 1978 membership campaign, Charles Burkett, Director of the Michigan Farm Bureau's MFB Field Operations Division, said: F8RI1li:J "Membership growth is tangible evidence that Farm ACJ'ION Bureau is truly the voice of agriculture. All indications Publication BUreaU are. that nationally, the Farm Bureau membership MAY, 1978 numbers will exceed '3,000,000 this year. -, VOL. 57, NO.5 "We, in Michigan Fa'rm Bureau; wish to thank and congratulate all the volunteers, agents, and employees of the total family that contributed to this success." , Those counties and their campaign chairmen reporting goal since March 14 are: Bargaining Erne.rg~ncy Farm Acl In the 1-350member category: Hiawathaland - Richard I Wallace, chairman; and Kalkaska County - Foster Bill Ready McCool, chairman; and in the 651-1200 member- Defeated by House category, Oceana County witl) chairman Herman for Congress DeRuiter has surpassed 1978 goal. Regions over goal are the Saginaw Valley, Thumb, The nation's geqeral farm FB Urges. Secretary to Upper Peninsula, Central, North, and Southeast. The five organizations, in a statement districts that have surpassed 1978quota are VII, VI, XI, issued jointly on April 14, Use Existing Authority V and IV. announced that they have united in support of federal With presidential promises of a veto riding along on its legislation to require han- legislative process trail, a one-year emergency farm program dlers of agricultural products made it through a House-Senate Conference Committee and on to bargain in good faith with April 10,passed the Senate by a 49-41vote. Two days later, the associa tions of farmers for bill' was defeated by the House, 150-268.. prices and other terms of sale President Carter had indicated he would veto the bill- which of farm commodities. included a "Flexible Parity" program for wheat, corn and The statement was issued collon, and increases in commodity price support loans for the by the American' F'ann three commodities -- if it had passed. Bureau Federation', the Farm Bureau had opposed the bill because of four major National Council of Farmer concerns: First, it overlooked the importance of agricultural Cooperatives, the National exports and the need to remain competitive in world markets. Farmers' Union, and the Second, it would have created a serious conflict in public National Grange. Several policy by encouraging farmers to reduce plantings in an effort other agricultural to adjust production in line with demand -- while at the same O"'~<.lll~~ ~t:..ms are aSOo\:lf:lteu tit~.t' increasing incentives to pr.xluce through higher target with the general farm groups prices .and loan levels. in support of the proposed Third, it provided signi,ficant advantages to some farmers legislation. over others by allowing certain kinds of production on so- The legislation, which will called diverted or set-aside acreage. be introduced in Congress' And fourth. it unnecessarily increased the costs of farm i soon, defines "unfair prac- programs to the Federal Treasury by sizeable amounts. tices" in the buying and Michigan ('ongressmen who voted against the bill, in. line selling of farm commodities with Farm Bureau policy, were: and prohibits both handlers MFB President Elton Smith makes Michigan's at- and associations of producers Conyers (D ) Pursell (R) Stockman (R) tainment of membership goal oHicial by presenting a 'from engaging in such Sawyer (R) Ruppe (R) Bonior (D) check to AFBF Director of Member Relations Norwood practices. Nedzi (D) Ford (D) Dingell (D) (Bill) Eastman. I The proposed legislation Brodhead (D) Blanchard (D) --- i will facilitate the formation' Michigan Congressmen who voted for the bill were: and operation of farmers' . , Intentions Report: associations in marketing Brown (R) Carr (D) and bargaining for prices of Traxler CD) VanderJagt (R) Kildee (D) Farmers to Cut ~k Corn, farm products. The farm Diggs (D) Broomfield (D) Cederberg (R) . organizations believe this will Increase Soybean Plantings improve prospects for raising . Following defeat of the emergency farm bill, Farm Bureau farmers' incomes, stabilizing once again repeated its recommendation to the administration Farmers intend to cut back expect significant differences prices and supplies for tha 1the Secretary of Agriculture use the authority he has now. on corn plantings this spring, in these national figures due consumers, and increasing under the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977,to make diversion but will boost their acreages to changes in the expectations the efficiency of the payments on acreage set-asides under previously announced of soybeans, USDA's of those 'in the American marketing system. programs. prospective