4—Lancaster Farming. Saturday. December 27,1969
From Where We
To Keep A Base
Of Farm Land
At last, farmers who have with horror
watched Lancaster County’s rich, deep,
food-producing soil being run over and ruin
ed by urban infiltrators have found a friend.
That is what the committee for the pre
servation of Pennsylvania’s agriculture
land must be called a friend of farmers.
As reported last week, this committee,
including two Lancaster County men
Amos Funk, Millersv ille R 1 and Larry
Skromme, New Holland presented a 40-
page report to Gov. Shafer recommending
that areas of the best farm land be set
aside for farming purposes only. County
commissioners would be authorized to es
tablish farm-only areas of at least 4,000
acres of adjoining farm land.
Lancaster County has as much at stake
in the recommendation as any area in the
State. According to OrvaJ Bass, local Soil
Conservationist, more than 75 percent of
our land is rated in Class I, II or 111, all good
for producing food. Unfortunately, good
farm land is also good for building houses
and highways. In fact, figures show that in
the nine year period from 1958 to 1967 (the
latest available) County cropland decreased
83,580 acres, while urban and build-up acres
increased 54,600. This shows what we have
known for a long time Lancaster County
will fast become urbanized if the trend is
not reversed But now there is hope.
One of the fastest propellent of urbani
zation into farm areas is taxes, w'e believe.
True, much land is given over to those who
simply want to live in the county and for
roads to accommodate these people. But we
see in the near future another enemy of
the farmer who wants to continue to produce
crops on his fields. This enemy is taxes
, based on land values. It will not be long
' before the rising revenue needs of govern
ments will force legislators to tax farm land
at its market value for urban and industrial
use rather than on farm-use value. And we
doubt any farm family can continue farm
ing under these kind of taxes though the ur
ban oriented governing bodies are already
applying pressure for such taxes.
Fortunately, the new recommendation
of the land preservation committee offers
relief in this vital area also. The plan as it
is envisioned would offer land owners in the
set-aside areas to enter into 10-year con
tracts with the County to keep the land for
farming purposes during the contract dura
tion. The advantages under this con
tract would be that the tax accessors would
be required to consider only the value of the
farm for agricultural use. In addition, the
landowner would be compensated for allow
ing hunting and fishing on the land and
maintaining watershed protection The heirs
of the landowners would continue to partici
pate and would be eligible for state inheri
tance tax exemption for land under con
tiact.
Farm News This Week
Solanco Twins Follow Father’s Footsteps
As Keystone Farmers Page 1
The ’69 Agriculture Census To Be
Taken By Mall In Jan. Page 1
Dairymen Vote No
In Milk Referendum Page 1
LANCASTER FARMING
Lancaster County’s Own Farm Weekly
P 0. Box 266 - Lititz, Pa 17543
Office 22 E. Mam St, Lititz, Pa 17543
Phone Lancastei 394 3047 or Lititz 626 2191
Eveiett R Newswanger, Editor
Robert G Campbell, Ad\ ei tismg Du ector
Subscription puce $2 per year in Lancastei
Countj S 3 elsewheie
Established November 4, 1955
Published evei v S itmdav bj Lancaster
Fanning Lit.tz Pa
Second Class Postage paid at Lititz, Pa.
17543
Membei of Newspapei Faim Editois Assn,
Stand ...
Almost as gratifying as the recommen
dation was the apparent open ear given the
committee by Gov. Shafer. “I am hopeful
that a significant start will have been made
on your recommendations by the end of my
administration,” Shafer told the committee.
“It's important that prompt implementa
tion be started —.”
That is true. Recent figures show that
hundred of acres of good farm land has
been converted to nonagricultural uses in
the last 10 years. The same report shows
that an average of 115 acres of agricultural
land, including 99 acres of cropland have
been transferred to other uses each day.
This pattern has been accelerating and is
likely to continue if nothing is done.
We think local farmers should and will
welcome the plan. Although we are noted
for our distrust of government interference,
here is an honest attempt to keep a base of
farmland in Lancaster County and we all
know that is good. Good both for our fami
lies and for the public economy in general.
Since this plan is an attempt to provide a
basis where farmers can be left alone with
our families to farm as they have always
wanted to do, local farmers will be the first
to go along with the committee’s recom
mendations. At least that’s the way it looks
from where we stand.
Ten Commandments
Of Human Relations
1. SPEAK TO PEOPLE. There is no
thing so nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. SMILE AT PEOPLE. It takes 72
muscles to frown, only 14 to smile.
3. CALL PEOPLE by name. The sweet
est music to anyone’s ears is the sound of
his own name.
4. BE FRIENDLY and helpful. If you
would have friends, be a friend.
5. BE CORDIAL. Speak and act as if
everything you do is a genuine pleasure.
6. BE GENUINELY interested in peo
ple. You can like almost everybody if you
try.
7. BE GENEROUS with praise cau
tious with criticism.
8. BE CONSIDERATE with the feelings
of others. Thei e are usually three sides to a
controversy; yours, the other fellow’s and
the right side.
9. BE ALERT to give service. What
counts most in life is what we do for others.
10. ADD TO THIS a good sense of humor,
a big dose of patience and a dash of humili
ty, and you will be rewarded many-fold.
From the Guernsey Breeders’ Journal
Across The Fence Row
True
Teacher to geography class: “Where
is the capital of the United States?”
Junior: “All over the world.”
The whiz who is always on the verge of
making a million dollars never realizes he
has to make the first thousand first.
Today’s youth are more sophisticated.
If Booth Tarkington were to write “Seven
teen” today, he would have to call it
“Twelve.” Union Register, Ore.
