DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 1997           TAG: 9709300209

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SERIES: Focus: Election '97 

SOURCE: BY TONI GUAGENTI, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   89 lines

AT ISSUE: SUFFOLK FARMER WANTS LEADERS TO FOCUS ON AGRICULTURAL ISSUES

Frank Jordan's not looking for more from the government. As a farmer, he just fears getting less.

Over the years, Jordan, who grows peanuts on about 700 acres in Suffolk, has seen the funding stripped from many state and federal programs he has valued most.

That's why Jordan, 67, doesn't want to see the government wreak havoc on what's left.

``I'm not coming up with innovative ways to (raise money),'' Jordan said recently at his family's modern, country-style house set back near Lake Prince. ``I'm just trying to save what we've got.''

Like the money paid by farmers to the Virginia Peanut Board for every ton of peanuts produced. The money is supposed to be used for peanut research, education and promotion.

Jordan said he wants to make sure that money is used for its intended purpose. He said he doesn't want it to be used at the governor's discretion.

``There's no use in us taxing ourselves if we can't decide where it goes.''

Jordan also wants to ensure that the Virginia Cooperative Extension isn't gutted any more than it has been in recent years.

The extension helps farmers in many ways with research and education, and it's been an agency that Jordan, a Great Depression baby, has grown up with.

Over the years, Jordan has seen the services and the personnel provided by the extension dwindle.

For example, the extension used to help farmers send their soil to get tested free at Virginia Tech. Now, the farmer is responsible for paying for the sample, and for getting it to Blacksburg's land grant university.

The extension agency is also ``a real important part of education for rural people,'' a place where they can learn any new information about agriculture, said Jordan, who has served on the local and state Farm Service Agency committees.

``I don't want my money in prisons,'' he said, ``but I'm high on education and services to people,'' said Jordan, a 1951 graduate of Virginia Tech.

Jordan, father of two and grandfather of five, supports the idea of government paying more for education. His wife, Anne, was a second- and fourth-grade teacher for 23 years in Suffolk.

He also supports ``supply management'' programs, or subsidy programs, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jordan, who comes from a long line of farmers, said the programs have helped farmers make a living if they can produce the yield required.

``I don't want to go broke,'' he said.

He wants those in charge in Virginia to know that farmers are still a vital part of the state's economy and should be treated as such.

``It's important to help us save as many of these services, even if we have to pay user fees,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

JOHN H. SHEALLY II/The Virginian-Pilot

Frank Jordan of Suffolk...

Graphic with photos

CANDIDATES RESPOND

Do you favor cuts or increases when it comes to agricultural

funding for research and education, particularly when it comes to

the Virginia Cooperative Extension?

Donald S. Beyer Jr.: In 1995, I fought Gov. Allen's proposed cuts

to Virginia's agricultural extension services, and I will protect

those critical services in the future.

The hard-working staffs at the Departments of Forestry and

Agriculture deserve adequate funding and expert leadership, free

from partisan politics. Supporting these agencies and the Virginia

Cooperative Extension is essential to recruiting new agribusiness,

growing the existing industry, protecting consumers, and maintaining

healthy natural resources. I support the Virginia Tech Plan to carry

our agricultural industry into the high-tech and competitive future.

As governor, I will secure the research, technology and educational

resources needed to implement the Virginia Tech plan.

James S. Gilmore III: Economic growth will result in $5.5 billion

in new revenues. I will use these revenues to fund my top

priorities: hiring new teachers, establishing scholarships,

eliminating the personal property tax on cars and trucks and making

Virginia's neighborhoods safer.

Adjusting for inflation, there should still be about $1 billion

left to fund other programs. Agriculture is a vital part of

Virginia's economy, and it is vital that we maintain a strong

program of research and education, particularly the Virginia

Cooperative Extension. I am committed to supporting Virginia's

farmers and will work with them to foster continued strength in this

important part of Virginia's economy.

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