Up On The Farm

Up on the farm I'm going over and I'm betting glad you could join us. It's been a busy week for just about every farmer in between a big harvest season and planning for next year. And what do you do with that little bit of extra time. Well hundreds of farmers in Maryland had no problem filling it up as Glenn will tell you. Some 900 strong from all 23 Maryland counties turned the resort town of Ocean City into AG headquarters this past week for main concern was a poor economy an oversupply of farm products. But more bad news came in the form of an announcement that the Maryland farm bureau is $24000 in the red. The problem centered on the organization's tax and record keeping service it provides for its members. President Lee on NPL said steps were being taken to remedy the situation including efforts at recruiting new customers for the service. But farmers like Somerset Swinford had suggestions of their own. Why bring in boy if you want to hear what you have. I like the sort of don't get me wrong but we've had a little trouble lately.

I would also like to provide come by at least twice a year to meet me there who they're going to work on in field agreed saying that instead of providing the cheapest possible tax service the organization organization may have to charge more and provide the best tax service. He also said new personnel managers were being considered to oversee the operation and out in the hallway the talk was also a business and while all agree that 1982 had not been especially kind of agriculture not a single farmer was heard to say he was willing to change professions. Friends met over cups of coffee and a few displays of the new technology including some of the latest in farm computer systems. And some of the more familiar technology beamed every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. into rural living homes was also highlighted. Now we're proud to say that our books harvested quite a lot of attention. But the real story was the resolutions

for all the labor of the resolution as presented saying I suppose the resolution goes down. Seven out of fifty resolutions got the NAU treatment including one calling for a diversion program. Some argue that the government should stay out of agriculture when the votes were counted. The free market people had had their way. I resolution calling for the serving of milkshakes in public schools started a lengthy debate. The idea was to get rid of excess milk supplies. But some producers felt they were left out. The others didn't like the idea of children having ready access to very sweet drinks and a lady who got the discussion going was Howard County's pet langar Felder. She carefully aimed her loaded amendment at the delegate body and then fired you I like you. Furthermore we recommend that pork chops roast their own fresh fruits and vegetables corn meal muffins fried egg

sandwiches and chicken noodle soup to be offered on throughout the state. In addition we urge the U. And in addition we urged oil and the availability of cigarettes for an after lunch. We end up in the end the resolution to serve in the state school system passed 143 to 1 0 9 but it passed without amendment. The action took place Saturday as conventioneers were wrapping up a three day session. Leon Enfield is in our studio tonight and will further discuss with me the sixth or seventh annual meeting of the Maryland farm bureau later on in tonight's broadcast. When I hear some congratulations are in order you want to start off. Oh yes first of all it's your friend because for winning the agricultural agents award presentation made for a service agriculture. Congratulations. I would also like to congratulate Frederick County for the second year in a row.

They want to county farm program. And from up on the farm we'd like to thank everyone for making us feel welcome we saw quite a few old friends and we met quite a few new ones. Meanwhile the guest speaker at this year's convention was Richard Maguire. He addressed the delegates at Saturday's meeting but also spent some time with the press. Richard McGuire is New York former president and a member for the executive committee of the American Farm Bureau. At his press conference he talked about why the farm economy is doing so poor. And we have suddenly expanded our capabilities to produce far beyond our capabilities to console the dairy industry which is getting a lot of attention and it is definitely has been a situation of extreme adjustment. And yet its excess is only in the area of 8 to 10 percent. But the dairy industry is always been a domestic market and because of the limitations on world markets for dairy products as well as the fact that our

price here in the domestic market is about double that of the world market it seems obvious that we will not be able to. Do anything more than dump so to speak. The excesses we have in storage now and I and the real worry of the administration and the decline of their culture and the dairy farmers across the country is not necessarily that the livestock that is in storage. It is the demonstrated ability expanding ability to produce more dairy products. McGuire also spoke of the government's role in agriculture. Well of course we're saying consistently they should work at exporting more products the fact the matter is you can hardly manufacture stomachs. It's like a there's no sound unless there's an ear to hear it and food has no value Nessa somebody that will use it just to say that we're going to export food when the world is already full of it. You

