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Show April 1975 Page 3 Utah Farm Bureau News UFBF head urges continued postal strike ban Elmo Hamilton, president of the Utah Farm Bureau, has reasserted the organizations stand against compulsory union membership and called for the defeat of H.R. 55, a bill that would permit postal employees to strike. We maintain that the right to strike has limitations, he said. Using this powerful tool must be consistent with the public interest. A postal strike would interfere with the rights of others, therefore it is inconsistent with our policy set by our members. Hamilton recalled that Farm Bureau was effective five years ago, during passage of the Postal Reorganization Act, in keeping the right to strike out of the bill. The nations largest farm organization also helped to see that a section was inserted in the act guaranteeing the right of postal employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join a union. The proposed amendment to the act would provide that agreements between the Postal Service and a union representing postal employees could require compulsory union membership of all employees. If Congress passes this amendment, its true that it would limit and delay But it strikes, Hamilton conceded. would still establish a right to strike under certain conditions. We oppose the bill because of that. The Utah farm leader quoted Farm Bureau labor policy, set in January 1975 by farmers representing the 2.4 million member families in the nation, as fol- Target prices will be like ceilings We hold that the Constitution of the United States guarantees to each individual the freedom to engage in worthwhile work and that this freedom is not contingent upon the paying of homage to any individual or organization. Many kinds of strikes should be prohibited in the public interest, including. . .a strike by local, state or federal government employees. . . to operate under the market price system. Continuing use of direct commodity payments will not permit us to reach this objective. The target price concept of the 1973 Farm Act, now being amended, includes the compensatory payment approach in disguise. It is an unsound approach. In the early 1970's, when government began backing away from high price supports, U. S. farmers demonstrated their faith in the market price Wallentine and system brought many millions of acres back into production. 1974 until farm exExports skyrocketed accounted for the production of ports one acre in every three. Net farm exports offset oil imports for several years. Farm exports were the salvation of our world balance of payments problem for a number of years and still remain as our first-lin- e weapon against the oil cartel's price squeeze. Trouble developed early in 1974 By Booth Wallentine Executive Vice President Utah Farm Bureau Federation The recent downturn in feed grain prices has brought new talk about higher government price supports for agriculture. In fact. Congress has voted sharply higher target prices for wheat and feed grains. A few farmers, particularly in the Midwest, are saying, If the government wants all-oproduction, at least they should guarantee a high enough price to pay costs. On the face of it, that may sound logical and fair. But iarmers have been down that road before. Price supports on feed and food products which are designed to be price minimums almost inevitably become a price ceiling. And as Ken Thatcher, secretary of the Iowa Farm Bureau says, If government guarantees prices that will get farmers only the cost of production, farmers cant afford it. Farm Bureau's objective is to create a climate which will enable agriculture ut set-asi- de Pradluds for Home and Famnm labor-manageme- nt lows: when government, responding to the consumer cry, began restricting exports of U.S. farm products. This sent an economic shudder through agriculture. It also signalled foreign buyers that America was no longer a reliable source . of supply for their vitally needed food and feed products. At long last, government has recognized its mistakes and has relaxed trade restrictions. But much damage has been done to our trade relationships. Against all of this, now is certainly no time to raise price supports. Com sumers, many of whom do not understand the economics of food production, would be quick to insist on these minimum price supports becoming a maximum. The day of consumer power has arrived! Quoting Thatcher again: The price support issue has always been a tough one for farmers and farm organizations. A guarantee looks attractive, but farmers should remember the long years when corn was sealed at a little over $1 and the market price stayed right there. Are we ready to accept 10 years of com (or other commodity) prices at cost? I FA Spring IFA Compare Home Galvanized 20 Gal. $3.94 Full line of Northrup-Kin- flower g Knives Garbage Cans Garden and vegetable seeds. Proven for excellent yield in this climate. your best buy. Prices. Dollar for dollar & Quality Close out- 25 off - pocket and hunting knives HERES PROOF... Thor has both high yields and staying OSHA exempts small employers from regulations Employers who had 10 or less employees in 1973 are not required to maintain records under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Department of Labor recently announced in the Federal Register: However, any employee fatalities or multiple hospitalization accidents must be reported. The small employer exemption was mandated by Congress in passing fiscal 1975 appropriations for the Labor Department. Since it is tied to appropri- 1 ations, the exemption will end July unless Congress provides for an extension or revises the federal law establishing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Farm Bureau fought to have the Labor appropriations bill amended to provide for a completed exemption from OSHA regulations of employers with 25 or fewer persons and to provide consultation service on health and safety requirements for employers. In announcing the recordkeeping Derequirement exemption, the Labor partment said the exemption would not apply to any employer who is selected to participate in a statistical survey of occupational injuries and illnesses. Chick Optimil Feeders Medicated high potency supplement for nursing calves. Cardboard 180 each Galvanized 36" $2.10 and sizes 4 lb. 20 lb. off in case lots 10 power. 1972 field trials conducted in 10 states at 21 In different locations, Thor averaged 7 higher yields than Vernal. a recent university trial, Thor ranked first in resistance to bacterial wilt over 43 And, n other alfalfas. And beat Vernal (formerly the standard for wilt resistance) by 70. No wonder Thor sold out two years in a row. Dont be disappointed. See us now. Prices effective until April 15th Everyone is welcome to shop IFA Stores. INTERMOUNTAIN FARMERS STORES If IFA sells you can depend on it. it American Fork, Utah 1 28 N. 1st West. Logan, Utah Cedar City, Utah N. 200 West. Manti, Utah 597 W. 2nd No.. 756-452- 586-631- 2 Delta, Utah 498 W. Main Draper, Utah 1045 E. 12400 So. 467-150- Loa, Utah 80 So Mam. 1375 Wall Ave.. 836-283- 1 835-420- 394-275- Payson, Utah 57 W. 1st No.. (208) 852-066- 1 465-223- 9 240 W. 1st No., 1 Ogden, Utah Preston, Idaho 303 So. State 4 752-554- 6 1 637-065- Provo, Utah 55 W. 5th So., Richfield, Utah 448 E. 1st So.. Riverton, Utah 860 W. 12600 So. 373-768- 1 Hwy. 89 So.. St. George, Utah 310 Industrial Road 529-393- 2 0 896-577- 254-350- Spanish Fork, Utah Salina, Utah Price, Utah 2355 No. Main, 673-363- 467-150- 4 P.O. Box 776 722-254- 2 (208) 547-305- 6 18 257-541- Sprinkler Irrigation Highway 89 South 7 Salina. 529-725- Soda Springs, Idaho 1 Roosevelt, Utah 192 N. 3rd East. Cannery Road. 798-74Tremonton, Utah 241 So. 3rd W.. 1 Salt Lake City, Utah 1800 So. West Temple 1 it 9 |