1
(V—Lancaster Firming. Saturday Jan. 26. 1974
Good News For All
The rich black soil of America’s
farmlands produced a harvest in
1973 the likes of which has never
been seen before - a healthy sign for
the economy and a -blessing for the
farmer, who is now realizing some of
the highest prices in U S. history.
Since economic stability ultimately
hinges upon the success of our
agricultural industry, the implications
of this situation are far-reaching One
farmer explains it this way. “ . if the
farmers have it good, then the nation
is going to have it good "He has a
point. All things considered,
Americans have never experienced
such prosperity as now. True, there
have been occasional, temporary food
shortages, and inflation persistently
nips at the heels of the consumer. But
our stores are still brimming with
well-stocked shelves; and, though
the percentage may rise, the average
American family devoted only about
15 6 percent of its disposable income
5000 Years of Failure
There is nothing new in endeavors
to impose price controls on life’s
essentials Fifty years ago, a paper
was published by the Bureau of
Agricultural Economics Librarian,
Mary G Lacey of the U. S Depart
ment of Agriculture, on “FOOD
CONTROL DURING 46 CEN
TURIES.’’ The paper reviews what is
recorded in history on government
food controls as early as 2830 B C in
Egypt through the days of Confucius
in China to the city-state of Athens,
Greece around 400 B C
It is concluded that, ‘The history of
government limitation of price seems
to teach one clear lesson- that in
Rationa
All an argument usually proves is
that two people are present. And that
is about how effective angry con
frontations betwen consumer
“protectors” and businessmen are. A
successful, lasting resolution of
differences will come only when we
tackle “ . the gap between business
performance and consumer ex
pectations" through constructive
consumerism
Constructive consumerism is
defined as " rational, temperate,
candid dialogue between business
and consumers to solve a common
problem ” As one expert has noted,
“Working together, business and
consumers can at least partially solve
the problems that arise from the
complexities of modern life and make
them less abrasive the consumer
movement can become creative and
productive It can be constructive
consumerism ”
In the quest for constructive
consumerism, it is sometimes
necessary to call upon an impartial
third party to help resolve differences
and spark productive dialogue and
action That is where the Better
Business Bureaus come in The 888
has been dedicated to maintaining
ethical standards in the marketplace
for six decades Now, operating in 137
U S cities under the leadership of
the Council of Better Business
Bureaus, the BBS’s programs of
mediation and arbitration have
settled -roany-disputes* satisfactorily.
for food in 1973.
As "Time” magazine sees it, " ...
the improvement in the farmer’s lot
will probably last for many years.
Prospects are strong that world
demand for food will continue to grow
rapidly, auguring a good return for
farmers ... Simultaneously, farm
output will rise because the govern
ment, in a historic and long-overdue
policy shift, will no longer pay farmers
to hold down production." This is,
indeed, good news for our in
ternational balance of trade, not to
mention the total world economy
which leans so heavily upon U.S.
agriculture.
Even an industrialized society like
the U.S. must acknowledge the
significant role free market
agriculture plays in maintenance of
"the good life.” The farm community
may have shrunk over the years, but
its importance has not.
attempting to ease the burdens of the
people in a time of high prices by
artificially setting a limit to them, the
people are not relieved but only
exchange one set of ills for another
which is greater. Among those ills are
(1) the withholding of goods from the
market; (2) the dividing of the
community into two hostile camps ..
(3) the practical difficulties of en
forcing such limitation in prices which
in the very nature of the case
requires the cooperation of both
producer and consumer to make it
effective ’’ One thing can be said of
attempts to freeze prices - they have
an unblemished record of un
workability
Answer
The formation of the 888 as a self
policing force in the business world
shows, as nothing else can, the sin
cere desire of American merchants to
meet the needs of the consumers - m
a constructive way. And isn’t that
what consumerism is really all about?
XXX
ONEONTA, ALA., SOUTHERN
DEMOCRAT: “Oil companies say that
a vehicle driven no faster than 50
miles an hour requires 11 percent
less fuel that when driven 60 miles
per hour. It would be an ironic twist of
fate if highways should become safer
places not because drivers are en
deavoring to make them safe but are
trying to save gasoline.”
