headlee - michigan state universityarchive.lib.msu.edu/dmc/mfn/1982/1982-10.pdfdick headlee with...

32

Upload: others

Post on 29-Jan-2021

2 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • Dick Headlee with Laura Heuser and George McManus, candidates for the MichiganState Board of Trustees.

    Join theHEADLEEAgricultureActionTeam

    Q:A:

    Why should someone who caresabout agriculture vote for DickHeadlee instead of Jim Blanchard?

    - Dick Headlee is an experienced.businessman. Jim Blanchard has nobusiness experience.

    -Dick Headlee asked the Republicanconvention to nominate two agricul-tural candidates for the MSU Boardof Trustees. Jim Blanchard didnothing while the labor unions pickedtwo labor candidates for the MSUBoard.

    -Dick Headlee was nominated in atough, open primary and because ofhis take-charge leadership approach,he will change state government.Jim Blanchard was hand-picked byMichigan's labor union bosses, andhe thinks just like the Democratswho have controlled the Legislatureduring the 1970's. John Block, Secretary of Agriculture and Dick Headlee

    ELECT DICK HEADLEE, A TAKE CHARGE GOVERNORFOR ALL OF MICHIGAN

    (Paid for by the Michigan Agriculture Coalition for the Headlee-Heuser.McManus Agriculture Action Team.)

  • October 1982Volume 61, Number 10

    IN THIS ISSUE10 In 1982 Michigan Campaigns, Agricultural

    Support CountsCandidates for statewide offices draw support fromAgriPac and farm groups.

    13 A Fragile BalanceLand and energy resources studied by the MFBNatural and Environmental Resources AdvisoryCommittee to develop policy recommendation.

    19 Leading ProudState Leader Conference participants grew in pridefor themselves, their industry and their farmorganization.

    20 The Cooperative Key is ServiceCaledonia Farmers Elevator opens the door forcooperative enterprise with services that patrons andshareholders need.

    Rural RouteDonnaLansing ReviewWashington Report

    ABOUT THE COVER:Michigan residents enjoy

    outdoor activities during thecolorful fall season.

    Photo courtesy 0/ theMichigan Travel Bureau

    IN EVERY ISSUE4568

    16 County Newsletter26 Agrinomic Update28 Discussion Topic30 Market Place

    Michigan Farm News RURAL LIVING (ISSN 0026-2161)Michigan Farm News Rural Living Is published monthly. on the first day. by the Michigan Farm Bureau Information and Public Relations Division. Publicallon and editorial offices at 7373 WestSaginaw Highway. Lansing. Mich. 48909. Post Office Box 30960: telephone. lansing 517-323.7000. Extension SOB.SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $1.50 per year to members. Included in annual dues. $3.00 per year non-members In Michigan. $5.00 per year non-members out of state.Publlcallon No. 345040.Established Jan. 13. 1923 as Michigan Farm News. name changed to Michigan Farm News Rural Living Dec. 1. 1981. Third-class postage paid at Lansing, Michigan and at additional mailingoffices.EDITORIAL: Connie Turbin. Editor; Marcia Dltchle. Associate Editor and Business Manager: Donna Wilber. Contributing Editor; Cathy J. Klrvan. Copy Editor.OFFICERS: Michigan Farm Bureau; President. Elton R. Smith, Caledonia; Vice President. Jack Laurie. Cass City: Administrative Director. Robert Braden. Lansing; Treasurer and ChiefFinancial Officer. Max D. Dean; Secretary. William S. WilkinsonDIRECTORS: District I, Arthur Bailey. Schoolcraft: District 2. Lowell Eisenmann, Blissfield; District3. James Sayre. Belleville: Dlstrlct4. Elton R. Smith. Caledonia; Dlstrlct 5, Albert Cook.Mason; District6. Jack Laurie. Cass City; District 7. Robert Rider. Hart; District8. Lyle LeCronler. Freeland; Distrlct 9. Donald Nugent. Frankfort: District 10. Margaret Kartes. West Branch:District 11. Bernard Doll. DafterDIRECTORS AT LARGE: Dave Conklin, Corunna: Michael Pridgeon. Montgomery; Robert Roilier, FremontFARM BUREAU WOMEN: Vivian Loll. MasonFARM BUREAU YOUNG FARMERS: Glenn Preston, QuincyPOSTMASTER: In using form 3579. mail to: Michigan Farm News Rural Living. P.O. Box 30960. 7373 West Saginaw Highway. lansing, Mich. 48909.

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982 3

  • Rural Route

    Let's Get Serious!Farming is serious business.

    .We work hard at doing thebest job possible. We controleverything we can - our seedselection, management prac-tices, purchasing practices andmarketing choices. What wecan't control, we try to in-fluence.

    Farmers realize that laws,rules and regulations affectthem directly and indirectly.They know that in the past theLegislature has created aneconomic climate which hasdiscouraged business expan-sion.

    No farmer in Michiganwould plant a grove of orangetrees. Orange trees just can'tmake it in this state. That samegood sense should be appliedto candidates for whom farm-ers vote.

    Elected officials are theseeds of good government. Ifproperly selected, their actionscan grow and nourish an im-proved business climate. Sev-eral candidates selected asAgriPac "Friends of Agricul-ture" demonstrate qualifica-tions necessary for suchgrowth. Richard Headlee is asuccessful business man whobelieves that business principleswith accountability ought to beapplied to the operation ofgovernment.

    Phil Ruppe, candidate forU.S. Senate, has gained valu-4

    able congressional experience.He understands the needs ofMichigan and understands therole of the federal governmentin working with state govern-ment and agriculture.

    Farmers recognize the needfor a strong College of Agricul-ture at our land grant univer-sity. Research and the Exten-sion Service are keys in theexpansion of agriculture inMichigan. Two candidates for"the Michigan State UniversityBoard of Trustees recognizeagriculture's needs. They areGeorge McManus and LauraHeuser and both deserve thevote of every farmer.

    Farmers can influence gov-ernmental bodies by votingand by voting wisely. As FarmBureau members, I hope you

    and members of your familyare registered to vote. If not,go to any Secretary of State'sOffice or to your townshipclerk. The deadline is Oct. 4.

    Prior to election day, pleasebecome acquainted with thecandidates and their philoso-phies. Know what they standfor. A candidate who believesin expanding government, in-creased government spending,higher taxes and who doesn'tunderstand that private enter-prise creat~s jobs, should notget your support. That kind ofcandidate will be as unproduc-tive for Michigan as a grove oforange trees.

    Government is serious busi-ness. It deserves thought, in-volvement, and knowledge ofthe candidates. It deservesyour serious action by going tothe voting booth.

    Farm Bureau members, let'sget serious!

    PresidentMichigan Farm Bureau

    If you have a question or opinionthat you would like to share in RuralRoute, send it to Rural Living Maga-zine, Michigan Farm Bureau, P.O.Box 30960, Lansing, Mich. 48909.

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

  • FI-I2ACJ NewtJ R.new

    Route No.SfGte

    PI.ase allow 2 weelrs lor lirs' Issu ..... ofily of once any chonge 01address

    (Optional) to help us_ you better with !he news you need to know

    T)Jpc of ...No.".ars ,. n. Toe-'.era ........Com matts

    REGAL RIB is available in three ways:

    • Colored Steel (12 beautiful colors)• Galvalume (Aluminum-

    Zinc Coated Steel witha 20 Yr, Warranty)

    • Galvanized Steel. Full 36"Coverage, 29 P.. 28 Gauge

    ANY lENGTH UP TO40 FEET cut to the inch

    . "c4"v.s-'~iJ;...v,#~t~ --', ," .. ,~~.:..- ....::,:::::...- " at 50' per copy

    He"-'s an apportunlty.a sOYesame money an one 0' .ltebest In.,.stmen.s you can moire - a subscript/an '0 THEFARMERS'ADVANCE NEWS. You can subscribe lor lust

    $10 'or I year (S2Issu.s). a 60% saltlngs oH newsstand prices. Or subscribe lor 2 years

    (104 Issues) 'or Ius' $IB and so.,. 65% 011 newss'onJ prices.

    Mail ClOupon and payment to: The Farmers' Advance News, 130 S- MaIn, Comden. MI .9232

    WI'" cosfs cont/nulng to climb, we con'. promise how long we con malnfaln the pRsen. sub-

    scrip'ion ro'e, so this Is an opportunity to 10dr In- at a bargain pric ••

    CJ 1 year (S2issu.s) S10 (Reg. SIA)tJ 2years(10Aiss_s) SIB(Rev-$22)

    Na....AddressCityZip Phone (

    Nation.Wide Distri~utor of d SidingMetal Roof.ng an

    ~tllQU~tll\11 DELIVERED

    TO rOURJOB SITE IN MOST PARTS Of u.s.

    1-800-321-7670~ HOLMES LUMBER & BUILDING CENTER

    Donna

    Guest Column By Gwen Nash1982 MFB Outstanding Young Farm Woman

    During the past year, while serving as Michigan Farm Bu-reau's Outstanding Young Farm Woman ,and in my owncounty as chairperson of the Clinton County Farm BureauInformation Committee, I have deepened my appreciationfor the strength and influence of the Farm Bureau organiza-tion. The experience has confirmed for me over and overagain that Farm Bureau is the membership and that the or-ganization is a reflection of members' dedication to their in-dustry and of their belief in Farm Bureau as an organization

    .where they can make things happen.Policy development is the beginning of that member in-

    volvement. In order to realize the importance of policy de-velopment, let's take a closer look at what that means in ourorganization. A policy is a course of action adopted. In FarmBureau. county, state and national delegates vote on policyto guide their organization. Development is a gradual un-folding or growth.

    I believe there is a definition of policy development thatmany of us overlook. We see in the definition of each wordtheir separate meanings. and yet when they are joinedtogether. we find the basis of policy development in theFarm Bureau organization.

    Policy development is the gradual unfolding of a course ofaction. Farm Bureau policy sometimes begins like this:

    Mr. Farmer is out on the tractor. As he drives along. hethinks over many of his problems. A simple solution occursto him. At the family dinner table. he discusses it with hiswife ... later with a neighbor and then with his communityaction group. As he shares his concern. more of his FarmBureau neighbors realize that they have the same problemand that a simple solution could help a lot of people.

    Not all policy starts this way. But then it's not how itevolves that matters. The important thing is that FarmBureau members communicate with each other and under-stand that other people have problems too. When we standalone. our voice is weak. But together. as an organization of77,000 families. we have united strength and we canchange laws. support youth programs. recognize urban peo-ple who have supported agriculture and strengthen our ownfarming futures.

