Farmers Will Fight Rural Crime

loss, they will be more con-scious of what they can do toprevent the opportunity forloss."

FaRlT1~BUreau

OCTOBER, WT1

Tnw.rs. CIty; Trooper Charl.s Mun,an. Pefosie,;JIm ShlffeH. MFa leglonallle",..senffJHn; f .flemIng. OI.ego CounfJ fa president; Ron N .MFa Local AHairs Speclalst. and Sgt rtBead'e. District 7 Coordinator. MJch'gan SlatePolice.

the level of awareness ofFarm Bureau members," hesays. "u they are moreaware of their potential for

Michigaa FarDl Bureau'sAcrION

PubticatiotlYOL. 56, NO. 10

LAND USE

MFB President Elton R. Smith tells members they must act NOW to stop theproposed Energy BiII- Page 2. Industry spokesman John M iller agrees that theproposed legislation will not increase needed energy supplies- Page 5.

ENERGY

ISSUES ON THE INSIDE:

AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS

Proposed bans on pesticides and drugs worry farmers. Consumers, too, havereasons for sharing their concerns- Page 7.

A special report on this issue of concern to farmers and others-Pages 9-10-11.Discussion Topic-an indepth look at this complicated law and how it effectsyou- Page 12.

WORKER'S COMPENSATION

M FB shares farmer-concerns with Governor regarding loss of productivefarmland-Page 4.

Michigan fann Bureau. In cooperation wlfII "arlouspolice agencies fllrougltout the state. liasden'oped a method 01 marldng members'equipment to alow 'denHflcaflon and reconry 01stolen ptOperly. SIIown re"'ewlng file m-'cJngprocedures are (Ie" to .. lit):Jolan Tlte'sen. fmmetCo."." Undersheriff; Trooper DowId Knowles.

Michigan

Farm News

increased. "Ron Nelson emphasizes the

same point. "The importantPart of the program is to raise

Team ApproachImportant

Before any marking can bedone, however, a "team"must be gathered andorganized. Members of that"team" must includemembers of area law en-forcement agenCies, both thestate police and the sheriff'sdepartment. Nelson advises,"Nothing will kill theprogram quicker than a manin uniform not knowinganything about it."

It is in this area that asupreme communicationseffort is not only desirable,but essential. Sergeant WesHaney of the Rockford StatePolice Post says, "Theproblem with law en-forcement is they don't knowvery much about farming."Statistics bear this out: onlyfour per cent of the nation'spolice officers come fromrural communities, a com-plete reversal from the past.

Many times photographsare effective in educating thepolice officer. TrooperCharles Brown of theMichigan State Police CrimePrevention Unit says, "Manytimes the officer doesn't knowwhat a farmer is bilkingabout when he describes aportable feed grinder. But ifhe can show a picture, thereis something to relate to."

Welcomin~ law en-forcement officers on thefarm can also be beneficial."Most policemen do notunderstand the farm in-ventory or the value ofsupplies like feeds and seeds,so if he can't associate withfarming - can't obtain im-portant information - theofficer will not have the skillsor the information to pursuethe case," claims Brown.''There should be an in-teraction of knowledge. Manystolen items from the farmpass through city corridors.The chances of apprehensiooare increased as theawareness of both thepoliceman and the farmer is

By Jim BensteinThe rural crime prevention the only nwnber unique to an

program that has been so individual that law en-successful as a pilot project in forcement agencies workBarry and Lapeer Counties is with regularly. Such is not thenow being expanded to all case with social securityinterested county Farm nwnbers, so they are notBureaus. The program acceptable. Nor are theconsists primarily of marking driver's license Dmnbers ofproperty with an indelible previous owners. U equip-ink, using the owner's ment is purchased with andriver's license number existing identification mark,preceded by the letters "MI." the new owner should notBut while marking is the alter or remove the old~c performance in the number; merely mark belowprogram, there are many it with a new number. By theother necessary activities way, the ink is high qualitybefore the prngram can be and industrial purpose andimplemented, including very difficult to rub off.gathering support from police Nonetheless, it can beorganizations and other removed. "That's anotherservice groups, coordinating good reason for marking ina network of township spots known only to thecoordinators, and simply owner," Nelson adds.practicing with a markingdevice.

uThe -marking looks sim-ple, just like riding a bicyclefor the f1l"Sttime," says RonNelson, Local MfairsSpecialist for the MichiganFarm Bureau and coor-dinator of the state RuralCrime Prevention Program."But there are manyunknown factors that occur.Marking takes practice, if forDO other reason than toprevent smearing."

Marking practice can alsoresult in finding new places inwhich to identify equipment.The uniform markinglocation is the right front partof the equipment. U there isno right froot, however, otherlocations mmt be fOlDld.Infact, Nelson says every pieceof machinery should bemarked at least seven times -in the uniform location, OIl thebattery, and in at least fiveother spots. "There areseveral good hiddenlocations," he explains. "Thecomponent parts of a tractorare always good places. Oncesomeone starts using hisimagination, it's easy to do a~ood job."

Accuracy VitalOnce the marks are made,

they should be recorded 00 aninventory sheet that, alongwith other programmaterials, is supplied by theCOWltyFarm Bureau. Theinventory information shouldinclude all hidden markinglocations, which are knownonly to the owner of theequipment. Accuracy infilling out the inventory andin marking is vital. "It'sextremely important that thelicense nmnber on a stamp iscorrect," Nelson warns."We're dealing with a

.criminal justice system thatrequires that laws be followedand things be done right.We're not just putting anynumber 00, but the owner'sdriver's license nmnber."

The driver's licensenmnber is used because it's

~f it weren'tfOF mirrors. · .

Pardon me while I brag a bitabout my Associate Editors. Notnow, nor ever having been,"farmgirls," they face each newagrlcu'tura' Issue that comesa'ong as a persona' challenge.Theyfret and worry and pray •••How can we write Intelllgent'yabout MI-OSHA or Worker'sCamp, for Instance, when weknow nothing about them '/

8elng 01 a more experienced"'ntage, I soothe their young,wrlnk'ed brows by Informingthat, Indeed, If Is against th£ru'es to become experts In allthe areas about which they mustwrite. Once they become ex-perts on a topic, they 'ose theiraudience, their empathy,through largon, assumption thatothers know as much about asub/ed as they do, and thehuman tendency .to show oHyour expertise by "ta'klng down"to those with whom you arecommunicating. Worst 01 all,when you become an expert, you'ose your awe lor re'ated adua'experiences, and I don't thinkany writer shou'd ever 'ose hisawe.

TheWork Camp topic, which 'Sone 01 our specla' leatures thismonth, was more than lust a test01 being ob/ed've writers; H wasa test 01 charader and I'm proudto announce that the FARMNEWS staH passed the test.However, It was not without Hstemptations. As 'nterv'ews ""edthe note pads and recordingtapes, lIIustruflons 01 peop'ebasking In the Florida sun torecover from their on.fhe-Iob"stress" - courtesy 01 Worker'sCompensation -- made thedeadline stress we suHer seem amalar disability •. theheadaches, the 'nabl'Hy to s'eep,the 'ack 01 concentration on non-F.8. re'ated matters, the stresson home IIle..• "

With that background, I drawupon a persona' experience .••One day, many years ago, on aco'd winter day, I entered the FBbul'dlng and hurried toward mydesk. I s"pped on a me'ted-snowspot on the tl'ed floor andungracefully 'anded on mytal'bone. It hurt a 'ot then; If hurtworse when, a few years 'ater, Iclipped the end 01 If on a stee'wastebasket as I bent down to"11a box of materla's for annua'meeflng. " hurts today when ,ride 'ong distances In a car,when the weather changes,when' think about It.

I was gratefu' for the "com-pany dodor" who gave me a fewtreatments when It first h.ap-pened, with no charge to me. Ifneyer entered my mind to seekcompensation for those "baddays" when "persona' time 'ost"made a ho'e In a much4leededpoycheck.

<Continued on Page 13)

DONNA

-FROM UNIVERSAL COOPERATIVES, INC.

FARM NEWS

Earlier this year; Representative Dent (D-Pa.) m-introduced H.B. 3744, a federal minimum wa.ge proposal.This bill included indexing, an automatic annual ad:"justment of minimum wage tied to the. annual averagemanufacturing hourly wage.

On May Xl, 1977, members of the MichiganAgricultural Services Association (MASA), anorganization of 1,000agricultural employers, voiced theiropposition to this trill to all their Michigan Congressmen.They asked, instead, for federal minimum wagelegislation which did not contain indexing, that wouldinitiate an indepth study of the overall concept ofminimum wage and its effect upon unemployment, andwould include a provision for employment of youth under18 years of age at a rate of 75 per cent of the regularminimum wage.

On September 15, 1977, the U.S. House of Represen-tatives took the following action:

-Removed the indexing provision in the bill by a voteof 2Zi to 193..

By a vote of 301-118, created a National Study Com-mission to study the concept of the minimum wage andits effect on unemployment.

The attempt to include a youth P-I'OvWonreceived a tievote, which was broken by the Speaker of the House, whovoted against it.

'Ibis issue must receive Senate consideration before itbecomes law.

By farmers working together through their farmorganizations, such as MASA, Michigan Fann Bureauand American Farm Bureau Federation, and those farmorganizations working together with other organizationswith similar concerns, organized labor has been dealtanother overwhelming defeat in 1m.

It pays to work together.

It Pays toWork Together

Elton R.Smith

Energy Issue NeedsMember Action NOW!

PAGE 2

October is Ccrop Month, and it's appropriate that we relishsome of the accomplishments we, in agriculture, have at-tai ned because we have worked cooperatively to make themhappen. The recent MI-OSHA victory is a heartening exampleof what is possible when we work together with determined,courageous, intelligent efforts. It is an illustration of howfarmers, working cooperatively through their organization,can have an impact on "issues which affect them.

But we cannot afford to "rest on our laurels." We cannotallow one major victory to lull us into complacency andapathy. To realize this, you have only to consider the manycurrent issues -- yet unresolved -- that are discussed in thispublication. These challenges, which need our concern andactive involvement, include Worker's Compensation, thecontinuing loss of productive farmland, the use of agriculturalchemicals in the production of food and fibre, and the energybill which has passed the House and is currently being con-sidered by the Senate.

It is the latter issue. that requires our IMMEDIATE AT-TENTION AND I MAKE A STRONG PLEA FOR YOUR ACTION. Isincerely believe that no other issue can have more impact onour futures - as farmers and as citizens -- than this one will.And, if the proposed energy package is passed, that impactwill be an extremely negative one which will affect not onlythe agricultural industry, but the standard of living of everyU.S. citizen.

The measures contained in this proposed legislation arecounter-productive. The bill offers absolutely no incentiye toour oil companies to explore new reserves. It calls forregulation, federal price controls, and redistribution ofgasoline tax revenues through social welfare programs. Thesemeasures will not produce oil and natural gas! They will, infact, block the supplying of our energy needs!

What can you, as a concerned farmer and citizen, do to stopthis disastrous plan? There are many constructive ways youcan get involved, but it must be done TODAY becausethe Senate is expected to give final consideration to the billearly this month. Here is a simple step-by-step suggestion foraction:

1. Read carefully the analysis and warnings of John Miller,past president of the Independent Petroleum Association ofMichigan on Page 5 of this issue. Relate the facts he presentspersonally. How would these facts affect you, your family, theeconomy of our nation, the future generations?

2. Sit down and write Senators Griffin and Reigle NOW,telling them of your concerns and urging them to vote "NO" onthe proposed energy bill.

3. Share your concerns with your urban friends and askthem to consider the worst kind of energy shortage -- peoplestarving because there's not enough fuel to grow food. Askthem to remember 1973 when many gas stations closed down-- and then think about what would happen if grocery storeshad to close for lack of food. Tell them the increases they willpay for gasoline will not go toward the search for more fuel --but to the federal government so it can form one moreregulatory super-agency or finance some "socially ac-ceptable" program ..

4. Ask your urban friends to write Senators Griffin andReigle asking them not to let this happen to America! This isnot just an agricultural problem; it involves everyone and wehave a responsibility to share our realistic concerns with thosewho are not aware of the consequences or feel that there isnothing they can do to solve the problem.

If every Farm Bureau member who reads this plea wouldfollow this step-by-step plan of action, we could report yetanother cooperative victory in the next issue of your FARMNEWS.

OCTOBER, 19n FARM NEWS PAGE 3

MICHIGAN FARM NEWS

Did YouHave YourSay?Michigan Farm Bureau's

Political Action Committee(PAC) urges members whohave not yet returned thequestionnaire in last month'sFARMNEWSto please do so.

The Committee desiresmember-input in the con-sideration of a PoliticalAction Program for 1978.

asparagus, kraut cabbage,potatoes, and red tartcherries - have been ac-credited and have operatedunder P .A. 344provisions.

Noel W. Stuckman,MACMA General Manager,indicated "the testimonypresented- by witnesses forboth sides was very similar tothe testimony given at thevarious hearings held bycommittees of the MichiganLegislature in 1972 and in1976. We are confident thatJudge Brown and theMichigan Supreme Court willuphold the act based on thefacts now in the trial record."

processors to recognize andbargain in good faith withaccredited associations.

Witnesses questionedduring the non-jury trialincluded producers,processors, agriculturaleconomists, and persons whohave had experiencesworking under the provisionsof the act. The informationobtained will go to theMichigan Supreme Court toaid that court in resolving theconstitutionality of the act.Particular attention focusedon the conditions which led toP .A. 344's enactment, theimbalance of bargainingpower between growers andhandlers, farm numbers andtrends, the effect of the act onproducers, processors andconsumers, and evidence thatthe act alleviates problems.

The Michigan FarmBureau supported theenactment of P .A. 344,whichwas passed by the MichiganLegislature in 1972and wassigned into law early in 1973by Governor Milliken. TheMichigan Legislature, earlyin 1976,removed a September1, 1976 expiration date in theact. Five MACMAdivisions -processing apples,

P .A. 344 on Trial

4-H clubwork gives us1,184,769 reasons

to believe in American youth.In cities and small towns. on farms and ranches. more thantl\"O million -t-H c1uh members prove what a great resourceAmerica has in the potential of its youth. 0 They live the-t-H p1edge ...get involved in farm antI home projects ... tacklekatkrship assignmems ...and work on special communityimpnnoement projects. -t-H makes acti\'ities of "head. ..he£lrt. .. /llllld.\ ... hea/th ..mean a 101. 0 peA people are proudof -t-Hers and salute 1hem for their outstanding comribu-tions to the country-and to t/lI:'i community.

Facts and opinions aboutthe Michigan AgriculturalMarketing and BargainingAct (P. A. 344) werepresented by witnesses ap-pearing before Judge ThomasBrown of the Ingham CountyCircuit Court in Lansing. Thelengthy trial, which startedSeptember 6, resulted from aMichigan Supreme Courtremand of a lawsUit first filedin the same circuit court fouryears prior.

The constitutionality ofP .A. 344is contested by theMichigan Canners andFreezers Association, a fruitand vegetable processororganization which opposedthe enactment of P .A. 344andis the plaintiff in the suit.MACMA and the MichiganAgricultural Marketing andBargaining Board, whichadministers the act, are thedefendants.

P .A. 344, the first com-prehensive farm bargainingact in the nation, is enablinglegislation which provides forthe establishment ofbargaining units, ac-creditation of associations torepresent producers inbargaining units, mediation,arbitration, and requires

Eisenmann. Blissfield. R.1; District 3.Andrew Jackson. Howell. R.1; District4. Elton R. Smith. Caledonia. R.1;District 5. William Spike. Owosso. R.3;District 6. Jack Laurie. CassCity. R.3;Distlrct 7. Robert Rider. Hart. R.1;District 8. Larry DeVuyst. Ithaca. R-A;District 9. Donald Nugent.Frankfort. R.1; District 10. Richard Wieland.Ellsworth. R.1; District 11. FranklinSchwiderson. Dafter.

DIRECTORS AT LARGE: WalterFrahm. Frankenmuth; Bruce Lelp.prandt. Pigeon; Michael Pridgeon.Montgomery.

WOMEN OF FARM BUREAU: Mrs.Andrew Jackson. Howell. R.4.

FARM BUREAU YOUNG FAR-MERS: Robert Rottier. Fremont

POSTMASTER: In using form 3579mail to: Michigan Farm News. 7373West Saginaw Highway. LanSing.Michigan 48909.

The Michigan FARM NEWS ispublished monthly. on the first day. bythe Michigan Farm Bureau InformationDivision. Publication and Editorialoffices at 7373West Saginaw Highway.LanSing. Michigan 48909. Post OfficeBox 30960.Telephone.Lansing (517)321.5661.Extension 228.Subscription price.65 cents per year. Publication No.~.

Established January 13.1923.Second.classpostagepaid at Lansing. Mi. and atadditional mailing offices.EDITORIAL: Donna Wilber. Editor;Marcia Ditchie. Connie Lawson.Associate Editors.

OFFICERS: Michigan Farm Bureau;President. Elton R. Smith. Caledonia.R.1; Vice President. Jack Laurie. CassCity; Administrative Director. RobertBraden. Lansing; Treasurer and ChiefFinancial Officer. Max D. Dean;Secretary. WlI/iam S. Wilkinson.

DIRECTORS: District 1, ArthurBailey. SchoOlcraft; District 2. Lowell

Paul BIxby, Ben-/en County fruH larmer, was the first In hi.county and among the first In the state to talc. adWlntag. ofMASA's new program •.

First Members SignedAt a meeting in Oceana To cut down on the time

County on September 13, two required "when the meternewly - developed programs starts - running," saidwere introduced by the Shepard, a collection centerMichigan Agricultural for legal information will beServices Association maintained. This "legal(MASA), an affiliate of the library" of briefs on previousMichigan Farm Bureau. The law suits, legal actions andprograms, outlined by MASA other information will beOperations Manager, Donald available to members of theShepard, were the Legal program.Services program and Legal Complementing thisDefense Fund program. program is the Legal DefenseInterest in the programs was Fund, which is developed toexpressed by the growers provide legal protection onwho attended; and the first agricultural issues of concernmembers were signed. to Michigan farmers.Similar meetings will be held Membership in thisthroughout the state, ac- program is gained throughcording to Shepard. annual pledges based on

gross farm sales. An annualThe Legal Services is membership fee of $25is paid °

designed to provide legal at the time of the pledge, withservices rela ting to pledge calls issued as needsagricultural issues, such as arise.Workmen's Compensation, If a member desires to useMIOSHA, OSHA, en- the Legal Defense Fund, hevironmental concerns, makes his request to.a Legalenergy, chemicals and Defense Fund Advisorytaxation. A firm of Committee, appointed by theagriculturally - oriented president of MASA fromattorneys has been retained program participants. It isto handle the legal matters the responsibility of thisfor members, at the rate of committee to evaluate$45per hour of actual use of - requests recommoend to thethe firm. MASA hoard whether to

When a member signs into provide funds, and determinethe program, he may select how much shall be providedth~ servic~. fee ~chedul.e for the defense of a par-~hIChhe belIeves will best fIt tidpant or an issue of com-hISneeds: 1% hours for $50; 2 mon interest to agriculture.hours for $75,or 21hhours for Both programs are offered$100. In cases. where more to members beginninghOUl'Sare reqwred than are October 1. For further detailsprovided in prepaid time, or specific questions contactmembers will pay at the $45 MASA, P.O. Box' 30960,per hour fee, for the 1978 Lansing 48909,or call (517)year. 321-5661.