end up in a situation where the only way you do it is sell it cheaper than somebody else will sell it. And in that kind of a price war it has a possibility of moving some product initially at a stat very rapidly because you took the price of market away from there trying to recapture You know I guess what we need is a is a famine someplace or a disaster and we certainly don't wish that nor could we legislate it. But at this particular point in time there are not deficient markets and that limits the government no matter what what their wishes are or what the politics are that limits their ability to do it. As you know President Reagan authorized the sale of 23 billion tons of metric tons of the grain to Russia. He could have said 50 may do is they're probably going to buy 8 or 9 or 10. Either they don't need it or they can't afford to pay for one of the tools. So authorizing the sale of a certain amount of anything

would be the same as General Motors they were going to authorize a sale of fifty thousand automobiles to South America but that doesn't make it happen. And that's one issue we'll be addressing for quite a long time. The Maryland farm bureau convention was only one of several important meetings this week. We'll have more after Art Anthony gives us closings on the national commodity market analysts recall the mortgage deal Exchange today to some of the six live cattle close to fifty seven dollars and thirty two cents a hundred weight off a dollar forty seven to a cattle close at fifty five point one five off a dollar ten live hog settle at its head a price of fifty six point four one hundred weight off a dollar 22 February hogs for fifty five dollars and eighty five cents off a dollar fifty five away pork bellies close $78 into cents off my two dollars. Largest price was seventy six dollars 77 cents also off two dollars and on the Board of Trade Chicago we came into December a price of three dollars twenty three and a quarter cents a bushel. That's what I have since March's price was three point for one in three quarters of three patties December corn settle at $2 thirty three and a half cents per bushel up two and a half cents Marsh's corn closed at two point three died up two and a half cents on the December market close at a dollar fifty a half a bushel That's up one and a half cents.

March elsewhere a dollar seventy and three quarters of one in three quarters of its January soybeans finished today at $5 an hour and three quarter cents That's up six and a quarter cents March's price was five point seventy eight and half up seven cents. Well I get tired trying to listen as fast as you can talk. Last week USA officials were trying to pinpoint where a new export business is coming from. And farmers and industry reps were trying to make the growing of these exports safer and more economical. Susan Smith has those two stories about the same time that farmers in Maryland were girding up for local legislation act officials in Washington were having the same idea. Hundreds met for a three day conference at the USDA. Many were banking on the revolutionary payment con program going into the Senate Ag Committee this week. But many say farm income won't be out of the woods anytime soon. Well 1982 has been the third for year in a row for farmers and as we look at the supply and demand situation for 1983 overall prospects are not very good. Supplies are large demand is weak and prices have been under pressure.

And we expect to see some modest increase in case stock producers returns to crop production are going to continue to be depressed even though inflation is slow and production expenses are rising very rapidly. There's not much basis for projecting much of an increase in farm income for 1983. Earlier this fall John Block was hopeful that the Soviets the world's largest grain buyers 23 of the one hundred two million metric tons of grain in the U.S. But many experts aren't counting on oil we probably wouldn't be selling as much as we did in the year like 1900. But we would still be selling an amount probably in the low to mid teens easily metric tons of both wheat and corn. You think that rejection isn't likely to brighten much. Well I think that the Soviets are making a lot of changes in their own domestic policy that sometime in the mid 80s and beyond might make them a less attractive market particularly for things like