    As our organization grows, we must remember to reviewour policies too. What worked in 1932 may not be theanswer for the computer-age farmer of 1985. And we mustbe careful to preserve the basic ideas that our nation wasfounded on. But even those ideas should be expanded astime and growth require.

    I sincerely hope that each of you will sit down and write.in your own words - not legal sounding jargon, the way youfeel about anything of concern to you. Take it to countyFarm Bureau leaders. Share your ideas and thoughts withother Farm Bureau members and attend your county an-nual meeting. Speak out on what concerns you. You will besurprised at how many people feel the same way. Together.WE can make it happen in Farm Bureau!RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

  • Lansing Review

    November Ballot Proposals ReviewedThere will be seven proposals on the

    ballot in the November election. At theMFB board meeting on Sept. 8, direc-tors studied each proposal and tookpositions on five of the seven pro-posals as recommendations for FarmBureau members to consider.

    The proposals, as they appear onthe ballot, follow:

    Proposal A - Legislative Immuni-ty: A proposal to allow the Legislatureto reform their existing constitutionalexemption from civil arrest and pro-cess during legislative sessions.

    The Michigan Constitution now pro-vides: "Senators and representativesshall be privileged from civil arrest andcivil process during sessions of theLegislature and for five days before thecommencement and after the termina-tion thereof. They shall not be ques-tioned in any other place for anyspeech in either House."

    FB recommends a yes vote on Pro-posal A because it would eliminatemuch of the immunity from arrest thatlegislators now have. A few legislatorshave used this immunity to avoid ar-rest and prosecution for various law in-fractions.

    Proposal 8 - Minimum State Po.lice Staffing: A proposal to create byconstitution a Michigan Department ofState Police, provide for its personnel,prescribe its duties and require mini-mum staffing.

    The proposed amendment would:-Change the Michigan Department

    of State Police from a departmentcreated by law to a department cre-ated by the constitution.

    - Make director of state police headof the department.

    -Set out powers and duties of thedepartment and its officers.

    - Permit reduction of enlisted per-sonneI.below number employed as ofApril!, 1980, only in the event of andin proportion to a decrease In thestate's population.6

    FB recommends a no vote on Pro-posal B, because it sets a dangerousprecedent and eliminates legislativecontrol over police spending. It ismisleading as it also grants unlimited,unspecified police power to the StatePolice. It would immediately cost tax-payers $4.3 million. It was promotedby the police union as a job guarantee.It is strongly opposed by the presentdirector of the State Police, ColonelHough. Gov. Milliken is "unalterablyopposed."

    Others opposing "B" are: MichiganCommission on Criminal Justice (in-cludes representatives of the SupremeCourt); Michigan Sheriff's Association;Fraternal Order of Police; DeputySheriff's Association; Michigan Associ-ation of Chiefs of Police; MichiganState Chamber of Commerce; StateAFL-CIO; Michigan Association ofCounties; and several newspapereditors throughout the state. Severalother organizations are also expectedto oppose Proposal B.Proposal C - Due-on-Sale Clause:Proposal to prevent a lender from us-ing a "Due-on-Sale" clause to fore-close a mortgage or land contractwhen the property is sold, unlesssecurity is impaired.

    The proposed law would:-Prohibit court foreclosure of mort-

    gage or land contract when based ontransfer of mortgagor's or buyer's in-terest; EXCEPT where transfer isproved to impair security interest.

    - If court foreclosure is based on"Due-on-Sale" clause and lender hasnot proved security impaired, then ex-tend time to redeem property from 6to 48 months.

    -Prohibit without exception fore-closure of mortgage by advertisementwhen based on transfer of mortgagor'sinterest.

    -Apply to existing and future mort-gage and land contracts.

    The FB board did not take a posi-tion on this proposal. It is questionable

    whether it conforms with the U.S.Constitution. The U.S. SupremeCourt has already ruled that federallychartered lending institutions can en-force "Due-on-Sale" mortgage provi-sions. This decision exempts those in-stitutions from anything the state does.State chartered institutions would be ata serious disadvantage and wouldprobably shift to a federal charter or goto federal court to determine constitu-tionality.

    Utility Rate Adjustments: There aretwo proposals on the ballot dealingwith utility rate adjustments. Proposalo was put on the ballot by petition bythe Michigan Citizen's Lobby and At-torney General Kelly. Proposal H wasput on the ballot by a two-thirds voteof the Legislature. These two pro-posals are considered together asfollows:

    Proposal D: Proposal to require hear-ings on all utility rate increases, abolishrate adjustment clauses and establishprocedures in rate hearings.

    The proposed law would:-When rate increase is requested,

    require full and complete hearing onall costs of utility service, including fuelcosts.

    - Abolish existing adjustment clausesthat allow rate changes.

    - Allow only one rate increase hear-ing per utility at the same time, unlesshearings are for different services pro-vided by the utility.

    FB recommends a no vote on Pro-posal D as it would require all ratecases be consolidated into one with notime limit. Most cases presently are 14months with some two years or more.Utilities must borrow high cost moneyto operate while Waiting for a decision.Proposal D would actually createhigher costs and red tape. Michiganutilities already have the lowest bondrating (BBB-) and have been placedon a "credit Watch." This meanshigher costs.

    RURAL LIVING, OCTOBER 1982

  • Gehl Company. West Bend. Wisconsin 53095

    GEHL

    Proposal G - Public Service Com-(continued on page 9)

    FB has no position on Proposal Eas it has very little meaning and onlyprovides for sending "written com-munication" to federal officials.

    CONSIDER GEHrSNEW DElAYEDPAYMENT PROGRAM.

    . ,

    Here's how it works. You make a qualifying tradeor down payment now. And you delay payment onthe balance until April 1, 1983, or as late as June 1,1983. See your participating Gehl Dealer for details .

    Select from the following Gehl forage equipment:o Forage Harvesters 0 Forage Boxes 0 Forage.Blowers 0 Flail Choppers 0 Round Balers 0 BaleHandlers 0 Wheel Rakes 0 Mower Conditioners 0 .Disc Mowers. D

    So stop in at yourparticipating GehlDealer's and put Gehl towork for you.

    • y

    IFYOU SAY YESTO NEW HAY ORFORAGE EQUIPMENT,BUT YOUR BUDGETSAYS MAYBE ... ~o

    ..t'OG"'~eO"e.t'~~\(1~

    oe.O~ ..~

    ".\"e.~... c1,1.

    agreeing to halt the testings, produc-tion' and further deployment of allnuclear weapons, missiles, and deliv-ery system in a way that can be check-ed and verified by both.

    - Transfer of nuclear weapons fundsto civilian use.

    " "Mama's Homemade Jam

    ~

    .. ~1~A~~~~N[.2~~I~~,~N.• '1"." and nu",IM,ed, ...... ZO"

    - - 'ull color, Thlmb'.b.rr, prhl ••• SZO.... SZ.50.po.t I-

    MARCELAINI"o,,:.IN , Alhlla ...

    :~JJ~.:::;~:.~.::~.:.~:.:.:~'I'

    Proposal H: Proposal to prohibit cer-tain adjustment clauses; prohibit rateincreases without prior notice andhearing; and prohibit state legislatorsfrom accepting employment with theutility for 2 years.

    The proposal would:- Prohibit certain adjustment clauses

    and pro'vide that utilities may, uponrequest, recover reasonable and pru-dent cost of fuel, purchased gas orpurchased electricity, only afte'r "fulland complete hearing" on such costs.

    - Permits separate hearing to beheld on any change in cost of fuel orpurchased gas at the same time ashearing on general rate case.

    - Prohibits members of. the presentLegislature from working with anyMichigan utility for two years afterleaving legislative office.

    FB recommends a yes vote on Pro-posal H as it would require a full hear-ing on all rate adjustments includingthe present "pass through" adjust-ments, but it would allow more thanone hearing at a time. AttorneyGeneral Kelly tried to prevent this pro-posal from being on the ballot but wasoveruled by the Court of Appeals .

    Proposal E - Nuclear Freeze: Aproposal expressing the people'sdesire for a mutual nuclear weaponsfreeze with the Soviet Union and re-quiring state officials to convey thatdesire to the President of the UnitedState and other federal officials.

    The proposed law would:- Establish as a "finding and declara-

    tion" the' danger of nuclear war andreduction of that danger by a mutualagreement between the USA andUSSR to establish nuclear freeze.

    -Require House Clerk and Senate. Secretary to send to President and

    other federal officials a communicationurging:

    - The USA propose to USSR a mu-tual nuclear freeze, both countries

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982 7

  • Washington Report

    Feed Grain Proposals OutlinedAFBF President Robert B. Delano

    met with USDA Secretary John Blocklast month to discuss the nation's de-pressed farm economy, the need forimmediate stimulation of agriculturalexports and the necessity of servingnotice on European common markettraders that we will no longer toleratesubsidized dumping.

    With a glutted farmer-held grain re-serve, new bin busting crops this yearand export markets sluggish due toeconomic conditions, Delano alsooutlined AFBF suggestions for the1983 feed grain program. He recom-mended loan levels and target pricesat market clearing levels, implementa-tion of credit measures to stimulatefarm exports and efforts to reduce in-terest rates in line with the alreadydropping inflation rate.

    Recommending that commodityloan rates and target prices for the1983 feed grain crops be held at mini-

    mum levels, Delano urged Block touse his authority to reduce the level ofloans and purchases if the averageprice to producers is not more than105% of the level of loans in a givenmarketing year.

    Farm Bureau also recommends that1983 crops not be accepted in thefarmer-held reserve until the regularnine-month loan period has expiredand that farmers be allowed to extendtheir regular loans for an additional sixmonths in the 1983 program.

    Other points made by Delano werethat the current release price forfarmer-held reserve grains is alreadyabove world prices and should not beraised above the minimum that pre-vailed in 1982, that farmers should beallowed to sell grain from the reservewithout penalty whenever the nationalaverage market price is above $2.90for corn and $4.00 for wheat, thatproducers be required to participate in

    both the 10% acreage reduction pro-gram and a 10% paid diversion pro-gram to be eligible for any farm pro-gram benefits.

    Delano said that diversion paymentsat the rate of $1.50 per bushel on nor-mal yields for diverted acres, with eachproducer receiving half of his diversionpayment and half of his estimated defi-ciency payment at the time of sign-up,would result in a compliance rate of 45to 50 % and an increased acreage re-duction of more than a million acres.

