Banner Graphic, Volume 11, Number 108, Greencastle, Putnam County, 8 January 1981 — Page 16

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The Putnam County Banner Graphic, January 7,1981

Block draws praise during confirmation hearings

By Ellen Warren (c) 1980 Chicago Sun-Times (Field News Service) WASHINGTON-John R. Block, the Midwest farmer whom Ronald Reagan has selected for secretary of agriculture, breezed through a day of Senate confirmation hearings in which not a single witness or senator opposed his nomination. In fact, senators and farm group representatives had virtually nothing but praise Tuesday for the 45-year-old Illinois agriculture director, whose blunt views on controversial policies have made headlines in recent weeks. But even groups wary of Block’s characterization of some Agriculture Department food safety efforts as, “periphery issues,” his plan to trim the sll billion food-stamp program, and his statement that “food is probably one of the most tremendous weapons we have” stopped well short of urging senators to oppose his nomination. Instead, they testified about their concern that those views would adversely affect the poor and the nation’s consumers. But throughout most of the hearing. Block faced the friendly questions and effusive praise of members of the Agriculture Committee, which set Jan. 19 for a vote on his nomination.

Variety of programs set at Purdue

By DAVID BARR Civic Affairs Editor A wide variety of informative and helpful programs will highlight activities when Farm Science Days at Purdue are held January 12-17, Putnam Extention Director James R. Baird has announced. FULL INFORMATION on a the five-day affair, giving a session by session schedule, is available at the extension office in the courthouse.

Reserve loans to be repaid Farmers who have corn stored in the farmer-owned grain reserve will be required to repay their price support loans within 90 days of notification, Sherman Hacker, Chairman of the Putnam County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee announced. The notification will be on or about Jan. 16. CURRENTLY, about 535,000 bushels of corn are in the far-mer-owned reserve in Putnam County, Hacker said. Repayment of reserve corn loans has been called by the Commodity Credit Corporation five-day national average market price for the commodity has been at or above the $3.26-per-bushel reserve call price has been above this level for five days in a row. Hacker said the call of corn loans does not mean that farmers are required to sell their grain. The call requires them to repay their loans within 90 days of the date they are officially notified of the call. The Putnam County ASCS will officially notify producers whose loans have been called. UNDER THE farmer-owned grain reserve program farmers are eligible to place corn and wheat into a reserve when farm prices are below call prices. In return, farmers receive CCC price support loans on the grain in reserve as well as annual storage payments. The corn reserve was begun in December 1977. The call level for corn under the reserve program is 145 per cent of the $2.25 per bushel national average loan rate, or $3.26. Data used by CCC in determining the call level includes a daily report by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service which shows prices at selected markets. For corn, the markets are Chicago, Kansas City. Minneapolis, Omaha and St. Louis. THIS PROGRAM has proven tQ be a great marketing and cash flow tool to several Putnam County farms, Hacker concluded. The 1979 U.S. corn crop, at 7.4 billion bushels, alone outstrips the harvest of all Soviet grains. That happened once before in 1975.

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Livestock programs will encompass all aspects of this facet of total farming and speakers will update the latest research. The annual meeting of the Indiana Livestock Breeders Association will be held during Farm Science Days. Agricultural Engineering programs will seek to keep Hoosier farmers abreast of agrelated changes in the energy field and their possible effect on agriculture and agri-business.

Bull consignment deadline nears

WEST LAFAYETTE-Deadli-ne for consigning bulls to the 12th Indiana Performance Tested Bull Sale is Jan. 10, according to Larry A. Nelson, Purdue University extension animal scientist. The sale will be Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Springville Feeder Auction northwest of Bedford. Most rules are similar to the last sale. Bulls must have been calved before March 1, 1980, and must be registered. Nonpurebred (percentage) bulls are eligible if they are recorded in their respective breed association. Both on-farm tested bulls and those tested at a test station are eligible. Minimum performance requirements are 475 pounds at 205 days and 900 pounds at 356 days, with a 365-day weight ratio of 95 or higher. If only one bull was tested in a herd, then the 365-day minimum weight is 925 pounds. Nelson also noted that new rules for 1981 are 1) all bulls must be examined by experienced personnel for breeding soundness within 30 days of the slae, or on sale day, and 2) entries for bulls born

