Banner Graphic, Volume 15, Number 154, Greencastle, Putnam County, 27 February 1985 — Page 14

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The Putnam County Banner-Graphic, February 27,1985

farm

Farm credit debate intensifies; Reagan will reject add-ons

By STEVEN V. ROBERTS C.1985N.Y. Times WASHINGTON - Hundreds of lobbyists from the Farm Belt descended on Congress Tuesday as the Senate continued to debate two proposals designed to make emergency loans more available, to farmers this spring. Senate leaders acknowledged that the lobbyists had been successful in convincing some Middle Western Republicans who face re-election next year to back the measures. Both are sponsored mainly by Democrats and are firmly opposed by the Reagan administration and the Republican leadership in Congress. The political character of the debate was highlighted Tuesday when Paul G. Kirk Jr., the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, appeared at a Capitol Hill news conference with Democratic governors and legislators to publicize party proposals on the issue. Fearing that the Democrats might be able to pass their proposals, Republican leaders postponed a vote Tuesday night and threatened a filibuster. Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, the majority leader, said that if the leadership could not defeat the measures, “we’ll probably talk at length” against them. Just last week Democrats staged a filibuster against the nomination of Edwin Meese 111 as attorney general. As part of the agreement to end their stalling tactics, the Democrats won the right to offer the proposals now before the Senate. When Sen. Alan J. Dixon, D-111., took the floor Tuesday and demanded a prompt vote on farm credit, Dole replied, “That sounds like a speech I gave last week.”

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ANNOUNCEMENT Putnam County Cattlemen’s Association ANNUAL MEETING: TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1985, 7:00 LOCATION: TORR'S RESTAURANT ON U.S. 40 Anyone interested in the cattle business is welcome to attend. Come join us for a good meeting and meal compliments of your association. Information: Gene Milner, GMi 653-5541

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At the White House, Larry Speakes, chief spokesman, said President Reagan “would not accept any add-ons” to the administration’s farm credit program. The original program was announced by the administration in the political campaign last fall, and was then revised last week under congressional pressure. John R. Block, the secretary of agriculture, also raised the threat of a veto when he wrote to Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the minority leader, “I want to advise you that should these measures pass the Congress that I will strongly recommend that the president not sign them.” One of the Democratic amendments, cosponsored by Edward Zorinsky of Nebraska and John Melcher of Montana, would ease the lending rules for two farm programs. Its main provision would allocate SIOO million to subsidize interest rates charged to farmers by banks on loans guaranteed by the federal government. The second amendment, sponsored by Dixon, would make it possible for farmers to obtain this spring up to half the government payments they usually receive in the fall when they harvest their crops. The proposals were offered as amendments to a bill providing $175 million in aid for starving African countries. A similar famine relief measure was adopted in the House Tuesday, 391-25. The influx of Farm Belt lobbyists, many of them state legislators and officials, has created an “arena of emotion” on Capitol Hill, as Sen. Alan K. Simpson of Wyoming, the Republican whip, put it. That emotion was visible Tuesday afternoon when Dole and Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, met in a crowded room with more than 100 members of the South Dakota legislature. Dole argued that additional help was not necessary, and that the “biggest problem” facing Congress was reducing the federal deficit. “We have to start saying no, and I hope we start today,” Dole told the legislators. Walter Bones, a legislator from Parker, S.D., retorted that the proposals on the Senate floor “are going to cost hardly anything.” “I don’t think you understand that,” Bones, a Republican, added angrily. Two credit measures are scheduled for floor action in the House this week, and Thomas P. O’Neill Jr., the speaker of the House, told reporters Tuesday, “I don’t think the president is aware of the plight of the farmers out there.”

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Putnam Farm Scene When farmers hurt, others do too

By MARK LEGAN Extension Agent-Ag When Putnam County Farmers are financially hurt, most -- but not all -- other rural businesses ache as well. According to recent studies by Purdue University agricultural economists, only industries located in rural areas which produce for the non-farm sector are relatively unaffected by fluctuations in either farm output or income. FOR MOST RURAL businesses, there is another story. The health of these businesses and that of the rural community are closely linked. When both agricultural output and income decline, the effects are felt throughout Indiana. Agricultural marketing companies have less to market; Main Street merchants see less customers. However, lower income has a different effect on business than does lower farm production. Farmers, bankers, and Main Street merchants are sensitive to income fluctuations while chemical and fertilizer dealers and marketing firms are most sensitive to production levels. To a lesser extent farm implement dealers respond to both income production levels, as does the general population. Low incomes in agriculture are often the result of overproduction. This means that much land is in production requiring inputs of seed, fertilizer and other chemicals, and machinery. Bankers may be kept busy making loans as are others whose sales are closely linked to production levels. Farmers have more money to spend, even though it is borrowed money, and spend it on Main Street. LOWER FARM production, on the other hand, can result when land is taken out of production in an effort to boost prices for

Dairy profit more likely in Southwest, experts report

WASHINGTON (AP) A new big dairying venture has a much better chance of profit in the Southwest than a smaller one does in Minnesota, mainly because it costs less to maintain a cow in the milder climate, says a new Agriculture Department analysis. The report, issued Monday by the department’s Economic Research Service, takes a look at the profitability of milk production in 1981 on seven farms in Arizona, New Mexico, Washington and Minnesota. “Herds with 700 to 1,500 cows each are common in parts of the South, from Florida to California, but most Northern states would consider a 150-cow herd large,” the report said. “Regional technologies and practices also differ. Northern dairies typically raise much of the dairy feed on the farm itself in contrast to Southwestern dairies which purchase nearly all their dairy feed.” Also, Northern dairy farms also have more extensive housing and feed storage facilities. The report was written by four dairy specialists who work in the four states involved: Boyd M. Buxton, University of Minnesota, St. Paul; Tom McGuckin, New

Beef volume remains down

WASHINGTON (AP) months, perhaps years, before consumers see a significant boost in the movement of beef from farms and ranches to supermarket chunters, according to new inventory figures by the Agriculture Department. As of Jan. 1, the cattle inventory stood at 109.8 million head, a 3 percent drop from a year earlier and the lowest level since 1968, the department said Monday.