    "That hundred million bushels lessproduction will mean higher marketprices, higher farm income and lowernet cost to the government over the'period covered by the 1983 feedgrains program," he said.

    Farm Bureau recommendations forencouraging exports include addi-tional export credit through funding ofa Commodity Credit Corporation re-volving fund and expanded P.L. 480

    . Your Membership in the MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU Now Makes Available

    Institutional Liquid AssetsDesigned to provide daily money market

    income with Two Portfolios:

    PRIME OBLIGATIONS-10.71 %

    GOVERNMENT-9.59%

    -----------------------o Please send me a prospectus.Name (as it appears on membership records)

    Address

    Membership No. _

    •Seven day annualized net investment income yield, computed by dividing thePortfolio's average daily net investment income per unit for the period endedSept. IS, 1982 by $1.00 and multiplying the result by 365. On that date theaverage portfolio maturities in Prime Obligations was 28 days and in Govern-ment was 30 days. The yields change in response to fluctuations in interestrates on portfolio investment and operating expenses.

    City

    State _ Zip _

    A prospectus containing more complete information includingmanagement fees and expenses, will be sent upon receipt of the at-tached coupon. Send the coupon to Michigan National Bank, TrustDepartment, 77 Monroe Center, P. O. Box 2804, Grand Rapids,Mich. 49501. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest orsend money. For current yield information call tol/ free800-621-2550.

    Mail to:Money Market Fund Programfor Michigan Farm Bureau MembersMichigan National Bank, Trust DepartmentP.O. Box 2804, 77 Monroe CenterGrand Rapids, MI 49501-----------------------

    8

    Investment Advisor, Administrator and Sole Distributor - GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

    . RURAL LIVING, OCTOBER 1982

  • 1982 County Annual DatesCounty Farm Bureaus have begun holding their 1982 annual meetings.

    Members in Bay, Branch, Lenawee, Monroe and Tuscola counties havealready met to elect directors and set policy for the coming year. Remainingannual meetings include:

    sales as well as serving notice on theEuropean Economic Community thatwe will match their export subsidies.

    Delano expressed di~appointmentthat a paid diversion program was notimplemented for 1982 crops, sayingthat the cost of diversion paymentswould have been far less than thecombined cost to the government ofdeficiency payments and carryingcharges on this year's huge crops.

    "Unless grain reserve prices can beheld at market-clearing levels and thetrend toward further build-up re-versed," Delano said, "farm prices willbe even more depressed and massiveforfeiture 6f commodities will plaguethe Commodity Credit Corporationcreating unacceptable drains on the al-ready strained federal treasury."

    November BallotProposals Review(continued from page 7)

    mission: A proposal for an electedPublic Service Commission.

    The proposed amendment would:-Establish a 5 member Public Ser-

    vice Commission to be elected for 4year terms, with no more than 3 termsexpiring at same time.

    - Provide that the Commission per-form the duties currently assigned tothe appointed Public Service Commis-sion.

    - Require nomination of candidatesfor Commission to be by partisanpolitical party convention and electionof candidates to be on non-partisanportion of ballot.

    - Provide that each Commission tobe elected shall appear on the ballot asa separate office.

    FB recommends a no vote on Pro-posal G because it is an effort to getpolitical control of the Public ServiceCommission. Other states that havehad elected commissions are going toappointed systems.

    Lansing Review is prepared by RobertSmith, MFB senior legislative counsel.

    RURAL LIVING, OCTOBER 1982

    CountyAlconaAlleganAlpenaAntrimArenacBarryBenzieBerrienCalhounCassCharlevoixCheboyganChippewaClareClintonCopper

    CountryEatonEmmetGeneseeGladwinGratiotHiawathaland

    HillsdaleHuronInghamIonialoscoIron RangeIsabellaJacksonKalamazooKalkaskaKentLapeerLivingstonMac-LuceMacombManisteeMasonMecostaMenomineeMidlandMissaukeeMontcalmMontmorencyMuskegonNewaygoNW MichiganOaklandOceanaOgemawOsceolaOtsegoOttawaPresque IsleSaginawSt. ClairSt. JosephSanilacShlawasseeVan BurenWashtenawWayneWexford

    DateOct. 18Oct. 28Oct. 14Oct. 13Oct. 22Oct. 14Oct. 11Nov. 3Oct. 5Oct. 14Oct. 6Oct. 19Oct. 4Oct. 15Oct. 12Oct. 16

    Oct. 28Oct. 18Oct. 14Oct. 5Oct. 2Oct. 20

    Oct. 12Sept. 30Oct. 13Oct. 4Oct. 27Oct. 23Oct. 11Oct. 7Oct. 19Oct. 14Oct. 5Oct. 7Oct. 7Oct. 5Oct. 28Oct. 18Oct. 5Oct. 4Oct. 5Oct. 19Oct. 5Oct. 28Oct. 21Oct. 14Oct. 14Oct. 13Oct. 21Oct. 18Oct. 28Oct. 19Oct. 26Oct. 7Oct. 5Oct. 7Sept. 28Oct. 11Oct. 6Oct. 11Oct. 30Oct. 14Oct. 12Oct. 12

    Time7:30 p.m.

    8p.m.6:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.

    7 p.m.6:30 p.m.

    6:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.

    8p.m.8 p.m.7 p.m.7 p.m.8 p.m.

    7 p.m.

    7 p.m.7:30 p.m.

    7 p.m.

    7 p.m.6:30 p.m.

    7 p.m.7 p.m.7 p.m.7 p.m.7 p.m.

    6:30 p.m.

    7 p.m.7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.

    7 p.m.

    7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.

    8 p.m.6:30 p.m.

    7 p.m.7 p.m.

    7:30 p.m.

    7:30 p.m.7 p.m.

    7:30 p.m.8 p.m.

    6:45 p.m.7:30 p.m.

    8 p.m.6 p.m.

    7:30 p.m.

    7:15 p.m.7 p.m.

    6:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.6:45 p.m.

    7 p.m.

    Place

    Mikado Community CenterGriswold Auditorium, AlleganLong Rapids HallMethodist Church Hall, KewadinStandish VFW HallMoose Lodge, HastingsBenzie Central High SchoolBerrien County OfficeB. E. Henry Bldg., MarshallCassopolis High SchoolWhiting Park, Boyne CityWestland Church Hall, CheboyganRudyard High SchoolClare Elementary SchoolSt. Johns High School CafeteriaCounty Fair Bldg., Pelkie

    4-H Bldg., Fairgrounds, Charlotte4-H Bldg., PetoskeyMundy Twp. Hall, RankinIntermediate SchoolVFW Hall, S1. LouisRapid River Congregation

    Parish Hall4-H Bldg., FairgroundsHuron County FB Bldg., Bad AxePS Room, Mason Lanes, MasonRather School, Ionia

    Mansfield Town Hall, SagolaM1. Pleasant Jr. HighPoint East Restaurant, JacksonCounty Center Bldg., KalamazooCarol's HallMeijer's, Grand RapidsN. Branch American Legion HallFairgroundsGarfield Twp. Hall, EngadineRomeo Masonic HallFarr Center, OnekamaScottville BankMorley-Stanwood High SchoolPullman House, MenomineeHomer Twp. Hall, MidlandFalmouth Bank Community RoomMontcalm Middle School, StantonSenior Citizens CenterEI Royal RestaurantFremont Christian SchoolTwin Lakes Gilbert LodgeUnited Methodist Church, ClarkstonHigh School Cafetorium, ShelbyOgemaw Twp. HallReed City United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church, GaylordAllendale Christian SchoolBelnap Twp. HallKnights of Columbus, SaginawCommunity Bldg., Goodells

    Deckerville High SchoolDog & Gun Club, CorunnaFB County Office, Paw PawFairgroundsWayne Community CenterBill Oliver's Caberfae Motor Inn

    9

  • In 1982 Michigan Campaigns

    Agricultural Support Counts

    Candidates for statewide offices drawsupport from AgriPac and farm groups.

    Representatives of eight key agricul-tural associations, meeting at FarmBureau Center in Lansing Sept. 17,unanimously endorsed the campaignsof Michigan State University Board ofTrustee candidates Laura Heuser andGeorge McManus.

    The candidates, both of whom havestrong agricultural backgrounds andare MSU alumni, promised to bring"common sense leadership" to the ac-tions of the MSU Board of Trusteesand to support programs essential tothe "integrity of the university and itscommitments to the needs of the peo-ple of Michigan."

    Significant among those needs, asidentified by the candidates, is a viableand expanding agricultural industry tostabilize the state's economic base.

    "Not only is agriculture the industrythat I love and the one to which I havedevoted my life," Heuser said, "I be-lieve it is the state's number onegrowth industry." Heuser is an activepartner in the operation of Hill TopOrchards in Van Buren County.

    McManus, who served as director ofCooperative Extension in Grand Trav-erse County until his recent retire-ment, told the farm leaders that the re-tention of skilled professionals in all ofthe colleges of the land grant univer-sity is essential.

    "There are many colleges and uni-versities in Michigan," he said, "butonly Michigan State University is con-cerned with serving and expanding ag-riculture. "

    Attending the meeting were repre-sentatives of the Michigan Live StockRURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

    Exchange, the Michigan Grain andAgriDealers Association, the MichiganAnimal Breeders Cooperative, theMichigan Allied Poultry IndustriesAssociation, the Michigan Milk Pro-ducers Association, the Michigan Har-ness Horsemen Association, theMichigan Association of FarmerCooperatives and the Michigan FarmBureau.

    AgriPac Endorses 76 'Friends'AgriPac, MFB's political action arm,

    has also endorsed McManus andHeuser. Other statewide AgriPac en-dorsements are for gubernatorial can-didate Richard Headlee and senatorialcandidate Phillip Ruppe. AgriPac hasidentified 72 other candidates inMichigan's political race as "Friends ofAgriculture. "

    According to Jack Laurie, AgriPacchairperson, support for Headlee con-firms the organization's belief that theRepublican candidate would bring astrong pro-business background andphilosophy to state government.

    "A strong business orientation isessential if Michigan's economy is torecover," Laurie said. "Recovery forMichigan in turn strengthens marketsfor agricultural products."

    Strong local support from countyFarm Bureau evaluation committees,which recommended that AgriPac en-dorse Ruppe, was based on the formercongressman's voting record on agri-cultural issues during his 12 years asU.S. representative. County leaders,Laurie said, recognized Ruppe as a

    candidate who understands what gov-ernment involvement in agriculture,such as embargoes, can do to destroymarkets, how government spendingpolicies affect interest rates and howproliferation of government regula-tions can restrict efficient food produc-tion.