FARM NEWSPAGE .4

MFB Tells GovernorLand Use Concerns

OCTOBER. 1977'

Shuman Honored by College

Sincerely,Elton R. SmithPresident

Freedoms FoundationAwards FBIG

(Editor'. Note: At the request of tlte Eaton County FannBureau, wfto.e members have been actively Invo'ved In thefight to .ave productive farm'and In their area, Michigan FannBureau Pre.ldent Elton I. SlnHh wrote a 'e"er to GovemorMilliken elfprenlng farmer concem. and offering to personallydl.cun the Illue with him. As thl. FARMNEWSgoe. to pre•• ,there ha. been no re.pon.e from the Govemor, but MfB'eaders are hopeful that .uch a meeflng will be arranged In thenear future.)

Dear Governor Milliken:In recent weeks you have been made aware through

requests to your office from local citizens of the land usecontroversy surrounding plans for construction of anextension to 1-69in Eaton County. I shall not go into thedetails of the issue because these have already beenpresented by others, except to say that 1 am deeplyconcerned about the unnecessary loss of prime farmlandwhich will occur if the preSently proposed route isutilized ..

As you know, Michigan Farm Bureau supportslegislation to protect essential lands including farmland.I firmly believe that even if such statewide land uselegislation were to be passed by the 79th Legislature, itwould not be effective in preserving farmland for at least4-5 years because of the time required for local planningand adoption of a statewide plan by the Legislature. Arecent report released by Michigan -State Universityindicates that Michigan is losing about 100,000acres offarmland from production each year. We simply cannotafford to lose additio~ prime farmland through actionsof state government such as the 1-69 project without avery thorough and careful review of the implications.

Recently the Eaton County Board of Commissionersadopted a resolution asking for a review of the proposed1-69 route. Shortly thereafter, the Tri-Qnmty RegionalPlanning Commission adopted a similar resolution. Theactions of these two local governing bodies accuratelyreflects the concern of many people for the loss of such alarge area of prime farmland in Eaton County.

In view of these recent actions, together with thecontinued longstanding concern by Michigan FarmBureau for preservation of prime farmland andnumerous contacts from local people, 1respectfully urgeyou to reconsider your earlier decision and ask theMichigan Environmental Review Board to conduct animmediate review of the proposed 1-69route with specialemphasis being given to the land use impact.

Because of the tremendous importance this issue posesto Michigan agriculture, 1 shall'be most appreciative ofthe opportunity to personally discuss my concern withyou at yoUr convenience.

ovvners at 90 percent of thefair market value of the milkwhile the testing is inprogress.

In addition, the PBB lawrequires all dairy cows bornbefore January 1, 1976 to havetissue samples analyzedbefore they are culled forslaughter. Localveterinarians will take thetissue samples and will bepaid by the state, Van Pattensaid. Laboratory testing ofthe samples will be super-vised by MDA.

The owner of a cow whichtests at 20 parts per billion orless in tissue will receive acertificate which must ac-company the animal toslaughter. Cows must beshipped to market within 60days after the test results arereceived.

A cow found to be above thelegal level of 20 parts perbillion of PBB must bequarantined and branded.MDA will then notify the DNRwhich is responsible forpickup and burial of the cow.

Ovvners of cattle to beburied will be paid indemnitybased on slaughter marketprices for their animals. Inorder to receive paymentthey must sign a subrogationagreement assigning thestate all rights in a claim fordamages up to the amount ofindemnification, and makeapplication to MDA for,payment. Compensation willbe paid within 30 days afterapplication.

organization from .954 to '970.A member of the ""nols Slate Board 0' legent.

since '97', Mr. Shuman al.o serve. on the Board I

of DIrectors for the 'IIInol. Power Company andGeneral Te'ephone of 'IIInol ••

Hillsdale I. an Independent, coeducational, I

libera' art. college for .000 student •• H I. locatedIn southern Michigan.

MDA to report this in-formation to the legislatureno later than September 1 ofeach year, according to VanPatten. &

The information could alsomake it possible for the MDAdirector to require thelegislature to exempt fromfurther testing when one-halfof one percent or less of thedairy cattle located either bycounty, geographic location,or any other grouping showlevels of PBB higher than 20parts per billion, he said.

MDA has hired a con-tractual laboratory to handle

.milk and tissue sample

.testing for PBB levels. VanPatten estimates about100,000 to 150,000 dairy cowsare culled from Michiganherds each year.

Once the law takes effect,MDA has four months inwhich to bulk test milk onevery dairy farm in the stateto determine if that milkexceeds the newlyestablished PBB tolerancelevel of 5 parts per billion,Van Patten said. Milk ex-ceeding the level will beexcluded from the market.Samples of milk will then betaken from individual cows inthe herd to determine whichare causing the con-tamination.

The law provides for theMichigan Department ofNatural Resources to collectand dispose of milkprohibited from sale. MDA isrequired to reimburse the

Charle. B. Shuman, former pre.ldent of theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation, I.congratulated by a HIII.da'e College facultymember after receiving an honorary doctor ofagriculture at that .chool'. summer com-mencement elferclse••

Active In Farm Bureau aHalrs .Ince •932, he waselected to tlte Farm Bureau Federation Board ofDirectors In .945 a,".1.erved a. pre.'dent of that

New PBB Law Takes EffectThe Michigan Commission

of Agriculture has approvedestablishment of a specialproject unit to administer the

. new PBB law (P .A. No. 77),which takes effect October 3.

Arrangements are beingmade with CooperativeExtension Service atMichigan State University toset up county meetings fordairy farmers and livestockhaulers to explain the newprogram and answerquestions. Similar meetingsare planned for managers oflivestock auction sales.

A packet of information,including a copy of the newlaw, will be sent to all dairyfarmers in the state advisingthem of the program im-plementation. After receivingthese materials, farmers whohave questions should contactthe PBB project unit at 517-374-9480.

The new law, scheduled toexpire September 30, 1982,applies to all Michigan dairyherds and not just thosepreviously quarantined underfederal guidelines, explainedKenneth VanPatten, head ofthe special project unit. Dairycows born before January 1,1976, must be tested for PBBprior to shipment toslaughter.

A computer program isbeing set up to record allpertinent information con-cerning PBB contamination.Explicit records must be keptbecause the law requires

Company; the NationalMusic Council; and theSaturday Evening PostCompany.

The winner of the principalaward in the category wasOperation Sail 1976,the grandfleet of 225 ships which sailedinto New York Harbor on July4, 1976.

"Considering the com-petit~on, we are extremelyproud of the award from theFreedoms Foundation," saidRobert Wiseman, executivevice president of FarmBureau Insurance Group.

Started by FBIG in 1968,theannual America & Me essaycontest encouragesMichigan's young people toexplore their roles in shapingAmerica's future.

FBIG has also earned fiveGeorge Washington HonorMedals from the FreedomsFoundation for sponsoringthe America & Me essaycontest in previous years.

The Freedoms Foundationa t Valley Forge haspresented the national ValleyForge honor plaque to FarmBureau Insurance Group(FBIG) for promoting abetter understanding of theAmerican way of life throughthe America & Me essaycontest.

FBIG's America & Meessay contest, held annuallyfor Michigan eighth gradestudents, was cited by theFreedoms Foundation for"stimulating the un-derstanding of liberty and thequality of life in Americaduring 1976."

The America & Me contestwas judged a 1976 awardwinner in the "Americana"category. Other winners ofthe Valley Forge honorplaque in the same categorywere Newsweek, which wonthe award for its special issueon America; the AmericanBar Association; Walt DisneyWorld in Florida; the Esson

Energy Sources ARE Available,Says Oil Industry Spokesman

Need Return to U.S. OIL SUPPLIESFree Market (Billion Barrels)

System

1093.7

223.3

PAGE 5

25-lb. bag

$4.952.95

Whwe '!bur Farm Comes First

FaRmr"BUreaUFARM BUREAU SERVICES, INCFARMERS PETROLEUM

760.7

135.3

50-lb. bag

$ 9.705.70

UNDISCOVEREDRESOURCES

655

UNDISCOVEREDRESOURCES

149

October'sMember - Only

Special

UNDISCOVEREDRESOURCES

322

UNDISCOVEREDRESOURCES

61

HIGH ESTIMATE

LOW ESTIMATE

LOW ESTIMATE

u.s. Geological Survey

IDENTIFIEDRESERVES

438.7

IDENTIFIEDRESERVES

438.7

IDENTIFIEDRESERVES

74.3

HIGH ESTIMATE

IDENTIFIEDRESERVES

74.3

Sunflower SeedWild Bird Feed

20

Get ready to spend an enjoyable season of birdwatching.Farm Bureau Wild Bird Feed and Sunflower Seed is themenu Michigan's wild birds prefer!

This offer is good October 1 to November 1, 19n, atparticipating Farm Bureau Dealers. Remember to haveyour MFB membership card avail-able. It's good deals like this thathelp pay for your membership so

\save now and buy your supplytoday.

This winter feed your feathered friends Farm BureauWild Bird Feed and Sunflower Seeds. Both are availableat a special low price just for Michigan Farm Bureaumembers.

3.6

1976 PRODUCTION

1976 PRODUCTION

Source:

U.S. GAS SUPPLIES(Trillion Cubic Feet)

FARM. NEWS

1250 yearlings and calves1100 yearlings and calves4000 yearlings and calves1200 yearlings and calves I2000 yearlings and calves700 yearlings and calves I

All sales start at 12:00 Noon

Cattle are graded to U.S.D.A. Standards and will be soldin lots of uniform grade, weight, sex and breed.

Brochure available with description of cattle in each sale. II

Michigan Feeder Cattle Producers CouncilHarvey Hansen, Box 186 #2Posen, Michigan 49776

Oct. 10 PauldingOct. 11 Rapid RiverOct. 13 GaylordOct. 18 AlpenaOct. 19 West BranchOct. 28 Baldwin

--------

getting about $22, "it's im-portant that everyone un-derstands that at this timethis new Department ofEnergy being formed is adepartment that starts inwith some 20,000 employeesand a budget in excess of $10.6billion per year. So this Ideaof the rebate that they'retalking about is a little bit of acharade because that moneywill not be coming back to theconsumers in rebates. It willbe going to fund the beginningof this ultra-bureaucracy."

The bill would actuallydiscourage domestic oilproduction and increase ourdependence on foreign oil,according to Miller, becauseit relies too much' on con-servation. "This has to be atwo phase program," he said. ,"One of conservation, one ofincreased supply. Onewithout the other will not besuccessful. "

Miller pointed out that. there are now an estimated 15million people in their sub-teen years that will hit the jobmarket by 1985. "If we aregoing to have a 4 percentunemployment level at thattime we will have to increaseour energy output by 48percent from its presentplace . You can't do thatthrough a conservationprogram alone."

According to 1975estimatesby the U.S. Geological Sur-vey, the United States hashuge potential domestic oil

IN

TE

RVIEW.

OCTOBER, 1977

IRS is correcting theirerror, but it is unknown howmany other farmers in a

By Mike RogersIf the Energy Policy Act is

passed and signed into law, itwoul.d substantially boost thecost of energy, but it would dolittle or nothing. to increaseenergy supplies ..

So said Joqn Miller,Allegan County oil producerand past president of theIndependent PetroleumAssociation of America, in arecent interview.

The energy bill, as passedby the House and beingconsidered by the Senate,would tax domestic crude tobring it up to the price ofworld market oiL' "Thefederal government will beimposing a very substantialtax o~ oil products," saidMiller. "This tax will go intothe federal bureaucracy. Itwill not go to find moredom~stic oil and gas. There isno incentive in this programto develop new domestic oiland gas," ~

Miller said that by 1980,consumers could expect topay 7 or 8 cents more pergallon of gasoline. "It doesnot go to the refiner or theand gas," he -said. "It doesnot go to the refiner of themarketer. That increase goesdirectly and totally to thefederal government."

Consumers would pay anestimated $25 billion dollarsextra for energy the first yearthe law would be in effect.Miller said that although thetax would be returned to thepublic with - each taxpayer

A release from MissouriSenator Tom Eagleton'soffice says that "in at leastone .case this year the IRS inKansas City had erroneouslyrejected a farmer's claim ongrounds that the credit couldbe applied only against taxespaid. Actually, the credit onfarm use gasoline is one of thefew instances in federal taxlaw where a rebate could beclaimed, but this point wasmisunderstood by an IRS taxexaminer in Kansas City."

and gas supplies, as much as38 to 63 times the total 1976U.S. oil production, and 38 to.55 times the 1976 productionof natural gas. But Miller saidthese reserves will never bedeveloped if oil producers donot have the money or in-centive to explore for thedeposits.

"We need to have a returnto the free market concept,the supply-demand equationthat has served this countrywell," he said. "The UnitedStates has all the capability tobecome independent inenergy. We have vastamounts of coal andtremendous amounts of gasthat can be extracted fromdeep, hard to produce for-mations. We have oil fromshale that can be obtained.We have vast amounts ofenergy, but we lack aprogram to go forward anddevelop them."

Miller pointed out that onlya few years ago there was nohint that there might bepetroleum in the MichiganBasin. "But with the recentdevelopment of newtechnologies and geophysics,and a real concentrateddrilling program," he said,"we have found a very largeamount of oil and gas. Wehave set new records for theproduction of oil in the stateof Michigan."

So energy sources areavailable, Miller said, "but itwill not be cheap: We need tolet the consuming publicmake the choices of whichenergy they utilize and inwhat way they utilize it, and

IRS M k E not look to Washington toa es rror design a program to tell each IIf you're a farmer and did similar situation had their of us what to do in every

not pay any federal income claims rejected. aspect of our livelihood."

tax last year due to the iNORTH-E-R-N-M-IC-H-,GANCOOPERATIVE - Jdrought - disaster situation, FEEDER SALESyou can still claim a refund 10,250 Headfor the 4-cent per gallon Ifederal tax on farm use These are all native cattle sired by registered bulls and outgasoline. I of predominantly beef type cows. All sales guarantee I

heifer calves open and male calves properly castrated. All Icalves dehorned.

OCTOBER,1977 ,

Every fanner'should bank

on 'the3-in-1

system.

COOPERA~~~ FAIIMelEIITIIIKS OF ST. PAUL

Agriculture is a complicated busines~ ...and so are i!s creditrequirements, That's why the cooperative Farm CredIt Banksof Sf. Paul are three-banks-in-one.

The Federal Land Bank makes long-term loans secured byfirst mortgages on farm real estate and rural homes throug~local Federal Land Bank Associations. The Fec!erallntermedl-ate Credit Bank provides funds to and supervises ProductionCredit Associations which make short- and intermediate-termloans to farmers for just about any agricultural purpose. TheBank for Cooperatives makes loans to farmer-owned market-ing, supply and service cooperatives, directly from St. Paul.

All three banks raise funds in the nation's capital markets .•The money helps provide credit to farmers. ranchers andtheir cooperatives in Michigan. Minnesota. North Dakota andWisconsin.

It's a good System. 'Cause when it comes to farm credit...every farmer can count on the three banks of the cooperativ~Farm Credit System.

Federal Intermediate Credit Bank (for your PeA)Federal Land Bank (for your FLBA)

Bank for Cooperatives (for your cooperatives)

375 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101/Phone: (61.2) 725-7722

FARM NEWS

CAPITOL REP.' Robert E. Smithlarge taxpayers or cor- Representatives George Chemical Test for Imported Foodsporations. During the com- Montgomery, Detroit; V. Senator Richard Allen (R- freely across the border intomittee meetings Chairman Smith, Detroit; T. Brown, Alma) and Rep. Charles Michigan without any effortMontgomery (D-Detroit) Westland; Geralds, l\"~dison Mueller (R-Linden), have to determine whether bannedpointed out that in his opinion Heights; Jondahl, East announced that they intend to chemicals have been used inthe one segment of business Lansing; Mathieu, Grand introduce legislation to their production. Thethat deserved consideration Rapids; Trim, Davisburg; M. require that all foods im- proposed legislation willwas agriculture. Mr. Mon- Brown, Kalamazoo; Bullard, ported into Michigan from require foreign governmentst g 0 mer y un de r s tan d s Ann Arbor; Cushingberry , other countries must meet to certify that their productsagriculture and recognizes Detroit, these are all Michigan chemical con- are grown without use ofthat there is no way for Democrats, the Republican tamination guidelines. They prohibited chemicals.farmers to pass the tax onto members are: Brotherton, said that food imports arethe consumers while most Farmington; Buth, Rock- apparently allowed from Senator Allen said

fthethre,

other businesses can. He ford; Gast, St. Joseph; areas that continue to use are two reasons or erecognizes that the prices Hoffman, Applegate; R." agricultural chemicals that legiShlation,one is to insthure

tfarmers receive are often Smith, Ypsilanti; Stevens, are banned in Michigan. Mic igan co~sulmers atdetermined by worldwide Atlanta; and VanSingel, There is presently no testing banned chedml~as. are tnodconditions, in no case are Grant. Some members of the for the presence 'of these being use d In

hImtPhore.

they determined by committee are either far- illegal chemicals. Rep .. products;hi~n } e 0 er ISproducers within a single mers or have farm Mueller, a fruit farmer, cited that Mic gan armers arestate. backgrounds and were very a number of chemicals that forced into an unfair com-

When the final decision effective in helping to achieve are prohibited in Michigan petitive situation as theycame the committee was the recommendation that but are legal in Canada such must produce products thatunanimous in approving the agriculture be exempted. as Amitrol "T" which is the meet higher standards.exemption for agriculture. chemical that caused the Senator Allen said thatThe final committee vote for Go v ern 0 r Mf11 i ken, "cranberry scare" several Canada has used the PBBthe entire bill was 13 to Minority Leader Dennis years ago. Another chemical situation as an excuse fornothing with 4 committee Cawthorne and Speaker of is Red Dye No.2, used in banning Michigan beef. Hemembers absent. The the House Bobby Crim, have producing maraschino said he was "amazed" to findmembers of the House all anno~ced support for ~e cherries, red apple rings and the difference. in standardsTaxation Committee are: bill. other products. ~resently between Michigan and

Appointment of .AgDirector fruits and vegetables move Canada.lIB 5102and HB 5103were ment subject to the political

introduced by Reps. DiNello, whims of whoe,ver theEast Detroit; Spaniola, Governor might be. When theCorunna; Wilson, Hazel commission system wasPark' Bennett, Redford; introduced, the Department 'Griff~, Jackson; Symons, was still responsible to aAllen Park; mostly Detroit commiS$ion, but insulated to'area legislators. some degree to the political

The purpose of the bills is to "spoils system". Since thatrequire that the Director of time, there has ~n con-the Department of tinuity of leadership, evenAgriculture be appointed by though control of thethe Governor. Presently, the Executive, Branch wasDirector is appointed by a fluctuated from Democraticfive-member 'bipartisan tp Republican and back.commission which, in turn, is HB 5102 and '5103 areappointed by the Governor regressive bills, as theywith consent of the Senate. would return this important

The present system was Department to the old "spoilsvigorously promoted by system". Every farmer orFarm Bureau many years anyone else who is concernedago because, at that time, with good government shoulddepartment heads were be very much opposed to suchappointed by the Governor, an effort to politicize thethereby making the depart- Department.

