Jaycees Award
(, Continued from Pan 1)
agent. He gave a run-down of key
trends in local farming and some
of the factors whiph go into
making an outstanding farmer.
Smith noted that while the
increasing age of farmers is a
major concern in most of the
nation, Lancaster County far
mers are “getting ypunger.” The
average age of the Lancaster
County farmer is 44.5 years, one
of the youngest average ages in
the nation.
Smith said this young age is “a
healthy sign,” particularly since
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intercourse, Penn.
most of these young farmers
“have the blessing of good
parents, fathers and grand
fathers.”
Smith acknowledged that the
number of farms in Lancaster
County has been dwindling, from
8,800 when he began Extension
work in 1937, to about 5,300 today.
But at the same time the number
of acres per farm has risen from
56 to 80. The percentage of land in
farms has dropped from 80 to 70
per cent.
He also pointed out the high
investment required for farming.
The average value per acre at
last report was $924 and it’s still
rising. The average value of a
farm is $73,000 and going up.
But Smith said, “I don’t think
you’ll see it in your generation”
in regard to projections that
farms will disappear in Lan
caster County Smith said the
tradition of farming is very
strong here and farmers have
been very successful. He
projected that farms will remain
in Lancaster County as long as
they remain anywhere in this
part of the East.
But he projected that the farms
will continue to get larger and
THURSDAY
STARTING AT 10 A.M.
more commercial. “While far
ming will continue to decline as a
percentage of the total income in
the County, I think making food
and fiber will continue to be very
important.”
Smith also discussed the
problem of the price-cost
squeeze. While everything that
goes into farming costs more, the
farmer doesn’t always get in
creases for the things he
produces. Farm products often
are not selling at any more today
than they were 10, 20 or 30 years
ago.
But Smith thinks this trend
may not continue. “I think food
costs will have to go up in order
for farmers to be able to meet
those costlier inputs.”
In other comments, Smith
noted the trend toward
specialization m farming.
Whereas local farmers used to
have four or more key farm
products, most of them now have
only one or two
At the same time, farms are
increasingly automated, with
non-automated products such as
tobacco showing decline in im
portance.
But Smith warned that large
farms “are not necessarily ef
ficient.”
“There was never a time when
good management was more
important than it is today.” He
predicted that the poor farm
manager “is going to get
squeezed out.”
He also predicted continuing
trends toward greater output per
unit, such as more milk per cow.
Better breeding programs made
possible by sire services, the
DHIA information system, better
cows and better management are
all factors pointing toward
greater efficiency, he said.
Smith also noted that many
local farmers have been content
with three to four tons per acre of
alfalfa at a time when some
farmers are getting eight to 10
tons per acre. He said he expects
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 22. X 972
Holstein Calf Sale Set
The Pennsylvania Holstein
Association sale committee is
again asking dairymen to
cooperate in making animals
available for the annual state calf
sfllc
The entry deadline is February
1 and the sale is slated for
Saturday, April 8 in the small
these increased outputs to occur
eventually in Lancaster County.
The image the farmer presents
to the public is increasingly
important as more people move
into the country, said Smith. He
noted that many farm families
are planting flowers and land
scaping. Smith said this will
“help make milk drinkers in
stead of soft drink sippers.”
The county agent defended
farmers against charges of
pollution “I don’t think in most
cases you’re (farmers) guilty at
all.” But he urged care and use of
good judgment in applying fer
tilizers and manure in such a way
that they will not cause pollution.
He also warned that “stiff
regulations could reduce yields
and quality, resulting in higher
costs” of food products. He
particularly noted recent stiffer
rules on withdrawal of DES, but
conceded this resulted because _
“somebody didn’t follow the two
day rule.”
He urged farmers to get in
volved in helping make rules and
regulations on local planning and
zoning.
He warned the Jaycees and
farmers to expect “more of those
lousy caterpillars” or gypsy
moths which can’t be controlled
now because of the elimination of
DDT. Unless new control
measures are developed, people
can expect the moths “to strip
trees and crawl all over houses”
in the next several years.
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arena at the Farm Show building.
Entry quota from Lancaster
County is 12 calves. Entries are
being selected through Jay
Landis, Lancaster RD6 and
Nathan Stoltzfus, Gap RD2.
Any farmer in the county with
Holsteins can become involved.
For each animal entered,
available records and
classifications imformation is
needed including a pedigree form
giving information on the dam,
grand dam and great-grand dam.
The age range for eligible
animals includes those born from
July I, 1971 through January 31,
1972, with preference given to
calves born in July through
October.
The annual sale strives for
quality animals In 1970, the 146
animals sold averaged $398 and
in 1971 the 132 animal average
was $4BO.
As a guide for selections, the
sale committee recommends
calves from popular sires and
dams with Good-Plus or better
ratings. Suggested 305 day
production record for dams
should be at least 13,000 pounds
tor two year olds, 15,000 for three
year olds, and at least 16,000
completed or projected records
tor tour year olds and over. The
• dam must be on or have com
pleted standard DHIA
Boy Killed by Tractor
Kevin L Groff, four-year-old
son ol Mr. and Mrs James Groff,
1426 Lime Valley Road, Lan
caster, died Wednesday af
ternoon after becoming en
tangled m a power takeoif of a
tractor attached to a manure
spreader. The youth was playing
outside with an older brother
when the accident occurred
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