    AgriPac endorsements in Michigan'slegislative races include:

    State Representative Districts3rd Matthew McNeely (D)18th Sidney Ouwinga (R)19th Don VanSingel (R)21st Roy Raker (R)23rd Phil Hoffman (R)25th Dennis Dutko (D)41st Michael Nye (R)43rd Carl Gnodtke (R)44th Lad Stacey (R)45th Mick Middaugh (R)46th Phillip Davis (R)47th Paul Wartner (R)48th Donald Gilmer (R)49th Richard Fitzpatrick (D)50th Mary Keith Ballantine (R)51st Fred Dillingham (R)54th Paul Hillegonds (R)56th Ernest Nash (R)58th Paula Johnson (R)59th Paul Sterns (R)615t Claude Trim (D)68th Shirley Johnson (R)72nd Robert Perakis (R)78th Keith Muxlow (R)83rd Charles Mueller (R)84th John Strand (R)86th Lewis Dodak (D)88th Robert Bender (R)89th Gary Randall (R)

    11

  • Judicial Candidates Respondto AgriPac Questionnaire

    'Friends'ElectionCampaignsBoosted bySupport fromMFBAgriPac

    95th James Dressel (H)96th Mickey Knight (H)97th Edgar Geerlings (H)98th Ed Giese (H)100th Michael Busch (H)102nd Michael Hayes (H)103rd Halph Ostling (H)105th Tom Alley (D)106th John Pridnia (H)107th Bob Davis Jr. (H)109th Jack Gingrass (D)110th Donald Koivisto (D)

    U.S. Representative District2nd Carl Pursell (H)4th Mark Siljander (H)5th Harold Sawyer (R)6th Jim Dunn (H)9th Guy Vander Jagt (H)11 th Bob Davis (H)16th John Dingell (D)18th William Broomfield (H)

    State Senate Districts4th David Holmes Jr. (D)6th Hobert Geake (H)7th James DeSana (D)8th Donald Bishop (H)9th Kirby Holmes (H)12th William Faust (D)13th Hobert Welborn (H)18th Hoy Smith (H)19th Nick Smith (H)20th Harry DeMaso (H)21st Harmon Cropsey (H)22nd Harry Gast (H)24th William Sederburg (H)26th Gilbert DiNello (D)28th Dan DeGrow (H)29th Gary Corbin (D)31st Hichard Posthumus (H)32nd Paul Henry (R)33rd Phil Arthurhultz (R)34th James Barcia (D)35th John Engler (H)36th Connie Binsfeld (R)37th Mitch Irwin (D)

    12

    No endorsements for the election ofMichigan Supreme Court justices weremade by AgriPac; however, the poli-tical action committee did receive re-sponses to a questionnaire from threeof the four Supreme Court candidates.

    Responses to a question regardingrural crime prevention and a briefstatement of judicial philosophy fol-low:

    Rural crime is increasing rapidly.What role, if any, do you believethe Supreme Court can performto reduce rural crime?

    Ross Campbell: Simplify the trialprocess and permit the introduction ofevidence even if secured somewhat ir-regularly so that just convictions canbe had swiftly and surely and youngpeople learn to respect the rights ofothers. Unfortunately, young peoplehave been taught to equate "justice"with, escaping conviction by a techni-cality such as some irregularity in asearch or seizure.

    (Campbelf began his law career with12 years in priuate practice. He thenserued two years as a Probate Courtjudge and is now completing 13 yearsas a Circuit Court judge.)

    Blair Moody Jr.: Swift and certainpunishment must be fostered by thecourt to combat crime, whether it isrural or urban. The Supreme Courtshould balance the rights of the victimwith the rights of the defendant andavoid reversing cases due to harmlesserror. I have written a number of dis-sents to this end. In addition, the culti-vation of strong family ties within thecommunity is essential to a societywhich should not tolerate unpunishedcriminal acts. ] have always endeav-ored to emphasize such familial bonds.

    (Moody practiced law for 13 yearsbefore serving as a Circuit Court judgefor 11 years. In 1976 he was elected tothe Michigan Supreme Court to fill avacancy.)

    Dorothy Comstock Riley: Efforts toimprove our criminal justice system as

    a whole will impact on rural crime justas quickly and as effectively as it willon urban crime. This problem is clearlyof paramount concern to our citizensand, as such, merits serious efforts tomake meaningful changes - changesthat will assure expeditious processingof individuals accused of crime andmake known certainty of punishment.

    (Riley practiced law for 10 yearsbefore seruing as attorney for theWayne County Friend of the Court for12 years. She was a Circuit Courtjudge for four years and currently is ajudge of the State Court of Appeals.)

    How would you best summarizeyour judicial philosophy?Campbell: I believe in the prudent ex-ercise of judicial self-restraint and theapplication of common sense in inter-preting and applying the law. Many ofour judicial and social problems havebeen caused or aggravated by the un-fortunate tendency of certain judges tosee themselves as super-legislators. Ibelieve judges should adjudicate, notlegislate.

    Moody: The role of a Supreme Courtjustice is to faithfully and impartialIyperform the duties of the office. Ajustice is sworn to uphold the Consti-tution of the United States as well asthe Michigan Constitution, to interpretlaws passed by the Legislature and toevolve the common-law. The com-mon-law of this state should react tothe changing times and to societalneeds. My judicial philosophy hasbeen expressed by my fellow jurists'reference to me as a "centerist."

    Riley: I believe that the law is the gluethat holds our way of life together. Thejudiciary cannot solve all the problemsof an imperfect society but it can dealwith the disputes brought before it withpatience, objectivity and with dis-patch, all in keeping with the dulyenacted federal and state laws. Thejustices of our Supreme Court mustmake a commitment to judicial integri-ty and excellence. Our state deservesno less.

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

  • Land and Energy

    A Fragile Balance

    Some Michigan landowners whohave leased mineral rights to petrole-um companies in recent years mightbe surprised if a coal company repre-sentative knocks on the door one day.

    "Many of the oil and gas leases sign-ed in the last few years included termsfor 'other minerals,' which may in-clude coal," said Ron Gaskill, local af-fairs specialist for Michigan FarmBureau. "In most cases, the leasee canre-sell the coal mining rights to a stripmining company."

    The renewed interest in coal miningin Michigan is based on both economicand geographic reasons. "The currentwholesale price of coal and the loca-tion of Michigan in relation to the in-dustrial Midwest are important factorsRURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

    in the revitalization of the coal miningindustry," Gaskill said.

    The last coal mine in Michigan, lo-cated near Williamston in InghamCounty, was closed in 1975. A stripmining company is currently consider-ing reopening the mine. There havebeen coal mines in the state since the1860s, mostly shaft mines located inSaginaw, Genesee, Ingham and Clin-ton counties.

    "Advanced technology has made iteconomically feasible to move up to40 feet of top soil and overburden(material covering coal) to mine a one-foot vein of coal," Gaskill said.

    Recent geological reports estimateMichigan's coal reserves at 225 to 500million tons, located in a 12,500

    square mile area that includes 31counties. The coal would be suitablefor fuel in power generation plants.

    Reclamation Law Needed"There will be coal strip mining in

    Michigan in the next two to five yearsor even sooner," said Ron Nelson,MFB legislative counsel who has beenmonitoring proposed legislation to reg-ulate the industry. "What people haveto realize is that you cannot farmaround a coal mine like you can a gasor oil well.

    "Agricultural land is a fragile re-source. We must be sure productioncan be restored after the coal ismined," Nelson said. "Agriculturalland and coal are somewhat similar:

    13

  • once they are gone they are gone. Wemust get our priorities correct whenextracting coal."

    Although land reclamation is possi-ble after coal mining ceases, it is ex-pensive and must be regulated, Nel-son said. "Mandates and incentiveswill be necessary for companies tosatisfactorily restore the land."

    Senate Bill 819, introduced by Sen.William Faust this spring, precribes thecoal strip mining procedures that couldand could not be used in Michigan andfurther prescribes methods for landreclamation.

    The bill passed the Senate prior tothe summer recess and was on theHouse floor as Rural Living went topress. The bill is expected to pass.

    Action by the MFB board's Legisla-tive Committee allowed MFB staff toargue for numerous amendments tothe bill which would provide additionalprotection for agricultural land.

    "Without such legislation in Michi-gan," Nelson said, "coal strip miningcompanies would be subject to federalregulations which might not be strin-gent enough to protect farmland."

    Leaders Research MiningMichigan Farm Bureau does not

    have a policy on coal strip mining. butthe MFB Natural and EnvironmentalResources Advisory Committee is re-searching the subject and will makerecommendations to the state PolicyDevelopment Committee in late Octo-ber. The Policy Development Com-mittee will review the recommenda-tions along with resolutions submittedby county Farm Bureaus, consult ex-perts and prepare a proposed resolu-tion to be presented to votingdelegates at the 1982 MFB annualmeeting, Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

    To help them better understand theeffect of strip mining on agriculturalland, advisory committee chairpersonMike Pridgeon of Branch County,other committee members, Farm Bu-reau leaders from potential strip min-Ing areas and MFB staff visited coalmines near Brazil. Ind .. this summer.14

    The group toured active strip miningoperations and saw land that is in thereclamation process. They also viewedland that was strip mined several yearsago.

    "Coal mining companies must notbe allowed to strip mine the way theydid in the 1940s and 50s with suchdevastation to the land, especially ag-ricultural land," Pridgeon said. "It isimportant that agricultural land beproperly safeguarded under state leg-islation and that Michigan Farm Bu-reau have input in its development."

    Land reclamation results from re-search plots in Illinois were explainedto the group by Dr. Ivan Jansen, asso-ciate professor of pedology at the Uni-versity of Illinois. He said that it ispossible for agricultural lands to be re-claimed for agricultural productionafter coal strip mining has taken place,but stressed the importance of evaluat-ing each site individually for crop pro-duction and reclamation potential.

    Depending on the structure of thesoil at an individual site. Jansen said,farmland can be improved or deteri-orated by land reclamation proce-dures.

    Jansen also listed problems thatcould develop because of land recla-mation. These include a higher possi-

    .."

    bility of crop stress, differential settlingof land and surface leaching of acidmaterial that prohibits the growth ofany plant life for extended periods oftime.

