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1 Farming’ Saturday. February 3, 1973
The Pennsylvania Crop Reporting
Service last week released its annual crop
summary for 1972. There were no real
surprises contained in the report, but it did
point out exactly how bad things were
across the state.
Yields of all crops were down
significantly for 1972 and to make matters
worse the quality of most crops were below
par The combined 1972 production of the
major gram crops estimated in Penn
sylvania are down 16 percent from the
previous year This represents a decrease
of 6 bushels per acre in combined average
yields Growing and harvesting conditions
were unfavorable throughout the season
and were responsible for the decreased
yields
June was the wettest month on record,
and by the time it was evident the rams
were subsiding, many sections were caught
up in a mid-summer drought, also record
setting in some sections
Spring frost occured as late as June 12 in
northern and western counties and the
growing season was cut short by statewide
frost in mid-October.
Pa. Corn Crop Down 17 Percent: Total
production of corn for gram is estimated at
64.800.000 bushels, 17 percent below last
year Yield at 72 bushels per acre, com
pares with the “blight reduced" 75 bushel
yield last year and the record harvest was
prolonged by high moisture content of
gram and unfavorable harvesting con
ditions Additional acreage was required to
fill silos, cutting into the intended grain
acreage on many farms Silage production
is estimated at 5,716,000 tons, practically
unchanged from last year. However,
average yield is estimated at 11.5 tons per
acre, down from the 140 ton average for
last year.
Pa. Wheat Production Down 8 Percent:
Wheat production for 1972 is estimated at
8.608.000 bushels, 8 percent below the
1971 crop. The average yield of 32 bushels
is down considerably from last year’s 36
bushel yield.
Pa. Oat Production Down 20 Percent:
Total production of oats is estimated at
16,652,000 bushels, down 20 percent from
one year ago Yields averaged 46 bushels
per acre, down from the 54 bushels yield
recorded last year, and the record setting
57 bushels set in 1970
Barley Yields Drop 7 Bushels: The
average yield of barley is estimated at 47
bushels per acre, down from last year’s 54
bushel yield, and well below the record
high 60 bushel yield recorded in 1967.
Production is estimated at 7,426,000
bushels, down 18 percent from last year.
LAVONIA, GA, FRANKLIN COUNTY
CITIZEN “One of these days this nation
will find it has too many persons on social
security benefits, too many on unem
ployment compensation, too many on
retirement plans, too many on welfare rolls,
too many on medicare and medicaid
benefits, and America will find itself in the
midst of the greatest turmoil it has ever
encountered That day of turmoil is almost
here. I don't know the answers to the
nation’s ills, but I do know that the
achiever, the person who digs the
straightest ditch, the person who
honorably and honestly applies himself,
will find that his place in society is assured
as a sound and healthy one The inspiration
to do one’s best is the snmplest way to a
better way of life in America ’’
AKRON, OHIO, SUMMIT COUNTY
LABOR NEWS “In Washington, DC, a
lady bricklayer, a structural steelworker,
’72 Crop Report -
Down, Down, Down
Grassroots Opinions
xxx
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Hay Production Down Sharply From Last
Year: Production of all hays is estimated at
3,752,000 tons, down sharply from last
year’s 4,351,000 tons. Quality of hay baled
was below average because of unfavorable
harvesting conditions.
Pa. Tobacco Production Lowest Since
1934: The downward trend in tobacco
acreage continues. The estimated 16,000
acres harvested in 1972 is a record low in
this century. The 22,400,000 pounds
produced is-18 percent below the 1971
crop Yield estimated at 1,400 pounds is
the lowest since 1945. Much of this year’s
crop was hindered by unfavorable weather
conditions throughout the season.
Pa. Potato Production Down 39 Percent:
Potato production is estimated at
4,800,000 cwt, 39 percent below last year.
Yield at 160 cwt per acre is down 60 cwt.
from last year’s yield of 220 cwt. The 160
cwt. per acre yield represents the lowest
yield since the 156 cwt. yield of 1957.
Fruit Crops - Hurt By Unfavorable
Weather Conditions: Pollinating weather
for fruit crops was generally damp and cool
with high winds m some sections. Scat-
tered frost and subfreezing temperatures
also hit fruit crops in bud and bloom
stages, further adding to existing
problems. Winter injury occurred to lower
branches in some orchards with poorer air
drainage. Scab was more of a problem this
season because of the excessive ram and
heavy foliage growth. Dry weather during
critical sizing periods reduced fruit crops
even more. Hail storms were severe this
season. Fall temperatures were too cool for
the optimum sizing of apples; however,
quality of the crop appeared to be good.
Heavy rams caused above average
cracking and splitting on peaches. Drops
were also above average because of the
wet season.
Pa. Apple Crop Down 21 Percent: Apple
production having value in Pennsylvania is
estimated at 400 million pounds
(9,524,000 - 42 pound equivalents). This is
21 percent below last year’s harvested
production of 505 million pounds
(12,024,000 - 42 pound equivalents) and
22 percent below the 1970 crop of 510
million pounds (12,143,000 - 42 pound
equivalents). This year’s crop is the
smallest since 1968 when 390 million
pounds were harvested.
