Common Objections to Becoming a MAWG Member
(and our Responses to Them)
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
This is a good illustration of strength in numbers, and why membership is so important to the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG). Indeed, a wheat grower in Minnesota has a much better chance of influencing wheat-related policy through involvement in the MAWG, than by himself. And the more members, the stronger the organization.
The MAWG actively encourages wheat growers to become members through personal contact at meetings and farm trade shows, publications such as the Spring Wheat magazine, and phone calls. Further, the MAWG has teamed up with companies such as Dupont, Ciba-Geigy, Rhone Poulenc, and DTN over the years to offer various membership incentives.
With a membership base of just over 1,000, the MAWG is an organization that is growing, but there still exists much membership potential. Whenever a prospective member declines, we respectfully ask why. The reason may help the MAWG improve its activities and programs, and provides an opportunity to learn if an objection is based on an inaccurate perception of the organization.
Here are some common objections to becoming a MAWG member, and our responses:
MAWG HASN'T HELPED THE PRICE -- The MAWG works to address more than price; it works to affect profitability. Everything the MAWG does relates either to perpetuating issues which will improve the profit potential for a wheat grower, or discouraging regulatory policies which may reduce a wheat grower's ability to make a profit.
Examples of MAWG influence for improving profits:
* Early in its history the MAWG was instrumental in leading a successful national effort to establish deficiency payments for barley. In 1979, the first year of the program's operation, barley payments to Minnesota growers alone totaled $26 million.
* In 1987, the MAWG successfully lobbied USDA for lower posted county prices, so producers could profitably "PIK and roll" stored grain. This action resulted in 20 to 30 cents more per bushel on wheat moved to market. * The MAWG played a key role in obtaining grain quality adjustments for 1993 wheat losses, and earlier this year, urged state lawmakers to boost scab research efforts by $477,000.
Examples of MAWG influence for reducing costs:
* The MAWG was successful in urging the ASCS in 1991 to reverse cover crop planting requirements on set-aside by June 1. According to the MN Extension Service, the savings by cultivating the ground three times over the summer compared to investing in chemicals for weed control, clipping and disking, and losses in fertilizer, amounted to $25.55 per acre of wheat.
* Wheat leadership helped get energy taxes in the 1993 budget reduction proposal down from 8.5 cents per gallon on diesel and gasoline down to 4.3 cents, with all off-road farm uses exempted. Profit translation: $85 every 1,000 gallons of fuel purchased.
DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD, HAVEN'T SEEN RESULTS -- It would be great if we had a siren on top of every grain bin that spinned and blew with every accomplishment. The closest to it would be our Wheat Report, a bi-monthly newsletter sent to MAWG members; this magazine, sent to all wheat growers in Minnesota; or MAWG's daily segment on DTN. Receiving and reading these items would help in knowing more about MAWG's activities and the issues addressed by the organization.
Further, many policies come to a successful conclusion (or in the case of potentially damaging policies, a quiet death) with little credit to those who were involved, whether it be a lawmaker or an organization such as the MAWG. Participating in a MAWG activity or event, such as the annual convention or a visit to the state capitol in St. Paul during the legislative session, is helpful to see MAWG involvement first hand.
COSTS TOO MUCH -- The MAWG can empathize with a tough bottom line. If cash flow is a limitation to membership, we'll express hope that his or her situation improves and simply leave the membership door open for the future. In the meantime, we'll ask for input on MAWG activities, or if a prospect would like to participate in an upcoming MAWG activity.
Sometimes, membership hesitancy isn't a matter of cost, but perceived value. A three-year MAWG membership is $150. It will be raised to $175 (broken down, that's $58.30 per year) on Jan. 1, 1995, marking only the first increase since the organization began in 1976. The value of a three-year membership is heightened by the MAWG's daily DTN segment and other goodies for joining, including a cap and nylon briefcase.
Many current members say their involvement helps them obtain information helpful to their operations that they otherwise wouldn't be aware of. Consider also that not having a "watchdog" looking over wheat interests may result in much larger costs than that of a MAWG membership.