XXX
YUBA CITY, CALIF., IN
DEPENDENT-HERALD. “Russian
intellectuals are perfectly free to
express dissenting opinions. And the
government is perfectly free to make
them wish they hadn't ”
XXX
As BARRON’S, Business &
Financial Weekly points out, "The
worldwide oil shortage is not limited
to capitalist nations Rumania, which
imports no Soviet oil and depends on
Arab, Iranian and Venezuelan fuel, is
running short Electricity and gas
supply of households will be cur
tailed, public lighting reduced and
automotive transport subject to
lower speed limits Bulgaria, which
depends on Soviet oil, took similar
measures ”
I NOW IS
I THE TIME.
Max Smith
County Agr. Agent
Telephone 394-6851
TO USE CARE IN
BUYING LIVESTOCK
Due to the large amount of
traffic in all species of
livestock in this part of the
state, producers should be
very careful about the health
of new animals. The pur
chase of feeder pigs and
feeder cattle is very com
mon, but there is always
danger of buying another
disease or contagious in
fection. Feeder pigs should
come with health papers and
assurance of no contagious
disease. Severe losses have
been experienced with
“bargain” pigs with un
certain health backgrounds.
The segregation of these
animals for at least 30 days
is still a very good practice.
Strict sanitation and caution
about buying or bringing
home infections should be
used at this time.
TO BE CAREFUL WITH
SUPPLEMENTAL
HEATING
UNITS
In our efforts to adjust to
the energy shortages, ex
treme care should be used in
the purchase and installation
of supplemental heat units
with which the owner is not
totally familiar. The use of
extra stoves, spaceheaters,
fireplaces, or portable
burners might replace some
of the normal fuel demands,
but could present additional
fire and health hazards. All
of these should be installed
or inspected by a licensed
heating contractor or fire
company official before
being used. Extra ventilation
may be needed with some of
these supplemental heat
units. Barbecue grills should
not be used indoors unless in
a fireplace with flue open, or
some special means of
removing the carbon
monoxide gas and smoke.
Don’t take chances with
supplemental heat units.
Letters to the Editor
Editor:
I read with interest the
special report on the
availability of farm credit in
the January 19 issue of
Lancaster Farming. One
might conclude from reading
it, however, that Lancaster
Farming is not aware of the
existence of the largest non
government related farm
mortgage lender in the
county Equitable Life.
Equitable has over
$8,000,000 worth of farm
mortgages in Lancaster
County, and over $12,000,000
in the general area, and over
$850,000,000 in the United
States. In 1973 alone, I
personally processed close to
$4,000,000 worth of farm
mortgages.
You may be interested in
knowing that some lenders
loan Equitable's money
along with their own,
because of the shortage of
their own funds. One county
bank is collecting payments
on several million dollars of
farm mortgages through
Equitable, which the bank
processed for their own
customers.
i
• •
TO EXPAND CAREFULLY
The trend toward larger
farm operations continues
and in some cases may not
be profitable. Larger units
do not necessarily mean
more net return, pood
planning and management
becomes more important. If
additional structures or
buildings are needed, then
building permits and waste
disposal plans are needed
before construction begins.
Local township officials
should be consulted at the
very start of these in
tentions. Observing and
evaluating other similar
operations and structures
might be advisable before
construction begins. It is
much better to make
mistakes on paper or on the
drawing board, then to make
them during construction.
Complete planning and good
foresight is very essential.
RO DEVELOP FARM
CONSERVATION
PLANS
Pennsylvania now has soil
erosion and sedimentation
regulations; they were
adopted in September 1972.
Jhe earth moving part of the
regulations went into effect
last July. The agricultural
part is to be effective July 1,
1977. This means that all
farmers should be
developing a soil con
servation plan, if they do not
already have one. The Soil
Conservation Service has
been designated as the
agency to help farmers
develop these plans. To get
started, the farm owner or
tenant should request this
type of assistance from the
Soil Conservation office.
