Milford chronicle., 1963-10-11

2mmnmnIuI
farmers have hay to sell. His
county IS reasonably close from
Delaware perhaps 800 miles
unlike us) they had no drouth
problem.
We talked with John Rogers of
Accomac, Virginia about sugar
beets as a possible crop for the
Delmarva Peninsula. An Area
Re-development study has also
been recently completed in his
county, pointing up a need for
better vegetable marketing.
But enough. Conventions seem
to be a peculiar American Gus
tom. They are a good example
OF democracy In action. One Is
able to feel the pulse and to
sense the direction of our growth
at meetings outside Of our own
communities.
WHO CAN ADMINISTER farm
programs in the best interest of
farmers farmer committees or
appointed professionals? am
talking about the Agricultural
Sterilization and Conservation
programs, simplified as ASC.
Let's not confuse this with gen.
eral farm organizations.
One farmer came before the
county ASC committee this week,
and Inferred that farmers may
not be we'll enough trained to de-
eide farm problems. Curiously
enough, the bureaucrats repre-
sented: Lister Hall, Jr. (he Of
flee manager) and Gas secretary
and as sort of technical advisory
strongly disagreed. And our
county committee sided with us.
Even the Secretary of Agri-
culture, Mr.. Orville Freeman,
prefers the farmer committee
system. This In spite of the fact
that committee members may not
actively endorse all the farm
programs. The farmer members,
by and large, attempt to do a
conscientious and impartial Job
Of carrying out their elective
duties.
National farm problems have
become tremendously complex,
even In such questions as soil
and water conservation. Russia's
dilemma has been that they give
one answer for all situations.
Local conditions demand a judge
ment factor. And elected farmer
committees provide the most
democratic, impartial method Of
arriving at decisions which truly
represent local sentiment.
The democratic process pro-
vides for majority vote. And, In
most cases, decisions must be
made with limited facts. It al
ways amazes me how many more
times group action proves to have
been correct.
take my hat off to our farmer
committees here In Kent county.
They are sincerely aware Of
their responsibilities. They make
every effort to be fair in weigh
ing facts and In deciding issues.
Most bureaucrats would look
for a regulation, and rule on
that. Too often, regulations be-
come outmoded, are poorly de-
signed, and ignore the human
element.
Let's not sell democracy short.
It must be used in order to
work. Laws provide the frame
work. They are developed by
elected officials to fit given situ-
ations. We can't quit making
laws. We should keep changing
them. An appointed Judge cannot
change the law. He may interpret
1t or he may rule 1t uncon-
stitutional (although this is usual
ly team effort, lie. the Supreme
Court(.
TIME TO PLANT OATS : Oats
are the least winter-hardy of all
small grain varieties. They
should be planted now to allow
time for establishment and tiller
development before the cold
weather arrives.
Norline and DUB Bois are the
varieties best suited to Della
ware conditions. Norline is the
most cold resistant variety avail
able and 1t does produce high
quality, heavy grain. Both va
rieties yield heavily. And they
have stiff straw which makes
spring top dressing of nitrogen
possible for maximum yields with
little danger of lodging.