    Mining Effects MoreThan Just land

    Surprise visits from coal strip miningcompany representatives and reclaim-ing agricultural land following stripmining is not all that concerns FarmBureau leaders. The potential abuse toMichigan's road system - primarilylocal roads - as heavy equipment con-tinuously moves over them, will subse- ..quently increase costs to local govern-ments for road maintenance. Thequestion of who should bear repaircosts still needs to be addressed.

    Another major concern is the effectcoal strip mining will have on Michi-gan's generally high water table. Stripmining can disrupt and contaminateground water. surface water and un-derground aquifers.

    Members interested in this issueshould attend their county annualmeetings or send their comments tothe MFB Policy Development Com-mittee in care of the Michigan FarmBureau. Public Affairs Division, P.O.Box 30960. Lansing. Mich. 48909.

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

  • Front and CenterBacking "Friends of Agriculture" endorsements with FB member support at the

    November election is the goal of a statewide campaign to "Get Out the Farm Bureau Vote." Thepolitical action campaign will be coordinated by an appointed county FB election director. Theelection director will organize county FB volunteers in the Women's Committee, Young FarmerCommittee, Community Action Groups and Local, State and National Affairs Committee tohelp get out the vote. Volunteers will use telephone and personal contact to encourage voterregistration prior to the Oct. 4 deadline and to urge all county FB members to support "Friendsof Agriculture" in the Nov. 2 general election.

    1982 county annual meetings are underway throughout the state and will conclude onNov. 3. The county annual is the first step in the adoption of policies which will guide the entireFB organization at the county, state and national levels, and have an impact on action in yourcourthouse, the state capitol and in Congress. Plan to attend your county annual meeting.Remember, in Farm Bureau, YOU make it happen! A listing of county annual meeting dates ap-pears on page 9 of this issue.

    The AFBF board has proposed a national policy of "freeze and fix" to get uncon-trolled federal spending back in line and to break the disasterous spend and tax cycle that is stifl-ing the economy. The proposal, adopted at the Sept. 2 meeting, would:

    -Freeze for three years all government-paid cost of living adjustments (COLA) at 1982levels. Included would be increases in Social Security payments, increases in government pen-sions, both civil and military, scheduled pay raises in all sectors of the federal government, in-cluding all farm price and income support programs.

    -Require Congress to fix, Le. remedy or change, the laws that provide for increased govern-ment entitlement program outlays. The proposal noted that entitlement payments now make up46.5% of the federal budget, and comprise over 10% of our entire gross national product.

    Farmers of the Week _The Farmer of the Week program,

    co-sponsored by Farm Bureau Insur-ance Group and the Michigan FarmRadio Network, honors Michigan farm-ers for their contributions to the com-munity and the agriculture industry.August 1982 recipients were:

    Aug. 2 - Jacob Daenzer, 41, oper-ates a 210-acre dairy farm and milks56 cows near Frankenmuth. He serveson the board of trustees of S1. LorenzLutheran Church, served two years aslocal DHIA president, is a SaginawCounty FB member and served fouryears as an MMPA state delegate.

    Aug. 9 - Joe Servia, a dairy farmerfrom Norway, farms 540 acres andraises 125 cattle. Servia, 59, is in his30th year as a Dickinson County FairBoard member. He is a member of theAlfalfaland Animal Breeders Coopera-tive board, the local ASCS committee,RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

    St. Mary's Church, Iron Range FB andMMPA. He was named DickinsonCounty's Farmer of the Year in 1978.

    Aug. 16 - Lester Langeland, 54, isa dairy, poultry and grain farmer fromCoopersville. He farms 1,600 acreswith the help of his family, milks 120cows and raises 115,000 chickens. Heis an elder of the Lamont Christian Re-formed Church, has been local Chris-tian School Board president for fiveyears and is a Sunday School teacherand superintendent. He served threeyears on the Young Calvinist BoardInternational. is on the townshipASCS committee, is an Ottawa Coun-ty FB member and chaired numerousFB committees.

    Aug. 23 - Henry Wolf, 59, oper-ates a 400-acre dairy farm and milks150 cows in the Cheboygan area. He

    serves as a 4- H dairy group leader,Cheboygan Farmers Co-op boardmember, Cheboygan Countv FBmember and is past president of theBlack Mt. Community Group. He hasearned two awards from the Soil Con-servation District for his conservationpractices. Wolf started farming withfive cows and built his farm from thatoriginal herd.

    Aug. 30 - Frederick Reichow, 31,operates a l,OOO-acre cattle farm nearAlbion. Reichow, who markets 1,500head of steer, serves as CalhounCounty FB vice president, is pastYoung Farmer chairperson, a Con-cord United Methodist Church mem-ber, Michigan Agricultural LeadershipProgram member and member andpast president of the ProgressiveFarmers, a local group devoted to in-creasing agricultural knowledge.

    15

  • I~J '"~ aRm~1• BUreau County NewsletterThe county Farm Bureau newsletter is published monthly by the Michigan Farm Bureau. P.O. Box 30960. Lansing. Mich. 48909.Subscription price to members. $1.25 per year. included in the annual membership dues.

    Each Year Brings a Brighter Memory of UP Fair

    and fairgrounds maintenance and im-provements. In addition, every at-tempt is made to utilize the fairgroundson a year-round basis.

    It's the practical, every day decisionsand hard work of the fair board, com-munity associations and volunteersthat build better memories each yearfor fairgoers.

    .~,r SAT ., .......I

    HORSE PULL ''"''STICK CAR RAClIlG e

    question was "Will I still be superinten-dent of the dairy barn?

    Dedicated service from individualslike Hugo Kivi and fair manager DickOstrander make the U.P. State Fair anoutstanding annual event.

    Among the special highlights ateach year's fair is the permanentdisplay developed by the U. P. Steamand Gas Engine Association. In therustic buildings which house the ex-hibit, fairgoers "take a step back intime." The association has accumu-lated an interesting and educationalcollection of old farm equipment andantique tractors. The display alsofeatures an operating sawmill andseveral small motor and engine dis-plays.

    Stock car events are also a popularattraction during fair time.

    Cooperative efforts between the UPFair Association, the UP Steam andGas Engine Association and the StockCar Racing Association help to pro-vide revenues for the fair operation

    By Barbara Cotey, EditorHiawatha/and FB Newsletter

    Upper Peninsula fairgoers are proudof the 55-year history of their UP StateFair and the annual event continues toattract thousands of visitors to thefairgrounds at Escanaba. They attendto walk the brightly lit midway and tosupport the 4-H youth who proudlyexhibit their crafts, produce andlivestock. During this year's fair week,Aug. 17-22, the fair hosted 57,043visitors.

    Few Farm Bureau members wouldmiss the chance to visit the dairy barn,where Hugo Kivi greeted long timefriends from throughout the UpperPeninsula. Kivi has been superinten-dent of the dairy division for manyyears; he enjoys working with the ex-hibitors as he did with the members ofthe Michigan Farm Bureau as regionalrepresentative for the Upper Peninsulacounties for so many years.

    When Kivi was offered the appoint-ment to the UP State Fair Board ofManagers by Gov. Milliken, his first

    Get Out theFarm Bureau VoteRegister to vote by Oct. 41Support MFB AgriPac's"Friends of Agriculture"

    on Tuesday, Nov. 2

    *ELECT *ELECT *ELECT*VOTE AGRICULTURE

    McManus/Heuserfor Michigan StateBoard of Trustees

    Hugo KivI, retired UP regional representative, has served as superintendent of the dairybarn for many years and was appointed by Gov. Milliken to the UP State Fair Board ofManagers. His service to the fair put him in contact with his many Farm Bureau friends.

    16

  • COOPERATIVESBUILDING A BETTER AMERICA

    Farm Bureau Services, Inc.A Cooperative Serving Farmers

    center at Carrollton and a number oflocal elevators under managementcontracts, it provides service to anestimated 65,000 farmers.

    FBS is an extensive company,handling innumerable items and per-forming a vast number of servicesmainly for farmer patrons, althoughmany urban and suburban customersare also served.

    Its existence is an important factor inMichigan for stabilizing farm supplyprices and maintaining quality suppliesfor farmers.

    During the month of October, takethe time to learn more about your farmcooperatives.

    A Job for EverybodyThis is a story about four people

    named Everybody, Somebody, Any-body and Nobody.

    There is an important job to be doneand Everybody was asked to do it.Everybody was sure that Somebodywould do it. Anybody could havedone it, but Nobody did it. Somebodygot angry about that, because it wasEverybody's job. Everybody thoughtthat Anybody could do it, and Nobodyrealized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

    It ended up that Everybody blamedSomebody when actually Nobodyblamed Anybody.

    Does this sound familiar to any-body?

    President Urges: Say Yes toLeadership Opportunities

    ~ ...",{t.. / ~t~ Q~'• ~-cf. . :~.t

    ,-,)... .... I •• L ........:?-l r,J ' - "

    From the St. Clair CountyFarm Bureau Newsletter

    Farm Bureau Services, Inc., organ-ized in 1929, is a federated coopera-tive organization owned by MichiganFarm Bureau and 92 affiliated farmers'cooperative associations and 8,453farmers. Michigan Elevator Exchange,organized as a separate cooperative bythe local co-op elevators on July 20,1921, became a division of FarmBureau Services in November 1962.

    A dealer organization of over 115points, including its own 21 branchstores throughout Michigan, a whole-sale warehouse in Jenison, a supply

    By Daryl K. Peterson, PresidentMason County Farm Bureau

    One of the objectives of our countyFarm Bureau is to surface leadership.This is how it's done.

    The county committees, includingYoung Farmers, Policy Development,Women, Commodity, Land Use,Nominating and more, need partici-pants and a chairperson. These com-mittees provide an excellent oppor-tunity for leadership.

    Another opportunity to developleadership lies with the board of direc-tors. The board directs activities of thecounty Farm Bureau. Since directorsserve for two-year terms and can onlybe relected once, ample opportunitiesare available for trying and testingleadership abilities.

    "County Farm Bureau President"sounds impressive to some, demand-ing to a few, and scary to others. Butbeing president is none of these. It isan opportunity. A chance to testabilities and surface leadership.

    All leadership positions can be view-ed in this way, as opportunities. Ourcounty Farm Bureau does offer lead-ership development. The next time achance appears, take it. Say, "Yes, Ican do that."

    October IsCo-op Month

    Essay Contest BeingHeld in State Schools

    Students from schools in everycounty are among the 10,000 Michi-gan eighth grade students participatingin the 1982-83 America & Me EssayContest, sponsored by Farm BureauInsurance Group.