Petition to Rais~ Drinking Age _Senator Alvin DeGrow (R- for older drivers have risen

Pigeon) and Rep. Melvin only 14 percent. School ad- .DeStigter (R-West Olive), ministrators and teac~ershave announced support for a ha.ve. pointed out ~erlouspetition drive promoted by drmkmg problems m theCoalition 21 to raise the classroom and at sports anddrinking age' to 21. The bills social events.raising the age to 19 have The ballot question willpassed the Senate, bu.t are a~en.d the Michigan Con-presently being held up In the stItution to make 21 the le~alHouse Committee. age for purchase, possession

and consumption of alcoholicbeverages. The petition goalis 400,000signatures to assurea place on the ballot. FarmBureau's position on thisissue is that the drinking ageshould be raised to 20 yearsold from the present 18.How~ver, if it is raised to 21itstill would be well within theposition taken by FarmBureau voting delegates lastyear.

Anyonewishing to circulatethe petitions may have copiesby writing the MichiganFarm Bureau Public AffairsDivision at 7373 WestSaginaw Highway, Lansing,Michigan 48909, P.O. Box30960.

The petition drive will force.the issue and give the peopleopportunity to vote on thelegal drinking age.

According to the MichiganState Police there has been a96percent increase'in alcoholcaused fatal crashes among16and 17year olds during thefirst five years of the lowerdrinking age in Michigan.For example, a recent crash,involving drinking, took thelives of6 teenagers in the AnnArbor area. According toState Police fatal accidents inthe 18 to 20 years old grouphave gone up 132 percentsince 1972.During the sameperiod alcohol caused fatals

Lansing

SOT AGEXEMPTION

The House TaxationCommi ttee meeting Sep-tember 14and 15,approved abill amending the Si.ngleBusiness Tax (Sub. H.B.4633). The bill provided forexemption of agriculture.The definition of agricultureis:

"That portion of the taxbase attributable to the.production of agricul turalgoods by a person whoseprimary activity is theproduction of agricul turalgoods. "Production ofagricultural goods" meanscommercial farming in-cluding but not limited tocultivation of the soil,growing and harvesting ofany agricult,ural, hor-ticultural or floriculturalcommodity, dairying, raisingof livestock, beef, fish, fur-bearing animals or poultry,or turf or tree farming, butnot including marketing atretail of agricultural goods."

The legislation is ready forHouse action when thelegisla ture returns fromsummer recess on September19. In addition to theagricultural exemption, thereare many other amendmentsthat will be most helpful toother kinds of smallbusinesses.

For example, the laborintensity component orcircui t breaker has beenreduced from 65to 63percentand the allowable deductionraised from 35 to 37 percent.The small business or lowprofit exemption was raisedto $40,000and the exemptionfor each partner to $12,000.Anew circuit breaker type ofrelief was provided tobusinesses with less than $2million in gross receipts andwith low profits.

The presentcredit against income taxeswas repealed and replacedwith a credit to be applieddirectly against the SingleBusiness Tax. Credit islimited to those with $40,000business incomes wherebefore it was available for alltaxpayers. Certain otherbusinesses were also madeeligible for a credit. Theadditional revenue needed tocover these and otheramendments will resultprimarily from raising thelevel of - preexistingdepreciation included in thebase to 100percent. This isexpected to raise $52millionadditional revenue which willprimarily come from the

Ban on Penicillin in Feed Proposed-- What Next?

Professor Joseph T. Cox, Extension Specialist In Landscape Architecture, Michigan State UniversityeConserve for all It's worth. The power Is In your hands.

PAGE 7

might happen if someunlikely possibility were tooccur rather than on the basisof actual fact. Farm Bureaubelieves that the thousands offarm families who routinelyhandle medicated feeds haveheal th records as good asthose of non-farm familiesand therefore the FDA fear isunwarranted.

Since the FDA proposal hasbeen published in the Federal

(Continued on Page 19)

Plant wisely.Deciduous trees provide goodshade in summer and help keepyour home cooler. In winter.they lose their leaves and allowthe winter sun to help warmand light your home. Rows ofevergreens can break the forceof winter winds and funnelsummer breezes around thehome.

Plan for low maintenance.Planning can minimize theneed for hedge clippers, powermowers and other energy-consuming equipment. Sochoose plants well-suited tothe climate and planting site.They need less spraying.watering and pruning. Slow-growing shrubs also requireless maintenance. Instead ofgrass, consider plantingground covers.

Work with nature.Some mulches add nutrientsto the soil. conserve soilmoisture and discourageweeds. You can make yourown mulch from vegetativematerials, leaves. grassclippings and garden refuse.It's a good way to disposeof these materials.For other ways to conserve energythrougJllandscaplng, write to Room 10,Urban Planning and LandscapeArchitecture BuDding, Michigan StateUniversity, East Lansing, Michigan48824.

recorded ill-effects to humanstraced back to the use ofpenicillin in feed. This factwas verified in an April 5,1977 speech by FDA Com-missioner Donald Kennedybefore the National AdvisoryFood and Drug Committee.Commissioner Kennedy said,"Although we can point to nospecific instance in whichhuman disease is more dif-ficult to treat because drugresistance has arisen from ananimal source, it is likely thatsuch problems could havegone unnoticed."

It therefore appears thatanother drug with a longrecord of safe and effectiveuse by agriculture is beingremoved on the basis of what

.4lbert A. Almy

Detroit Edison askedProfessor Joseph T. Cox,Extension Specialist InLandscape Architecture atMichigan State Unlyersity,for some Ups on consemngenergy through landscaping.

His Ups can also help yousave on heaUng, aircondlUonlng and electricitycosts. We're passing themalong to you.

FARM NEWS

We went to an expert atMichigan State University to getsome tips on how proper landscapingcan help you conserve energy.

DetroitEdison

United States are fed withpenicillin-containing feed.Michigan Farm' BureauPresident Elton Smith haswritten FDA protestingpublication of the proposedrule without conclusiveevidence that penicillin inanimal feeds is indeed athreat to public health. Hehas requested that FDA holdpublic hearings on theproposed ban to allow theagricultural industry to haveadditional input on this im-portant case. The AFBF andother State Farm Bureaushave taken similar action.

Al though penicillin hasbeen added to animal feeds insmall amounts for more than20 years, there have been no

IATIOIAL IOTESOCTOBER, 1977

The FDAIs on the march to ban 'ow.'eve' use of penicillinand severa' other Important drugs In anima' feeds - drugs usedto keep anlma's healthy. Some consumer groups are cheering,but farmers and ranchers .• the nation's food producers - aresure If would be an expensive mistake.

The food producers are right. Scientists have assembled akind 01 econo~l.c Impact statement, the economics of banningthe use 01 all farm chemicals, the banning of lertllizers,pesticides, drugs - the works. Their conc'uslon was that cropand livestock production would drop by as much as one.thlrd Intwo to three years.

Not only would we have one.thlrd less food to start with, Ifwe also banned pesticides and fumigants used to Iceep thebugs and mice out of food transporting truclcs, ral' cars, andalrp'anes, and out of food processing factories, warehousesand stores .. and If we banned the use of chemical foodpreservatives, even 'ess food wou'd malee.H to the consumer.

Food prices wou'd go up as consumers bid to get their fairshare of that much smaller food supp'y.

Ellen lowell, a prominent spoleesman for the consumermovement, noted that wilen a group she chaired •• a graupInvestigating the feaslbl',ty of banning nHrotes (nitrates areused In bacon, hams, and other cured meat products to lelllbotu"sm and bacteria) that such a ban would have a 10 to 15per cent Inflationary Impact on the tolal marlcel baslcet.

Said Ms. lowell: .." becomes mcrea,'ngl, evident thatdeciding Issues of puhllc health and salety are more comple.than one can ImagIne ....

Farmers agree.

Consumers Will Pay

Pesticide Amendments farmers to' use in crop andIn 1972, Congress sub- livestock production. As a

stant.ially amended the result, the AFBF inFederal Insecticide, ~ooperation with other groupsFungicide and Rodenticide and strong support fromAct (FIFRA) . The final members and State Farmamendments were believed to Bureaus, has developedbe the best balance between amendments to FIFRA whichthe varied needs of pesticide have been introduced bymanufacturers, environm- Congressman Throne (R-ental groups and users. With Nebraska). The amendmentsproper administration by the spell out the legislative intentEnvironmental Protection of Congress which EPA hasAgency (EPA), the amended neglected and provide newFIFRA could have become a language which would protectlandmark of good legislation. the rights of pesticide users toHowever, after the new have and use pesticides.FIFRA was signed into law, On September 7 the HouseEPA began to add restric- Agriculture Subcommittee ontions and roadblocks to its Department Investigations,successful operation. This Oversight and Researchhas been done through began consideration ofregulations which have the amendments to FIFRA,force of law. The result is that including those introduced bythe original expressed intent Congressman Throne. At theof Congress in FIFRA has time this column was written,been bypassed and farmers the Subcommittee had notfrustrated by the regulatory. completed consideration ofrestrictions. all the amendments to

For example, the AFBF FIFRA, but had adoptedhas estimated that excessive several of the Throneregulations have increased amendments. Farm Bureaupesticide development costs at all levels will continue to300 percent since 1972, when put forth a major effort toFIFRA was amended. Since obtain meaningful protectionthat time the registration has of chemicals for crop andbeen cancelled for livestock production.agricultural pesticides Antibiotics in Feedrepresenting 20 percent of the The Food and Drugtotal volume used. Fariners Administration (FDA) hasworking through their Farm published a proposed ruleB urea u organiza tion banning the use of penicillinrecognize tha t the en- in feeds for poultry andvironment and public health swine. FDA is proposing themust be protected. However, ban because it fears thethese same farmers realize continuous long-term use ofthat EPA has not realistically small amounts of penicillinevaluated benefits vs. risks in might produce antibiotic-some of its arbitrary resistant organisms thatdecisions banning the use of could pose a health hazard tosome chemicals. The real humans.issue is no longer pesticide It is estimated that 10regulation. The issue is now percent of the chickens andone of whether or not there turkeys and 35 percent of thewill be any pesticides left for swine grown for food in the

OCTOBER, 1977

Farmers Urged toSign Up forPublic Access Program

program to two previouslypopular discontinued federalprograms -- the CroplandAdjustment Program (CAP)of the 1960's, and a federalpilot program which set asidesome 145,000 acres ofMichigan cropland forhunting in 1974.

Land-leasing applicationsare available at all DNR fieldoffices and at countyAgricultural Stabilization andConservation Service (ASes)offices.

The state will payanywhere from 50 cents to$2.50 per acre to the lan-downers, depending on thetype of land available -woodlots, marshlands, brushland, idle fields not cropped,grain lands left for wildlife,and so on.

Leasing contracts willcover three years, and thenew law ensures continuationof the program for the nextsix years. Since each piece ofproperty must be inspectedby DNR wildlife specialistsbefore leasing, says Boyce,complete lists of the leasedhunting land will he availableat DNR district and ASesoffices only after September15.

The Department of Naturi1lResources will provide signsfor the leased property in-dicating that, "Hunting isPermitted Under the PublicAccess Program. You mustget permission at the farmheadquarters. "

Another sign at the farm.house will identify it as thelocation where the huntermust get his permit to hunt onthe property. Rules requirethe farmer to limit thenumber ofhunters on the landto about one person per tenacres.

LANSING - Farmers insouthern Lower Michigan areencouraged to SIGN UP BYOCTOBER 1 for the state'snew Public Access Programwhich offers funds in ex-change for the use of theirlands for hunting, says theDepartment of NaturalResources.

Most sportsmen hunting insouthern Michigan (Zone 3)this year (below a line ex-tending from Muskegon toBay City) are now required topurchase a $1 Public AccessStamp. The monies collectedwill he used by the DNR tolease farmland for the use ofall hunters.

(Exemptions includepersons hunting under seniorcitizen's licenses; residentsof this state or their childrenand employees when huntings~all game on their ownenclosed farm land wherethey live; and residents onfurlough from militaryservice of the United States.)

"We're getting plenty ofenthusiastic letters fromMichigan hunters about theprogram -- up to 45 a day,"says DNR wildlife plannerArlow Boyce. "We are con-cerned, though, that manylandowners don't know aboutthe program. The number ofapplications to make landavailable for hunting hasbeen disappointingly low."

Both the Michigan FarmBureau and Michigan UnitedConservation Clubs (MUCC)sponsored the Public Acc~sLaw, Boyce says. Con-sidering an expected 450,000licensed hunters in Michiganthis year, the new programcould provide thousands ofprivately - owned acres forhunting. Boyce compares the

BEGIN A HARVEST TRADmON WITHMichigan's Farm Best B,.andHAM, BACON, AND APPLE CIDER

CONCENTRATE

FARM NEWS

farmers feel. How can thoseconcerns be answered in 30-seconds? But that's what weneed - people aware of thesituation, understanding theagricultural industry. That'sthe way we'll change publicopinion and the politicalclimate for farmers. Far-mers everywhere can help bytelling their story to theconsumer. "

FBS Laboratory FeaturesFeed Analysis

\~'~\

I

Construction of the Farm Bureau Service AnalyticalLaboratory, located on the grounds of the FB Battle ereeleAnImal Food Plant In ClImax, was recently completed, and Itsfirst visitors were the FBS Board of Dlreciors. Shown are EltonR. Smith, FSSpresIdent, and Director Loren Black of GrandTraverse County, observing the atomic absorption spec-trometer, one of several precIsIon Instruments In the newlaboratory •

The obledlve of the new analytIcal laboratory Is to providethe manufacturing facilIties, dealerships and patrons withprompt and accurate analytical feed analyses. The analyseswill enhance the manufacture of high quality products andprovide valuable additional Information on feeds, roughagesand fertilizers. Soil testing and other analysis systems will beIncluded at a later date.

Theanalytical laboratory wllllnitiaily analyze feed and feedIngredients samples from the Battle CreeleAnImal Food Plant,and Ialer, analytIcal services to FBS, Inc., feed dealerships,fertilizer plants and patrons will be oHered. The lab will also beable to analyze fertilizer samples for nitrogen, phosphorous,potash, and trace minerals.

Ewing says about thepresentation, "Consumersmust wonder howfarm pricescan drop 6 percent in a yearand continue dropping forthree consecutive months.They know the prices theypay at the grocery storecontinue to rise. It's an everyweek occurance. In tellingthe story, I felt the frustrationthat consumers have and that

PAGE 8

Agriculture, Consumers and You _

Telling the Story of AgricultureIt was a thirty-second

course in economics forconsumers who learned fromMichigan Farm Bureauspokesman, Larry Ewing,that while farm prices arefalling 6 percent below lastyear's level, in store pricesfor food continue to increase.Ewing, who is director of theInformation and PublicRelations Division ofMichigan Farm Bureau,appeared on WJIM-TV,Lansing, to become part ofthe station's "news team" foran evening.

Falling farm prices are notnews to farmers, but forconsumers, many of whomare generations away fromtheir roots in agriculture,making the "agriculturalconnection" between fallingfarm prices and the spendingpower of their food dollar hasbeen repeatedly misin-terpreted.

To the consumer, fallingfarm prices promise lowercash register totals in thesupermarket. But experiencehas shown that while thefarmer's share of the fooddollar may be smaller, thesavings to the shopper do notparallel the lower acquisitioncost of the raw agriculturalcommodity.

Using three loaves of breadpurchased at a local market,Ewing illustrated for the TV-viewer what part of the 60slices represents the far-mer's share in the cost breakdown. Separa ling three fullslices and part of a fourthfrom the three loaves, Ewingtold the television audiencethat the remaining portionsrepresent the costs ofprocessing, transportation,and retailing.

Land Use Passes AvailableWith hunting seasons ap- The passes, developed by

proaching, members are the Michigan Department ofreminded that Sportsman Natural Resources LawLand Use Passes are Enforcement Division, areavailable through the Public filled out by both the sport-Affairs Division of the sman and the landowner. ItMichigan Farm Bureau. An describes the activity fororder blank on this page may which written permission isbe used for this purpose. given, gives basic sport-

smanlike rules of} conduct,The Recreational Trespass lists the sportsman's license

Act (PA 323), which became or vehicle registrationeffective April 1, 1977, number, and the signature ofrequires sportsmen to obtain the consenting landowner.written consent from farmers The ticket stub, which listsbefore using their land for the sportsman's name, homehunting, fishing and address, auto license num-snowmobiling and other off- her, and the date issued, isroad vehicles. retained by the landowner.r-------------~~-----,I Order Your Land Use Passes Now I, II Name 1I Address II -----------,I Number of Passes II (in booklets of 100)--------- II Clip and maD in envelope to: II Public Affairs Division II Michigan Farm Bureau II P.o. Box 30960 J

Lansing, MI 48909L _

OCTOBER, 1977

Billy Olsenhangs on to the flickering hope thatsomeday the Supreme Court will hear his case,not so much for himself - at this point, he doesn'tknow how he will pay the $12,000- but for thefuture of agriculture in Michigan.

PAGE 91

August 12, 1972- A sixteen-year old employeeof Billy Olsen, owner of a 75-acre sod farm inNew Boston, fell off a tractor and lost his leg inthe rotary mower he was operating. Olsen'sinsurance carrier took care of all medical ex-penses, plus weekly benefits for the allotted 215weeks, under Workmen's Compensation.

- April 3, 1975- The sixteen-year-old's attorneypetitioned the Bureau of Workmen's Com-pensation, contending that the employment wasillegal and asking for double compensation. TheBoard accepted Olsen's defense that his sodfarm was classed as agriculture and wastherefore exempt from the requirement for awork permit _for the 16-year-old. The Boarddenied the double compensation.