wheat. Meanwhile on the Eastern Shore Thursday farmers and industry reps were trying to make the business of farming here in Maryland better and safer. Three hundred of them attended the annual Maryland conference held at the center. Some came to renew their applicators licenses but many were there to learn how common farm chemicals can be used more safely. Of course all wanted to avoid a chemical barn fire like the one that injured at least 50 people in Frederick County last month. Two of the speakers explained some other concerns over pesticide safety on the farm. Many times that people have used a chemical over Newman they feel secure whether they know how to use it and sometimes they can circumvent some of the precautions. How many pesticides are on the skin. So it's important that farmers and farm families be aware of every member of their family used improperly. If he's not using the proper safety equipment perhaps the most immediate acute accident could occur would be a splash back what we call a splash back from agitation

paddles in the mixing tanks or a splash back from the jug of chemical itself and it would get has virtually 100 percent absorption almost immediately. Then it's up to him to get to a water source a clean water source as quickly as possible and flush is very very well for 10 to 15 minutes before seeking physician for further treatment. Of course along with other rising production expenses pesticides have become a portion of the farm budget. Ron Reder of the University of Maryland told me some economical developments won't be long in coming. Some of new techniques coming along on the horizon for farmers really I think there are three fall number one some of the new robotic applicators re circulating type sprayers that are available. Secondly we have the control droplet applicators which use a lot less volume on a parade basis. And then thirdly one other spraying technique which is called electrostatic.

It's actually a charged particle put out once again being a low volume per acre basis. Another thing down the road that will see farmers using. We all hope that those lessons on safety would seem to be directed at farmers in the winter I remember come growing season. You know students of agriculture may soon be finding that the world job market is their oyster. That story right after these local market prices. It area lines so I want to destroy steers Hagerstown 57 59 West friendship fifty seven of your nine Lancaster fifty nine point five to sixty one point five good steers Hagerstown 52 to 56 was French of 53 to 55 Lancaster 55 58 it good to have yrs Hagerstown 51 to fifty three point two five was friendship thirty six to fifty seven point seventy five Lancaster 55 58. Good have 46 to 50 was French at 52 53 like Mr 50 to 55. Utility cows Hagerstown thirty eight to forty one was friendship 34 to 40 color cows Hagerstown 35 37 west right up thirty two to thirty eight fifty three to fifty four point five west friendship and fifty six to fifty six point seventy five like a straight fifty four point seventy five fifty five fifty and a few up to 56 and apples in the Appalachian area.

Red Delicious five point seven five to six for bags. Nine to nine fifty four tres Golden Delicious six point two five to six fifty four bags 850 to nine for tres beauties five point seven five to six for bags seven to eight for trays stamens $10 for bags. Six to six fifty for trays York's $6 for bags. 99 fifty four trays wine saps sixty six fifty four bags only. Usually what goes up must come down. So far that's not true for the increasing number of jobs filled by graduates of Agriculture schools. Susan Smith has more. This is farm drive and may not be a route you've ever taken but it's Maryland's only home a back education and over 1000 students at the University and College Park nationwide at colleges will graduate 37000 students this school year. But in spite of a depressed economy on the farm and everywhere else there won't be enough back graduates to fill the 60000 jobs waiting for them. In fact add related jobs are growing and quantum leaps while agone Roman made a con by a fourth over the next 10 years. That's why

the new dean of the college has come up with a plan to revitalize the school. We are in a period now where you have to market a university as it were not not in a commercial sense but we feel that we have a mission to the food and fiber industry and the needs of not only the state in the nation but the world. So we feel we have to market to university and the college. And in order to do that we go out to get students who are interested in agriculture and we're going to do this through a recruitment team which we've organized. Consisting of senior faculty members from each department want to do members of each department plus volunteer students and scholarships and forming a student advisory committee are all part of his nine point plan. But the Dean says there are going to be fundamental changes in the coursework itself. We can achieve this to some extent by interfacing more strongly with other