    "This year's contest is being heldOct. 18 to Nov. 12," explained RobertWiseman, executive vice president ofFarm Bureau Insurance Group.

    "We're asking students to write onthe topic 'Why I Am Important toAmerica's Future.' In the 14 years thatFBIG has been sponsoring the essaycontest, we have discovered thatMichigan young people believe thatliving in America is still one of thegreatest privileges the world canoffer. "

    Open to any eighth grade student inMichigan, the contest was started in1968 to encourage young people toexplore their roles in America's future.Prizes for this year's winners will in-clude hundreds of award certificatesand plaques for local school winners,and $4,000 in savings bonds for thetop 10 statewide winners.

    The top 10 winners will also gatherin Lansing next April to meet Michi-gan's top governmental leaders. Con-ducted with the help of FBIG agentsthroughout the state, the America &Me Essay Contest has earned 10 na-tional awards from the FreedomsFoundation at Valley Forge.

    Each year, hundreds of excerptsfrom the essays are compiled intobooklet form and distributed toschools, the public and visitors at thestate capitol in Lansing. To requestcopies of the most recent booklet or tolearn more about the contest, contactyour local FBIG agent.

    17

  • SUPPORT AGRIPAC"Friends of Agriculture"Help keep Farm Bureau politically and legisJatlVely effective Makesure your industry - AGRICULTURE - Is represented. Become In-volved In the election of "Friends of Agriculture" by con-tributing $10 or any other amount to AgriPac when payingyour Farm Bureau dues.

    ,

  • LEADING PROUD

    RUTH ANN FOWLhR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    State Leader Con-ference partici-pants grew in pride for themselves, their industry and their farm organi-zation

    Work. . .share. . .laugh. . .learn. It's a hard to beat formula for success and it worked especially well when over 160 county Farm Bureau leaders met for the annual State Leader Con-ference, Sept. 29 and 30 at the Grand Rapids Marriott Inn. The conference is sponsored each year by the Michigan Farm Bureau Women's Committee to introduce men and women to new leadership opportunities in Farm Bu-reau and to build personal and leader-ship skills.

    At this year's conference, eight in-formation-packed workshops showed conferees how to manage stress, com-municate effectively, build and strengthen committees, identify op-portunities in Farm Bureau, manage time through goal setting and prioritiz-ing, conduct effective citizen and or-ganizational lobbying efforts, gain farm marketing skills and appreciate their own strengths and individuality.

    Be in the Center Ring

    Likening leadership roles to the cen-ter ring in the circus, motivational speaker Ruth Ann Fowler told the conferees to seek the most coveted honor of all, the role of a leader.

    "To be in the center ring" she told them, "means taking risks. Everyone is watching for you to make mistakes, waiting for you to go wrong, checking to see if you can truly hold up under the strains of great competition.

    "In the center ring, you must be the best . . . the one who draws the crowd and leaves them to go home happy."

    The public observes the traits of leaders, often comparing them to the characteristics of animals. Phrases such as "stubborn as a mule," or "wise an an owl," are clues to the skills and qualifications we see in those we work with or in ourselves.

    "It is important that people builders

    are not noisy, poor climbers, nor sim-ply playful tummy warmers as are house dogs who will accept all hand-outs offered to them by anyone," she said. "The champion leader needs to be active all year; be a great hunter, be clever, sociable, intelligent, mild-man-nered and persistent. The champion performer should also have a great self-image, have courage, be loyal and be tireless."

    Fowler, whose personal list of ac-complishments includes roles as wife, mother, home economist, administra-tor, columnist, teacher, neighbor and friend, was a popular speaker at the 1981 Michigan Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Kick-off Breakfast. She lives in Tampa, Florida, where she is em-ployed by the Florida Cooperative Ex-tension Service.

    Be Proud Sharing pride in agriculture in diffi-

    cult economic times is easier when farm families and the agriculture in-dustry pull together, American Farm Bureau Consumer Affairs Director Sue Palmore told those attending the conference.

    "Now is the time to let our pride in agriculture show. As business people, we are tightening our belts along with everyone else," she said. "But we must also remember that agriculture is in a strong position. Demand for our products continues to be tremendous. Consumers still need and want the food and fiber products we produce.

    "Take pride, too, in the fact that farm men and women can be equal partners in the farming business. Farm families must pitch in to work the fami-ly farm, and every member of your family, through the work they do, earns the right to take pride in what the farm family can accomplish to-gether."

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982 19

  • TheCooperativeKey isService

    The Caledonia cooperative's retail store serves both fann and non-farm customers withhardware, automotive and farm supplies.

    By Connie TurbinRecognition of cooperatives during

    October of each year sets aside a spe-cial time to bring attention to a specialkind of business - the cooperative en-terprise. For local cooperatives, keep-ing that spirit of cooperative "evan-gelism is a year-round challenge.

    Bob Newman, manager of the Cale-donia Farmers Elevator in Kent Coun-ty, has got that spirit and he's buildingand leading his employees in offeringa cooperative business for the farmerpatrons and shareholders that identi-fies and provides services they need toincrease their farm profits.

    Cooperatives, Newman says, relyon the loyalty of those farmers andcustomers who have made an invest-ment in the t'ooperative through thepurchase of their stock shares, but headds, "the cooperative cannot be re-moved from the competitive aspects ofdoing business and helping the farmerincrease his profits.

    "Probably the most valuable thing~~~that~we do to keep our cooperative- 'Spitft':slrong In this area is to get people

    interested in the kinds of services wehave."

    For example, three years ago thecooperative hired a young, aggressivespecialist in agronomy, who has beeninstrumental in developing a compre-

    20

    hensive soil testing and analysis pro-gram for the farmers in the area.

    Bud Smith, a graduate of MichiganState University with experience at amajor farm chemical firm, came toCaledonia Farmers Elevator with anidea for a program to do complete soiltesting, and to offer farmers speCificrecommendations for fertilizers andchemicals to increase their crop yieldsand their profits.

    Use of infrared aerial photographyplays an important role in the overallprogram of analysis and recommenda-tions because of the crop or field pat-terns which become more readily ap-parent in the photographs, Smithsays.

    "Our objective is to get all of a farm-er's fields balanced and increase fertili-ty of the soil to give good yielding pro-duction," he said. "We do that by cor-recting the pH, supplementing lowlevels of potash, phosphorous or otherchemicals in specific applications foreach field."

    In an infrared photograph, healthycrop areas appear a deep red color;the more consistent the red "growth"area, the better the stand. Patternsidentified in the photograph can alsohelp to show problems that may be re-lated to improper equipment opera-tion, the irrigation rate or fertilizer ap-plication.

    "Really, the program helps thefarmer to manage his time and hiscrop much better. Even the most care-ful farmer can recognize that he has aproblem, but not be able to pinpointwhat is causing it. Through this pro-gram and using the infrared photogra-phy, we can help identify the cause ofthe problems.

    "We can save the farmer money,too, by making recommendations forthe application or blend of chemicalsat the proper level. For example, toapply potash to a field where there isno deficiency is wasting the farmer'schemical dollar. Probably the biggestmistake most farmers make is to applythe same fertilizer or chemicals to all oftheir fields."

    Since the program has been under-way, Smith has worked with over 300farmers in the area, helping them witha specific problem or working closelywith the producer to develop a year toyear program for increasing yields toan identified production goal.

    "Someone who is satisfied with 80or 90 bushel corn yield doesn't needme," Smith says, "but if a guy wants tobreak the 100 bushel or 120 bushelbarrier in corn yield, then I can help.We'll set up a program based on fine-tuning and balancing the nutrientsavailable to the plants ... putting onthe right amount of each chemical."

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

  • The farmers' success is the most importantthing to him and to us. Bob Newman, Manager

    Caledonia Farmers Elevator

    Results from the cooperative's comhybrid test plots provide Important per-formance Information. Local testing Isdone by Frank Langely, the coopera-tive's sales representative.

    In the cooperative's blending plant,bins of standard fertilizer blends alongwith bins of magnesium, potash, po-tassium and other agricultural chemi-cals ,are mixed to the specificationsworked out by Smith and the farmproducer.

    "What we are offering here," saysNewman, "is a program of comple-mentary services. That's what givesour patrons the cooperative spirit;that's why they support us. We recog-nize that their success and profits infarming are the most important thingto them and to us. We are here to givethem the services they need."

    "We find out really fast what servicesfarmers count as important," saysFrank Langely, sales representative forthe cooperative. Information from testplots of hybrid corn are among the ser-vices that Langely oversees. "We wereconsidering not having test plots forthe corn varieties this spring and wefound out right away how much thatlocal test information means to farmersin this area."

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

    While farmers have informationavailable from seed companies report-ing the performance of seed varieties,Langely says they feet more confidentin their selection when they have localdata on hybrids grown in soil condi-tions and weather conditions in KentCounty. Test plots are not a new ser-vice of the Caledonia Farmers Eleva-tor and, if the response from farmersthis spring is a measure of the demandfor this information, Langely is goingto be checking and reporting on seedvarieties for another 15 years.

    In the retail store, operated by DeanHolzhausen, keeping an adequate in-ventory is always a balancing act. "Wewant to have on hand what our custo-mers will need - when they need it, orat least we want to be able to get it forthem quickly," he says.

    Offering a new product line or anew supply service is considered verycarefully and customer service is al-ways a top priority.

    "For example, we recently installed'a refrigeration unit for vete~inary medi-cines. In many cases, antibiotics orother medications can be administeredby the farmer," Holzhausen says."Having these medications availableand properly stored saves the farmertime and money."

    The retail store also serves manycustomers in the community withhardware, some automotive productsand work clothing.

    "We pay careful attention to servicefrom our suppliers," he says. "If wecan't get good service from a companyor work with a company that will backup their products, we can't serve ourcustomers as well. When a productdoesn't perform, I'm ready to standbehind it. I expect the same thing frommy suppliers.

    "I have found that rural people ex-pect quality and service from theirlocal cooperative. Our goal is to pro-vide that," he said.

    Other services of the cooperative in-clude certified seed cleaning and distri-bution, primarily in West Michigan,

    supervised by Don Steeby; grain stor-age and marketing; and a lumber de-partment specializing in farm buildingand supply needs.

    "There's always someone who willoffer a cheaper price on this product orthat, but if we can put our productsand services together in a way that willshow the farmer he will increase hisnet profit, then we have got his busi-ness," Newman says.