November 3, 1976- The plailitiff appealed tothe Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board andby a 3-2 decision, the Board reversed thedecision, declaring the law as it pertained toemployment of minors in agriculture was"unconstitutional. "

January'Zl, 1977- Billy Olsen shares his ex-perience with other farm organizations of thestate, asking them to file amicus curiae - asinterested parties in the outcome of the case.Michigan Farm Bureau and the MichiganAssociation of Nurserymen agree to do so.

February 24, 1977 - The Court of Appealsdenies Olsen's appeal to be heard again.

August 10, 1977- The Supreme Court deniesOlsen's application for leave to appeal "becausethe appellants have failed to persuade the Courtthat the questions presented should be reviewedby this Court."

August 30,1977- Olsen receives word from theinsurance company that it will not proceed withany additional appeal and that the total due theplaintiff is $12,119.53including interest costs of$1,578.08.Olsen must reimburse the insurancecompany for the full amount.

This five-year chain of events puts a touch ofbitterness in Olsen's voice as he asks: "Have youever heard of an employer winning a case?"

But although that $12,000is a "mountain" tohim, his concerns arising from this tragic ex-perience go far beyond his own personalsituation. He's not against Worker's Com-pensation - "I wouldn't operate five minuteswithout it" - and he was glad that his sixteen-year-old employee's medical expenses andweekly benefits were covered. Olsen is a smallbusinessman with a close working relationshipwith his employees and the injured employeewas no exception. His bitterness stems from thefact that "the lawyers get from a third to a halfof what the claimants are awarded."

He's concerned, too, about the impact theoutcome of his case could have on Michigan'seconomy. "I'm afraid it could set a precedentand stimulate retroactive cases that could in-volve millions of dollars in claims. The end resultwould be that the premiums for Worker'sCompensation would be so prohibitive that itwould be impossible to stay in business."

Olsen worries, too, about what this will do tothe job market for youth. "Who is going to hire ateenager to work for them anymore? There are alot of fine, young teenagers who want em-ployment, but will be unable to get it. Thenthey're going to be out on the streets, exposed tothe temptations that are all around us."

He believes the roots of the Worker's Compproblem - and many others which plague thefarmer - businessman - -lie in "our super-liberalsociety and government. " He feels stronglyabout his right to his "day in court" andquestions the legality of the Appeal Board todeclare the law pertaining to agriculture un-constitutional. "The Supreme Court can declaresomething unconstitutional - but it hasn't evengotten there yet."

'------------------------'

IIFarmers are takingan employment risk,too, on many personswho are not tlesirableemployment prospectsin the non-agrictilturalsector. " -Dr. AllanShap/ey, Farm LaborSpeCialist, MSU.

FARM NEWS

IIThis issue is far big-ger than the $12,000 itlooks like I'lJ have topay •. You'd think Icould get ml lday incourt' -but It appearsIwill be deniea ihat. "-Bill Olsen, NewBoston sod farmer.

According to Allan Shapley, Farm LaborSpecialist, Michigan State University, the uniqueemployment situation in agriculture furtherillustrates the inflexibility and inequities thatexist in Worker's Compensation.

"While the industrial worker receivesinadequate compensation for injury, based uponhis previous earning power, the lower-paid,intermittently - employed agricultural workertoo frequently draws tax free compensationbenefits which exceed his previous spendableincome. This happens time and time again,"says the farm labor expert.

The burdensome costs of Worker's Compen-sation insurance have hit small agriculturalemployers the hardest, contends Shapley.Eighty-eight percent of Michigan farmers haveannual payrolls substantially less than $3500.Forthis category of farm operation assessedminimum premium Payments may be nearlyequal to or exceed the employee payroll."Because of this, " says Shapley, "many farmersare violating the law: operating withoutworker's compensation insurance. They areunquestionably in jeopardy, but they feel thatthey have no acceptable alternative."

"Farmers are taking an employment risk, too,on many persons who are not desirable em-ployment prospects in the non - agriculturalsector. Notonly does the farmer accept worker'scompensation liability for a large number ofemployees for a short period of time, he isgambling against the odds of encountering a

legislators regarding their experience. and view. onthis Issue. Hopefully, by .har/ng thl. broad Croll-sedlon of opinions, all members will become awareof the various problems Involved and work togethertoward the best .olut/on ••

"Not only is the compensation to the Michiganworker inadequate," concluded Wellborn, "theexorbitant costs for worker's compensation inthis state have made Michigan unattractive tojob-providers. "

As a member of the Senate Labor Committee,Wellborn has done extensive research on theproblem in Michigan. Comparing the 1976worker's compensation costs per employee withneighboring Ohio, Wellborn found that thecompensation schedule in Ohio entitled theeligible worker to a maximum benefit of $186perweek; a compensible injury for the Michiganworker allowed a maximum weekly payment of$144. Continuing the comparison to costs peremployee, Wellborn pointed out that the Ohioaverage was $838. For a Michigan employee inthe same work category, the cost was an average.$1902per employee.FEW ALTERNATIVES IN AGRICULTURE

In the Gallegos v Glaser Crandell ComPanySupreme Court decision in 1972,farm employerslost all agricultural exemptions under theWorker's Compensation Act. Since that timeagricultural employers, too, have been en-meshed in the costly and administrativelycomplicated system. Unlike business and in-dustry, however, farm operators do not have thealternative of relocating in a more favorablelabor environment.

IIEveryone agrees thatWorker's Compensa-tion is costly, slow,inadequate and unfair.•.we must take actionor ~uit talkinp."-KeIth Molin, MIChi-gan Department of la-bor.

H•.. Exhorbitant costsfor Worker's Compen-sation in this statehave made Michiganunattractive to Job-providers." -SenatorJack Wellborn, (R-Kalamazoo) ..

Worker's Compensation has surfaced as one of themalor concerns of farmers, and others, In the State ofMichigan. FARM NEWS editors, In cooperation withMASAOperations Manager, Donald Shepard, vl.ltedwith farmer-businessmen, labor experfJ and

The wage loss compensation principle is at theheart of the 1912Worker's Compensation Act. Inthe increasingly industrial climate of the early1900's,workers compensation was an inventivesocial program .designed to insure incomemaintenance for the worker and his familyduring recuperation from a job-related injury;the benefits terminating upon return to the laborforce. That principle still stands as a basicprecept of the worker's compensation system,but during the 65 year history of the Act, theoriginal mandate has been seriously distorted.

In a recent publication of the Labor Register,State Labor Director, Keith Molin, called theWorker's Compensation system "unfair toemployers and workers." Molin, who advocatessignificant reform of the Act, identified theloosely - written language of the law as thegreatest impediment to fulfilling the originalmandate of the Worker's Compensation Act.

"The root of the problem," says Molin, "is thatthe law lacks meaningful definition; the termsare vague and invite arbitrary interpretation."

In terms of current experience in ad-ministering the system, Molinpointed out that inthe past year, one-half billion dollars were paidin worker's compensation benefits through thestate agency; "not always to clients who needand deserve the compensation."

Admitting that reform of"the benefit programis undoubtedly an awesome task, Molin added,"Everyone agrees that worker's compensationis costly, slow, inadequate and unfair, but theparties have been unwilling to move. Yet clearlythe time has come when we must take action orquit talking."

Worker'sComp--

A SpecialReport

Among the legislators committed to action onworker's compensation in the current legislativesession is Senator Jack Wellborn (R-Kalamazoo). Wellborn is adamant in his con-viction that an equitable worker's compensationreform package can and must be found. "If theworker's cO!Dpensationsystem in Michigan is tobe fair and adequate, we must close theloopholes that allow abuses of the program andassure realistic compensation benefits toMichigan workers who are injured on the job sothat they may live decently until they are able tore-enter the mainstream of employment."

PAGE 10

H... We got a lettertelIMg lIS we werer=to be prohibited

doiIIg f1usi.ess illMichiga •... a"" webad beefl tryiIIg asdt,yi.g." -LeroyLosey, Spr;.gport live-stock aIId cash cropfarmer.

OCTOBE R, 1977 ~and Wiing their children more as they grow up,and buying more equipment to do what peopleare now doing.

Another possibility is legislative reform, whichBarbara describes as "our only avenue of hope."

"But I'm very discouraged with what I see inthe ability of our legislators to really foct.mon theproblems of their different types of con-stituents," she said. "They go with the masses,where the votes are - and that is not with thefarmer. Obviously,we don't have the numbers toimpress them. They like to say, 'I understand - Igrew up on a farm, but I'm sorry, there are 50people over here who want it the other way andthey're going to vote for me if I do what tbey tellme - and you're only one. Sorry.'"

"Unless we get organi7.ed, I think we are justgoing to be victims of other OI'g;Ini7.ed forces,"-Barbara fears. "But we can't give up. Wehave totell our story; we have to let the legislators andthe labor people know that we are different Butwe have to have proposals, too; we can't just say'it's not fair.'"

Barbara realizes this is a big challenge, butshe maintains: "It's worth fighting; otherwisewe're not going to have an agricultural industry.And eventually, people aren't going to have anyfood."

"The thing we've got to do," says Barbara, "isjust to keep diggjng, like we did with tbe Mi-.OSHA issue."

Leroy Losey has been farming since he was inschool. Then - "many regulations later" - hehad a frustrating experience, trying to complywith the.law, but thwarted in his attempts to doso.

Losey raises hogs, beef caWe and cash cropson his 1,000 - acre farm near Springport inJackson County. He has a small payroll, em-plo)ling twopart-time employees - one man whoowns his own farm and helps out dming the btmyseason, and another employed at General Motorswho helps "when he bas the time."

The Loseys had carried their Worker'sCompensation insurance since it becamemandatory in 1967 with an insurance companythrough which they bad also bad their truckinsW"allce.Shortly after switching their truckinsurance to another company, where tbeycarried most of their other farm insurance andcould get it cheaper, they received notice thattheir Worker's Compensation insurance wouldbe dropped.

"It was a form letter and it SOlUlded as tbougbwe were a bad risk. But we bad ooly one minorclaim several years ago - a chipped tooth,"recalls Losey.

"I'd say there was probably 99 per cent profiton our premiums over the years. 1be interest ona year's premium probably would have takencare of that one incident."

They called their agent and were told it was amatter of not carrying enough business -withthem. All in all, three insurance companies gavethat reason for not taking the Loseys ascustomers for Workers Compensation coverage.

They were informed that tbey would have to gothrough the state accident fund and that thepremiums wouldbe a ''bit higher" than they badbeen paying. That bit higher translates to $415,more than 10 per cent of Losey's payroll.

"There wasn't much else we could do," saidLosey. "It was the ~ season with both em-ployees working and we didn't want to take therisk of not being covered."

Then came the red tape - fiIling outquestionnaires, sending letters in respce;e torequests for more information. c-rbey prettymuch wanted to know our life history and itmade me kind of mad," said Losey, who felt thatsome of the infonnatim requested "was DOtreally their blmiDess."

66UIIless d:fJet orgall-ked, I . we Mejust goitlg to be vic-tims of other orgas-ked forces ... 1 tbifIkit's worth fighu. ."- Barbara SPile,Owosso dairy farmer.

At Spike Farms in Shiawassee County, one ofthe most progressive dairy operations in thecountry, the annual payroll will run nearly$100,000. Their Worker's Comp premiums run$5900a year, which Barbara Spike feels is "out ofproportion. "

"We're a very labor-intensive industry and wejust cannot afford this. People want moremoney, especially in Michigan where we're incompetition with the big industries and thingsjust keep spiraling," says Barbara. "Well, thatwould be nice if we continued to make moremoney. But it doesn't happen that way for far-mers; there is no way for us to write off thesecosts that keep growing."

One method the Spikes have considered tocontrol these costs is by not expanding anyfurther, cutting the labor force to almost nothing

FARM NEWS

Silver Hills will be about $96,000befcre year'send and premiums for Worker's Compensationrun about $6,000.

"Worker's Comp is a real necessary tool;there's no way in the world we can get alongwithout it," says Kish, but he believes thatagriculture is picking up the bill for other in-dustries, even though he admits that's anassumption on his part. "We're not in a positionto pick up anyone else's bills; farmers haveenough trouble trying to pay their own."

In addition to the high premium costs, Kishthinks the main inadequacies of the Work Compprogram are payment to retirees and over-payment of some claims. "I believe a workerwho is hurt and cannot work should be paid hisfull salary, but he shouldn't be paid two-or threetimes his salary. If he lived on that salary whenhe was working, he should be able to live on itwhen he's not working."

"I don't want anything unfair - but the way itis now, it's unfair against the employer," saysKish. "There are very few things, unfortunately,that are fair to the employer and the state ofMichigan seems to compound these problems,much worse than most other states - not just inthe WorkComparea, but inother areas as well."

"How do we generate jobs for people wheneverytime we turn around, somebody's doingsomething to us that automatically rings a liWebell that says: get rid of the people; that'll solveyour problem?" .

Kish believes that farmers should take a lessonfrom their "cousins in the shop" and organize forstrength to change some of the injustices."Every farmer is extremely proud of his in-dependence and I am too. But independentlywe're getting beaten to death out behind the barnand we just can't tolerate that. And when .we'rebeaten, the consumer is being beaten at the sametime. Today 90 per .cent of the consumers don'trealize that, but once the connection is made, Ithink some of the inadequacies will be workedout of the program."

Good safety practices are stressed at SilverHills; Kish even teaches the tractor safetycourse locally. He does this because he believesit's "necessary," and also, because he's such abig booster of hiring high school students, hedoes it for what he terms is "a selfish reason."

"It gives me a chance to know the kids, pickout the best ones and hire them, " he explains. "Itgives me a chance to know their horse-playpatterns, which we don't tolerate here, and toknow the ones who care. You can't just turnsomebody loosewith a $30,000piece of equipmentwho doesn't care."

The students who become a Silver Hills Farmemployee must take the safety course and as apart of the course, they also learn what WorkCompcosts their employer. "They get to listen toa canned speech on what the people they'reworking for put forth on their behaH so they canhave a job," Kish says.

"Social Security, Un-employment Insur-ance and Worker'sCompensation have acommon prerequisite:a job." - Dr. DanielKroger, Labor and In-dustrial Relations De-partment, MSU.

" ... How do we gene-rate jobs for peoplewhen every time wetur" around some-body's doing some-thing to us that auto-matically rings a littlebell that says: /let ridof the people]" -Rmph Kish, Manager,Silver Hills Farms,Mears.

"It

Resisting that temptation may be difficUlt forfarmers who are appalled by the increasinglycommon attitude in society "that government -business owes me... " That trend is also ap-parent in the abuses of the worker's com-pensation system. Dr. Daniel Kruger, MSU,agrees that the pattern has disturbing im-plications, but added, "Traditionally the UnitedStates has been a work oriented society. It isinteresting to note that the three major socialprograms introduced in this century - SocialSecurity, Unemployment Insurance andWorker's Compensation - have a common pre-requisite: a job. More than .the apparent incomederived from employment, the work - relatedbenefits and eligibility for these programs hasmade employment a valuable commodity.

work related injury due to a previously existingmedical condition. The small employer cannotbe guaranteed, nor can he provide, medicalexams for every prospective employee," saysShapley.

Shapley sees little possibility that the lostagricultural exemptions will be restored inreform legislation, but feels that the total benefitcoverage for agricultural employees does havepositive aspects which cannot be overlooked.Just as worker's compensation protects theworker's income in the event of injury, theemployer's fmancial and real property assetsare insured against a common law liability suit.Shapley called worker's compensation anessentially good and needed concept.

But Shapley warned that if farmers are to haveinput to the reform package, which is sure to beconsidered in the current legislative session,farm employers must provide their legislatorswith solid, factual documentation of theinequities they ~ave personally seen or ex-perienced. Although Shapley endorses allcommunication between the legislator and theconstituent, with regard to worker's com-pensation reform, Shapley feels that personalcase histories and reasonable, well- thought - outrecommendations will be of the most value to thelegislator. Harangue and ill - considered opiniononly hurt the farmer's position, said Shapley.

Ralph Kish is a big man with a big philosophy.H there's one thing he isn't - it's apathetic. Hecomes on strong about what he feels are in-justices to the agricultural industry and whatfarmers ought to do to "fight back." And hecomes on just as strong-with a sincerity as bigas he is - about what he believes is "the bestsystem in the world. Our forefathers had fan-tastic minds to be able to set up the kind ofsystem that's lasted for 200years, and I think itwill last a long time if everybody sits down andevaluates it with good, common sense," saysKish.

Kish is manager of Silver Hills Farms, nearMears, which specializes in cherries and picldes.He employs about 30migrant families, two full-time employees, and nine high school and collegestudents on a seasonal basis. The paYroll at

FARM NEWS

'The key 10 keepingWorb Comp rates lowis safety 011 the job. "-Dos Bradshaw,fJice-presidetd of Fa,.",Bureau l.sura.ceGroup's property/castIIJIty operatimu.

PAGE 11

skinned them up. It kept him unemployed foreight weeks. By the time be was able to work, wedidn't need him anymore. We estimated what hisweekly hours would have been and the rate perhoor we had agreed to pay him. They paid himmedical benefits and wages and it came out ofour premiums. But he deserved it, I guess. Hewas there to work."

"I guess if I have any disagreement with theWork Comp program, it is the ability of retiredpeople to claim benefits from it. I'm sure I don'tknow where they got that idea from," he says.

The Sacketts' Worker's Compensationpremiums have soared up to the "couplethousand dollar area" as compared to the $300 to$400 it cost a few years ago, before it was ruledthat it must be carried for all employeesregardless of whether they were full-time or not.

Sackett sums up his opinion: "We're willing topay our share - but that's all we are willing topay."

Insurance companies in Michigan have ex-perienced a $144 million underwriting loss onworkers compensation insurance in the last fiveyears. In 1976 alone, the loss was $56 million.

The Workers Compensation Rating andInspection Association of Michigan, which setsthe rates that Michigan insurance companiescharge for work comp insurance, recentlyrequested an emergency rate increase to helpalleviate the problem. The State InsuranceBureau granted only a small part of therequested increase. A larger increase is ex-pected in December.

Many of the same problems that are afflictingthe auto insurance industry are driving upworkers compensation insurance rates. Medicaland hospital costs are skyrocketing became ofinflation, and loss~f-wages payments to injuredpersons are climbing for the same reason.

The effect is being felt at Farm BureauInsurance Group, which specializes in providingwork comp coverage to agricultural workers.

FBIG's Safety Group program, a workersCftmpensation plan available exclusively toFarm Bureau members employing agriculturalworkers, experienced several large losses in theyear between July 1, 1976 and June 30, 1971. Inthat one-year period, 17 severe injuries resultedin losses of nearly $750,000.