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Block, a West Point graduate, reiterated his opposition to President Carter’s Soviet grain embargo, saying he would not advocate food embargoes except as a “last resort in extreme circumstances.” Asked if the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan - which prompted the current embargo - was such a circumstance, Block replied “I haven’t studied that,” adding that it was a decision for the president and secretary of state, not the agriculture chief. But on other food embargoes of the recent past, Block declared “every one of them has been a mistake,” and he added that any future embargoes should be across the board rather than solely agricultural. Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kan.), Block’s top supporter for the agriculture job, said the committee was concerned that foodstamp, school-lunch programs and others that help the needy not be approached with a meat ax, and Block assured that was not his intent. He disputed reports that he believes up to 40 percent of the food-stamp budget - almost half of the Agriculture Department’s $21.6 billion budget - goes for waste, abuse or fraud.

THE FOCUS will be on solar energy, based on Purdue studies of solar heat for grain drying and food processing. An update on alcohol fuels will also be presented. New ideas on woodland management will be the theme of the 1981 Natural Resources Program during Farm Science Days. Three Purdue extension forestry specialists will speak, using illustrative material. SESSIONS WILL also be

farm

before 1980 will be rejected if complete performance data and a copy of the registration certificate, or application for recording, haven’t been received by the sale manager, Jan. 10. Body type, muscling, soundness and quality of each bull will be evaluated by a committee on sale day. Bulls that are not physically sound or that lack overall quality will not be sold. Nelson said that sale order will be based on an index that includes 365-day weight ratio, sale day weight, body type and muscling scores. Consignments should be sent to thesale manager, Jerry McPike, Route 17, Box 51, Bedford, 47421. Each consignment must be accompanied by a SSO per head entry fee and a copy of the bull’s regristration paper. The first 75 eligible bulls entered will make up the sale group. Rules and entry forms can be obtained from the sale manager, from Nelson at the Animal Sciences Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, or at county extension offices.

devoted to grain farming, horticulture and Christmas tree farming. Arabbit breeders school and Rural Youth State Day have been scheduled for the closing of Farm Science Days January 17. It is anticipated that a number of farm people from Putnam County will be attending this event. Those who have special interests may come to the local extension office to check dates and times-

Board of Trade

CHICAGO (AP) - Futures trading Tuesday on the Chicago Board of Trade: Open.. High.. I,ow . Close. Chg WHEAT 5,000 bu.: dollars per bu Mar 5.05M> 5.08 4.99 5.06*4 +.01'4 May 5.12 5.15 5.07 5.14M> +.Ol Jul 4 99'-2 5.02 4.93 4.99*4 +.Ol Sep 5.11 5.13 5.04 M. 5.13 + .02'4 Dec 5.30 5.32 Sales Mon. 18,692. Total open interest Mon. 67,959, off 920 from Fri. CORN 5,000 bu.; dollars per bu. Mar 3.80 3.82 3.78 3.81'-i -,oo'/ 4 May 3.98 Mi 3.89'* 3.86 3.89 -.oo'*; Jul 3.90 3.91 3.87*4 3.90*i ... . Sep 3.79'*; 3.81M> 3.77 , 4 s 3.81 + .00'i Dec 3.66'4 3.71 3.65*4 3.70*4 +.o2'*. Mar 3.773.80M> 3.77 3.80 M; +.02 Sales Mon. 46,437. Total open interest Mon. 256,547, off 2,988 from Fri. Note: Close is average of last two trades OATS 5,000 bu ; dollars per bu Mar 2.23*4 2.27 2.21*4 2.26'*; +.01*4 May 2.27 'k 2.32 2.27 2.31'*; + .02'*; Jul 2.24*4 2.28 2.23'*; 2.27'*. +.02j2 sep 2.20*4 2.23'* 2 19'4 2.23'*; + .01 Dec 2.22 2.26 2.20'4 2.26 +.02 Sales Mon. 1,521. Total open interest Mon. 5,666, up 216 from Fri. SOYBEANS 5,000 bu.; dollars per bu Jan 8.03 8.20 8.01 8.18*4 +.10*4 Mar 8.30 8.45 8.25'6 8.42*i +.08*4 May 8.54 8.71 8.50 8.67'*; +.o7'*; Jul 8.68 8.85 8.65 8.82'*; +.06'4 Aug 8.67 8.81 8.62 8.80 +.o4'*; Sep 8.50 8.59 8.44 8.59 +.06 Nov 8.38 8.48 8.35 8.48 j-. 05 Jan 8.54 8.66 8.52 8.65'*: +.os'*; Sales Mon. 87,925. Total open interest Mon. 187,222, off 11,115 from Fri. The U.S. Agriculture Department says domestic turkey production topped 167 million this year.

