—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 24, 1966 4 From Where We Stand, •. Few Surprises In Census Report Most of the general observations over the past few years by people on the local scene were borne out in the preliminary agricultural census report which came off the press last week. Facts like fewer farms, larger farms, and more farms having higher sales volume came as no surprise. These trends can generally be predicted with out an actual census, but the statistical survey gives the trends a definite mea surement when compared with the pre vious census. We would have guessed, for ex ample, that the average farm size In Lancaster County had increased since the last agricultural census in 1959. The figures show the average grew from 68.4 acres in 1959 to 74.8 acres in 1964. At the state level, the average farm in creased from 118 6 acres to 130.0 acres. COMMERCIAL FARMS LOST During the five-year period studied, Lancaster County lost 537 commercial farms while Pennsylvania lost a total of 5886. Thus the county farm loss ac counted for 9 percent of the state’s total loss. This isn’t too alarming when you consider that the average Pennsylvania county has 800 commercial farms while Lancaster has more than six times as many as the average of the 67 counties. In terms of farmland lost, Lancaster figures showed 15,258 less acres in farmland for a loss of 3 1 percent. The state as a whole had a loss during the five-year period of approximately 9 per cent of its total farmland COUNTY DAIRY FARMS GAIN? One figure that did come as a shock until we puzzled it out showed a gain of 300 dairy farms for Lancaster County' The general consensus has been that we have continually lost dairy herds over the past five years ,• or more. This startling gam of about 15 percent in dairy farms can be explained in the way the census report classified farms. If 50 percent, or more, of a farm’s total sales comes from a single item, say milk, the farm is classed as a dairy farm. So, although approximately 400 less Lancaster County farms reported sales of milk in 1964 as compared to 1959, the report classified 300 more farms as dairies because the balance of farm products produced changed Farms deriving at least 50 percent of their total sales from tobacco, poultry, livestock, and miscellaneous products all declined in number Some of these must have added cows and specialized m dairying Others increased their cash gram production and that classification showed an increase of 68 farms We think that explains how we actually lost dairy heids and yet the census showed an “increase” of 300. LARGER FARMS INCREASE Commercial farms were also classi fied on the basis of total sales in the census report This showed that all of the farm loss in the county was in Classes 111, IV, and V, these groups ranged from a $2500 total sales figure to $19,999 Classes I and 11, combined, showed a gam of 347 farms with total sales ranging from $20,000 upward dur ing the past five years This was also true at the state level and affirms the general conclusion that farms are gett ing bigger m dollar volume One sur prising fact was reflected m both county and state figures, however, that was a gam m farms in Class VI total sales $5O-$2499 Farms on that level would be in the subsistence category, and it is impossible from our point of view to account for such an increase. Don 'I iininon'-, llditoi Robe it (. ( ampln.ll, Ad\ ei IiMP- I)i 11 ( toi tili 1 > —t iiption pi ice ‘jJ pi i m ii ip Drim.i''tii Connie >1 fbi'nluu J itit/ f J.i Jiil. d \o\emlii-i 4, l‘i77 11 I- Alain St, d (\ el \ Satin dae b\ Jama, Pa 17". U Linia'lei F.n miiif,, latit/ Pa Lama-slti J ( i4-7P17 01 bet ond Pontage paid at ILitita C2G-21'il a.itilz. Pa. 17744 LANCASTER FARMING Lancaster County’s Own Faint Weekly J-M) Box Jhi, Oil id X'hone FARMER'S AGE How old do you think the average Lancaster County farmer is? The cen sus shows he’s 45.3 years of age, which makes him 5.6 years younger than the state average. This age factor has been a concern in agriculture in the north east for some time. In parts of New England, it was over 55 seven years ago and has steadily increased, indicat ing young men are not entering farm ing in those areas. Evidently this is not the case in Lancaster County, as' one might have guessed from the number of active Young Farmer programs here. CONSERVATION GAINS The application of proven conser vation practices, in terms of strip cropp ing and contouring, are definitely on the increase in Lancaster County. During the past five years (1959-64), net gains ol 75 more farmers for strip cropping and 100 more for contouring were evi dent. So, while the county lost 9 per cent of its farms and 3 percent of its farmland, it showed a gain of 15 per cent and 14 percent, respectively, in stripping and contouring practices. The state was not quite so fortun ate. While Pennsylvania figures show ed a gain of 11,411 acres contoured, they showed 728 less farms following that practice, and 1073 fewer farms strip cropping 4 percent fewer acres. It is tempting to draw conclusions from the state figures, but the data suggests several possibilities and is really in conclusive. But, on the whole, the census com parison of 1959 and ’64 suggests that conservation practices are on the in crease among farmers remaining in business IMPORTANCE OF TRENDS There are many other facts and comparisons to be gleaned from these reports, and the census statistics them selves are important in that they in dicate trends over a five-year period. The next agricultural census will be taken in 1969, and you can bet many of the trends evident now will be speeded up by that time. You can get single copies of these reports (Pennsylvania and Lancaster County, or any other single county de sired) by writing to the Bureau of the Census, U S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D C., 20233, and asking for the Preliminary Report for the area you want Single copies are listed at 10 cents. ★ ★ ★ ★ A Salute To Lancaster County 4-H'ers When you get 10 or more youngs ters together you can have a 4-H Club, according to the official national rules Lancaster County got 1640 of them to gether this year, and boasts 62 Clubs. With projects ranging from agri culture engineering to wildlife, Lancas ter County would seem to be the state’s leader in 4-H activities as it leads in so many other agricultural pursuits. 4-H is a training ground for youngsters, and provides a chance to learn for tomorrow, and to, test them selves under real competitive conditions. The face of 4-H, nationwide, is changing It’s not all rural youths and agricultural projects anymore. The 4-H fever has also infected youngsters in urban and suburban areas, and, as we had occasion to remark in this column some months ago, the country and the world have to be better because of this spreading condition known as 4-H “Learning For Living”. What Do You Need? Lancaster Forming Classified Ads Help In A Word Lesson For September 25,1966 working for a business firm that indulges in certain unethical prac fetlfrouiW Scnplon J«reimoh3l 31 34, Mallhtw tICCS may find it difficult to cIIOOSO 517 20 John 13 34 35 *5 io m between resigning to witness to his •» >•»■ m m«. orini ions i 3 io. principles or remaining in his job Little Johnnie was being cross- to do what he can to change corn examined by his grandmother pany policy, concerning what he had learned in Sunday school. Hadhelearned Behind It All the Ten Commandments, she. The law, Jesus knew, was only wanted to know? "Well, I was go- an incomplete expression of the to lee' them,” he said with will of God. Thus, when they | great serious-came to him asking him what ness, "but I was the most important of all the heard talk that laws, Jesus summed up all the they are going to law and the prophets with-' You do away with shall love the Lord your God . . . them!” _ and your neighbor as yourself.” Perhaps little In short, the purpose of God Johnnie heard could be summed up in single someone say word. love. Thus, the "new com that the "new mandment” which he gave them .... morality” is do- was the key to w r hat he meant by Rev. Althouse ing away with fulfilling the law and the prophets: the Ten Commandments. Perhaps «... i ove 01le another as I have he got the impression from his loved you” (John 15:12). Sunday school teacher that Jesus if W e look back to his inter himself did away with the Ten pretation of each of the ten com- Commandments. This is precise- mandments, we find that love is ly what his enemies charged, the key to his "But I say to vou This shocking Nazarene preacher . . . » God desires not only truth and his "new morality” were un- from us, but truth m love. The dermming all the old moral ab- gift of sex is to be employed only solutes. within the bounds of married .. . „ . . -i .1 i- ir'n love. In speaking of the child’s Not Destroy, But Fulfill - responsibility to honor his par- Unfortunately, they misunder- ents, he called for love as both stood him. "Think not that Ihave .he motive and the power of this come to abolish the law and the obedience Again and again, prophets; I have come not to .ulfuling of the law and abolish them but to fulfil them”, e ts was dependent upon the power (Matthew 5:17 RSV) Of Course, of love. even that statement infuriated He was not content, however,; them, lor why did the Ten Com- 0 mo uth tHe word "love,’’ The! mandments need to be fulfilled? /ord mean , too many dlf f ere n? Aren’t they completely adequate hings to dlfferent people. He : as they stand. They spell things nade that Word become flesh and out quite clearly: they- say it is n one agonizing afternoon onju wrong to steal, to commit adul- ross he showed man all that he tery, to bear false witness, to cov- mea nt by that one word, love, et, to murder, etc. How can you. . „ ~ ~ „ -t fiV'ii i v (las«d on oullmas copyrighted by th* DivisioC^J! fllfill moral absolutes , of Christian Education National Council of Hi, ’,! If they had listened to him churches oi Christ m n» u s a *.i»ci.d k*.!, carefully, they would have real- Community Press Service) ized that Jesus was calling for, not a lesser righteousness,, but one that went beyond the letter of ATTEND THE CHURCH 1 the law to the very spirit and pur- _ vnTTI? rtnnrnir pose of the law. This is exactly JtULIK tnUlth what he meant when he said to. his disciples: "For I tell you, un-j less your righteousness exceeds 1 For Full Market Reports Read LANCASTER FARMING Now Is The Time ... By Max Smith, Lancaster County Agent To Prevent Rat Infestation The common lat continues to take a heavy toll each year in our agricultmal ciicles The attempt to pi event a greater rat population is the best way to reduce damage from these filthy rodents The weather will soon be getting colder and driving rodents into or near buildings Without nesting places they will have difficulty in finding their needs and will move on or stay out in the fields A good clean-up program including the use of concrete in masonry walls, walks, floors, and other places about the buildings will prevent them fiom making nesting places Poison bait stations around the build dings will help eliminate those that come and go. To Test Soil For Next Year Courses; some eighty-five dif- The fall season is a good ferent courses are offered in time to draw soil samples and agriculture, horticulture, and have them tested for the 1967 home economics. The courses growing season This will avoid are intended to teach technical the spring rush and permit know-how on subjects of spe* ■ample time to order lime and cial interest The courses are fertilizer needs The needs of complete in themselves and a soil for any given ciop will are given by use of mail de change very little between fall livery Interested persons are and spung. to write to BULLETIN, Box =5OOO, University Park, Pennsu 16802. To Use Correspondence Courses Many local farmers and gar- Some people don’t care how> deners can benefit from using much they pay something, s: the Penn State Correspondence jfo n g as -it’s * later. '■’ s ''