That included a claim of $267,000 for anagricultural worker who sustained severe backinjwies in a fall, and another claim of $155,000for an agricultural worker who was burned in agrass fire.

In addition to the 17 serious losses, the SafetyGroup program experienced several minorlosses (under $10,000 each) during 1976-Tl.

In the recently completed 1976-71 period,FBIG's agricultural work comp medical andwage losses followed the trends of the rest of thework comp insurance industry - losses went upbecause of inflation.

For the 1975-76 experience period, however,the Safety Group's reeord of safety resulted individends of $162,000. Checks totalling thatamOlmt were mailed last year to more than 2,000Farm Bureau members participating in theplan.

During the six year existence of the SafetyGroup program, four dividends have beendeclared, totalling more than $343,000returnedto Farm Bureau members for their record ofsafety and low workers compensation losses.

"Our Safety Group program is unique in theagriculture industry," said Don Bradshaw, vice-president of FBIG's property-casualtyoperations. "The better the safety record, thebigger the dividend the Safety Group membersreceive. 1be key to keeping work comp rates lowis safety on the job."

H ... There are a Jot of'middJemetI' in theprogram. I think far-mers ought to havemore input to help setrates which are moreequitable for aRricul-ture." -Paul Bixby,Benien Springs frUitfarmer.

H ... One fellow workedabout half an bout- a1Ulskinned his ftnqet"s ;"a V-belt and It kepthim unemployed forabout eight weeks ... apeculiar case •.• " -Keith Sackett, Edmorepotato farmer.

Paul Bixby's fruit farm near Berrien Springsis a family operation which employs one year-round worker and up to 200seasonal workers. Hesupports the concept of the Worker's Com-pensation program, but is concerned about someof its inequities, especially the rate structure.

He pays the maximum .orchard rate eventhough about half of his operation is "ground"work. "I feel I'm being discriminated againstbecause there's a lot of work that goes on in anorchard from the ground,. There's many dwarftrees that we never use a ladder in the trees. It'sthe same as a vineyard, and yet we pay thehigher rate," expl~ Bixby.

"I view the program as more or less a labortax for the state. I know it must be a hugepaperwork problem, but I question where all themoney is going - whether employees are gettingit all back through claims or exactly what doeshappen to it. There are a lot of middlemen in-volved in this whole program."

Bixby believes farm workers should have thesame benefits as other employees but thatconsideration should be given to the agriculturalhourly wage that's paid in Michigan.

"They use the manfacturer's average hourlywage as an average for paying benefits," Bixbysaid. "Currently that's about $5.00 an hour. Sowhat happens is that if you have a farm em-ployee who is injured ... say he is making $3.00per hour ... the fellow ends up making morefrom benefits than he did when he was w()rking."

"I don't know who does the studies and sets therates, but it's obvious that there's not muchfarmer representation on that board. Thereshould be more input from farmers to help setthe rates so they are more equitable for thefarming operation. There's all kinds of differentfarming operations and they just kind of lump usall into one big one. And if there's any question,they put you into the higher premium bracket,"he said.

Bixby is concerned about how the high cost ofWorker's Comp effects Michigan agriculture'scompetitive position in the marketplace. "I'veheard comments that it would be a whole lotcheaper to be operating in some other state," hesaid. "We're pretty well union - oriented in theState of Michigan and that's probably why ourrates are so high." This, he feels, puts Michiganfarmers at a real disadvantage.

If you're a_potato chip and french fry fan,chances are you've eaten potatoes from the 15()O.acre father-three son fanning operation of theKeith Sackett family in Montcalm County. Theyalso raise com, wheat, and for the first time thisyear, 20 acres of soybeans.

In addition to the four Sacketts, there are threefull-time employees and up to 10 or 12 part-timeemployees depending on the season. Sackett is abeliever in "carrying everything" for self-protection. And he believes that when people getsick or hurt during work-related conditions, theyshould be provided with a program to covermedical c~ts and w'ages if they are unable towork.

"We had one fellow who came to help plantpotatoes," he "'elated, "and before we even gotstarted, he got his fingers in the V-belt and

II L' fi .... t s orcmg us toeithet" go mechanicalor discontinue the crop... so jobs are gone,too •••It's not just afarm problem ... " -Herman DeRuiter,Hart asparagus andtheny growet".

OCTOBER, 1977

Even after all the questions were answered,the Loseys weren't covered. "They wouldn'tcover us from the date we gave them the check,"Losey said. "They had more things to check outfirst. We were getting a little nervous by thistime. The agent said we'd be safe, but it wasn'tthat way. I hate to say it, but I think we wereabout a week without covera2e."

That, in itself, was frightening to the Loseys;their primary concern was coverage for theiremployees. Then came the letter from theDepartment of Labor telling them they would beprohibited from doing business in Michigan ifthey didn't get their Worker's Compensationinsurance, exactly what they had beendesperately trying to do!

LOsey sums it UP as a "bad experience." -"We -felt we were being penalized for being in

business, for giving our employees a job. Wewanted to get insurance and they were making itso hard to come by ... "

This year, thousands of dollars worth ofasparagus were left in the fields on the HermanDeRuiter farm near Hart because of laborproblems. For the same reason, next year he willdiscontinue his strawberry crop. At this point, hesees either mechanization or elimination ofcrops which require hand labor as solutions.

"We can't compete with the social services,and the food stamps. They only have to workthree days a week to provide some of the extrasthat aren't given to them, and if it's too hot thosethree days, they don't work. They don't caremuch whether your crop gets harvested or not, "DeRuiter related.

DeRuiter sees the Worker's Comp program asbeing "totally unfair" to small operations.

"They have to pay a large, high-price premiumwhich might even be larger than their total laborbill. This is completely out of balance. They'reforcing us to go to mechanical means ordiscontinuing crops. There's no profit left in it.So jobs are gone, too," he said.

He cites the use of Work Comp as a"retirement program" as one of the biggestabuses and causes for high premiums ..uI used towork in industry and some people could tell youtwo years ahead of time when they were going toretire on Worker's Compensation. They had it allprearranged. "

DeRuiter believes that as a small minority ofthe population, and with a ulabor~rientedLegislature," farmers should enlist the aid ofother organizations such as the Chamber ofCommerce and Manufacturer's Association."We need to get together with these people in-stead of each going off in our own direction," hesaid. "We've really got the same problems andwe should try to solve them together."

"In a small community, we're all tiedtogether; one person's problems are reallyanother's problem," he explained. "When wefarmers have a bad year, so do our businesspeople in town."

DeRuiter thinks this type of alliance would begood, not only on the Worker's Compensationproblem, but on other issues as well, such asMinimum Wage.

He worries about our "permissive" societyand the challenge of changing things around."Today it's 'everything for the worker' and moreall the time, regardless of costs. And when thishappens, the employer almost always has to bepenalized," said DeRuiter.

.A Complicated Issue

PAGE 12

Worker's Comp.In 1975,GQvernor Milliken in a special message

to the Michigan Legislature said:"The duel purpose of Worker's Compensation in

a modern industrial society must be the adequateprotection of the worker without undue or unfairhardship on the employer."

"The goal is not being met. Neither the workernor the employer is being pr~perly served, andreform is needed."

Since 1975, there has been much said about theout-and-out abuses and inadequacies of theWorker's Compensation system. However, therehas been no reform .

This fall the administration is expected to seekreintroduction of the Governor's Worker'sCompensation Reform Package. Most of what youwill read in the papers will undoubtedly relate tonon-agricultural workers. However, farmersshould not be so naive as to assume that changesin the Worker's Compensation system will notaffect them.

Not NewWorker's Compensation (formerly known as

Workman's Compensation) has been in effect inMichigan for over six decades. It was establishedas an employee benefit program by a legislativeact of the State of Michigan in 1912.

However, it wasn't until 1967 that agriculturalemployees in the state were included for limitedcoverage. Then, in December, 1972as a result ofan opinion of the Michigan .Supreme Court,agricultural employees were granted full benefitsof Worker's Compensation.

Who is Affected?There is no distinction between agricultural and

non-agricultural employers. All employers arenow subject to the Act and required to provide fullstatutory benefits if they:

a) Regularly employ three or more employeesat one time, or

b) Regularly employ less than three employees,if at least one of them has been regularly em-ployed by the same employer for 35 or more hoursper week for 13 weeks (not necessarUy con-secutive), or longer during the preceedlng 52weeks (not calendar year).

Very simply, farmers are now subject toprovisions of the Worker's Compensation Act andrequired by law to provide full benefits H anemployee is injured or loses his life in a job-related accident.

If an employer is subject to the Act, he isrequired by law to purchase Worker's Com-pensation Insurance, which pays the cost of aU

FARM NEWS

• •

• •benefits for which he becomes liable or "self-insure" his potential liability. This latter ap-proach requires advance authorization from theWorker's Compensation Bureau.

If an employer is subject to the Act and does notcomply in one of these two ways, he can be finedand imprisoned. And, of course, he is personallyliable for the cost of any Worker's Compensationbenefits awarded to his employees.

Because the law treats farmers like otherprivate employees, there are some importantdefinitions of an employee:

a) Piece work employees qualify for allstatutory benefits.

b) Family members who work on the farm areeligible for Worker's Compensation benefits. Andit is important to note that once an employeebecomes eligible (a son, for example), all otheremployees become eligible too, no matter howlong they have been employed.

Farm partners and the spouse of the employercan be excluded from eligibility by an en-dorsement to the Worker's CompensationInsurance Policy to save premiums H the em-ployer has a Worker's Compensation Policy.

InterpretationsA casual reading of the law, as it pertains to

agriculture, could lead the farm employer into afalse sense of security.

It is stated, for example, that employers mustprovide benefits if they "regularly employ threeor more employees at one time." But what doesregular mean?

Unfortunately, no one knows for sure. "Regularemployment" is determined by state Worker'sCompensation Agencies in individual cases. Wedo, however, know that "regular" means a lot lessthan full-time, year-round, employment.

Past interpretations provide some indication ofintent. It has been declared in past Worker'sCompensation hearings that an employer whohires three or more persons for special occasions(such as the fall harvest or Christmas season) andfollows the same practice year after year issubject to the Act.

Generally speaking, it would appear if the workis regular, employment would be considered"regular. "

More PitfallsThe law further states that employers are

required to provide Worker's Compensationbenefits if they "employ one (employee) for 35 ormore hours per week for 13weeks or longer duringthe proceeding 52 weeks." Again, past in-terpretations indicate the following:

a) This definition is not limited to one employeeworking for 13 weeks. The rule is construed tomean a 13 week job. A farmer could becomeeligible by employing one man for 6 weeks andanother for 7 weeks.

b) The 13 weeks of employment ne~ not beconsecutive. The 13 weeks are measured withinthe 52 weeks preceeding the accident - not thecalendar year.

Benefits RequiredSimply stated, the law requires that an em-

ployer who is ~ubject to the Act guarantee hisemployees the following benefits in case of a job-related accident:

a) Unlimited hospital and medical care.b) Weekly compensation for lost wages.

OCTOBER, 1977

c) All necessary rehabilitation.d) Death benefits for dependents.e) Compensation for specific injuries, such as

loss of a limb.A totally disabled worker is entitled to receive

weekly wage compensation for 15 years or more.Death benefits costing $50,000 are not unusual.These benefits, determined by state and federalgovernmental agencies, are reviewed periodicallyand changed to renect nuctuations in the cost ofliving.

Contract WorkThe farmer doesn't have to worry about

Worker's Compensation in regards to privatecontractors or crew leaders, right? Wrong!

If a farmer is not subject to the Act and retains acontractor who is subject but has not complied,the farm employer is held responsible forproviding Worker's Compensation benefits for thecrew. To protect himself, the farmer shouldrequire a certificate of insurance from the con-tractor or insure the crew himself before the job isdone.

Avoiding Worker's CompIf a discharged employee is replaced by a new

worker without a work stoppage regulatoryauthorities could presume this is an attempt toevade Worker's Compensation Law.

As such, the employer could be held personallyresponsible for providing Worker's Compensationbenefits and subject to a fine and imprisonment.

Even though a farmer may not have dischargedthe employee to evade the law, it should beremembered that Worker's Compensationstatutes are designed to protect the worker, notthe employer.

What About Insurance?Prior to the December 21, 1972 ruling, certain

farm employers, even though they were subject tothe Act, were not required to provide full Worker'sCompensation benefits. Only unlimited medicalbenefits were required.

Today, all farmers subject to the Act mustprovide "full" benefits. The- subject "unlimitedmedical" program is no longer appropriate.

Employer's LiabilityIn the past, many farmers have relied on Farm

and Employer's Liability Insurance to providenecessary protection in case of employee injury ordeath.

Today, only a Worker's Compensation Policycan be used to pay Worker's Compensationbenefits. Under Worker's Compensation Law, anemployer's liability policy or any other type of anindemnification becomes invalid if an employer issubject to the Worker's Compensation Act.

A Worker's Compensation Policy is the onlyalternative!

AdviceWe advise all farmers that the potential

financial liability in Worker's Compensation isstaggering. Premium costs for insurance are notinexpensive, but the cost of no insurance can beeven greater.

Take the time to review your own operation. Ifyou employ any farm labor, please take a look atyour liability.

OCTOBER, 19n FARM NEWS PAGE 13

SUPPLY REPORTarranged at your localFarmers Petroleum dealer.

BANK CARDS - Patronscan use their Visa or MasterCharge cards at all FarmBureau Services and Far-mers Petroleum Cooperativebranches. These bank cardswill soon be available tomember dealers as theprogram is being worked out,now.

By Greg SheffieldFarmers Petroleum dealersfor heating oil purchases andcan ease financial plaDningfor farm and suburbanpatrons.

SNOW TIRES, BAT-TERIES - CO-OPsnow tiresand Maintenance Free CO-OP Batteries should be or-dered now. Line up servicefor your fall and winterneeds. Good buys can be

BUDGET PAYMENTPLANS are available from

Hea ting oil prices aregradually rising as suppliestighten. Much of this is due tothe tightening natural gassupplies and demand fordistillates. You can sign upnow at your FarmersPetroleum Cooperativedealer as a new heating oilaccount.

In general, farmers of thenation are faced with grainsurplus problems and un-

, certainty as to how to planconcerning the Food andAgricultural Act of 1mwhenit becomes law. Many detailson target prices, loan ratesand the big question ofvoluntary set asides, versusplanting anyway, have yet tobe decided.

While feeder cattle con-tinue to look like they will bein short supply, there will beplenty of good quality, low-cost feed available fromFarm Bureau. ,

Also, new production ofnitrogen materials have beenput on stream and should bereadily available from FarmBureau dealers when andwhere needed.

Steels made in U.S.A. areunder increased foreign'competition. This shouldmoderate price increases.Cost cutting in the form ofreduced working forces andmodernization ofmanufacturing equipmentand less costly distributionare a must for survival ofU.S. and Canadian steelcompanies. These challengeshave been' met before. TheAmerican farmer is far saferwith strong, competitive,domestic production.

HARDWARE FarmBureau dealers will have new-programs for farmers in-cluding a hydraulic logsplitter in both portable andtractor powered models.Also, the White LP Gas SpaceHeater line will be promotedfor use in farm shops,garages, confinementbuildings and wherever heatcan make working conditionsmore comfortable andprofitable.

GRAINS BINS, CORNCRIBS -- Bins and grainhandling equipment are inhea vy demand and needseveral weeks lead time fordelivery.

Progressive, Profitable Feeding ProgramsBegin With The Farm Bureau People

DONNA(Continued from Page 2)When I was "on the road"

getting Interviews for the WorkComp feature, It seemed thetailbone was throhhlng morethan usual. Perhaps It wasaggravated more hy the storl.s Iheard than h, the long trips.What was I doing In this stupidcar, In this stupid rain,laboriously turning con-versations Into a story" Whywasn't I sifting In the sun, sippinga long, cool drink and writing aPulitzer - prize winning novel -courtes, of Work Comp"

My husband had suffered thesame elCperlence, under dif-ferent circumstances, as theteenage boy (see BIlly Olsenstory) who, Inadvertantl, andwithout malice, could change thecourse of Michigan agriculture.Whatprevented us from tapping"'at Great R.glster In the Sky"Why are we stili working for aliving?

I don't bow. Maybe H'.because we hann't figured outhow to shave or powder the nosewHhout looking In the mln-or •••

The Farm Bureau people are cooperativepeople - dedicated to helping you makeyour feed dollar go further. Farm Bureaudealers are backed by years of cooperativeresearch, the most modem feed manufac-turing facilities, and an expert staff includ-ing a qualified animal nutritionist. Thesethings help your dealer tailor a feedingprogram to meet your needs.

Modern, progressive Farm Bureau tech-niques bring Michigan farmers profitablenew feeds. Recently introduced Nu Pro ™

dairy feed is a new feed concept developedby Farm Bureau Services in Cooperationwith Cooperative Research Farms. Farm

Bureau Services dealers also offer liquid feeds ...Liquid Protein Supplement (LPS) and LiquidSilage Additive (LSA) to increase the profit-ability of your beef or dairy herd. And nowthe Farm Bureau people offer a new FarmBureau mineral program with productsdesigned to meet the special needs ofmodem livestock. Progressive, profitable"""--"'F.nn eon.. Fret feeding programs

FaRm r;t are yours for the~ asking. Ask the FarmBUreaU Bureau people.

FARM BUREAU SERVICEa INC

PAGE 14 FARM NEWS

MarketingOutlook

OCTOBER. 1977 ~

Plentiful Midwestern Feed Supplies,Western Drought Create Marketing Paradox

Growth for MEE Saginaw Facility

This overhead photo shows start of work on ten new storagesilos under construction at the MEESaginaw terminal.

'77 AppleHarvestUnderway

The American NationalCattlemen's Association andNational .Livestock FeedersAssociation have officiallymerged into a singleorganization, giving thecattle industry a unifiedlobbying voice.

The new National Cat-tlemen's Association (NCA)has a membership of 30,000ranchers and farmers butwith affiliate stateorganizations, it will actuallyspeak for about 280,000producers.

The new group is based inDenver with satellite offices-in Washington and Omaha.Jack Anderson,

Livestock SpecialistMarket Development

Division

Some harvesting of applesis being reported under wayin all major producing areasof the country and growers-and marketers indicate avery manageable crop is inthe offering.