“I don’t know how much waste there is,” he said, but he emphasized that he wants to assure that “people who are truely needy get the food stamps.” Block, an unabashed booster of farmers, who himself runs a 3,000-acre corn, soybean and hog farm near Galesburg, 111., told the committee there are “mind-boggling” opportunities for the agriculture industry “to improve this nation” and he vowed “you can count on a very aggressive export effort” if he is confirmed. His top priority, he said, will be “to improve the profitability of farming” and the first step is bring inflation under control and reduce interest rates. “Less government is better,” Block said, adding that on the question of the government-ordered phase-out of nitrites in pork and other food safety policies, there should be “adequate research before we do anything.” To amplify that point, he cited a Southern Illinois University study that he said showed that Vitamin D is carcinogenic, yet “the government requires it be placed in milk.” He got laughs when he addressed the question of the

Extension calendar Jan. 12-17-Farm Science Days at Purdue University. Jan. 16-Annual Farm Science Days Fish Fry. Jan. 15-Extension Agents (Youth) and Ag Teachers will meet at 7:30 p.m. in Owen County to plan their judging contests. Jan. 19-Junior Leaders will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Jan. 26-Fair board will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Jan. 28-Horse and Pony Judging Contest will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Clay County. Feb. 3-Extension Homemakers are holding their Achievement Day Program at the Fairgrounds. More details later. -Area V Swine Forum will be held. Details later. Market reports INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana direct hog market Tuesday at 70 yards and plants: Receipts 15,500; demand good. Barrows and gilts 50 cents higher. 1-2 200-240 lb 42.5043.50, some 43.75-44.00, 240-250 lb 42.00-43.00; 1-3 250-260 lb 41.0-0-42.00. Sows 50 cents to 1.00 higher. 1-3 300-450 lb 35.00-37.00,450-600 lb 37.00-41.00. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Grain prices Tuesday at In-dianapolis-area elevators: Corn, N 0.2 yellow shelled 3.303.37, Feb 3.34-3.43; Oats, N 0.2 white 2.00; Soybeans, No.l yellow 7.68-7.73, Feb. 7.89-7.91; Wheat, N 0.2 soft red new 4.294.35.

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Agriculture Department’s involvement in offering dietary advice. “I know they’re not the same, but hogs are like people” and the hogs on his farm are able to regulate their diets between grain and protein without government pamphlets. “People are surely as smart as a hog,” said Block. That view, said Sen. David L. Boren (D-Okla ), showed “almost revolutionary common sense.” The Block nomination drew praise from witnesses from the National Farmers Organization, the American Agriculture Movement, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Pork Producers Council, among others. The most negative testimony came from Ellen Haas, representing the Community Nutrition Institute, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers’ League and Public Citizen’s Congress Watch, the last a Ralph Nader group While not opposing the nomination, Haas said those consumer groups found some Block statements “alarming,” and she called for a balanced agriculture policy that will “protect the interests of both farmers and consumers.”

Sessions planned for farm women

WEST LAFAYETTE-Agrib-usiness women, do you want to know about estate planning, holding title to land and property, or changing the format for running a farm (corporation vs. partnership vs. trust)? How about passing property by gift, by will, and by sale? Suzanne Klinghammer, Lafayette attorney, will discuss these and other subjects of interest to agribusiness women during the home economics program at Farm Science Days at Purdue University Jan. 13. Under the topic “Legal and Financial Information Every Woman Should Know,” Klinghammer will present information she has found to be of interest ot women as she taught

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a Purdue Continuing Education course of the same name. Ann Hancock, coordinator of the home economics program, notes that the Jan. 12 and 13 programs emphasize the partnership between husband and wife in the farming operation. “Although the Farm Science Days has a long tradition of serving the farmer and spouse, this is the first time a program has addressed the partnership specifically,” she adds. Says Hancook, although women in all walks of life need to know their legal and financial rights responsibilities, farm women as business people need more specific information.