Several meetings were held
last fall throughout Lan
caster County to present the
details on this program.
Farmers are urged to take
action soon rather than to
wait and be caught with the
last-minute rush at the
deadline.
I appreciate receiving
LANCASTER FARMING
and feel that it is doing a
tremendous job of reaching
the fanning community.
Clifford B. Huffman
Area Loan Manager
Equitable life
Conservation is
Important to Landusers
Conservation was an important part of many Lebanon
County landusers activities during 1973 according to Karl
Hellerick, US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation
Service. 40,000 feet of subsurface drains and 8500 feet of
surface drains were installed during the year.
The SCS provided technical assistance for 150 acres ot strip
cropping, 1000 feet of diversion and 750 feet of grassed
waterways. Landowners also installed three ponds.
Agnes storm damages were repaired on Hammer Creek in
cooperation with landowners and local county and state
governments. 3500 feet of stream banks were protected.
A report on the Quittapahilla Creek flood damage was
prepared and additional studies were recommended for a
possible PL 566, small watershed project.
During 1973, thirty seven plans and reports were prepared
for landusers for agriculture or subdivision uses.
Hellerick stated that January and February are the ideal
tunes to plan conservation work for 1974. It is especially
important with the current energy situation.
Landusers who want to schedule technical assistance
should .call-272-6621, Extension 407. -
THE SOURCE
Lesson for January 27.1974
•ackirnnS Strlplura John u 17.
Oavallansl Mining: John 14 1 14
A British clergyman, J B Phil
lips, sained much acclaim and re
known for his New Testament in
Modern English. Encouraged by
public response to his writing,
J B Phillips began to write a
succession of books that were
Sbest sellers in the
religious field
Alone with this
sudden rise in
fame there came
an ever growing
list of invitations
to lecture and
broadcast, not
only in England,
Rev. Althouse but abroad as
well He was con
stantly interviewed by the press
and there was a steady stream of
people coming to him for one
thing or another
Cut-off from our source
There was, however, a terrible
price to be paid for this success
there was being built an image
of J. B, Phillips that was not real
ly J B Phillips at all People no
longer regarded him as an ordi
nary human being "Everything I
wrote or said,” he reveals, "had
to be better than the last ” The
public image of J B Phillips
“grew and grew until it was so
unlike me that I could no longer
live with it ”
Realizing this, he found that
his flow of creativity had been
cut off Writing, once a pleasure,
now became an almost impossible
drudgerv A painter by hobby, he
also discovered that he was los
mg his acute sense of color, tak
mg hours to mix shades that he
had before done in seconds
Then he made an important dis
covery that has been made by so
mans successful men uho have
suffered creatuc decav some
uhcrc in the process of becoming
successful he had cut himself off
from the source of his creativity
and success Me had failed to re
member the admonition of Jesus
Apart fiom me you can do noth
mg” (I*s 5)
“If you abide in me ..."
It is in close da\ bv dav fcl
lovvship with Christ that we find
the resources for dulv living
Unfortunatclv however we frc
qucntlv find ourselves too buss
for that fellowship and we begin
to grow furthci and further aua>
from that empowering relation
ship Until at last oveievtendcd
in even direction we find noth
mg upon which to diaw onlv
emptiness whcic once Chi is!
lived
A young man was cnamoicd of
\biaham Lincoln He bought
even hook on Lincoln that he
could fund made a collection of
Ins speeches and committed to
memon manv of the gicat man’s
uttci cnees One dav someone said
to him, ‘Do vou know what vou
remind me very much of Abia
ham Lincoln The man replied
Thai is understandable foi I
have lived with him manv years
So as we live closclv with the
Master wo will become more like
him ' I am the vine,' said Jesus
‘vou are the branches He who
abides in me, and I in him. he it
is that bears much fruit
(15 5)
If our lives are to be fruitful
we must continue to live closely
to him who is our source The
branches need that living vine
*n outlines copyrighted by the ,
Division of Christian Education, National
Council of the Churches af Christ m the USA
Released by Community Press Service '