There is, however, agrowing conviction in someareas that the August 1stV.S.D.A. estimate of 6.9billion pounds is too high. Theestimate is 43.5 millionpounds higher than apreliminary estimate madein July. If the estimate holdstrue it would be 8 percentabove last year, but 8 percentless than the record 7.1billionpounds utilized in 1975.The International Apple

Institute reported earlier thatprocessor- demand for sauceand juice apples -should begood for frozen slices aredepressed from a large carry-over. As a result, the IAI hasestimated a total of 65.7million bushel of apples to beprocessed this year, com-pared to 60.1 million bushellast year.Ken Nye, Horticultural

Marketing SpecialistMarket Development

Division

Teamwork Importantto Livestorck IndustryThe Michigan livestock

industry is very important tothe state's economy. We havea great industry but to keep itthat way we must worktogether to continue its im-portance. It is vital to ourindustry that those who areinvolved in such areas asproduction, management,marketing, etc. of livestockand livestock products worktogether as a team to improveour position as an industry.

To continue a sound in-dustry we must have goodcommunicatjpn betweenresearchers a t our LandGrant University, regulatorypeople in the MichiganDepartment of Agriculture,marketing firms throughoutthe area as well as allresearch, marketing, andpromotional informationpresently available to theindustry. With these peopleall working together oncommon goals our Michiganlivestock industry can gaingreater respect from thosewho depend upon us.

Jack Anderson,Livestock Specialist

Market DevelopmentDivision

5. General economicconditions lower unem-ployment could increasedemand for beef.Negative

1. Drought, some of thewestern and southwesternstates have dry pasture thatforced cattle to market;

2. High forage costs;3. Competitive meat sup-

plies - pork and poultryproduction are expected to belarge this fall; .

4. Beef supplies - eventhough beef production willbe less than the record 1976level, buyers should havelittle trouble filling needs.Jack Anderson, Livestock

Marketing SpecialistMarket DevelopmentDivision

In addition to a rebuiltheadhouse, complete withnew and faster grain handlingequipment, Stout Con-struction Co. crews are in theprocess of erecting ten siloswith a capacity of 550,000- bu.to replace those damagedearlier.

At present the terminal hasone self-unloading truckdump but the renovationproject will result in additionof another self - unloading pitplus two new automatic truckunloading facilities. One newinstallation will handle 5O-ft.t~ucks and the second 70-ft.vehicles.

These improved facilitieswill enable the Saginawterminal to receive 37,000 -bu. per hour compared withonly 18,000 - bu. per hourbefore the explosion.

The car-loading capacityalso will be increased by therenovation project to providefacilities for shipping up to30,000- bu. per hour by rail orship. Out-bound grain will behandled over electronicweighing scales, enabling theloading of seven hopper carsevery hour.

The new grain dryingfacilities will be increased to7,000:- bu. per hour from theprevious capacity of 5,000 -bu. per hour.

conditions in the west. Therewill be a strong demand forfeeder calv,es this fall.

In the western states cowherds will be culled 20-30percent because of higher haycosts.

In the P.anhandle area ofTexas it is reported thatfeedlots are operating atabout 75 percent capacity andcould increase numbers nextmonth.

The following factors areinfluencing the outlook incoming months.Positive

1. Lower feed grain costs;2. Winter wheat pasture in

the west;3. Supplies of feeder cattle -

total calf supplies are down;4. Higher fed cattle prices

expected this late fall;

terminal remains inoperation to accept grain andbeans through the currentharvest season.

When completed, the giantSaginaw plant will havegrea ter recei ving andshipping capacity as well asimproved facilities for dryingcorn and processing of beans.Overall capacity~ of the ter-minal will be restored by thenew construction to itsoriginal two million - bu. levelwhich existed before a fireand explosion knocked outpart of the terminal.

gather more momentum ascattle feeders harvestanother large corn crop.Rather than sell corn on acash . basis a t currentdepressed price levels, manywill market this corn throughlivestock. This line ofthinking will increase if grainprices stay the same orweaken.WHAT ABOUT CATTLE ONFEED REPORTS?

Western cattlemen believecattle on feed report figuresare misleading becauseeverything west of the Con-tinental Divide is in a droughtarea and most of the cattleare in the feedlots that wouldnormally be out on pasture at-this time of year. Many lightweight cattle had to be placedin feedlots because of the dry

Workmen are againswarming around theMichigan ElevatorExch.ange's Saginaw ter-minal as construction getsinto full swing on a newheadhouse and ten storagesilos.

The rebuilding activity is aprelude to improvement ofterminal facilities servingMichigan farmers and theirlocal cooperatives.

While new construction isnot expected to be completeduntil July of next year, the

Corn prices, fed cattleprices, available feeder cattlesupplies, availability of grassand roughage supplies anddrought conditions in manyparts of the country will befactors that will affect thefeeder cattle price during thecoming fall buying season.The field is wide open as faras current thinking andopinions are concerned asrelated to what can be ex-pected to take place in thereplacement cattle tradearound the country the nextseveral months. Some reflectvaried degrees of optimism,others think the cattlebusiness has a ways to gobefore getting out of thewoods.

Feeder cattle prices arestronger and are inclined to

,...

mitten II and the economlca' va'ue of agriculture tothe state. Dlsp'ayed were some of the foods grownIn Michigan. Witheach food Hemwas a card glttlngthe natlona' average price of the Hem and thefarmer's share of that price.

Near'y 200 vo'unteer members from 17 countiesassisted In manning the Michigan Farm Bureaubooth at the 1977 Slate fair. The theme for thedlsp'ay was "Michigan Home Grown food .•• SoGood ... and Good for your' Brochures, as well asthe backdrop, emphasized Michigan's "mea' In a

.1'-.. '11;'"

OCTOBER, 1977 FARM NEWS PAGE 15

FBS-FPC Mail Investors, Farmers Reach Consumers Via FairsStockholder Checks - '-

Cass CityRoad

(')

2-~

lC

JJoell~

women's and youth events.Held in Tuscola County

because it is in the heartlandof the fourth richest farmingarea in the world, Bortelsays, "Those coming toMichigan will find that ourfarmers are extremelyprogressive and are amongthe first to tryout innovativeideas which they are glad toshare with others."

EXPOAREA

WaterTower

REESE

ROUTES TO EXPO GROUNDS

squash at the farm Bureau Building which weregiven away during the week; (right), H was Pork.Promotion Day at the Farm Bureau Booth In theAgrlcu'ture 8ul'dlng.

Saginaw County Fair - goers were treated tosevera' "free samp'es" during folr week Sep-tember 10-17. Herb Tumer, ('eft) Turner farms, Isshown during a "ve Interview with WSGW,Saginaw. Turner provided, app'es, pumpkins and

both Farm Bureau SerVices,Inc. and Farmers PetroleumCooperative, Inc., "and weare grateful to all stock anddebenture holders for theirconfidence and support."

Farm Bureau Ser.vices,Inc. and Farmers PetroleumCooperative, Inc. are bothMichigan Farm .Bureau af-filiates. Farm Bureau ser-vices, Inc. is a major supplierof farm supplies and a worldwide marketer of Michigangrown grain and beans.Farmers PetroleumCooperative, Inc ... is thelargest farmer - ownedcooperative and distributor offarm petroleum supplies inMichigan.

Fa.rm Expo '77 Set for Oct. 4-5Michigan Farm Expo '77j beet and dry bean herbicide

the largest farm show of its show; corn variety show of 48years the Michigan Farm kind, will be held October 4-5 varieties from 22 companies;Bureau will no longer select a on the John Homakie farm, special crop trials whichQueen, a young farm woman seven miles north of Caro in includes a 200 bushel cornwill be selected for Tuscola County. challenge plot, dinitrorecognition as the Out-. Sponsored by the Michigan biostimulant aerial ap-standing Young Farm State University Cooperative plication, corn rootwormWoman. Extension Service, nearly 200 plots, minimum tillage plots

As the Fall Annual Meeting farm. equipment and farm and anti-crusting demon-schedule begins and the supply manufacturers from strations; continuous livecounties look forward to the throughout the United States. action program and specialState Annual Meeting in will demonstrate theirNovember, I want to urge products and-or display themyoung farm women and in a 4O-acre exhibit area.county leadership to become MSU educational clinics willinvolved in the nomination feature sessions onand eventual selection of the agronomy, agriculturalOutstanding Young Farm economics, engineering,Woman. consumer marketing, animal

I am looking forward to husbandry and 4-H youth. _meeting the many fine "We will providecandidates for this award at agricultural producers in-the State Annual Meeting. formation they can use in

If you know a young woman their next year's croppingwho is active in the farm program and afford them acommunity and who is a comparative look at tillageFarm Bureau member. and harvesting equipment inrecommend her to youi action," says Bill Bortel,county leadership for this Michigan State Universityvery meaningful award. The Cooperative Extensiondeadline date for nominations Director in Tuscola County.is November 1. If you have Open from 9 am to 5 pmany questions contact Donald both days, the show will in-Currey, Manager, Young clude over 200 commercialFarmer Program .. exhibitors; daily demon-

Oh, and by the way, it is not strations of corn, .sugar beetnecessary that she have a and dry bean harvesting; 250green thumb. Believe me, I acres in tillage and plowingknow! demonstrations; com, sugar

by Bunny Semans

Queeng Column

8'Ll 80GLE, Produdlon Manager of the Farm Bureau Centermall room, prepares over 12,000 'etters containing checks.

Over 12,000investors andstockholders recently wererecipients of $1,123,340,whichrepresents Farm .Bureau8E1rvices,Inc. and FarmersPetroleum Cooperative, Inc.annual payment of interest ondebentureS and dividends ondividend bearing stock.

Of this total amount,$215,237was paid to FarmersPetroleum Cooperative, Inc.stock and debenture holdersand over $912,100was mailedto Farm Bureau Servicessto~k and debenture holders.

"We are pleased to makethese annual payments,"stated Donald R. Armstrong,Executive Vice President of

Another summer gone andno tomatoes! Year after year,this farm wife has faithfullyplanted tomatoes in arespectable-sized garden plotto no avail. I have neverharvested those "red globesof succulent goodness"pictured in the seed catalog.This summer's crop was noexception.

Throughout the earlysummer, the plants remainedhealthy and promised todeliver "the goods," but theywere doomed. Their botanicalpromise was cruelly dashedby the lumbering hooves ofBill's cows. There will be nojars of green tomato picklesor'tomato sauce lining mypantry shelves this winter torecall the bounty of summer.

Fortunately, my summer1977memories are rich andfilled with the fun andfriendships I have enjoyed asthe Michigan Farm BureauQueen. As the busy scheduleof fairs and parade ap-pearances begin to taper off, Ihave had time to "preserve"some of the photos andmemorabilia in a scrapbook.The opportunity has beentruly rewarding.

Although in the coming

PAGE 16 FARM NEWS OCTOBER, 1977

$EO,qZG

have identified the precedingitems as needing change,other contradictory opinionscan be found. Many membersof the legal fraternity aremost negative about theoverall effect on No-Faultwhile the State Insuranc~Bureau strikes a much morepo~tive tone.

Whole sections of the No--Fault legislation have beenchallenged and their con-stitutionality tested at thecircuit and appeals courtlevels.

Both courts have heardarguments on the basicpurpose of the law, which is torequire all Motorists to havesecurity for unlimited No-Fault injury care expensesand substantial income lossrecovery, and to severely.restrict liability lawsuits.Wh~le ini.ti~lly upholding it,theIr decISIons could still beoverturned by the StateSupreme Court.

Both courts also haveagreed that the law'selimination of liability lawrecovery for damage tomotor vehicles and itsprovisions for a million -dollar limit of automaticpayment for damage tofixed property is not con-stitutional.

But they have disagreed onwhether it's constitutional toexcl ude two-wheeledmotorcycles from the No-Fault benefits.

Now the picture hasreached the final state ofdevelopment. In March, the~embers of the State

. Supreme Court heardarguments on a number ofquestions concerning No-Fault. Their decision, ex-pected yet this fall, mayormay not further alter No-Faul.t in Michigan .. At themoment, few people aresecond-guessing the Courtand the complex issue whichit is dealing with. Once theState Supreme Court decisionhas been handed down, therewill undoubtedly be pressureto make changes throughlegislative action. Mean-while, the insurance systemhas been operating accordingto the law as tl)e legislaturewrote it.

What's the national No-Fault picture? Identical

.•.. 14-. . 5"01-. 1808.3S53~

.

TOTAL AUTO UNDERWRITINGGAIN/LOSS IN MICHIGAN*

(OO)~) .70,931

f61,887

'973~.1974 .....1915 ..1976 ..

The Pictureis Still Developing

NO ..FAULT T~RESJ.IO LD CROSSIN" SUllS

7b75747372..

surers. But the savingssupposed to be realizedthrough the reduction orelimination of featuresassociated with the "At-Fault" system are simply notoff-setting the unlimitedmedical and rehabilitationexpenses provided throughNo-Fault. The cost transferisn't coming out even, andinsurers - and in the finalanalysis, insured motorists -are being forced to reach intheir pockets for the dollars DA~ a:tJiPILED !N 2.5 REPRESEKD-ilVE" MIGU6ANthat make up the difference .. AUTOMOBtLE INSURANCE WR~.

What's happened to tarnish justify pain and suffering Michigan motorists are beingthis fourth promise - that of damages, then we'll be asked to pay more to ensurereduced premiums? One paying for one of the more the continued financialsection of the No-Fault Act. costly' and wasteful features ~ecurity of, their respective<Section 3109) provides that of the tort system No-Fault Insurance companies.Personal Injury Protection was supposed to replace.payments to injured persons CONFUSION ...would be reduced by the LOSING THE RACE AND CONTROVERSYamount of Worker's Com- Other aspects of the. No- It's a confusing picture forpensation and Social Security Fault Act are equ~lly - If not the average Michigandisability benefits which they mo~e. troubl~ng .. The motorist. In many cases, itreceived _ to hold down auto unlImi ~~d .medIcal and appears he's being asked toinsurance costs. Unfor- rehabI~Itation covera~e pay more for benefits hetunately, this aspect of the places msuran.ce companIes really doesn't understand --law has been overturned by m a frustratmg game of and maybe wouldn't havethe lower courts and is catch-up. At the end of 1976, asked for if he really knewcurrently being appealed to for example, there were 19 what the cost was going to be.the state Supreme Court. An cases where. FBIG had Added to the problems we'veinjured person, for exam Ie alrea~y paId $?50,OOO already discussed, there aremight receive paymint~ collectIvely. and estImated other controversial aspects.through Worker's Com- future medical ~o.sts would In our last No-Fault articlepensation and his automobile t~tal nearly $3 mI~hon. Totals ~e noted that mo~orcycl~insurance company which hke that are ultImately ab- rIders ~re not required tomight exceed his former ~orbed by each ~nd every carry No-Fault insurance intake-home pay. msure~. Se~o~dl~, m the case Michigan. But they have the

of serIOUS InJuries, a com- right to recover from theirAnother trade-off that pany's obligation extends auto insurer for any injuries

really hasn't materi.alized is many decades beyond the received in a collision bet-in the area of "nuisance" date of the accident. Espe-" ween.a cycle and a.car. If thesuits. No-Fault proponents c~all~ in the case of younger motorcyclist doesn't own ajustified medical and lost VIctims, that may mean car, he can recover from theincome benefits by promising payments where every dollar insurer of the car that strikesthat a substantial reduction in collected today pays only a him. In effect, the cyclist islawsuits would effect a small fraction of tomorrow's getting a free ride at thesubstantial savings. In our inflated medical costs. Sm~ll expense of car owners.most recent article we noted wonder that many auto m- Motorists are quiet on somethe ambiguity of the phrase surers reque~tin.g. rate in- of the more complex"serious impairment of a creases are JustIfYing them problems, in many cases notbody function." This wording on the basis of "catching up" really understanding the__ a threshold designed to -- an~ still n?t being able to issues. But on one issue --eliminate a majority of suits predict precIsely how much property damage -- they'under the former a t-fault more they may need to meet understand it and they'resystem _ raises a question of futur~ commitments ... quick to say they don't like it.fact for the jury to determine ~elnsurance, ~ faCIlIty The principle of forfeiting awhich can only be decided in WhICh .allows Insurance $100 deductible because of alitigation. Figures from 37 companle~ to share drunk driver who has rear -Michigan auto insurers _ catas~rophic .losses,. h~s also ended you offends the sense ofwriting 55 percent of the been. mc~easlngly diffl~~t to justice of the average citizen.business in Michigan _ show obtam ~mce t~e specl~hze~ There is a growing clamor toa steady escalation of these companIes WhIC~ pro':Ide It return property damage to itsthreshold _crossing law suits, are largely dealmg With an former tort liability status.rather than the anticipated unknown, uncalculable ex- OPINION ISreduction. In 1973, (90 days) po~ure. In four years t~e DIVIDEDthere were 14 law suits. in prIce FBIG pays for rem- As is apparent, there is a1974,502; 1975, 1908 law ~uits surance has in<:reased by diverse variety of opinions onand in 1976 3553 law suits. U more than 300 percent -- and No-Fault. While insurers andminor ~r temporary th.ere's ~very exp~tation it some agents and consumersdisabilities are construed to WIll contmue to climb.

Since 1973, the, year inwhich the No-Fault Actbecame effective, the greatmajority of Michigan autoinsurers have sustainedsteadily growing propertyand personal injury losses. In1973 the Michigan industrypaid $244 million for incurredlosses; in 1974, $258 million;in 1975, $290 million; and in1976, $359 million. In fourshort years, earnedpremiums collected haveincreased by $74million whilelosses have increased by $115 ¥- AsSb#E.S /NL'tI.smVmillion. And millions of c)(PENse AAT10 at: 2B/:7170

THOUSANDS OF ACCIDENlS

3S .7 350.8 3'-5.b331.2- . 3l'" .8 J33.~

299.0305•5 313.7 314.0

In this article, whichconcludes our three-partseries on No-Faultautomobile insurance, we'dlike to turn our attention tothe position shared by FarmBureau Insurance Group withrespect to the future of No-Fault. Recapping quickly,our first article examined thethree "mandatory" MichiganNo-Fault insurancecoverages PersonalProtection Insurance,Property ProtectionInsurance and ResidualLiability -- and looked atsome of the special provisionsof No-Fault.

In our second article, weexamined the manner inwhich No-Fault is meetingthe three standards --promises, if you will - of No-Fault: Those "promises" arefeatured in the box below.

1. To compensate injuredpersons promptly andadequately, without regard tofault, for medical expenses,wage loss and rehabilitationexpenses.

2. To reduce or eliminate"nuisance" suits for minor ornon-serious claims.

3. To reduce or eliminateinefficiencies of the tort (" At-Fault") system, such as theadversary relationshipbetween insurer and injuredparty, court congestion,litigation expense andoverhead expense.

Without question, the newlaw is fulfilling the objectivestated in point 1 (above). No-Fault benefits have beenparticularly important forthose who have manythousands of dollars ofmedical costs whichgenerally would not havebeen covered under the old at-fault system. Among theinjured and the dependents ofthe fatalities, these benefitshave been almost universallywell received ..