Progress consists of swapping old
troubles for new ones.
Local Weather Forecast
(From the U. S. Weather Bureau at the
Hanisburg State Airpoit)
The five-day forecast for the next five
days calls tor temperatures to average near
normal with daytime highs in the 40’s and
o\ cr-mght lows in the mid 20’s. Cold
thioughout the period Precipitation may
total onc-loiuth to one-half inch water equi
valent occurring Tuesday and Wednesday
as snow or rain.
WHOSE COP OF TEA?
Lesion for December 28,1969
B«ckf r«tn4 Scri»lur«Mo!oihl3:t *4, MoIlh«w3j!«
12 JI 7-10
D«v«h«n«t Pjolms 9S 1-7,
The Pulpit Committee of First
Church was looking for a new
pastor. Not Just any minister
would do. After all, First Church
was the largest and most influ
ential church in the area. It had
that boasted of
eminent pulpit
orators. Crowds
were drawn to
First Church on
the reputations
of its preachers.
That is what
had interested
them in John
B. Someone had
told Ben Adams,
the Pulpit Com
mittee Chairman, that they had
heard a certain young preacher
was "packing-them-in” in one of
the nearby rural communities.
Ordinarily, the Committee would
not have been interested in a
country preacher. But the crowds
he was reported to be drawing
might very well be an indication
that this John B. was ready for
the "big-time” (meaning First
Church)!
The way he dressed
So the Committee made some
discrete inquiries and on Sunday
morning drove to the place where
John B. was reported to be
preaching. When they arrived
there, the members of the Com
mittee were astonished to find,
not a country church, but an old
picnic ground. Obviously this
man was not from one of the
recognized denominations. Either
that or this outdoor preaching
was simply a cheap stunt.
The place was crowded and it
was not easy to work their way
forward to the old bandstand on
which the minister was standing.
As they drew closer, Ben Adams
gave a derisive snort: "Will you
look at the way he’s dressed! We
could never have a man like that
in our pulpit.” The "like that” re
ferred to the preacher’s wiry black
beard, his long, uncombed hair,
and a strange robe that waa
Read Lancaster Farming
For Full Market Reports
To Evaluate rather than a margin between
ram Records purchase and sale price. It’s a
The keeping of accurate farm challenge to every feeder to keep
records is veiy important and the production costs down as a
successful farmers are spending means for a good return oir feed
more time on records than a supplies, capital and labor. Good
decade ago The useful know- management is essential for low
ledge of profit or loss by entei- feed costs which also includes
prises is most impoitant but paiasite control
good recoids should be used to Tn r .„ d . „
plan for the future At this time rw T j d
of the yeai when summarizing Corres P<mdence Courses
the figures foi the past 12 mon- J 1 * 7 wo f thwhl3e «°“ rses
ths and when piepaung the tax o} n^ ol n UltUre ai ® glven at Penn
i etui ns, it is advisable to spend State Univer f ly les ™™
some time studying the lecoids a , nd ans weis by mail These have
and using them as a guide foi always be ® n . very popul f,^ nd
the futuie are ie § arded as very helpful
while continuing the noimal dut
m. .. „ _ ies at home Fiuthei details may
ftTZ r " he obtained on the vauous sub-
T Of Gams je cts by Wllting »CoiresPon
.a the livestock feeding busi- deuce Courses College of Agn
ncss most of the piofits may have cultute, The Pennsylvania State
to come fiom low cost of gam Umveisity, Box No 5000, Uni
and efficiency in the opeiation veisity Paik, Pa ”
apparently m>d« front animal
•kini.
Having leen thU wu enough
for Hen Adame and hie com*
mlttcc. They would have left right
then, if it hadn’t been difficult to
push back through the crowd.
.Since they had little choice, they
decided to stay and endure it to
the end. After all, the man was
rather humorous-looking. The
experience would be good for
some laughs at least. Some of
them began to smirk.
Indelicate language
A* they listened to him, how
ever, their smirks froze on their
faces. His message was down
right insulting. "Repent,” he chal
lenged them, "for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” Didn’t he
realize that the crowd was mostly
made up of good church people?
should respectable people
like that be told to repent? Who
■was he to sit in judgment of them?
Apparently he was another one of
these professional trouble
makers!
Suddenly, looking dlrecllv at
the men of the Pulpit Committee,
John shouted, "You bunch of
snakes! Who warned you to try
to escape God’s wrath? Conduct
yourself as repentent men and
don’t rely on your church
membership to get you through.
I’m warning you that God’sjudg
ment is going to hit you hard!”
Just as suddenly he turned away
and stepped down into the water
to baptise some people who were
waiting for him. Ben Adam and
the men of First Church were too
embarassed and angry to utter
a word.
“Some kind of a nut”!
As soon as it was possible, the
red-faced men beatahasty retreat
They wanted nothing further to
do with this preacher. They were
appalled by his appearance
"Looked like a Communist,” con
fided one of them. They liked his
words even less. "Repent!” That
was no message for the people of
First Church. Worst of all, how
ever, was his personal attach
upon them! How dared he? j
He was obviously "some kind
of a nut,” they decided, a crazy
man making crazy promises and
charges, a religious fanatic. John
the Baptist was just not their "cub
of tea.”
But then, neither was Jesus!
(Based on outlines copyrighted by the Division
©f Christian Education, National Council of Hr*
Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. Released by
Community Press Service) j
ATTEND THE
CHURCH OF
YOUR CHOICE SUNDAY
NOW IS
THE TIME...
By Max Smith
Lancaster County Agent