4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 12, 1966
From Where We Stand...
Eggs Found Not "Grade A"
All The Way
We know that a very high per
centage of eggs are of “Grade A n
quality when they leave our modern,
efficient poultry farms. What happens
to them between the chicken and the
consumer?
What happens is not very flatter
ing to the image of excellence the in
dustry has tried to create for this fine
product, nor is it likely to give sagging
sales the boost they need so badly. At
least, not according to a survey recently
reported by CONSUMER REPORTS.
The survey suggests that a broad
gap exists between state standards and
enforcement of those standards. Their
samples, taken in New York City and
in Kansas City, Missouri, seem a little
small to lead to any monumental con
clusions. In each case, 125 cartons of
eggs labeled Grade A were checked.
These cartons were bought in all kinds
of stores and in neighborhoods of varied
economic levels.
It was found that 71 percent of
the New York City eggs sampled were
below state Grade A standards. In
Kansas City, the same size and type
of sample showed 77 percent of the car
tons purchased were below grade.
In contrast, New York State In
spectors last year reported less than 10
percent of the cartons inspected below
grade, and in Missouri less than 1 per
cent of the stores were issued “stop
sale” orders for selling below grade
eggs
One interesting sidelight to this
limited study was that supermarkets
were generally found to be selling more
eggs that matched the labeled grade
than were smaller stores.
While a sample of 125 cartons does
not seem to provide a statistically valid
sampling to us. the report has drawn
conclusions and presented its case to
the public This means another black
eye for the egg producer Nutritionally,
Grades A and B are equal, but the con
sumer isn’t generally impressed with
that fact. When she pays for Grade A
she expects to receive Grade A, and in
many cases she probably classifies any
thing less than Grade A as something
not fit to feed her family. So she buys
eggs less often, and the per capita con
sumption continues to shrink.
We are inclined to question the
integrity of a magazine that would con
duct such a limited survey, find the
results at extreme variance with the
state inspectors’ yearly reports, and then
publish the story without at least re
peating the test. The name for this is
sensationalism. It sells magazines.
Perhaps the egg industry, under the
direction of its regional organizations
should establish its own periodic sampl
ing program to be certain that its pro-
Letters To The Editor^
KIND WORDS!
Gentlemen
lEncl'osed find $2 00 tor 1
Lancaster Farming
Lancaster County’s Own Farm
Weekly
P. 0. Box 266 - Lititz, Pa.
17543
Offices:
22 E. Main St.
Lititz, Pa. 17543
Phone - Lancaster
394-3047 or
Lititz 626-2191
Don Timmons, Editor
Robert G. Campbell, Adver
tising Director
Subscription price—s 2 per
year in Lancaster County;
$3 elsewhere.
Established November 4,
1955. Published every Satur
day by Lancaster Farming, Lit
itz. Pa.
duct is going to the consumer well
represented.'* This would be costly, but
so is adverse publicity. If conditions
are as CONSUMER REPORTS says they
are, if there is a gap between state
standards and enforcement, then the
industry should rectify the situation
not wait for the federal government to
find one more pie in which to stick its
busy fingers.
★ ★ ★ ★
Union Monopoly Will NOT
Benefit Farmers
The battle to repeal Section 14(b)
of the Taft-Hartley Law is now in its
second, and reportedly final round, in
the Senate. If eventually repealed, the
power of labor unions would become
absolute. The nineteen states which now
have “right-to-work” laws would have
to throw them out. Anyone who want
ed to work would have to join a union.
A good example of how unions would
use this power was disclosed during the
recent massive “shut-down” of New
York City at the signal of one, power
mad labor Czar, the late Michael Quill.
We have constantly maintained
that Section 14(b) must not be repealed.
Polls taken across the country indicate a
substantial majority of the American
people, including labor union members,
agree that union leaders should not be
granted this life-and-death power over
its citizens.
Just as constantly, James G. Pat
ton, president of the National Farmers
Union, has maintained that removal of
this last remaining bulwark against
rule by unions would benefit farmers.
He sent a wire to all Senators this week
urging them to vote to that effect.
Patton maintains that if “labor
is denied the right to organize effec
tively” which they are not now
denied, obviously, “so can farm
ers he denied the right to organize
into farm cooperatives for bargaining
power.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. The climate for organization of
farmer cooperatives has never been bet
ter. The federal government has not only
encouraged such organization physi
cally, spiritually, and morally, but also
financially with public funds. It is
completely false and misleading for
Patton, or anyone else, to suggest that
the cause of farmers would be advanc
ed by depriving all working people of
the right to decide for themselves
whether or not they should join a
labor union.
Patton said in his wire to the
Senators that he was expressing the
opinion of the National Farmers Union
as an organization. We sincerely hope
that the sentiments of all branches of
this important farm organization are
not represented on this vital, basic issue
by their outspoken national leader.
year renewal. We like
weekly paper very muteh
Good Luck and continued
success
Frank J Zimmerman
Millersnlle Rl,
(And we thank YOU.)
Farm Prices Average
6 Percent Higher For
Jan.; Hogs Set Pace
HARRISBURG Average
prices re'ceived for farm prod
ucts in the state during Jan
uary were 6 percent higher
than a year earlier as live
stock markets scored new
gains, according to the Penn
sylvania Crop Reporting
Service
Hogs continued to lead the
livestock advance, with Jan
uary prices averaging a near
record high of $28.70 per
hundredweight. That was
$1 10 higher than in Decem
ber, and $11.70 above Janu
ary quotations a year ago.
The record high hog price
w'as $2B 80 per cwt. record
ed in August 1948.