Mike Warner, a Hillsboro, N.D., farmer, said at the MAWG convention two years ago that he can't afford NOT to be involved with a farm organization. "You become more knowledgeable about your business, and that brings rewards. You will understand what moves and shapes your business. You will see the bigger picture beyond your farm and because of that you're going to market better, make better business decisions, and get a better sense of where (your industry) is headed," Warner said.
ALL THEY DO IS TAKE EXPENSIVE TRIPS -- A local church council or school board in most cases does not conduct business over the phone or in someone's home. Rather, leaders travel to a suitable meeting place in town. So it goes with MAWG. Many meetings do require travel.
However, most MAWG travel is limited to far-from-exotic meetings within the state. MAWG board members travel occasionally, as do leaders of other organizations, to national meetings and to testify or lobby on an issue in Washington, D.C. or other federal public hearing sites. MAWG board members do not travel overseas. (The Minnesota Wheat Council may have a board member travel overseas on a wheat market development visit every two or three years, and these missions may be funded in part or fully by national or federal sources.)
A National Association of Wheat Growers convention was held in Hawaii during the mid 1980s. Even though the expense of the Hawaii convention was less than some sites in the United States, the exotic location prompted much negative feedback. Our association agrees the national wheat convention should not have been held in Hawaii and opposes having it there in the future.
BELONG TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION -- Bully to you for being involved! Many MAWG members also belong to and support other farm groups. Consider that the MAWG may offer additional benefits for your involvement. Further, that the MAWG is the sole wheat voice in the state. If you grow wheat, your voice will be heard best through the MAWG.
ALREADY SUPPORT THROUGH THE WHEAT CHECK-OFF -- It's easy to confuse the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council with one another, since the MAWG and the Minnesota Wheat Council are both headquartered in the same building in Red Lake Falls, and share administrative staff. However, the two organizations are separate entities, each directed by a separate nine-member board consisting of elected wheat growers. The checkoff is administered by the Minnesota Wheat Council for wheat market promotion and development, and wheat research. But by state law, the Council cannot use checkoff funds to lobby. That's where the MAWG comes in, and the organization depends much on membership support for its lobbying activities.
DON'T LIKE PHONE SOLICITATION -- Several times each winter the MAWG conducts what it calls "teleblitzes," where prospective members of the MAWG are contacted. The teleblitzes allow us to talk personally with nonmembers about the MAWG. We appreciate that some prefer not to be called or disturbed. If so, we ask if the MAWG could send further information through the mail or talk about wheat issues with the prospective member in person.
DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT THAT BIG BUILDING -- Farmers who started the MAWG back in the 1970s put up some of their own money for a building. They decided on Red Lake Falls for a location, partly because they didn't want the organization to lose touch with wheat growers, which they thought may have been the case if it were located in the Twin Cities. Now the MAWG owns the building, paying it off in July, 1987. MAWG staff only occupies about one fourth of the building. The building is a source of revenue for the MAWG, as remaining space is rented out to other businesses and agencies, including ASCS and SCS. To keep administrative costs down, the MAWG shares office equipment, supplies, and staff with the Minnesota Wheat Council.
DON'T LIKE ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS -- All board members, regardless of their own crop mix or political persuasion, are involved in MAWG with the primary goal of building opportunities to help Minnesota wheat growers prosper. Ideological differences and crop diversification in fact help in establishing MAWG policies, because a more varied range of opinions and perceptions are contributed.
Farmers aren't on the MAWG board for life. Terms expire every three years, and farmers can serve a maximum of nine years on the MAWG board. Become a member of MAWG and participate in the election process, or even run for the MAWG board yourself.
DON'T LIKE MAWG'S POSITION ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE -- It's unreasonable to expect total agreement within an association of over 1,000 members on any particular issue. But issues are handled by the MAWG as they are elsewhere in the good ol' US of A: democratically, by majority vote.
Many of MAWG's policies are based on its annual resolutions process. Each fall, a group of wheat growers from across the state voluntarily gather to review old policy resolutions and propose new ones. Changes are made by majority vote. The resolutions drafted by this committee are then brought to the full MAWG membership at the organization's annual convention, usually held in late November or early December. There, final resolutions are adopted, again by majority vote.