THE FOURTH PROMISEThere was a fourth

promise, however, which hasnot been fulfilled. Manyproponents of No-Fault im-plied it would reducepremiums. Obviously, ithasn't. To be sure, risingmedical and car repair costs -- compounded by an in-creasing frequency of ac-cidents - have contributed tothe increased auto insurancepremiums passed on tomotorists by Michigan in-

NO-FAULT:

OCTOBER, 1977 FARM NEWS PAGE 17

COOPERATIVES -They're What's Happening

720

COOPERATIVE MONTH:OcroBER 1977

Education and informationare basic tools in effectingchange. The companies plancontinued contact with FarmBureau Membership to ex-plain what changes areneeded, why they are needed,and how they can be effected.By working together, we cantake. the problems out of No-Fawt. .

There's probably a co-op ortwo or three in your life,whether you're a member ornot. They're good for you!

thriftily. They market and pur-,chase farm products and sup-plies, lend money, help peoplesave money, provide healthcare, legal aid, electric andtelephone service. There arefood and furniture coopera-tives, housing, student andnursery school co-ops, coop-erative insurance companies,credit unions, funeral socie-ties, TV and auto repair shops.

FaRmr1BUreaUFARM BUREAU SUMCEa INCFARMERS PETROLEUM

ambiguity, are in danger ofbeing interpreted by theCourts far more liberallythan the law's original intent.

For now~we'r-e waiting onthe Supreme Court to renderits decision. Once that hasbeen made public, FBIG willwork to effect legislativechange.

Co-ops are really in stylethese days. Very possibly agroup may be starting up acooperative right this minuteto obtain goods and servicesto help them live better, moreeconomically.

To some 50 millionconsumer-members of the nation's 40thousand coofteratives, thisnew-old way of doing businessis the way to go. Cooperativeshave been successful businessenterprises for more than acentury.

Cooperatives meet manypeople's needs efficiently and

surance, but are eligible toreceive No-Fault benefits ifthey collide with anautomobile. If motorcyclistsare to benefit from the law,they should pay their fairshare of the cost.

5. We urge the StateLegislature to redefine partsof the law which, because of

Members Can Help Take Problems Outhouse and senate bills wererecently introduced inCongress which wouldrequire all states to meetcertain minimum No-Fawtstandards. Since Michigan'sNo-Fawt statute is alreadyregarded as the most liberalin the country, chances aregood Michigan motorists willnot be affected since our stateguidelines should exceedfederal minimums. PresidentCarter recently went on therecord endorsing the federalNo-Fault concept and manyinsurance companies are nowendorsing it since it bringssome uniformity to thebewildering array of variousstate insurance statutes.

Here at Farm BureauInsurance, the decision of theState Supreme Court isanxiously awaited. Mean-while, various groups - in-cluding the insurance in-dustry - are beginning towork inconcert for legislativechange. The first step forFBIG was taken lastDecember when delegates tothe Michigan Farm BureauAnnual Meeting adopted thefollowing resolution:NO-FAULT AUTOMOBILE

INSURANCEWe support the general

principles inherent inMichigan's No-FaultInsurance law, whichbecame effective October 1,1973, in that persons injuredin automobile accidents nowreceive economic com-pensation more quickly andequitably. There remains,however, aspects of the lawwhich: 1) Restrict rights andresponsibilities of the in-dividual and 2) Unnecessarilyincrease claims costs of No-Fault and, ultimately theinsurance premiums paid bymotorists.

For these reasons, werecommend legislative actionto amend certain provisi~nsof the law:

1. Presently, the lawprovides the UnlimitedMedical and Rehabilitationbenefits be paid to accidentvictims. We supportestablishment of a maximumbenefit amount per victim,such as $100,000,.for thepurpose of better controllinghigh claim costs.

2. We believe the "At-Fault" driver in an accidentshould be made responsiblefor all damage caused to theproperty of others.

3. We believe that car ac-cident victims should becompensated for medicalexpense through their autoinsurance policy; not theirHealth & Accident policy(such as Blue Cross - BlueShield). Health & Accidentinsurance premium couldthen be reduced.

4. Application of the No-Fault law to motorcyclesshould be redefined. Atpresent, motorcyclists arenot required to purchasemandatory No-Fault in-

OCTOBER, 1977

Week of Aug. 29 -- RolandD/efenthaler, 43, who farms 475acres of soybeans, corn, onionsand carrots In Stockbridge InIngham County.A member of theCounty farm Bureau, Dlefen-thaler Is a leader In the local4-HOub and is past president of thearea Quarter Horse Association.Heand his wife, Nancy, have twochildren.

Essay ContestAnnouncedThe ninth annual America

& Me essay contest, theaward-winning writingprogram sponsored by FarmBureau Insurance Group, willbe held in schools throughoutMichigan October 17 toNovember 18.

Contest information kitshave been mailed to morethan 1,100 junior high schoolsand middle schoolsthroughout the state. Lastyear, more than 6,200students from 332 schoolssubmitted entries.

Open to any eighth gradestudent in Michigan, thecontest is promoted acrossthe state by Farm BureauInsuran,ce agents who serveas contest coordinators fortheir local schools.

Governor Milliken hasagain agreed to head thedistinguished panel of finalistjudges for the contest. Othermembers of the 1977-78finalist judging panel areState Supreme Court JusticeMary Coleman, GrandRapids television personalityBuck Matthews, MichiganState University PresidentClifton Wharton, Jr., andCongressman Robert Carr.

Student winners on thelocal level receive honorcertificates aqd each par-ticipating school receives aplaque. Prizes for the top tenwinners in the state includesavings bonds ranging invalqe from $SOOto $50.

FBIG started the America& Me essay contest in 1968 toencourage Michigan's youngpeople to seriously considertheir roles in America'sfuture. The contest has growninto a prominent statewideprogram recognized byeducators and news mediathroughout Michigan.

Each year, hundreds ofexcerpts from the studentessays are compiled intobooklet form and distributedto schools, government of-ficials and the general public.

Week of Aug. 22 -- DuaneHammond, 47, a GeneseeCounty farm Bureau member for22 years, who farms r500 acresand raises beef caffle near Clio.A member of the County farmBureau board of directors,Hammond's community In-volvement Includes serving as amember of the Mf. Mon-Is School80ard and on the local ASCScommlffee. He and his wife,Marlon, have two children.

Week of Aug. rs - ClarenceCalms, who milks 85 cows andraises ro,ooo chickens on a 650-acre farm near Hastings In BarryCounty. He Is a member of theBarry County farm Bureau andserved as president of the countyYoung farmers organization.Currently a 4-H leader andchairman of the local farmBureau Community Group,Calms serves on the countyboards of the ASCS, the DairyHerd Improvement Assn., andthe Michigan Animal BreedersCooperative. He and his wife,Ruby, have three children.

and as much as 20percent insome cases.

The 75 percent dividendmarks the biggest jump inreturns in the history of theCharter Life policy. Specialdividends were first declaredin 1954 at 5 percent andclimbed steadily through thenext decade to 25 percent in1967. During the past yearalone, these special dividendshave increased by 15 per-centage points from 60 per-cent last year at this time tothe present 75 percent.

So the promise is beingfulfilled. It's a reflection ofthe high calibre sales andservice job that policyownersand prospects have come toexpect from FBIG.

FARM NEWS

Week of Aug. 8 - Harold andKeith little, farm Bureaumembers from Tuscola County,who farm r,ooo acres near Caro.They raise more than 800 hogsand rB5 beef caffle. 80th areelders of the Novesta Church ofChrist. Harold, 44, Is a memberof the PorleProducers Assn., andKeith, 46, has served many years.as a 4-H leader. Harold and hiswife, Joan, have three children,and Keith and his wife, Wanefla,have five children.

The farmer of the WeekAward, sponsored by theMichigan farm Radio Networkand farm Bureau InsuranceGroup, recognizes Michiganfarmers for their contributions tothe agriculture Industry and totheir communities. Recipientsare seleded for the qual"y oftheir farming operation and fortheir community Involvement.The farmer of the Week Awardwinners for August are:

Week of Aug. r - Joseph Pohl,3r, who farms r,ooo acres nearPortland In Ionia County. Pohl,vice president of the IoniaCounty farm Bureau, took overthe family farm when his Iotherbecame disabled In r968. Thefarming operation, now knownas Harry Pohl • Sons, Includes ar20-head dairy herd. Pohl andhis wife, TIna,have ~wochildren.

FB Charter Life DividendsNow Exceed Premiums

Farmers Honored Weeklyby FBIG, Radio Network

Back in 1951, a handshakeand a promise created FarmBureau Life InsuranceCompany. That pact, betweenan agent and an insured, wasa Charter Life policy. FarmBureau members were thepolicyholders, and in return,they were promised specialdividends.

Today, 26 years later, thesixteenth Charter Life specialdividend has been declared.Effective September 1, thisdividend will now equal 75percent of the original basicannual premium on thepolicy. This means that theregular dividend, combinedwith the special 75 percentdividend, will now exceed thebasic annual premium on thepolicy by at least 9.5 percent

Nofsl "omCommunity(JroUPI

Homefront

preparing exhibits. TheWhitetails Community Groupwalked away with a blueribbon for their exhibit whichasked the question "Willfarmers grow our fuels?"

In simple easy to read andunderstand language, theexhibit pointed out that; theheat from burning one acre ofcorn stalks would dry thegrain from twenty acres;three gallons of alcohol forfuel can be made from onebushel of shelled corn; andmethane gas from manurepits can be used as heat.

Picnic." Members of theGroup sat in a picnic areaeating homemade ice creamwhile one young fellow hadthe task of turning the crankon the freezer. Oneof the floatfeatures which caught the eyeof many viewers was a duckhunter waiting to bag a duck.The duck had no intention ofbeing anyone's dinner andswam happily around its pool.

To the Groups listed aboveand all the others who tookpart in similar activities thispast summer, heartiestcongratulaions for a job welldone.

hours ofdetail work by a verytalented artist was evident ifone took the time to study thebackdrop of their exhibit.

_~I 1)[ ffC!vfC

In the last few months,many Community Groupsparticipated in county fairsand local celebrations. Themonitary awards received, ifany, were far surpassed bythe pride felt as floats moveddown the parade routes, or aspeople stood and discussedtheir exhibits.

One of the largest - littlecounty fairs has been held foryears in Altanta, Mont-morency County. The fair is acounty - wide communityactivity with many hoursspent on planning and

The Atlanta CommunityGroup received second placefor their exhibit explainingthat "Farming is everyonesbread and butter." Many

PAGE 18

The weather cooperated inthe latter part of August asPickford in Chippewa countyheld it centennial celebration.A conservative estimate saidover 2,500 persons watchedthe 91 units pass down theparade route. Judges hada difficult task selectingwinning entries as manygroups, clubs andorganizations tried forawards.

Winning first place in itscategory was a very at-tractive float designed by theMidway Community Group.Their theme was "Ye Olde

OCTOBER, 1977 FARM NEWS PAGE 19

the real facts on the issue ofsub-therapeutic uses of an-tibiotics in animal feeds.Upon invitation of the Officeof Technological Assessment,AFBF has participated in ameeting at which the issuewas discussed in depth.

Also, the U.S. CongressOffice of TechnologicalAssessment has undertaken ascientific study to establish

NATIONAL NOTES--Proposed Antibiotics Ban <Continued from Page 7)

Register, some encouraging proposed rules to restrict Agricultural Appropriationevents have happened. For subtherapeutic antibiotics. If Subcommittees for fundingexample, the Agricultural the proposed rules are not the agricultural portion of itsAppropriations Bill contains based on scientific data, then programs.a provision that requires the the FDA must appear beforeFDA to deliver to the House the Appropriation Sub-and Senate Agricultural committees to justify theAppropriations Subcomm- proposed actions. FDA isittees advance copies of dependent upon these

FARM BUREAU MARKET PLACESPECIAL RATE TO FARM BUREAU MEMBERS: One free 2S word ad per month per mem-bership, additional words, 10 cents each. Figures such as 12 or $12.50 count as one word NON-MEMBER advertisers: 15 cents per word one edition, two or more editions, 10 cents per word. Copy

deadline: 13th of Month. Mail classified ads to: Michigan Farm News, P.O. Box 960, Lansing, Mi.48904 Publisher reserves right to reject any advertising copy subm itted.

FARM EQUIPMENT FARM EQUIPMENT LIVESTOCK MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANEOUSAGROMATIC MANURE PUMPS handlelong. short. or no straw. Big capacity .versatile. SCHULER CYCLE.MIX orBLENDER BOJ(ES for stationary orportable use. SCALES for accurateweighing. Call or write for literature and listof satisfied customers. Laursen's. Inc .• WestBranch. MI 48661. phone ( (517) 345.1400. {5.6t.2 ...f18p)

'HARLEY ROCK PICKERS. Rock Win.drowers. Picks 1 to 16" dia. The World'sBest. Phone 313.376.4791. Earl F. Reinelt.446S Reinelt. Deckerville. Mich. 48427. (5.tf.'23p)

WANTED - John Deere 0 or GP Tractor.For sale: Delaval 210 Gallon Bulk Tank.Wheat and Oat Straw. LeRoy Keinath. R No.4. Vassar. Michigan 517.652.2388.

(l1.tf.24p)

GRAIN DRYING AND STORAGEEQUIPMENT. Farm Fans Dryers. BrockBins. Bucket Elevators. Sales. Installation.service. Keith Otto. G.E. Knierim Sales.Inc.) Blissfield 49228. Phone (517) 443-5471.

(....tf.25p)

FOR SALE: HUBER PICKUP BEANERwith Continental motor. also 2.row narrowrOil\( New Idea corn sheller. Max Netzley. St.Louis. Mich. (517) 681.3945. (8.3t-23f)

ROUND BALE FEEDERS for 1500 lb. roundbales. Heavy duty 1" square tubing. Only$86.95. Rectangular feeders also available.Free literature. Dealerships available. StarrNational. 219 Main. Colchester. IL 62326.

<1~-lt.29P)

FARROWING STALLS - Complete $86.50 1"tubular steel construction. Dealershipsavailable. Free literature. STARR

. NATIONAL. 219 Main. Colchester. Illinois62326.

<10.lt.19p)

FOR SALE: 2 Giehl self unloading wagonsand chopper. Also 300 gal. Milk Cooler.Henry Carpenter. 6545 Cogswell. Romulus.Mi. 48174. Phone (313) 721.0240. (9.tf.23f)

FOR SALE: 1970 Chism-Rider GrapeHarvester is good condition. Write or callRoy Forraht Rl Berrien Springs. Mich.49103. (616) 473-1730. (9-tf.21p)

WANTED TO BUY: Old Waterloo-Boytractor or part thereof. Phone (313) 797-4.t59Goodrich. Mich. (9.2t.15f)

FOR SALE: Harvestore Grinder. (Wet.more) model 385. Just like new. used onlytwice .. always shedded. Fred J. Vlietstra.Phone: (616) J.tS-0876. (lO-lt-20p)

INVALID EQUIPMENT - Hoyer patientlifter; Hoyer car top lifter. for lifting patientInto car. New wheelchair. pneumatic tires;Much more. will sell cheap. Boyne Falls.Phone: (616) .s.c9-2732. OO-lt-25fl

WANTED. Tractor belt driven bun rig; 10"or larger table or radial arm saw;minimum. 3 cubic foot combination safe.7780 Challis. Brighton. Phone: (313) 229.2277. ' (lO-lt-25fl

FOR SALE: One 6" rubber drive belt. 20 ft.one way .. 525.00. One 18x19" lavatory withfaucets and trap .. 510.00. Phillip Millis.Williamston (Intersection 1-~6& M-52). (517)521-3521. OO-lt-25fl

FOR SALE: One 52' New Idea Conveyor, 2yrs. old. S9OO.00.Call (517) 871-3837 after 4:00p.m. (l0-lt-16f)

FOR SALE: New idea; 2 raw pull top cornpicker. always inside 53200.00. RonaldHampshire. Deford. MI 48729. Phone: (517)683-2271. 00-2t.19f)

FOR SALE: 815 IH gas combine used totalsix months; mint condition - 6 row corn head- 30" rows - 15 ft. small grain platform.combined 100 acres of wheat only. CallRobert Daymon (517)223-9966. (lO-lt-25f8b)

FOR SALE: One raw potato picker. pulledbehind 1 raw digger. also potato grader 3sizes. $80.00 for both. A-1 shape. Sellseparately. Phone: (517)652-6612. OO-lt-25fl

FOR SALE: New idea, two (2) raw cornpicker. good condition. Call (517) 691-5720.Akron. MI. mornings or late evenings. OO-lt.191)

WANTED: One row corn picker. semi.mounted on pull-type. Good conditionnecessary. Will pickup within 100 miles.Phone: Baroda (616) 422.1061 after 9:00p.m. OO-lt.23f)

FOR SALE: 18 ft. tantem John Deeretransport disc. also 16 ft. John Deere springtooth drag. Phone: Filion (517) 269-8895. 00-It.2Of)

FOR SALE: Patz Silounioaderfor 140r 16 ft.silo in good condition. also 5110 conveyer.Phone: (616) 896-9206. 00.lt-15f)

FOR SALE: One 18.4xU tractor tire, 6 plygood tread. Wanted: Oliver 18 or Super 88engine block (any COndition). Phone: Nash.ville (616) 758-3880. evenings. OO-lt-23f)

"Calf Buggy" Something new. Individu~1pens for newborn calves. Write for pa,n-phlet. Alvin Frahm. 10320 Holland Road U;.-.(6) Frankenmuth 48734. Phone 517-652.6692.

(12. tf.23p)

LIVESTOCKFOR SALE: Reg. and Grade HolsteinBreeding Bulls from High Producing Dams.DHIA records. Clarkstead Hol. Farm. 819Tamarack Rd .• Pittsford. Mich. Phone ( 517)567-8626. (5-tf-2"'p)

COW TRIMMING makes your cows feelbetter. produce better and makes you moremoney. Call Bob Presson. RFD 3. Evart. MI49631. Phone (616) 734.5051. (10tf-14p!

CORRIEDALE SHEEP - Purebred Breedingstock for sale. Paper optional. Waldo F.Dieterle. 7285 Textile Rd .• Saline. Mich.48176. Phone (313) 429.787.... (l.tf-19p)

MILKING SHORTHORNS - Young bulls.yearlings and calves for sale. Write or visitStanley M. Powell and Family. InglesideFarm. R.R. 2. Box 238. Ionia. Mich. 48846.

