—Lancaster Farming, Saturday. Sept 7, 1974
10
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Farm Commentary
The Pennsylvania State Grange has
urged prompt action on House Bill
1056, now in the Senate, that would
provide a tax break for Pennsylvania
farmers.
The measure, which was passed by
the House last spring, will provide a
method of taxing farmland on the
basis of its use for food production,
and not on its potential value for
other purposes, Readinger said. It is
the method proposed for im
plementing the Clean and Green
Amendment to the State Constitution
that was approved by voters in May
1973.
“We realize that land is needed for
housing, business and a host of other
purposes necessary for a growing
population,” Readmger said. “But it
is time now to face reality; to
recognize that the prime purpose of
our best land is food production.”
"We must do everything possible to
encourage and help farmers keep
their land in production. The present
The Index of Prices Received by
Farmers moved up 6 points (3 pet.)
during the month ended Aug. 15,
USDA reported last week. At 181
(pet. of its Jan.-Dee. 1967 average),
the index was still 27 points (13 pet.)
below the record high set in Aug.
1973.
Meanwhile, the Index of Prices Paid
by Farmers also moved up 5 points (3
pet). At a record high 173, this index
was 22 points (15 pet.) above a year
U.S. butter production, estimated
at 78.4 million lbs. during July, was up
16 pet. from a year earlier. This marks
the second straight month output has
been above that of a corresponding
month a year earlier.
Prior to this, butter output had
been below that of a corresponding
month a year earlier every month
since Feb 1972. Despite the June-
July increases, butter output for the
first 7 months totaled only 585
Volume of U S. agricultural imports
in 1973-74 about the same as a year
earlier But, higher prices boosted the
value of those imports 30 pet. above
the 1972-73 total - to $9.5 billion -
USDA reported last week
Some examples Though coconut
oil imports, at 562 million lbs., were
down 23 pet from a year earlier, the
value of those imports, at $l2B
million, was up 118 pet from 1972-
U S red meat production up
sharply during July At 3 0 billion lbs,
it was 14 pet more than a year
earlier, 14 pet above that for July
1972, and 3 pet. more than that
produced m June of this year
Beef production, at 19 billion lbs,
was up 15 pet from a year earlier,
and 15 pet above that for July 1972
Veal output, at 34 million lbs, was up
42 pet from a year earlier Pork
production totaled 10 billion lbs., up
Readinger Urges
1056 Adoption
grain crops that are vitally needed for
dairy, livestock and poultry
production. Present indications are
that the total U. S. production of
these grains will be approximately 15
percent less than last year.
The result, Readinger said, will be
sharp increases in grain and feed
prices and a tighter cost-price
squeeze on Pennsylvania farmers,
especially dairy farmers. Some, whose
finances are already strained, will be
forced to sell cattle to keep going.
Others may have to sell out... both
land and livestock.
The situation, Readinger said,
emphasizes the need for preserving
every possible acre of productive
farmland for the good of all Penn
sylvanians.
Prices Received Index Up
Second Straight Month
earlier. The Ratio of Prices Received
to Prices Paid moved up 1 point to
105. It had stood at 138 a year earlier.
Under the old 1910-14 formula,
Prices Received advanced from 444
to 461 during the month, and had
been 529 a year earlier. Prices Paid
advanced from 573 to 590 and were
517 a year earlier. And, the parity
ratio advanced one point to 78. It had
stood at 102 a year ago.
Butter Output Continues Up
million lbs., down 5 pet. from a year
earlier.
Meanwhile, output of American
cheese totaled 165 million lbs. for the
month That’s 8 pet. above a year
earlier and the highest July output on
record. This brings the Jan.-July
American cheese output total to 1.2
billion lbs., up 16 pet. from a year
earlier It was also the 10th straight
month output has exceeded that of a
corresponding month a year earlier.
Price Boost Pushed
Ag Imports Up
73, and though dry form crude
rubber imports, at 1.4 billion lbs,
were up only 13 pet, the value of
those imports, at $466 million, was up
122 pet
Of course, there were other
reasons Dairy product imports, at
$461 million, were up 131 pet mainly
because expanded import quotas
helped boost butter, cheese, and
nonfat milk import totals.
Meat Output Up Sharply
During July
14 pet from a year earlier, 13 pet
above that for July 1972 Lamb and
mutton output totaled 36 million lbs.,
down 16 pet from a year earlier
July totals brought red meat output
for the first 7 months to 214 billion
lbs, up 7 pet from a year earlier.
Beef, at 130 billion lbs, up 7 pet;
veal, at 201 million lbs, up 3 pet;
pork, at 7 9 billion lbs, up 8 pet.; and
veal, at 264 million lbs., down 11 pet.
from a year earlier.
legislation pending in the Senate is
but one step in this direction, a step
that dare not be delayed any longer.”