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crops that are grown and thus raise income. Then, less fertilizer and ag chemicals are purchased and less crops are marketed. In 1982 the net farm income for the state was approximately $716 million. Of this total, it is estimated that $422 million (59 per cent of every dollar) was spent in Indiana, at the retail level. Retail sales in the state are quite similar to changes in the level of farm income. As part of this year’s Agriculture Week festivities the Putnam County Ag Day Committee and the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a trade day for local farmers and merchants. THE PURPOSE OF the program is to foster a better understanding of the problems facing today’s farmers and businesses. A businessman will spend a day on a local farm, participating in the day’s routine work. Another day the merchant will host the farmer at his business. Any Putnam County farmer or businessman interested in participating in this program is encouraged to contact the Putnam County Extension Office, 653-8411, by March 6.

Mexico State University, Las Cruces; Roger Selley, University of Arizona, Tucson; and Gayle Willett, Washington State University, Pullman. The sizes of operations examined included: Minnesota, one farm with 52 cows and one with 125; Arizona, farms with 359, 834 and 1,436 cows; New Mexico, 900 cows; and Washington 140 cows. Based on 1981 costs and returns, the Minnesota farm with 52 cows averaged a loss of $492 per cow, allowing for all costs, including labor and land. The 125-cow herd returned an average profit of $65 per cow. In Arizona, the herd of 359 cows returned an average of $l6B per cow. The dairy farm with 834 cows netted $279 per cow, and the farm with 1,436 cows showed profits of $325 per cow. The New Mexico farm with 900 milk cows had an average profit of $356 per cows. In Washington, the 140-cow herd showed a net ofsls per cow. Total investment in the seven dairy operations ranged from $725,000 for the 52cow farm in Minnesota to $6.7 million for the Arizona dairy with 1,436 cows. Including land, investment per cow was $13,955 on the 52-cow farm and $3,472 per cow on the 900-cow New Mexico farm.

Further, analysts said “reduced beef replacement heifer and cow inventories suggest a further decline this year.” Drought in some parts of the country, along with high interest rates and credit problems, have plagued farmers and ranchers in recent years. With profit margins reduced or erased altogether, there has not been much incentive for expansion. Cattle inventories peaked at more than 132 million head in 1975, but producers cut back sharply for several years as markets sagged. The annual report, which included beef and dairy cattle, showed that the 1984 calf crop declined 3 percent to 42.5 million. It was also about 2 percent smaller than a mid year report indicated last July. The beef cow herd, at 35.4 million head, was 6 percent smaller than a year earlier. Milk cows were shown at 10.8 million, down 3 percent.

Market reports INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Hogs 1,200. Barrows and gilts slow, 1.251.50 lower. US 1-3 215-255 lbs 46.0046.25,200 head 46.50-46.75. US 2-3 210270 lbs 44.50-46.00. US 3-4 285-300 lbs 41.50-42.00. Sows: Moderately active; under 550 lbs steady to 1.00 lower, over 550 lbs 1.00 higher than last Friday. US 1-3 350-550 lbs 40.00-46 00, 625-700 lbs 52.00. Cattle: 1100. Slaughter steers 1.00 lower. Heifers not well tested early. Cows steady. Bulls mostly 1.00 lower. Slaughter Steers: Choice 2-4 9251375 lbs 6L 50-62.50, lot 1275 lbs 63.25. Mixed good and choice 2-4 950-1350 lbs 59.00-62.00. Holsteins: Choice 3 1425 lbs 55.75. Mixed good and choice 2-3 1325-1400 lbs 55.25-55.50. Good 2 1300 lbs 54.50. Standard and good 21050 lbs 47.75. Slaughter Heifers: Few choice 2-4 890-1150 lbs 58.50-61.75. Pkg 21100 lbs 62.50. Few good 2-3 875-950 lbs 52.0055.50. Slaughter Cows: Breaking utility and commercial 3-4 34.00-42.00, few high dressing 43.50-45.00. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Grain prices Monday at Indianapolis area elevators: Corn No. 2 yellow shelled 2.57-2.63; fall 1985 2.37-2.47; January, 1986 2.47-2.51. SOYBEANS No. 1 yellow 5.555.71; fall 1985 5.57-5.76; January, 1986 5.71-5.76. WHEAT No. 2 soft red 3.36; July 3.00-3.15.

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Beekeeping program set Purdue University will offer a telecourse on introductory beekeeping techniques March 13. The two-hour live video telecast will be aired over closed circuit television from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 14 sites across Indiana, including Terre Haute. Those attending will be able to ask questions of the instructor, Bill Chaney, and hear his replies via a two-way audio system. Sponsored by Purdue’s Department of Entomology and the Cooperative Extension Service, the course is designed primarily to provide information necessary to getting started in beekeeping. Topics to be covered include basic honey bee biology, how to obtain and assemble beekeeping equipment, where to keep bees and basic management practices. Anyone already keeping bees is encouraged to attend, as there will be a brief update on the honey bee tracheal mite and Africanized bee situations. More information is available by contacting the Putnam County Extension Office at 653-8411.

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