Vol 11. No. 45
Tobacco Crop
11 Million lbs.
Below 1956
The yield of Pennsylvania seed
leaf tobacco is estimated at 40,-
500,000 pounds this year, nearly
11 million pounds less than last
year, according to latest surveys
Estimates on Sept. 1 showed
tobacco was 13 per cent below the
Aug. 1 forecast of 46,500,000
pounds. Yield per acre was esti
mated at 1,350 pounds and com
pares with the 1,550 pounds re
ported on Aug. 1 and 1,700 pounds
obtained last year.
Probably worse than the lose
m pounds per acre is the lowering
of leaf quality, according to in
dependent buyers in the county.
They compared the crop to the
1947 crop which was grown under
somewhat similar conditions
The slow growth and stunted
conditions of the plants mean that
the leaf may be poor burning and
sharp flavored. The leaf this year
also lacks texture and “life ”
However in certain production
piocesses now in use by the major
cigar producing companies, this
may not be as much a drawback as
before The processing of the leaf
tends to make it milder and the
production of scrap makes it pos
sible to blend tobaccos in such a
manner as to utilize more “off
flavor” tobacco.
There is considerable optimism
m the county about the price to
expect from tobacco There are
two reasons given generally
First is that if the price is drop
ped drastically, the acreage next
year will show a drop. It is anti
cipated that the new production
techniques will require more to
bacco in the future and a drop
in production could put the large
manufacturers in a tight buying
position.
The second reason is that at
least one of the “big-three”
bought very little of the crop last
year and that the other two com
panies did not buy in excess of
their current needs.
Therefore they will require a
certain volume of tobacco to carry
on operations regardless of the
lowered quality.
Another trend being evidenced
in the county this year is the de
cision on the part of many farm
eis to sell “pull-off.” Farmers feel
that with the low quality of leaf, it
would be of little value to size and
sort There would be little of the
larger sizes of leaf to demand a
premium price.
Another optimistic note is the
iapid gams that late planted to
bacco is making now. Some pro
ducers feel that if frost comes late
this fall, this tobacco will be of
good quality and size. They ad
mit that this is sort of a gamble,
but the gains to be made make
the risk worthwhile
County Team
Represents State
At Exposition
The state of Pennsylvania will
be represented by three Lancas
tei County youths in the egg judg
ing contest at the NEPPCO Ex
position to be held in Harrisburg.
The t earn members, John
Shenk, Glenn Porter and Floyd
Moore Jr., won the state title at
’ H Club Week in August.
The contest at Harrisburg
nieans that the young men will
lave to learn a new skill—egg
candling. For the 4-H contests,
PACKING SILAGE IN A NEW trench silo
is Dennis Sangrey, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Sangrey, R 1 Conestoga. The San
greys built the new silo this year to replace
West Lampeter Fair to Present
33rd Annual Edition Wednesday
Generally accepted throughout
the county as one of the best, the
West Lampeter Community Fair
will open for the thirty-third time
on Sept. 25 for a three day iuii
Featuring 17 departments, the
exhibits on display will include
vocational home projects, the
Lampeter gymkhana, dairy cattle
and products, swine, baby beef,
poultry and eggs, field crops, vege
table, fruits, nuts, flowers, handi
work, baked goods and honey, can
ned goods and commercial ex
hibits.
In the Lampeter Community
Center Building will be handi
work, baked goods, canned goods,
eggs, flowers and milk. All other
exhibits will be on the community
center grounds, m the pavilion
and in tents.
Thursday morning of the fair
will see a dairy judging contest
in which boys and girls will com
pete for a $25 savings, bond. A
fitting contest with awards of both
cash and ribbons will also be held
the same day
In the twelfth annual Lancaster
County Dairy Calf award compe
tition, Holstein, Guernsey and Ay
shire breeders will present a pure
bred heifer calf to students of vo
cational agriculture -
The purpose of this event is to
promote interest in the breeding
of pure-bred dairy cattle, to offer
to worthy students of vocational
agriculture an opportunity to start
their own herd and to stimulate
interest in improved dairy farm
practices, a love for animals and
an active part in a cooperative en
terprise.
Winners of calves last year
were Walter K. Cassel, Rl Man
heim, Holstein, Kenneth Young,
Rl Mt. Joy, Guernsey, John Erb,
R 2 Manheim, Ayshire; and John
Hess, Rl Washington Boro, Brown
Swiss.
they learned to grade eggs by ex
ternal appearance and to judge
poultry. At the coming contest
no poultry will be judged. How
ever eggs will be judged on both
external and internal qualities.
Quarryville (Lancaster County) Pa., Friday, Sent. 20, 1957
Applicants are selected on the
basis of their supervised farming
programs, high school scholastic
record, FFA and school activities,
judging at breed field day con
tests, replies to 10 questions, an
essay on their plans and aims for
the future and a personal inter
view
Officers of the fair are: presi
dent, Harold G. Rohrer, R 7 Lan
caster; vice president, Mark Myer,
Lampeter, secretary treasurer,
Wayne B. Rentschler, Lampeter,
assistant secretary treasurer, J.