    Cooperatives are a special way ofdoing business and they need specialpeople like Bob Newman and his em-ployees at Caledonia Farmers Elevatorwho have a belief in working togetherand serving the farm community. InCaledonia, and wherever farmers arewilling to work with and trade withtheir cooperatives, the cooperativesystem will continue to work profit-'ably.

    Agronomy services Include soli sam-pling and analysis, fertilizer and chemi-cal recommendations. Bud Smith Is thecooperative's full-time agronomist.

    21

  • A POBLICTROST

    Laura Heuser: A Cum Laude graa.ate of Michigan State University in horticulture, Heuser has continued to makecontributions of service to MSU and ag-riculture. She is a recipient of theOutstanding Alumnus Award from theSchool of Agriculture and NaturalScience; is a founding member of theWomen for the Survival of Agriculture inMichigan; served as a committee chair-person and is a member of the Gover-nor's Conference on Agriculture Steer-ing Committee. Heuser is an active part-ner in the family owned and operatedbusiness, Hilltop Orchards and Nur-series in Van Buren County. She is a na-tionally known speaker on subjectsrelated to agriculture, citizen involve-ment in government and the privateenterprise system.

    George McManus: Agriculture andMichigan State University have beenGeorge McManus' life work. He did un-dergraduate and graduate study at MSUand served 25112 years in the Coopera-tive Extension Service. He was honoredwith the Distinguished Faculty Award bythe university. McManus ia also theowner/operator of a 500-acre family fruitfarm in Grand Traverse County. In hiscommunity he has been active as amember and director of the MichiganNational Bank of Grand Traverse, North.western Michigan College Board ofTrustees, Traverse City Chamber ofCommerce and the Grand Traverse AreaCatholic Board of Education.

    Candidates for Michigan State UniversityBoard of Trustees

    Endorsed By: Michigan Live Stock Exchange, Michigan Grain and Agri-Dealers Association, Michigan Animal Breeders Coop-erative, Michigan Allied Poultry Industries As~ociation, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Michigan Harness HorsemenAssociation, Michigan Association of Farmer Cooperatives and the Michigan Farm Bureau.

  • Heuser and McManus will offer dedicated service to theentire univer.sity community at Michigan State~ Throughtheir leadership they will change the image of MichiganState University among decision makers. They will offercommon sense, integrity and solid business judgmentthat will retain faculty professionals and bring muchneeded funding to the university.

    Endorse agriculturalrepresentation on theMS(J Board of Trusteeswith your VOTE.

    Vote for AgricultureVote McManus/Heuser

    on November 2

    This Is II c:ommunlC:lltion by Mlc:hlglln Flinn Burellu to Its Membership.

  • By Marda Dltchle

    From Michigan's orchards, fields,vineyards and pasturelands come thefarm fresh basics for good health andfavorite family recipes. These "goodthings growing in Michigan" productsare also the "guests of honor" atnumerous celebrations across thestate.

    Maple syrup, mushrooms, aspara-gus, strawberries, cherries, sauerkraut,pickles, corn, blueberries, peaches,grapes, potatoes, apples, cheese,pumpkins and other commodities arehonored throughout the state as manycommunities salute Michigan's abun-dant agricultural industry with festivalsbeginning in April and runningthrough October.

    Among the festivals in Septemberwere the Posen Potato Festival, theFarm City Week Festival in MacombCounty and the Harvest Festival at theLansing City Market.

    Festival Salutes PotatoesBegun in 1952, the 31st annual

    Posen Potato Festival in Presque IsleCounty was a salute not only to the

    24

    potato industry, but also to the town'sPolish heritage.

    It has become an annual eventwhich draws people from across thestate, and this year the Posen com-munity welcomed a busload of visitorsfrom a parish in Pennsylvania. An esti-mated 25,000 people attended thethree-day festival held in the northernMichigan community in mid-Septem-ber.Merchants, Farmers Enjoy Harvest

    In Macomb County, the 25th an-nual Farm City Week Festival was heldSept. 10-18 in the Mt. Clemens area.The annual event has grown over thepast 25 years from a small gathering offarmers and Mt. Clemens merchantsto a large festival with an estimated100, 000 people attending this year.

    Among those organizing the firstfestival in 1957 were Farm Bureaumember and former county presidentJoa Penzien, who raises potatoes on275 acres, Jack Prescott of the Ma-comb County Cooperative ExtensionService and Mt. Clemens businesses.Through the years, the Macomb FarmBureau, the county Extension serviceand the Mt. Clemens Chamber of

    Commerce have continued to cooper-ate in making the festival a success.

    A highlight of this year's festival wasa tour of the Penzien potato farm,which has been in the family since1911.

    New Festival In CapitalA new event this year was the Mich-

    igan Harvest Festival held Sept. 24-25at the Lansing City Market. It wasdesigned to promote and increaseawareness of Michigan farm productsin the state's capital city.

    The Michigan Bean Commission,American Dairy Association of Michi-gan, Michigan Allied Poultry Industry,Michigan Beef Commission, MichiganPlum Committee, Michigan Aspara-gus Advisory Board, Michigan PorkProducers, National Red Tart CherryInstitute, Michigan Apple Committee,Michigan Department of Agricultureand Michigan Farm Bureau handedout free food samples, recipes andnutrition material.

    Attend October FestivalsOrganizers hope to make the festival

    an annual event and take it to othercity markets around the state.

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

  • WOLVERINE-BADGER STRUCTURES, INC.

    Food and fun are bountifulat Michigan fall festivals

    FALL SPECIALSThis fall, store your grain in abuilding rather than a bin.

    With fall harvest approaching, Wolverine-Badger Company isoffering substantial discounts on all farm-related buildings.For example, a 150,000 bushel capacity grain storage build-ing with concrete flooring and basic ventilation for as low as39 cents per bushel. Call either of the telephone numberslisted below for more details.

    OACI!WATCHIIC\lOltLT COOPER & CO.:::.~g:'~:.o:"""'A 2095 SEYMOUR AVE.:::m=~..um CINCINNATI. OHIO 45237

    r-I~\ \_...~I~.'T8 \ '@f\ 1 ganon ...... ~ 4(~ ~ .. ' \.of,'''O _ TILLSDEEP '. ~I .." ...I. ::t . III

    ~ 9 INCHES WIDE ~: WEIGHS 20 LBS!. ~

    ~ BA~:~~~,1~~~~OD w~eg~SN:::~W ~UIo III:;: WRITE TO AGCO POBOX 75 DEPT 51 ~:u SOUTHAMPTON PA 18966 ffi~ NAME ~m ~mo STREET a:UI w): CITY :l~ ~> STATE ZIP -----8~ For RuSh Delivery Of LIterature Call 21S-947.aess ~o TILLER. POWER HOE, , , TILLS DEEP, .. WEEDS FAST oC

    Also contributing to this article wereJoyce Foster, Presque Isle CountyFarm Bureau Information Committeechairperson, and Betty Brodacki, In-formation Committee chairperson forMacomb County Farm Bureau.

    Still remaining on the 1982 festivalcircuit is the Harvest Festival at Green-field Village in Dearborn, Oct. 1-3.Visitors will celebrate the fall harvestseason in the traditional way of earlyAmerican rural communities.

    Includes:1 - 9 x 7 wooden over.hang

    door1 - 3-0 x 6.8 utility door1 - row treated skirt boardAll color steel & trim6" boxed overhangslsides

    All pricing includes labor, materials, taxes and delivery ..Strongest warranty and insurance offered in pole buildin~ con~tr~ctlon on our

    commerical - agricultural - industrial - residential bUlldmgs.We feature a total project and design service.

    FARM AND UTILITY BUILDINGSSMALL SIZES MEDIUM SIZES LARGE SIZES

    24' X 32' X 8 $3595 36' X 48' X 12 $7,995 40' X 72' X 14 $12,89524'x48'x10 5'095 40'x60'x12 9,195 50'x104'x14 18,99530' X 40' X 10 5:195 Includes: 60' X 100' X 14 21,99530' X 48' X 10 5,995 1 - 12 x 12 sliding door Includes:

    1 - 3-0 x 6-8 utility door 2 - 20' X 14' solid end wall2 - rows treated skirt board sliding doors6" boxed overhangs/sides 1 - 3-0x 6-8 utility door

    2 - rows treated skirt boardAll color steel & trim12" boxed overhangslsldes

    Wolverine-Badger Structures, Inc.REGIONAL OFFICE

    2040 Aurelius Road, #8, Holt, Michigan 48842CALL TOLL FREE 800-292-1378 • CALL COLLECT 517-694-3236

    GREAT TVReception for ruralhomeowners ... finally!

    SEE ALL THE BESTSHOWS DIREcr FROMSPACE WITH YOUR OWNChannel Mastersatellite earth station!

    BEST PRICE GUARANTEED

    Young'sTV and APPLIANCES

    1723 S. Garfield, Traverse CityPhone 616-947-7557

    2509 U.S. 23 South, AlpenaPhone 517-354-8895

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 198225

  • Agrinomic Update

    AFBF Cattle Cycle Forum'No reason topush panic but-ton,' say livestockeconomists but ad-vise caution in anexpansion plan

    The outlook for the nation's beefcattle industry as seen by three of thecountry's top livestock economists is"cautiously optimistic."

    That's the only conclusion that canbe reached from the fifth in a series ofCattle" Cycle Forums" sponsored by theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation.The forum featured three livestockeconomists whose predictions in theprevious sessions proved to be sub-stantiaIly correct.

    Participating in the forum wereGlenn Grimes, professor of agricul-tural economics, University of Mis-souri; Dr. Robert J. Reierson, agricul-tural economics consultant of MenloPark, Calif.; and Dr. Edward UvacekJr., livestock marketing economist andprofessor, Texas A & M University.Moderating the discussions were RossKorves, AFBF research economist,and AI Keating, director of the AFBFlivestock department.

    The economists' mostly optimisticpredittions for the future of the beefcattle producers were tempered byseveral big "ifs":

    • If USDA cattle inventory figuresare accurate in indicating a slowdownin the buildup of beef cattle herds.

    .If the nation's economy recoverssufficiently to increase consumer de-mand for red meat.

    • If interest rates and other costs re-turn to levels that will make beef pro-duction profitable.

    • If the industry avoids going into aliquidation phase that would flood themarket with salvage and nonfed cattle.

    • If cattle feeders avoid marketingoverfed, overweight cattle.

    "For the cow/calf producer, there isno question that this is a time for cau-tion," Grimes said. "This is not thetime for expansion unless the produc-er's situation is such that his resourcesjustify the enterprise over the next sev-eral years."