All other livestock pn6es
rose in January, with gains
ranging from 50 cents to
$2 >5 0 per qwt
The January price level,
however, was one percent
lower than in December,
mainly as a result of declines
in milk and eggs Milk, fol
lowing the normal seasonal
trend, was down 15 cents per
cwt, while eggs were four
cents per dozen lower than
in December.
this
'Most field crops scored
m'odest gams.
In the nation, prices re
ceived by farmers in January
were H percent higher than
a year earlier, while prices
they paid averaged 3 percent
higher than in January 1955.
One of the hardest things
a youngster ifaces nowadays
is learning good manners,
WITHOUT seeing any.
Image of God
Lesson for February 13,1966
any of the countless books that
have been written on the subject.
BacktraunS leriptur.. Q.n..1. 1:26-31, this column and
Pioim »; Matthew i 2 M 4; get started perhaps on a long
“ n « Noughts and Problems.
What is there in man which is or
A BEDSPRING, a hard-boiledcan become most like God? His
egg and an acre of sunshine mind and powers of controlling
are wonderful things in their way, the universe? His ability to send
but you could not possibly ex-out a Mariner to distant planets?
plain this subject (The “Image His ability to make choices? His
of God”) to them no matter how capacity for joy and grief? His
hard you tried. This may sound ability to love and be loved? His
a like nonsense, but sense of the beautiful? His con
it is not. The bed-science, his capacity of distin
spring is wonder- guishing choices as between right
ful because it was and wrong, and not only between
a thought inpleasant and unpleasant? His
someone’s mincTmemory, bis hope, and the way.
before it was ahe can blend these together?
real spring, The Something can be said for ali of
whole idea of a these, but the one we can best
spring watch understand, perhaps, is man as
Dr. Foreman spring or spring-a person,
board at the pool, or bedspring Per , n „„i ti n j mMt ,
on a mattress is a remarkable ‘ ersona * personal man
thing indeed. The egg is still 14 is because we can and must
more remarkable, for no human deal with God on a personal level
being can create one. The acre** 4 man h *3 * dignity and a
of sunshine has enormous power valu ® unique in the universe,
and unmatched beauty; but it bat can explore space is
is not living a source of life astonishing, even awe-inspiring,
yet not a living thing itself. But not s ° wonderful as that he
.... . . x ... _ can pray. Next time you are in
What is most like won? a bank, or a museum, or a mag-
It would be wrong, ridiculous nificent church or public building,
and perhaps blasphemous, to take look around you. What is the
any one of these three and say most valuable thing there? The
“God is like that,” God is won- answer is, Persons. Look out at
derful and most things in his the stars some bright night. What
world are wonderful, when you is the most astonishing thing out
stop to think about it. But there there? Persons, A person THE
is one object in the universe and Person, God. You do not need
only one of which the Bible says a space ship to find him; he is
it is like God or can be like God. as near as your next prayer. Man
That is man himself. By creation, with a God he can only talk
that is to say by the original in- about, not talk to or with, is
tention of God, man and only “solitary, poor, nasty, and brut
man was “made in the image and ish.” Man with a God who is kin
likeness of God.” And yet this to him, man who is a person made
raises serious puzzles. Do you after the pattern of God, is the
know any man or any race or sort most valuable object in all crea
of men, religious or not, whom tion.
aTyZILd! nSSfStSSSSS&H&Si
£Z S Stiffs gß«antKaa»a
image they mean that hy God’s - 1
will and purpose we are like him
just by being human. Yet it is
Now Is The Time . ..
By Max Smith, Lancaster County Agent
To Manage Farm Ponds
Farm ponds that are stocked with fish
may need some immediate attention in order
to prevent a heavy fish kill. Due to the heavy
snow cover on top of the ice, the sunshine
cannot get into the water to release oxygen
from plant growth in the water. In addition,
the heavy ice cover will prevent any air from
getting to the water In ponds that are on
the shallow side, or ponds with a very heavy
fish population, the amount of oxygen will
surely be low. The scraping of snow from
part of the pond, and the cutting of several
holes in the ice and inserting brush, limbs,
or logs may relieve the situation.
To Plan For Topdressing Wheat
During mid to late March when the weather warms up
and vegetative growth begins, it is advisable to topdress winter
wheat with nitrogen; the amount per acre will vary from 25
pounds to 60 pounds with the lighter applications being on
fertile soil that is being seeded down to a legume; the heavier
applications on Redcoat wheat being grown on shale, sandy,
or light soils. Extra nitrogen will usually increase yields to
make the practice quite profitable.
To Prepare for
Legume Broadcasting
Research and experi
ence inform us that if a leg
ume seeding is to be made
this spring m winter gram,
the early seedings will he
more successful than the lat
er ones. Seedings made dur
ing late February or the first
10 days of March stand a
mu'ch better chance of get
ting covered and started than
those made during la?e
March or April. It is doubt
ful if 'the broadcast method
i* the best one, because hand
: V V
lain that (aa a Texas theologian
CO put it) we are in God's
\H, but not his "splttin’ 1m-
This '‘lmage of God" has
m defined in various ways. One
the best perhaps is that the
iression idlers to all the qual
ms of man which he does not
lare with any of the-rest of the
tags (living or not) that make
the vast universe.
What man Is Godlike?
The feeder may be left to
think about this. Or he can read
seeding after tire ground
dries off has given a tetter
percentage of successful
stands; however, if the broad
cast .method is to toe used,
the earlier .the better.
Xd Provide Plenty off Waiter
All livestock should have
free access to fresh water
throughout the year. In some
cases., during the winter
months some livestock are
only hand-watered, and 4t is
doubted if they get enough
for maximum production. The
range is ffrbm about one gal
(-Continued on Page 7)
SMITH