plantings report Agricultural Movement," he revealed on April 14. said. At a press conference held Asked how a Congressional after the report's release, increase in the wheat target Farm Bureau Howard Hjort, USDA price might affect par- Director of Economics, said, ticipation in the Center "The clear indication is that Administration's wheat set- with these indicated national aside program, Hjort replied, totals, comparisons with last "We are going to have high year, and comparisons with participation in the wheat New Phone the programs, there is no program in any event." He widespread abandonment of said an increase in the wheat' Number acreage that would not be target price might draw in a compensated for under the few more participants .. programs. " Hjort said that, in total, the The next prospective Effective major factors that will plantings report will be determine final plantings will released June 30. That report May 2 Congressman David Stockman, shown here at the Republican be such things as market will indicate more fully breakfast during the MFB Washington legislative Seminar In - prices and market ex- participation in the Washington, D.C. was one of the Michigan Congressmen who pectations, and participation Administra tion' s set-aside (517) 323-7000 used the courage of his convictions and voted No on the in the programs. "I would not programs, Hjort said. i~cy Farm Ad. Poor lody; Lucky Me! The favorite part of my lob Is a farm, were trained In press relations and my favorite agrlcultur.al reporting, and know Farm Bureau activity Is the what you're talking about when Washington leg/slaflve Seminar. you use terms that are a com- \ So when I have the opportunity mon part of your vocabulary but to blend the two, the adrenalln Is are forlegn to those outsl«!e your really in high gear. industry - are decreasing In You'd think, after several number. Secondly, farm news years of participating in this has become front:.page news and annual prolect, that some of the is often assigned to writers and excitement, the awe, the being reporters who know absolutely impressed, would fade -- but It nothing about agriculture - and "DeNNA doesn't. I stili gawk in won~ readily admit it. wrap the garbage. In that Issue derment at the humungous This puts a bigger respon- was a clip-and-mail envelope, buildings; I stili get a thrill out of sibility on farmers, to be more post-paid, for you to use in being "where it happens"; I still aggressive, to invest more. time mailing your contributions to the Should We Be More "Flexible"? envy the news people who are and eHort in making their views Polltlcal Action CommiHee for on the spot when it does. And I known, and to never assume supporting ;he elections of I'm extremely proud of the job our legislative leaders/did on never get over being impressed that "everybody knows that." "Friends of Agriculture .... Those this year's Washington Legislative Seminar. They were faced with the professional lob our Because we do have farmer- who participated in the recent with a rather unique situation that made their responsibilities legislative leaders do, not only in developed policy that deter- Washington legislative Seminar more challenging than usual and it was a good exercise for all communicating with their mines our stand on issues, Farm realize even more how im- of us who participated in the annual project. Congressmen, but in their Bureau spokesmen are . portant having ."Friends of We too often take for granted that everyone knows how discussions with the news respected by the press for not Agriculture" in decision-making Farm Bureau's policy development-policy execution process people. "saying one thing today one{ the roles is to farmers and their works -- and our experiences in Washington proved that this is Our Farm Bureau leaders are opposite the next:' industry. a wrong assumption. It also pointed out the need for us to keep a press relations person.s dream I'm thankful that Farm Bureau Even if you have used your last spreading the good word about our grass-roots system of they're open, they're leaders, at both the state and month's issue for something developing and executing policy. knowledgeable, they're ar- county levels, have accepted this other than decorating your We spent a great deal of time during our 4-day mission ex- ticulate -- and especially im- responsibility. It makes.my shoes coHee table or: placing in your plaining that system and I believe the effort was worthwhile. portant, they realize the benefits much more comfortable than reference. library, you can stili There were other farmers in the nation's capital who believed of sharing their story with the Jody Powell's, I bet I send in your contributions.