divisions on campus so that our students may take an additional course in psychology or even take a course in the last year or so and other kinds of courses that normally you wouldn't consider in an AI curriculum. Our primary mission I believe is to develop a thinking student who has the self-confidence to arrive at conclusions because they were able to use logic and they were able to enter into a problem solving mode in a given situation. And so you believe that the University of Maryland is going to set the cow college image that scales are not shit we're going to sophisticated that sophistication includes preparing undergraduates for work in other cultures. But these embellishments he says won't detract at all from the basic reasons young people are attracted to agriculture in the first place. There is a concern on the part of our young people a real concern that to make a contribution to society. And it's kind of a

noble feeling are concerned they have to make their life count for something worthwhile and of course one of the best ways to do that is in caring for ensuring provision of food. Most alumni stay here in Maryland working with its most precious resource and despite exposure to rapidly advancing technology. Students said their attraction to farm work is really quite simple. I started working in Harford County I guess when I was about 12 years old and he's got a small general store out there. I like live life I like hard work but like I was working like be my own boss. I was raised in the suburbs and decided I wanted to be a farmer. So I worked hard. And I didn't really know. Residents of central Maryland will have a chance next week to air their opinions or ask questions

about some of the university changes Susan just mentioned. That's December 14th at 10:00 a.m. at the Carroll County agriculture center in Westminster. For more information you can call the center at 8 4 8 4 6 1 1. And you know for many young people one of the best ways to learn about agriculture is through 4:8 which held at 60 First National Congress at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago this past week. Nearly seventeen hundred four acres a ride from all 50 states the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. And they discussed everything from nutrition and computers to decision making and stress on the farm. Many of them received special honors for their work in agriculture over the past year and received scholarships totaling nearly $300000. Among those recipients were Annette hisor of Fallston Maryland who want to scholarship for breaking a wild horse making her a state fair winner right here in Maryland. And Donald Anderson of Whitehall. Also want to scholarship for his work on home livestock project. We wish those winners and all the other ones who represented Marilyn good luck. From our

events file this week there's an open house an opera co op or excuse me Friday to celebrate the opening of the agri service fertilizer Bowl lending plant. It's a first of its kind in southern Maryland. The event is being held from 11 to 5 o'clock with a bowl roast at noon. And if you want to find out more call Wayne Sinclair at 9 3 2 6 5 2 7. And Glenn are we going to have some good weather for them this is what I was looking here it says that it's going to be good but not quite the heat wave that we've had in fact. Well you might call these recent 70 degree highs a heat wave but this hasn't been all fun and games for farmers. The warm wet weather has delayed the tail end of the soybean harvest and a lot of the bean plants are laying on the ground. That means a danger of mold especially on the eastern shore. Farmers there are hoping for the wind to shift around to the northwest and dry things out. That won't happen soon in fact is a good chance of showers and thunderstorms in the short and night tomorrow as the forecast is for mostly sunny skies highs in the 50s. Lows in the 40s for Wednesday partly cloudy and cooler high about 50 lows again near 40. The cool

cloudy trend should continue through the rest of the week. Next the chat with Maryland farm bureau president Leon Enfield That's right after these local market prices. In area great markets number two red winter wheat western Maryland down to three point five central Maryland up to three point four rode over to yellow shelled corn Baltimore down to a 2.5 seven western Maryland unchanged 2.3 three central Maryland unchanged 2.4 to Southern Maryland down to boys 3 6 Eastern Shore down for two point five one number one yellow soybeans on Baltimore four at five point six eastern shore up three of 5.6 for Southern Maryland up eight five point five for the Frederick County hay and straw auction last week 6 loads of alfalfa brought 83 to $160 a tonne one load of alfalfa and Orchard Grass $109 for loads of Timothy 64 to $118 three loads of clover and Timothy 100 to one of the $3 to loads of stubble hay forty nine fifty one dollars for loads of straw fifty seven to seventy nine dollars three loads of firewood twenty eight point sixty six dollars a cord. Today's poultry markets New York grade-A ready to cook ice pack fryers thirty eight point nine one cents a pound bland grade thirty seven point three eight cents a