Pa. Grape Production Down 34 Percent:
The Commonwealth’s grape production is
estimated at 37,600 tons, 34 percent below
last year’s record crop of 57,000 tons and
16 percent below the 1970 crop of 45,000
tons
and now even a lady sandhog working deep
in Washington’s new subway tunnels-these
and other female pioneers have been
breaking the ancient all-male tradition of
the. . construction trades. One of the chief
reasons that women haven't applied for
these craft jobs in the past . . . has been
their ‘fear of needling and baiting by their
male-co-workers . . . But (labor unions
have) found the solution to that problem,
or as much of a solution as ever will be
found . (They) instruct all . . union
members to call the new girls or ladies
"sister”. You just can't needle a lady at the
same time you’re calling her “sister”.”’
GORDON, NEBR., JOURNAL “The
number of people who are leaving
fingerprints among records of criminal acts
greatly exceeds the number of those who
are living so as to leave footprints on the
sands of time ”
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NOW IS
THE TIME . . .
Max Smith
County Agr. Agent
Telephone 394-6851
TO BEWARE-HOG
PRODUCERS
Another outbreak of hog
cholera has been found near
Kutztown in Berks County. We do
not have the details at this time
but it was in a small herd of
breeding hogs. The source of the
infection is not known at the
present but may not be from New
Jersey as in the former out
breaks. If it is a local source
within the state of Pennsylvania,
the Commonwealth will lose its
hog cholera free status. All swine
producers are urged to be on the
alert, use the most strict
sanitation practices, and be
certain the infection is not bought
or brought to your farm. All
garbage should be cooked for at
least 30 minutes at 212 degrees.
Meat scraps from pork are very
dangerous unless thoroughly
cooked.
TO REDUCE FEED WASTE
Needless to say the currently
high prices of all feedstuffs
makes it most important that all
livestock and poultry producer
keep feed loses to a minimum.
Self feeders should be kept in
good shape and adjusted to
eliminate losses. Feed troughs
should be tight so that feed does
not drop through and be wasted.
Rodents should be eliminated
because they waste feed and
spread serious diseases. Special
care to reduce feed wasteage is
very much in order.
REBIRTH
Lesson for February 4,1913
Background Scripture: Ezekiel 11:14-21;
36.
Devotienal Reading* Psalms 15
On the night of November 14,
1940 Hitler’s incendiary bombs
devastated the ancient British
city of Coventry. Among the de
bris of destruction were the char
red remains of the ancient cathe
dral of St. Michael. Henceforth,
said Hitler, there
would be a new
word to denote
total destruction:
coventrate, a grim
reminder of what
his bombers had
wrought at Cov
entry.
“Father forgive"
In 1954 work
Rev. Althouse
was begun on a
new cathedral for Coventry. Eight
years later it was completed and
was immediately acclaimed and
denounced for its bold new archi
tecture Rising next to the pre
served ruins of the old cathedral,
the new St Michael’s is one of
the most striking church edifices
in the world
Yet, exciting as is the new
Coventrj cathedral, in my several
visits there I have found that
most inspiring and significant is,
not the new St Michael’s, but a
simple charred cross and altar in
the preserved rums of the old.
On the altar is a simple, yet pro
found inscription, “Father, for
give ” It is the defiant answer of
the people of Coventry to Hitler’s
challenge of hatred and ven-
TO PRUNE TREES
AND SHRUBS
The dormant time of the year is
the best time to prune many
shade and fruit trees. Damaged
limbs and branches to
shape the tree or to keep down the
size of the tree or shrub should be
removed; shade trees can be
pruned and shaped better without
the leaves and there will be less
“bleeding” of the sap. Cuts over
one inch in diameter should be
painted with a tree paint to
prevent rotting. Apple trees may
be pruned during February and
March while peach and other
stone fruits can be pruned during
March and early April. A good
pruning job will improve fruit
yields and color, and keep the
landscape more enjoyable.
TO PLAN FOR THE
CROPPING SEASON
It’s not too early to be making
plans for all major farm and
garden crops. The seeds should
be ordered, the fertilizer may
also be ordered, and the tractor
and farm machinery should be
put into good condition. Don’t
wait until plowing or planting
time to do these important
practices. The aim should be to
get maximum production for
every unit; every animal and
every acre has to produce ef
ficiently in order to show
maximum returns. We urge good
farm planning ahead of the
planting season and then use
good farm management at all
times. Get the work done on time
as far as weather and labor will
permit.
geance.
Contrary, then, to Hitler’s ex
pectations, the word coventrate
has come to denote, not fearful
and wrathful destruction, but the
Redeeming, renewing love of Jesus
Christ. The charred cross serves
as symbolic reminder to all men
that love, not hate, conquers and
prevails by the grace of God. Out
of the ruins of the ancient cathe
dral there has sprung up the
phenomenon of rebirth.
“Not for your sake... O Israel”
To the people of Judah in exile
God sent the prophet Ezekiel to
proclaim that, although they de
served to be abandoned by the
Lord, nevertheless he would
bring a rebirth from the ashes of
tragedy. This would happen, not
because they were worthy, but
because he is gracious.
God would restore his people
and eventually they would return
to their homeland. But the great
est restoration of all would be
within;
A new heart I will give you,
and a new spirit I will put
within you, and I will fake out
of your flesh the heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh
And I mill put my spirit within
you, and cause you to walk in
my statutes . . Ezekiel (36:26,
27;
The prophet is speaking of
something that people often miss:
it is not enough to be forgiven or
even released from the conse
quences of our sins. What we
need most of all is a new spirit
within or else we are likely to
continue on the same destructive
course, repeating over and over
again the same tragedies. For
giveness is just the beginning,
salvation is composed of both
forgiveness and rebirth
(Based on outlines copyrighted by the
Division of Christian Education, National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S A.
Released by Community Press Service.)