14
Thursday, April 20, 1978
University Daily Kansan
Kansas farmers plan plow-downs to gain attention
By RUTH SHERMAN
Staff Writer
Jim Dimmitt, Johnson, has plowed under 40 acres of wheat this year and put cattle to graze on another 200 acres of fertile farmland. He says he plans to plow under the wheat or put cattle on 300 more acres before the end of the summer.
Weather conditions have prohibited Walter McClure, Hugeton, from planting spring crops, but he says he plans to plow under 60 acres of the 200 acres he will plant.
Dimitt and McClure are two of many Kansas farmers who have pledged to plow under from 30 to 50 percent of their grain crops to call attention to the problems of farmers and to the national agricultural strike.
Both men said reducing the number of areas they planted with grain crops would reduce water use.
"We don't think so, Dittiss, because we know if we go on like we have before," he said.
MCLLURE AGREED, saying, "If we
have a few children this year we
will be able fewer family acres."
McClure and Dimit, two coordinators of the American Agricultural Movement, were in Washington April 12 when the House of Representatives rejected emergency farm legislation that would have raised 1978 price supports for grain and cotton farmers.
The two men expressed disappointment and disillusionment with President Jimmy Carter.
Referring to Carter, Dimitt said, "I had high hopes that the man was going to fulfill some of his campaign promises. He has certainly let us down."
Farmers had not expected the emergency farm bill to be defeated, Dimitt said. A written survey of legislators taken by farmers April 12, was signed by 210 legislators supporting passage of the bill. The bill was defeated by a vote of 150-268.
"WE AS FARMERS have been used to telling a guy something and meaning it," McClure said. "That’s not true in our world." She added, "Your name on this page on a piece paper and mean it."
The national Democratic platform in the last election, Dumitri said, began with the words "This is a contract with the American people and promised to work for parity in the world."
"I guess the contract has expired," he said.
It is important that people understand why the farmers are striking, Dimitri said.
"There isn't a farmer around here who has lost $10,000 to $50,000 in the last two years."
high interest rates on loans and low prices for crops, account for this. Agriculture's
gross national product was $104 billion last year, while interest on farm loans collected
"WE ARE NOT asking for a guarantee profit," McClure said. "We're asking for us to have the opportunity to be able to survive in our business."
Opponents of the emergency farm bill argued that the bill would drastically injure livestock.
Dimit said, "Farmers use 42 percent of all goods consumed in the nation . . . We are consumers if we've got the money to buy goods."
Both Dittmil and McClure said that the government was telling farmers conflicting stories about the amount of surplus wheat in their fields. The government told farmers that prices were low because there was a surplus of wheat, but when farmers threatened to cut production the government says that they will create a surplus which will result in loss of foreign export revenues.
"WE ARE TRYING TO GET this administration to tell us whether we are short
McClure said that from what we could tell from the information available, the United States has a surplus of only 5 percent of a year's supply of wheat.
Dimitr and McCure said that they were concerned that Carter and many other influential people in government were members of the Tri-lateral Committee, an organization whose goal is to work for one world government.
Carter's actions, McClure said, "have right down the line with Tl-lateral
Dimitt said that although he was disappointed in the defeat of the emergency farm bill, he thought that the bill's defeat was due to his own lack of drawn support for the agricultural strike.
"We DECIDED TO come home and do it in the dirt," Dimitr said in reference to the plowdown. "We're gonna cut production." Mr. Sakurai train a profit from 100 bushels at a loss.
In a poll taken by the American Agricultural Movement in the Johnson area before the defeat of the farm bill, Dimitri said, 40 percent of the farmers signed up to plow under or graze from 30 to 50 percent of their land.
According to McClure, AAM polled 85 percent of the farmers in Stevens County, 35 percent of whom intended to participate in the plow-down.
Other tactics that have been discussed by farmers in the movement, Dimitit said, were the introduction of legislation on the state level and the filing of civil rights suits against the legislators who voted against the farm bill.
--programs to allow farmers to plan production, and provide them with the design of farm products.
Treasury dept. allows boycott, Ribicoff asserts
WASHINGTON  (UPI) - Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, D-Conn., yesterday charged that the Treasury Department, contrary to the intent of Congress, was allowing U.S. banks to take part freely in the Arab boycott of owned firms through letters of credit.
Ribicoff moved in the Senate Finance Committee to block approval of President Jimmy Carter's nomination of Donald Lubick to the Treasury's top tax official until the administration provided a full explanation of who was responsible.
Ribicoff said the guidelines were drafted in a sophisticated and deliberate attempt to allow American banks, including some of the largest enforce the Arab boycott by letters of credit.
JAZZ
JAZZ
The farmers' movement also will support another farm bill that has been introduced in Congress, McClure said. The bill calls for parity as a base for grain prices, prices above parity for grain that is exported, earlier disclosure of government farm
Ribcicoff is the author of a provision in the 1976 tax law denying tax breaks to companies that are not covered by such a rule.
JAZZ only at
On Jan. 20 the Treasury Department issued a new set of guidelines implementing
Paul Gray's Jazz Place 926 Mass. upstairs
"We're just gonna buckle down and work that much harder," McClure said. "We're gonna keep on fighting because we feel like we've got America in our hands."
Tonite Jam Session: No Cover! with the River City Jazz Band
THE ATTIC
Friday ... the Mike Beisner Quartet just back from Chicago. Great Listening Jazz $2.00 admission
Saturday ...The Gaslite Gang Dixieland Band Ray Ehrhart featuring Mike White 1930's Jazz Pianist and K.C.'s Leading Jazz Sax Player
Special Admission only $3.50 includes Free Beer, Peanuts, Popcorn & Soft Drinks call 843-8575 for reservations
Cap sleeve tops with contrast piping in poly/cotton - Machine Washable. Available in red, white, yellow, navy, green and blue. $8.00 and $9.00. Tennis and Boxer Shorts in matching $8.00 and $9.00. Also, Tank Tops. $6.00.
The Quality Of The Recording
Due To The Phenomenal Response And
We Are Returning!!
THE OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS
TICKETS $6.00
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
AVAILABLE AT:
KIEF'S, LAWRENCE
OPERA HOUSE-
7th SPIRIT CLUB
SPECIAL GUEST
AN ALBUM! A CONCERT! ONE SPECTACULAR COWTOWN PRODUCTION OF COURSE
DOORS
OPEN-7:00
SHOW TIME-8:00 RECORDING LIVE
The Lawrence Opera House