20—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 14, 1962 Part Time Fanning A Boon or Burden? By H. J. Bonser and C. W Porter, Pennsyliniiiii State University WiJJ farmers continue to supplement farm income by other productive work m the next few years’ Many Americans hate been part-time farmers since in dustrialization began in this countrv In spite of the in creasing specialization in the agricultural enteiprises, theie still mil be a substantial mini ber ot part-time farmers This type ot agnculture, Ion? a pait of the farm eco nomic scene, has been met with varying- degrees of en thusiasm over the years Some ba;l it as a substantial and secure wav ot life to others it is only a curious sociologi cal phenomeon As an insti tution, it is berated by some full-time farmers To industry it has been used as a “salety ralve” during- periods oi chronic unemployment Today many people wonder whether part-time farming -can still ex ist in these days of greater specialization in agriculture FOR A GOOD many people part-time farming is a way off Ufe —more than an ecom juic necessit . Young families with grown g children often find some open land arounfi a home moie appealing than the .city or ) s densley settled eubur’# Also in the urban fr inge. homes with some ac reage frequently can be pur chased for less initial incest fiient than comparable housing in towns, thus prodding some economic mcentice to would be pait-tmie farmeis Tins land often is farmed by the owner, not neeessaiil> to its fullest capacity, but to bring some income ecen at low labor and capital return Why -do people part-time farm w heu their labor on the farm earns about one-fourth to one-third as much per hr as other work’ Studies indi cate that lor some families the combination of tanning with outside work proc ides a great er total income for the lamilj than either the larm alone or other work alone There also is a sizeable group which feels it proc ides a measure of se em ity against unemployment or for retnement Society hab moie people who desire taim Imng than the nation needs or can use as lull-time farmers In other words, the nation now requir es barely file million fanners but has many more than this number who would prefeV to farm Some of this e\ce>s may find satisfactory adjustment on. small, part-time farms IN ('UK \SIMJIjY heavj capi tal intesiments are necessarj for farnurs to keep production costa in line with present-da> FOIt \NV l'\UM ITltl'OhK M \I)K THK I'AUMKIt'S \\ \V 1 I.WCXSTKU mjL i*i{<>i)r< v rio\ < 'UKDIT \SV> f‘l* in U..M a| TV UoM iill<- ltd. I/.iik aster. l*,i. I’lj. l/.mc. f I \ market prices. Many operators especially the middle-aged and those on inadequate farms, hud part-time working foi wages a satisfactory adjust ment These sM-eli the lanks of part-time farmers To a small extent, part time farming is a means of ecentually leaving the farm FARMERS AND ASSOCIATED BUSINESSMEN Our serines toiiid make your oiK-ration more eflieient and product he. LANCASTER LABORATORIES, INC. 2125 \KW HOIiIAM) PUCK, K VM'ASTKK, PN. Specialist* in Soils, Feeds, Fertilizers, Foods, Agricultural Chemicals. Buff is one of nine colors available in Hol land Stone Other colors available for your building in clude: Desert Brown, Charcoal Grey, Limestone Grey, Sandstone Brown, Terra Cotta Red, Coloni al White and Yellow. Choose your favorite color today! New Holland Concrete Products NEW HODKNM), PA Occupational histories indicate that some of. this movement is true for middle-aged and upper-middle-aged farmers Young farm people, however, are more likely to go directly from the farm to other work A sizeable number of young er middle-aged people from towns go into part-time farm ing In such cases the farm provides considerable food and also a wholesome environment lor growing children It is common to accuse part time farmers of contributing! to the farm surplus problem, 1 and of being in this way le sponsible for low price levels Phone Xa'olu Oli <!-!H14;5 Buff for certain farm products By produce heavily for their O’frn and large this is not true, use, and in this way remewe Part-time farmers, while nu- themselves as customers of merous, account tor about two foods they consume Still Choir per cent of all market sales total contribution to American of farm products. These part- agriculture is not sueh>*s 'to timers account for about one- hold them accountable for ov third of all l.irms counted in erproduction In more sltu*- the U S census lions than not, their dual Some part-time operators (Continued on Page 211 UNLOCK EXTRA HIDING VAUIIS IN YOB* , GRAIN & ROUGHAGES and turn them into profits wm SPECIAL TANVILAC INCREASE COSTS? * milD-IX-HA.VP FATTEN CATTLE ECONOMICALLY i:i K in 4-2114 C. O. NOLT DISTHIBLTOK lbs, of high p-otein lupjsfo* Vi lb. of Special TanvUaCr ily, with gra n and rough* give you bigger profit* AC'S AN MICAL CATTLE I EEP FEEDING , M THAT WILL [ ON£Y FOR YOU . whtii ymt f—i SKCMt Ik ham* |riwii fr«h<t «i 4 Grt fart, chMp fainrt O** iM«t parcanta«*l Y«« «n TanviUc »nW it a c«rt try mathMla. Phone Jjanr. KX 7-0751
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers