—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.
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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 ''
<kt of the ic'rlbet and Pharisee*,
ou will never enter theklngdom*]
Matthew 6:20). The Nazarene’d
lew morality” aimed higher, not)
wer.
Jesus did not regard the lawi
id the teachings of the prophets)
i moral absolutes, as iron-clad
iws which could be interpreted!
imply and without question ini
/ery situation that demanded a|
moral choice. These choices arej
not always so clear-cut. There:
are times when one cannot makei
a choice which is wholly good:
and free from sin or evil. A man
SUNDAY
SMITH