    He said the odds are low that the in-dustry will go into a liquidation phasefor the next two or three years, and helooks for the nation's beef herd to holdat a plateau with only moderatechanges in numbers for that period.

    AIl three economists expressed con-cern over the nation's economy andthe effect the current recession willhave on consumer demand for redmeat. They agreed that there shouldbe some improvement in beef demandthis year, primarily due to shorter sup-

    26 RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 1982

  • State Grain Dealers Act Amended

    27

    DEPT. 34Ninth and "Harris Street

    Cordele, Georgia 31015TOLL FREECall Collect (312) 364-3278

    . ~- ..cf'CE

  • Discussion Topic

    Cutback Management: A New Primer Recent reports indicate that Michi-

    gan has the highest rate of unemploy-ment in the nation. This results mostly from its dependence on the automo-bile industry.

    Since the state's unemployment figure hit double digits nearly three years ago, both state and local govern-ments have had to restructure, pri-marily because while the costs of gov-ernment and services have increased, revenues have either stayed the same or decreased. This has presented dif-ficult challenges to officials in govern-ment at all levels, as there are few peo-ple in government, or elsewhere, who have had experience in cutback man-agement. Elected officials and ad-ministrators continue to look for ways to reduce the budget and still offer the same services.

    While taxpayers have been vocal in their demands for reductions in gov-ernment spending, they have failed to reduce their expectations from gov-ernment - national, state or local. With the budget cutbacks and declin-ing revenues, the citizenry must learn that you cannot do the same or more with less funds. This is true whether discussing funding for state or local government, townships, cities, villages or schools.

    Everyone applauds holding down the budget, but they still want those federal and state dollars in grants and aid which come back through revenue sharing. In fact, revenue sharing has become a mainstay for balancing the budget of many units of government.

    Property Tax Not Enough It should be remembered that the

    property tax does not begin to pay the cost of local government. For exam-ple, funding for township budgets averages only about one-third from property tax. The other two-thirds comes from state and federal revenue sharing. A large share of county funds also comes from the state. The state's constitution requires that 41.6% of the

    28

    general fund budget be sent to local units of government.

    The state budget is really two bud-gets: the general purpose budget, which is determined by the Legisla-ture, and the rest of the budget, which is made up of funds earmarked for specific purposes. Maintaining the level of services expected by the peo-ple is difficult if the funds to support the services are not available. This is true even if the services were budgeted because budgets are based on esti-mated projected funds which will be available.

    In June and July of this year, do-mestic automobile sales nationwide were running at around 5 million units. Sales in the peak month of 1978 were 10 million units. Budgets estab-lished a year ago did not plan on revenues from the automobile industry being 50% of what they were just a few years ago.

    School finances will no doubt have a high priority in many areas of the state in the month ahead. We have seen that maintaining the current level of education can be difficult in a declining economy.

    Revenue to finance K-12 education is derived from a combination of local, state and federal sources. The total number of students is decreasing each year from over 2 million a few years ago to an estimated 1.7 million for the 1982-83 school year.

    Aid to Schools Cut Generally speaking, the local prop-

    erty tax for both school operating and bonded indebtedness contributes about 47.5% of the revenue and state aid to schools provides about 47.5% with the rest coming from federal sources. However, the proportion of federal and state aid has decreased in Michigan because of a serious eco-nomic decline. The greatest share of the state aid comes from the school aid fund, which includes earmarked taxes (sales, cigarette and liquor taxes, lot-

    tery revenue, other minor state taxes and some federal aid). The remaining amount is appropriated from the general fund.

    State aid to K-12 schools is based on a formula which guarantees that each mill of property tax will yield the same number of dollars, even if the valua-tion in the district is very low. Some low valuation schools receive most of their funds from state aid, while some schools do not receive any state aid due to high valuations. They are known as "out of formula." However, districts which are "out of formula" do receive money from the state for cate-goricals, including transportation, spe-cial education, reading support, voca-tional education, etc. One serious problem is that the state often fails to pay.

    Proponents of statewide redistricting argue that with the declining school population and the closing of many schools, money for K-12 education could be saved by reorganization. Leg-islation has been introduced which would require a state committee to prepare a plan and guidelines for man-datory reorganization of non-high school and small urban school dis-tricts.

    Who Does Education Serve?

    Is education perceived to be a ser-vice for the general public good or for a special segment of the public? Off-hand, most would probably say it is a general good. But statistics show that only 27% of the households of this state have children attending public schools and only 10% of the house-holds of the state have children attend-ing institutions of higher education.

    When attempting to balance the state's budget, the Legislature cuts aid to institutions of higher education and the tuition goes up. But 90% of the population says, "So what, it doesn't come out of my pocket." This is per-haps one reason why millage votes for education are often defeated and why

    RURAL LIVING, OCTOBER 1982

  • for School Financinglegislative funding cuts to publiccolleges and universities go un-challenged.

    If the citizenry of Michiganreally wants to have and main-tain their government andschools with less revenue, thenthe citizenry must learn to dowith less. Then the questionbecomes who will decide whogets less and whose prefer-ences are counted.

    Questions for Discussion- Have your local govern-

    mental units maintained a rea-sonable level of service to resi-dents?

    - Present constitutional re-quirements mandate at least41.6% of the state budget bereturned to local governmentalunits in the form of revenuesharing. Should state aid tolocal units of government be in-creased in order to further helplocal governments?

    -Should high school districtsand/ or intermediate districts berequired to re-organize? Whatwould be the advantages? Dis-advantages?

    -Should school districts beallowed to use a local incometax as an alternative to theproperty tax? (Such an alter-native would require voter ap-proval.)

    The monthly Discussion Topicfor Community Action Groupsis prepared by Ken Wiles,manager of the MFB MemberRelations Department.

    RURAL LIVING. OCTOBER 198229

  • Farm Bureau Market PlaceOassifled Ad Policy: Members pay 10 cents per word for non-commerlcal ads and 15 cents per word for ads which promote a commercial businessother than agriculture. All other advertisers pay 20 cents per word for one Insertion and 15 cents per word for two or more consecutive insertions. Thedeadline for advertisements Is the 15th of the month preceding publication and the publisher has the right to reject any advertising copy submitted. All adsmust be pre-paid and may be pre-paid up to one year In advance. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to re-insert the ad on a month-by-month or year-by-year basis. Send ads to Michigan Farm News Rural Living, P.O. Box 30960, Lansing, Mich. 48909. No ads will be taken over the phone.

    FARM EQUIPMENTHamilton DIstributing Co., Stormor Grain Bins. StormorEzee-Dry. Automatic and PTO Dryers. Transport Augers.Bucket Elevators. 616-751-5161. (5-6t-17p)For Sale: Used Storage Tanks, 6000 to 20.000 galloncapacity. Vertical or horizontal. Phone 616-798-1805.

    18-6t-15p-ts)Irrigation Equipment - Complete line - Lockwood centerpivots - Rainbow and Alumax travelers. pipe and pumps. Werepair pipe and make up pumping units. Plummer Supply.Bradley. Mich. 616-792-2215. (11-12t-27p-ts)Manure Pumps, agitators. pipe and travelers for sale to pumpmanure directly from lagoon or pit to field. We also custompump. Plummer Supply. Bradley. Mich. 616-792-2215.

    (l1-12t-27p-ts)Wanted: New Idea single and narrow row complckers. NewHolland forage harvesters and Ford tractors. H.C.E.C .. Inc. Wepay cash. 517-523-2803. (7-12t-22p-ts)Perry Double Incline Fruit Harvester with expanded shockwave shaker head and heavy duty conveyors. Excellent condi-tlon.616-256-9644. (9-2t-18p)Antique Tractor Boobl Newl Newl"GREAT TRACTORS,"describes classic tractors which were milestones In farming.Magnificent collection of 140 photographs (30 In full color). 160quality large pages. $18.95. "FARM TRACTORS IN COLOR,"80 years of tractor history. 183 pages. $11.95. "STEAMPOWER IN AGRICULTURE," 103 full color photos. 184 pages.$11.95. "STEAM TRACTION ENGINES." wagons and rollers.158 colored photos. 180 pages. $11.95. SPECfAL! Above fourhardcover collector's library. $48.95 postpaid. Diamond FarmBook Publishers. Oept. MFN. Box 537. Alexandria Bay. NY13607. Phone 613-475-1771. (l0-3t-84p-ts)"ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN FARM TRAC-TORS," Covers tractors from 18OOsto 1979. 352 large pages.1.500 photos. $28.95. "150 YEARS OF INTERNATIONALHARVESTOR." covers all tractors and equipment, 2.000photos. 416 pages. $28.95. SPECIAL! Both above hardleatherette books. $49.95 postpaid. Diamond Farm BookPublishers. Dept. MFN, Box 537. Alexandria Bay, NY 13607.Phone 613-475-1771. (1O-3t-53p-ts)Hone Trailer - 2 stall, very good condition. $1.100. GlennWelch. Three Rivers. 616-279-5447. (l0-13p)For Sale: International Model 56 silage blower, good condi-tion. Also. cement stave silo. 14 x 40 - you tear down. 616-796-0982. Big Rapids. (1O-19p)John Deere G.P. parade condition. M.S.T.A. full steel withextension rims plus rubber tired wheels. left hand exhaust. waterfeed carburetor. John Deere magnlto with spark lever thatworks. 517-669-9920. (l0-30p)Wanted to Buy: Rosenthal 40 corn husker. International powertake-off or ground-driven corn binder and gralnblnder. JohnSpezla. Leonard. Mich. 48038.313-628-4147. (l0-22p)Zero T20 Vacuum Milk Tank. All stainless remote com-pressor. Good condition. 300 gallon capacity. Semi-automaticwash. 5300. Phone 616-781-5495. (l0-19p)John Deere ~D - 2 cylinder economy with cab. Fox-chopper 3 heads. 313-659-6535. (lO-lOp)Antique Machinery: 1936 Red River Special ThreshingMachine, 22" cylinder, 36" screen, all belts Included. Potatograders, hand cranked! Also. 1953 John Bean Power potatosprayer, 250 gal. 2 row. Tustin. Mich. 616-775-6857. (l0-32p)

    REAL ESTATE3 bedroom home plus all appliances. 20 wooded acres.wood and gas heat. $39.000. 906-942-7766. (9-3t-15p-ts)'For Sale: Farms-Ranches-Buslneases In Michigan and 46other states. Write. call for FREE brochure or