( 6.tf.25p)

FOR SALE - YORKSHIRE serviceage boarsand open gilts top bloodlines tested at MSUtest station. All registered stock. RichardCook. '12mile east Mulliken. M.43. Phone 517-649.8988. (3- tf.24p)

BASOLO BEEFALO CATTLE AND MEAT.Semen from 57.CIO. Full story and prices.Write American Beefalo Breeders. 1661 E.Brown Road. Mayville 21. Michigan. Phone(517) 843-6811. (4.tf-25 b)

REGISTERED APPALOOSAS FOR SALE.Stallion service. Nat'l Champion Appaloosa& top T.B. bloodlines. Excellent disposition& conformation. Discount to 4.H. Phone 517-543-7197. Charlotte. Mich. (l.tf.24p)

QUARTER HORSES - Disposition for "'-H.ability for cattle. conformation for show.'Reasonable prices. Customer satisfaction apriority. Visitors welcome. Walton Farms.Rosebush. Phone 517.433.2925. (3.tf.24p)

POLLED CHAROLAIS: For Sale PolledBulls and Polled Bred Females. By LCRPerfecto Duke 357. Performance tested. R.J.Eldridge & Sons. call (616) 868-62.23.(S-tf.2 ...p)

PUREBRED YORKSHIRE or ChesterWhite Boars and Gilts for sale at all times.Satisfaction guaranteed. Broadview Farms.Bill McCalla. 4100 Stone School. Ann Arbor.Phone (313) 971-1804.

(7-12t-25f)

FOR SALE: Landrace Boars and gilts. alsoDuroc Boars and Gilts. George Carpenterfamily. 6545 Cogswell Rd., Romulus. MI48174. Phone evenings (313) 721-0240. (9.tf-23f)

CORRIEDALE SHEEP, Purebred rams &ewes for sale. Registration available. CraigAdams. 14368 W. Jackson Rd .• Tekonsha.MI. Phone (517) 767.4250.

(8-3t-2Of)

FOR SALE - New Zealand White Rabbits.bred for top meat production. "Rabbits areour only business." Dettmers Bunny Patch.Phone 517.584.3765. Caron City. MichL

(7-n-24p)

FAIRFIELD FARMS POLLED SHOR-THORNS since 1901. Michigan's oldestShorthorn herd. Visitors welcome. RayPeters. 4 miles southeast of Elsie on RileyRoad.

(7-tf-23p)

FOR SALE: Laborador Retrievers .. blacksand yellows. K.C. registered. Excellent inhunting. retrieving and show. $75.00Weidman. Mich. (517) 6,44.3556. (9-4t-19f)

FOR SALE: Springing Lg. Holstein DairyHeifers. Tested and Due To CommenceFreshing Soon. Phone Snover. Michigan(517) 635-7938. (9-2t-17p)

FOR SALE: Reg. Duroc boars. long. tall,sound. good gainers. I test at MSU. EugenePalmreuter, Vassar. Phone: (517) 823.50.45. 00-lt-19f)

FOR SALE: Registered polled Herefordbulls up to 2 years. also 4 vaccinated heifersready to breed. Will breed to my grandchampion bull If requested. Reasonable.Paul DeLuca. (313) 229-7092 or (313) 227-6630.evenings. (10-1 t.25f10p)

FOR SALE: Reg. polled Hereford herd. 15cows and calves, 4 open heifers, 3 bulls. D.Rushlo. Cass City. Phone: (517) 872-25.49. 00-U-2Of)

FOR SALE: Two large Holstein SimmentalCross heifers to freshen about Oct. 1.PHONE: (616) 896-9206. 00.lt-l0fl

FOR SALE: 3I~ Angus Bull .. A.1. sired:Bardolier 717; 84 Ibs. at birth. 1530 Ibs.August. Proven .. 5 years .• calves average73 Ibs. at birth. Call (517) 871.2833. 00-lt-24fl

REGISTERED HOLSTEIN BULL, 15months old. sired by Nugget. Dam 19• .s.c7M.... percent 775 F. Also sons of Elevation.Startrek. Star. Tested. George Robb.Fowlerville. MI. Phone (517) 223.9462. (lO-lt-25f)

FOR SALE: White Charolais bull. 3 year oldregistered. Papers can be furnished. GeorgeDavidson. 8758 N. Alger Rd .• Alma 48801.Phone: (517) 681.5073. (l0.lt-24f)

FOR SALE: A.K.C. Springer SpanielPuppies from excellent hunting stock. Faith.ful companions and hunters. Also studservice. Phone: Unionville (517) 674-2433. (l0-lt-21f)

MISCELLANEOUSFOR SALE: 500 glass gallon jugs. 25( each.will sell all or part. John Deere No. 22 hayconditioner. Like new. Jim Langley. phone:(313) 653-8109. (l0-lt-24f)

FOR SALE: 16 ft. aluminum travel trailer --sleeps 6. gas furnace, stove. lights .. electricrefrigerator. lights. 7355 Warner Rd .• Saline.MI 48176. Phone: (313) 429-9666. 429-5128. or429-2470. (l0-2t-25fl

FEATHERS WANTED - Highest Prices! -Goose - 54.00 lb., Duck - $2.50 lb •• (Wild - $.50per lb. less), Used - 5.50 lb. Country Bedding.330 E. St. Joseph. Indianapolis. Ind. 46202 •Ship Parcel Post. C.O.D .• we also payfreight. 00- tf-34b)

FREE MUSIC LESSON, "Learn ChordPlaying". Piano. organ. guitar. Simple newsystem. Davldsons. 6727 MFN Metcalf.Shawnee Mission. Kansas 66204. (l0.lt-19p)

ARMY GMC 1956 - 2'h-ton. 6x6 shop van.Also 1952 GMC 2lh.ton cargo truck .. lawmileage. with or without front winch -- goodcondition. McEwen Farms. (313) 659.6535.Flushing. (lO.lt.25fl

LOG CABIN building instructions. 304pages ... illustrated!! Satisfactionguaranteed. $5.95 postpaid. Glenn SmithEnterprises. Box 1513. Dept. F.81. Akron.Ohio 44309.

00-2t.21p)FREE FRUIT CATALOG - 82 varieties ofstrawberries; brambles; grapes; or.namental shrubs & trees; dwarf and stan-dard fruit trees (apples. peaches. cherries.plums. pears. apricots. nectarines. figs).Write for a copy from: DEAN FOSTERNURSERIES. Box FBN-9, Hartfo;-d.Michigan 49057. (616) 621.2419.

(8-4t-40b)SOURDOUGH PANCAKE RECIPE. Infamily five generations. Send self-addressedstamped envelope and $1.00 to Granny'sRecipe Drawer. Box 7721MF. Macon.Georgia 31204.

(8.3t-23p)S500/THOUSAND STUFFING EN-VELOPESII Free Supplies. Immediateincome guaranteed! Send stamped ad.dressed envelope: Homeworker, Box 427.NH, Troy. MT 59935. 00-2t.19p)

CROCHETERS - Make easy. beautiful rugsfrom scraps. old clothing. InstructionLeaflet. $1.00. Silver Lining. Box 16997-Ay,Irvine. CA 9271.4. (10.1t-19p)

NEW WAY TO COOK BEEFI World famouschef's secrets! Cheapest cuts part with touchof a fork! Delicious. dark gravy! Recipe11.00 Hamilton's box 652.131 New Ulm, Minn.56073. OO-lt-28p)

FREEZER DOUGHSI Make your own! Savetime. money! Breads, buns. rolls. Complete.easy instructions. 11.00 Hamiltons Box 652-131. New Ulm, Minn. 56073. (10-lt.21p)

FOR SALE: Kenmore Electric Dryer. Alsogas fireplace log with safety pilot. grate andcopper tubing. Phone: Goodrich. (313) 636-2116.

SHERLOCK HOLMES CAPS - a perfect topquality English Woolen Deer Stalker Cap.(Sherlock's pipe not Included.) Money backguaranteed. Size S (63Y.. 6~). M (7, 7....), L(7l/~. 7~), XL (7'h, 7~). $14.95 each (add 60tsales tax). Mlndenhall Gifts 2327 HamiltonRd .• Okemos, MI 41864. (l0.lt.37b)

FOR SALE - Large stamp collection - manyduplicates. many commemoratlves - pricedto sell. Mrs. Willard Phelps. Mayville, MI.Phone: (517) 843-6.429. 00-lt-19f)

WILL KIT: Includes 6t page attorney'sbooklet. "What everyone should knaw aboutwills" - 4 will forms . only $3.00 (Free"Personal assets record" and "Executor'sduties") Boileau. Kingston. MIChigan48741. (lO-lt-25f~)

PAINTING: Metal Structures. roofcoatings. highwork. Quality guaranteed.insured. Harold Butzin. 1615 W. Moore Rd.Saginaw. Mich. 48601. Call (517) 777-1775. (9.2t-21p)

LAND CLEARING and Bulldozing. B'{ thehour or by the jOb. Tom Tank. Eagle.~ichigan 48822. Phone 517-626.6677. (5-tf.18p)

HOMEWORKERS! 5200.00 weekly possibleaddressing (longhand or typing) and stuf.fing envelopes! Experience unnecessary!Details. send stamped self. addressed en.velope. Garre". Box 8065.MF. Newark. DE19711.

(2- tf.25b)

AUCTIONEERING & APPRAISALSspecializing in Farm Personal. Household &Antiques. Special rates for Farm Bureaumembers. James R. Erskine. Freeland.Mich. 517.695.9182.

(ll-tf.2Op)

AVOID THE MIDDLEMAN and save. Farmpost and rustic rail fencing. Ivan R. Malnar.Wholesale Cedar Post Yard. Route 3. RapidRiver. Michigan. 49878. Phone (906) 474.9172. (4- tf.25p)

AFRICAN VIOLETS - Fresh cut leaves andstarter plants. Descriptive price list 35c.Gail's Violets. R No ..... St. Johns. Mich.48879.

(3.tf.19p)

PEARL SNAP FASTENERS - 124 COLORSAND STYLES. Sewing Supplies. Notavailable in stores. Free catalog. Bee LeeCompany. Box 20558 . MF. Dallas. Texas75220. (5.9t.23p)

525.00 per Hundred. addressing and mailingcirculars for Mail Order Firms. For in.formation. send self.addressed envelope.Edgar. Box 516. Auburn. Washington.98002. (9.2t.23p)

WANTED: Flreplacewood. any amount. cut& split. Must be reasonable. Delivered toWarren. Mich. Clem Young. Young'sGarden Mart. 27825 Ryan Rd., Warren 48092.(313) 573-0230. (10-1 t.25f)

FOR SALE: 1975 Cherokee jeep; fullyloaded plus Meyer snow blade. runninglights. two sets of wheels and tires. $6.000.00firm. Phone Metamora. (313) 664.2.451.OO-lt-24f)

PAINTING, Tuck poinling. sand blasting.caUlking. registered steeple-jack. fully in.sured. E. R. Wilcox. 3424 E. Beaver Rd .• BayCity. Phone 517.684.7640. (6-tf.20R.l

BOOK -- WEIGHT! A BETTER WAY TOLOSE (Bible Formula) 128 pages. $1.50 plus25c postage. From: R. Campbell. P.O. Box....... Waterford. Mich. 48095. (l2-tf.2"'p)

AFRICAN VIOLETS 12 different labeledleaves $4.00. Rooted leaves postpaid 12 for$8.50. Leaves with plantlets 6 for $5.25. Alsoiris and day lilies. Violet list 2Oc. TheoJensen. 4090 W. Barnes. Millington, MI48746.

(6-6t.25f10p)

NUTMEATS. PECANS, ALMONDS.Bargains! Cane Creek Farm. Cookeville.Tenn. 38501.

(2-11t.l0p)

WATCH REPAIR - Any make cleaned.repaired. internal parts. crystals. crownsincluded. 3 day shop service. wrist watches$10.00. pocket 524.00. No electrics. Elgintrained craftman. Mail order repair since1952. Free mailer. Hub's Service, 3855 HoppsRd .• Elgin 111.60120. 00-6t-39p)

FOR SALE: Apples Retail and WholesaleBlossom Orchards 3597 Hull Rd. (Old US127) Leslie MI. Phone 589-8251. Pick yourown Saturday and Sunday up to Oct. 9. GiftPackages shipped by United Parcel Ser.vice. (9-4t.2Sf9b)

SNOW BLOWER 5 foot front mount forInternational 154 OR 185 Cub Lo Boy. Likenew with side sheilds - 5425.00. Dealer price$985+. Phone (517) 546-2386 Howell. (9-2t.2"'p)

SAUSAGE MAKERS. GREAT RECIPES.Bologna. Frankfurters. Head Cheese.Summer. Blood and Pork Sausage. $1.00Hamlltons Box 652.131 New Ulm, Mn.56073. ClO-lt-21p)

CHINESE KNIFE, a chief's delight.Balanced. good quality steel. $8.95 each (add36c sales tax). Mindenhall GHts. 2327Hamilton Road. OkemOS, MI •• 4886.4. (10-1 t-23b)

CHRISTMAS TREES WANTED: We needpremium quality 6' to 10' scotch pine.douglas fir. and blue spruce. We are alsolooking for plantations to manage. Cl!lvinPete Lutz, Fruit Haven Nursery Inc. Kaleva.Michigan 496.45.Phone (616) 889-4932. (9-3t-25f14p)

TIRE CHAINS - DEALERS COST. All sizesand kinds for farm and garden tractors.trucks. cars. Also logging. tawing bindersand accessories. New Hudson Pawer (313)437.1444. (9-6t.25f)

HOME LITE 20 PERCENT OFF on all sizespumps. multi.purpose saws. pro-chain saws.tampers and 2750 to 7500 Wa" generators.New Hudson Power (313) 437.1....... (9.6t.24fl

GREAT SAUSAGE RECIPES AND MEATCURING: Written by a sausage maker forhome use. Over 220 pages covering smokingprocedures. sausage making. dry curing(without cooking or smoking) hard salamis.hams. bacon. thuringers. illustrated. Over100 complete recipes. Pickeling fiSh.smOking. brining. dryillQ. caviar. Casings.cures. equipment. Free catalog. Kutas. 181-107Military. Buffalo. NY 14207. <10.lt-55p)

REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE BY OWNER: St. Johns area. 9acre farmette. Exceptionally nice countryproperty. Remodeled 5 bedroom home. Newcarpeting. fireplace. Good barn. granary.mature . shade and fruit trees. fencedpasture. beautiful Inside and out .- $59.900.00.Phone (517) 224..4349. (9.3t.25f15p)

KALKASKA 10 acres. $10.000. 1 mile fromvillage limits. Pines. Well. Septic Tank.Electricity. Ribbon. (906) 569.3786. EstherCarpenter. Ozark RR 1. Moran. Mich.49760. (5.tf-2"'p)

FOR SALE: 20 acres. 330 ft. frontage. redbarn. 4Ox72 cement floor. Property intosoybeans. E. Awanda Ferguson. 6332 OakRd .• Davison, MI 48423. (lO-lt.24f)

FOR SALE BY OWNER: 280 acre beef ordairy farm located eight miles north of U.S.2 Engadine on 117. 3 bedroom home. Fullbasement. Large barn. Milk house. largetool shed. granary. 2 wells. creeks runningthrough property. Frontage on two roads..Call (906) 477-6760. (lO-lt.25f20p)

FOR SALE: Furnished mobile home atPalm Beach Gardens. Fla. (Edge of WestPalm Beach). 12'xSO'. One bedroom. Gasheat. Very clean. $5.000.00. Phone: (616) 467.7342. (lO.lt.25f)

LAND-HOME-WATER-BARGAINS StillAvailable in Sunbelt. Arkansas. QuarterlyCatalogue $5 Year. Satisfaction Guaranteed.Farm.Home buyer'S Guide. Lum and AbnerHighway. Pine Ridge. AR 71966. (9.3t.27p)

HAY LISTING

Michigan Farm Bureau is now makingavailable a Hay and Silage Listing Service.Buyers and sellers can list their needs andofferings in the classified section of the •Michigan Farm News. The service is free toFarm Bureau members. If you have hay forsale or want to purchase hay. simply mailyour request to: Hay and Silage Listing.MiChigan Farm Bureau. 7373 W. SaginawHwy .• Lanslng, MI 48909. Your ad. 25 words

or less. should include the amount andquality of hay or silage you want to buy orsell plus your name. address and phonenumber.

FOR SALE: Alfalfa and clover hay. 350bales. 53.00 per bale. Richard Main. SixLakes. MI. 48886. Phone: (517) 352-6673. 00-It-19f)

FOR SALE: 2000 bales of alfalfa second cuthay. 1000 bales of June clover hay with norain on. Call Harbor Beach. (517) 479-6527. OO-lt-21f)

FOR SALE: 600 bales second cutting alfalfahay. 11.50 bale. JOO bales second cuttingalfalfa mixed hay. $1.25 a bale. Erwin Haist.1120 Haist Rd .• Chelsea. (313) 475.2415. (lO.lt-25fl

FOR SALE: 900 bales alfalfa with orchardgrass. 1st and 2nd cutting .- no rain. $1.00 perball!"for all. Don Williams. Ann Arbor, 48105.Phone: (~13) 562-4662. (lO-lt-24f)

FOR SALE: 2000 bales. third cutting con-ditioned atfalfa; no rain. Fred J. Stibor. 1326Albaln Rd .• Monroe. MI 48161. Phone: (313)269.2311. (lO-lt.21f)

WANTED: 50 bales of hay from area 100miles from Frankfort. Leo B. DeLong, 1444Forrester Rd., Frankfort. MI ~. OO-lt-201)

PAGE 20 FARM NEWS OCTOBER, 1977

...and the. right answers.

Town: County: ----------

A select unit of Farm Bureau Insurance agents has been help-ing people with Estate Planning ideas for twenty years. Withthe significant changes in the estate. tax picture brought aboutby the 1976Tax Reform Act, now is a good time to review yourestate program ... or to begin estate planning.

.-------------------------.------,] ::::::::Please forward "You and Your Estate" to me. II = I'd like any additional Estate Planning help I] you can offer. j) Do you currently have any insurance with Farm Bureau Insurance J) Group? 0 Yes 0 No ]] If yes, please write in the name of your Farm Bureau Insurance agent. )J )]----------------)] J) -] Name: IJ )I Address: I

))))Ie r'e" u surance G p.. 1373 W. Saginaw I

a s g 'c fa 4B909 )----------------------------~

Your Farm Bureau Insurance .specialist can help by discussingestate planning ideas with you, your family and your legal andfinancial counselors. Your new or updated estate plan is asnear as your phone. Call your Farm Bureau Insurance agentfor help with your estate planning questions.Or forward this coupon for a free booklet ... "You and YourEstate" ... which explains the importance of Estate Planningand what it can do for you. Forward to: Communications, FarmBureau Insurance Group, 7373 W. Saginaw Hwy., Lansing,Michigan 48909.

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