pound nine cities weighted average thirty nine point forty eight cents a pound down point one five cents a pound. New York carton eggs extra large 64 to 67 cents a large 61 to 64 medium 51 to 53 and that's it for the markets this week. Thank you Art promised me tonight. Elected re-elected president back up on a farm and rightly I got two more years but they're not on fire. No it doesn't look like it will be we're still producing more than what the consumers are buying as the market prices are down and it doesn't look like it's going to be a real close turnaround to higher prices. And we have one of the resolutions that we talked about a little earlier tonight had to do with the fact that the farm bill was voted down a resolution asking that the government come in and form a set aside why. Why did that happen do you think. Well I think that the basic idea of the farmers here in Maryland that they want to

go for a free market and keep government out with the paid programs that go across the board for gray area. I mean that was pretty much geared towards green This was a set aside diversion program as far as green is concerned dairy we're concerned about that situation we have amendments concerning that they want to three year base average to reduce the amount by 10 percent of the government stocks reduce to 5 billion pounds. They want to USDA to make a more concentrated effort to reduce the stock of the surplus products and they're willing to pay 10 percent of that taxes being charged to support the dairy program to go for mandatory dairy product promotion. OK how would you describe the mood of your constituency if you will. The feeling I got from Betty and I both a great talk and how it was sort of a mixed bag.

We talked to some people said they've they've made some of this past year a little bit and they're hoping that somehow things brighten up. What's your feedback on feeling from the convention. Well from the convention most everybody there seemed to have an optimistic outlook which we're all concerned about prices were going to happen. The grain prices you don't think can go much lower than what they really are. The dairy industry is concerned as to what the eventual outcome will be as far as the dairy support program. We're facing pretty rough times if this program does go down as far as the dairy industry is concerned. But yet at the convention most everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves looking out for the coming year and fairly optimistic I thought. I have to ask if the feeling was that government should not be involved in cutting back on food production. Who then is going to do it. Point out I guess you might say if we both knew the answer that we would be sitting here. But I think it's just going to be an eventual turn around time as low

prices gradually create less production until such time as we ever bring production back in line. Does that mean that what causes a decrease in production of cars that mean that there's going to be a lot of people buying a business that was going to it's going to mean it. Who are the most efficient and the sharpest operators are going to remain and those of us who are sharp and careful with what we do and make bad decisions. We're going to end up in the red and we're going to lose some people. So it's gotten down to survival of the fittest. Do you think that's what's going to be the law of farm country for the next 10 years. Well I think Glenn really that's what it's always been with the farm country it's always been the fittest. Farming has never been easy. Some times are harder than others and we're in one of those hard times but there have always been those times that we've lost farmers as we go along. And there are still people making money right apparently. Listen thanks for being with us tonight and good luck your next two years any special things that you're going to

give us what 20 second plans for next course we're looking to try to keep as many farmers in business as possible we're trying to tell the farm story. We're going to be looking to the state legislature to try to tell the farmer side of the story in the new legislature. We know that's probably going to be a challenge during this coming year. But there's a lot of things going to happen next couple years. Thanks for being with us. My pleasure. Where Enfield is only one of many guests we bring you each week. There might be some other people you'd like to see interviewed and up on the farm or questions you'd like to ask. You can just jot them down and sent in to us here on up on the farm. Owens Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. That address once more is up on the farm. Owens Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. And they will tell you about next week's show Betty. That's right. Next week Glenn tours muskrat territory that is the marshes of the Eastern Shore. And of course he has Marsh rabbit expert Marty Bennett as his God. And one more reminder it's membership time here at Maryland Public Broadcasting and your financial help is what keeps programs like up on the farm a lot. So stay tuned for information on how you can

give to Maryland Public TV. For now I'm glad you could be with us tonight I'm Betty see you next week. You're up on the farm has brought the mail letters to a general support grant made possible by farm credit banks of Baltimore Maryland farm good associations and the members of the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting.