a grinder so it was usable. The net effect of such extra busting and grinding was a ruined grinder and the need for setting up a new grinder with all peripheral equipment. In addition, it was necessary that we hire men to do nothing but grind seedlac. were on the payroll for something over two months. These extra men 6) In addition to the problems suffered by the seedlac sitting in Los Angeles Harbor and becoming "tombstone" we also had the additional cost of financing the investment in inventory when paradoxically, the cost of seedlac involved was at the highest price seedlac has cost in recent history. 7) Along with all the other problems posed above, there was the necessity of juggling shifts, working some weekends, and of keeping men like bleachers on the payroll doing maintenance work when seedlac was not available for bleaching on three shifts. No way could we lay off an experienced and irreplaceable man such as a bleacher and risk the chance of his finding work in some other field. 70-725 O 72 pt. 4 12 Morrow County Grain Growers is a farmer owned cooperative located in Lexington, Oregon and as such it handles and markets the bulk of the wheat and barley crop grown in the 2nd. largest wheat producing county in Oregon. As of March 1, 1972 over 70% of the 1971 crop was unsold because of the lengthy longshoreman's strike. The longshore strike completely disrupted the movement of agricultural commodities in to the export market that the farmers have worked for so many years to establish. The market price for soft white wheat as of March 1, 1972 was $1.60 per bushel FOB Portland, Oregon compared with $1.78 per bushel 1 year ago. This drop in the price is directly atributable to the longshore situation. We cannot over emphasize the urgent need for passage of senate bill S3232. If this legislation is not passed and we are unable to gaurantee delivery of our agricultural commodities to export markets the damage to our economy will be irreparable. Thank you, Larry Mills General Manager MICO MONMOUTH-INDEPENDENCE CO-OP March 20, 1972 Senator Bob Packwood Dear Senator Packwood: I manage a small cooperative seed and feed business in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. We handle grains, seeds of all Kinds and manufacture feeds of various kinds. The unreliability of our public transportation systems has created havoc with our business in many ways. It has caused us to be unable to fill orders for the fall and spring seeded varieties of grasses and grains used overseas. We could not make delivery. Now our warehouse space is full of last years crop and we are heading toward a new harvest season with no storage space to put the new crop. This also caused a depressed market which in turn caused lower prices and increased storage and insurance costs, for we have to hold this crop for a much longer period than is normal. This means that the farmer will not have sufficient funds to pay his banker if the crop cannot be sold or moved. The warehouses will not buy from the farmer if they in turn can not sell or transport the crop to the ultimate consumer. The wheels of our seed and grain business just stop turning and the effects are felt all through the economy of our area. The feeling in this area is that some strike preventative legislation is absolutely necessary immediately. If this is not forthcoming then the national guard should take over the operation of the docks of whatever public transportation system is on strike and keep the system functioning so it does not effect the whole economy of an area. I've heard the statement from many farmers and farm related business people in this area that someone should be held responsible for the economic havoc that has been created because of MICO MONMOUTH-INDEPENDENCE CO-OP Page 2 March 20, 1972 these transportation strikes (both rail and dock). They also My personal feeling now is; stop the ability of labor to cripple any industry not directly involved in the dispute. I would not care what method was used as long as the job was accomplished. This has been nearly a fatal blow to our industry, we are not involved in the dispute, we have been patient but not any longer, now we want some positive action. I think the general feeling is that it is better to put up a real fight than to sit here and gradually be choked to death by another strike. This has been going on since last July we have missed the markets for planting seasons last fall and this spring and don't intend to miss another as this would be fatal to our industry. Sincerely, Jobert Forma Robert Lorence, RL: dcb COMPLETE LINE OF GRAIN FEED • SEED FERTILIZER RE: S. 3232, The Packwood Bill Relating to Transportation Strikes. We have not sought to testify in the current hearings on the Packwood We do, however, reaffirm our support for the enactment of effective legislation establishing procedures for settling transportation strikes. In our view the present situation is intolerable. The welfare of millions of people far removed from the controversy should be more effectively represented in national legislation on this issue than currently is the case. Farmers regard this as one of the crucially important issues at this time and one that should have top priority in the program of the Congress this year. We support the early enactment of s. 3232. We respectfully urge that the Labor and Public Welfare Committee favorably report this bill at an early date. It will be appreciated if you will include this letter and attachments in the hearing record. Sincerely yours, Lining Кожа Segretary-Treasurer and Attachments RF/sp |