Lloyd Rohrer, R 7 Lancaster; re
cording secretary, Mrs. Harold
Rohrer, R 7 Lancaster; correspond
ing secretary, Mrs. Clyde Steiner,
Lampeter; assistant treasurer?,
George W Myers, R 1 Willow
Street, and Robert L. Adams,
Lampeter; general manager, Roy
B. Herr, R 7 Lancaster; and assist
ant general managers, Snavely
Garber, R 1 Willow Street, and H.
Leßoy Welk, R 1 Strasburg.
Progressive DHIA
Reports 5 Herds
Average 35 lb.
The Progressive Dairy Herd Im
provement Association reports for
the month of July that there were
3,378 cows on test in the 103 herds
of the association. There were five
herds over 35 lbs. of butterfat
with the leading herd belonging
to Vernon Umble.
Herd Milk Fat
Vernon Umble 1,050 38.5
John Stoner 957 38 3
Harold Umble 1,025 37.9
Robert C. Burkins 912 37 3
Freeman & Rhodes 869 35 5
There were eight cows over 70
lbs. of fat with the leading cow
belonging to Elmer Young. This
cow, a Holstein, produced 2,124
lbs. of milk and 99.8 lbs. of fat
with a 4 7 per cent.
Herd Milk Fat
Elmer Young 2,124 99 8
Harold Umble 2,313 83.3
Harold Umble 2,114 80.3
(Continued on page 16)
dirt trenches they had been using. For ad
ditional photos and story, see page 6 of
this issue.
4-H Stock Team
Judging Monday
At Richmond, Va.
The Lancaster County 4-H Live
stock Judging Team will be judg
ing at the Atlantic Rural Exposi
tion in Richmond, Va. Monday
The team, consisting of Donald
M. Herr, Refton; James Hess, R 1
Strasburg, and Donald Welk, R 1
Strasburg, will be accompanied
by club leader Victor Longeneck
er, R 3 Elizabethtown.
The team won first at the 4-H
Club week at Penn State.
Now Is The Time . . .
Max Smith
this group feeds steers for the Pennsylvania Ex
position, the Eastern National, and the State Farm Show. The New
Holland Club feeds for the New Holland Farm Show. The Garden
Spot Club is sponsored by the Commission folks at the Stock Yards
for their summer show. Details may be obtained by contacting this
writer.
TO RESPECT FLY-FREE DATE FOR WHEAT Many operators
are getting their ground ready for fall seedings of winter grain. We
suggest that wheat not be seeded in this county until after Oct. 10;
more Hessian fly infecion will be found in the earlier seedings. The
one exception to this recommendation is in the case of Dual wheat
which is regarded highly resistant to fly and may be seeded at any
time.
TO FERTILIZE WINTER GRAINS Many inquiries are received
about fertilizer for winter gram following such a dry season. Uh
doubtedly, some of the fertilizer remains un-used; this is especially
true in case of heavy applications. However, in order to develop' a
stiff straw and reduce the amount of lodging, it was suggested that
applications of phosphorus and potash be made this fall. In the
amount of 300 pounds per acre of an 0-20-20, less lodging can be ex
pected.
By MAX SMITH
County Agricultural Agent
TO BE CAREFUL WITH SUDAN GRASS Prus
sic acid poisoning may be present in sudan grass
when under 15 inches tall both in summer and
after drouth conditions; also it is dangerous after
a killing frost. With the new growth at the
present time following the rams, livestock opera
tors are advised against grazing sudan grass until
the growth is at least 15 inches high.
TO ENROLL FARM YOUTH IN BABY BEEP
PROJECT Steer feeding is traditional here in
Lancaster County and several baby beef clubs
are operating this year. In 4-H Club Work the
Red Rose Club covers all of Lancaster County;
$3 Per Year
Second Annual
Feeders Tour
To Be Oct. 8
The second annual tour for cat
tle feeders m Lancaster and sur
rounding counties has been sched
uled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, accord
ing to Melvin G. Rohrer, R 3 Lititz,
tour committee chairman.
The first of these tours was held
last year Approximately 200 feed
ers visited farms m the Chester
County area
The tour this year will include
visits to feeder cattle operations,
fruit packing and fruit processing
plants in Franklin and Adams
Counties.
In Chambersburg the tour will
stop at the Garnet Dico & Bros,
farms This is a thousand acre
farm where 200 head of cattle are
wintered on silage and hay us
ing self-feeders.
The Wilbur Grossnickle farm,
at Mercersburg will be the next
stop, Grossnickle operates 250
acres and feeds 125 head of Neb
raska cattle with auger-type feed
ers These feeders, 135 feet long,
are used for both silage and grain.
He also uses a 18 by 60 foot silor
and push-button feed handling.
After a picnic lunch at James
Buchanan State Park at noon, the
feeders will tour the S. A. Heisey
& Sons fruit packing company at
Mercersburg. Heisey has 300 acres
of apples, 75 acres of nectarines,
60 acres of peaches, and a grading
and packing operation. He has
been a leading Farm Show winner
in the fruit classes.
The last stop will be at the Mus
selman Processing Plant in Big
lerville. This is one of the leading
fruit and vegetable processing
plants in this part of the nation.
Apple butter, apple sauce, vine
gar, prepared pie mixes and other
food items are among the products
produced.
(Continued on page ten)