Drought in the Midwest, he ex
plained, has drastically reduced feed
THE MEANING
OF ‘CHOSEN*
Lewon for September 8, 1974
Background Scripture:
Genesis 12 through 17.
Devotional Reading:
Genesis 15:1-16.
There’s an old piece of
doggerel that goes like this:
We are God’s chosen few;
All others will be damned;
There is no place in Heaven
for you;
We can’t have Heaven
crammed.
Many people have com
forted themselves with the
conviction that they were
“God’s chosen few.” It is
understandable-if not ac
curate-because at the heart
of the Old Testament there is
the concept of a “chosen
people.” Modified, this
concept reaches on into the
New Testament and
Christianity itself.
“God Said:...Go!”
The concept of being
“chosen,” as far as the Bible
is concerned, is valid, but
what does it mean?
The story of Abraham
furnishes us with some in
sight in attempting to an
swer that question. First of
all, we find that in being
“chosen” by God, Abraham
received “a call" from him.
In the Bible “a call” meansa
direct challenge from God to
do something. In Genesis 12,
for example, we read: “Now
the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go
from your country and your
kindred and your father’s
house to the land that I will
show you” (12:1). Again and
again in the Bible we find
God making this “call” to
men whom he has chosen:
Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, Samuel, Elijah, and
others. Each time, as with
Abraham, God comes with a
challenge to perform some
missions or task for the
Lord.
The “call” God gives
Abraham is no small
request: he is to leave behind
his homeland for a country
utterly alien to him. Put
yourself in Abram’s shoes:
wouldn’t you find this first
aspect of his call rather
unnerving? Maybe being
“chosen” isn’t as great as we
thought it might be?
“...I Will Bless You”
Yet, along with the
disturbing “call” there is
also a promise: “I will make
of you a great nation, and I
will bless you ..(12:2).
God always equips those who
embark on his challenging
missions with a promise of
some kind. The challenge is
always conditional on the
promise, just as the promise
is dependent upon a response
to the challenge.
Unfortunately, too many
people have looked only upon
one side of the covenant
agreement. They have
ignored the challenge and
focused upon the promises.
They have thought in terms
of what “is coming to them”
as “God’s chosen,” and
ignored what is expected of
those whom God chooses and
blesses. They have con
centrated upon the “honor”
to the exclusion of the
“responsibility.”
To be sure, there is a sense
of “honor” in being
| *
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•v
NOW IS
THE TIME...
Max Smith
County Agr. Agent
Telephone 394-6851
To Top-Dreis Alfalfa Stand
The fall application of
phosphorus and potash to
alfalfa is strongly recom
mended to improve the yield
for the following season. This
is usually done after the
removal of the last crop; this
can be late in September or
anytime in October and
should give good results. It is
doubtful if the application of
any nitrogen is a good in
vestment for established
alfalfa at any time. If
animals are grazing on the
final stand of alfalfa, there
should be a good rain bet
ween the application of the
fertilizer and the return of
the animals to the area.
To Get Winter Grain
Supplies
The seeding of winter
barley and wheat is coming
fast and seed supplies may
not be adequate. We strongly
urge that growers get their
supplies on hand of the
amount and varieties
wanted. Certified seed is the
place to start because the
cost of inputs is high and the
chances of a better yield are
greater with certified seeds.
In addition, top quality seed
should contain less disease
and less weed seeds. Feed
grains are in strong demand
■and market prices very
high; local growers are
urged to plant the maximum
acreage and strive for
maximum yields.
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’
Farm
Calendar
Saturday, September 7
Sire Power - NEBA Open
House 10:30 a.m. at the
Headquarters in
Tunkhannock.
Strasburg Heritage Society
Third Annual Flea
Market 9:00 - 6:00.
Buck Tractor Pull at the
Buck 7:00 p.m.
Monday, September 9
9-llth National Barrow Show
in Austin, Minnesota
SLAFF OF THE WEEK *
S 3
“chosen” by God, but his task that is to be performed,
purpose in calling a person is That’s what it means to be
much more a matter of the “chosen.”
To Treat for
Cattle Grubs
Some local dairymen and
beef cow producers may be
interested in controlling the
grubs in their cattle. This is
often referred to as “war
bles” in the backs of cattle.
Good control of these grubs
may be obtained by treating
the animals in September.
The application of in
secticides such as Warbex,
Co-Ral, or Ruelene to beef
cattle or to non-milking
dairy cattle is suggested. Do
not treat milking cows. The
treating of cattle this month
will remove the warble
problem next spring.
Producers are urged to
recognize the ■ time of
treatment in relation to
slaughter times.
To Ventilate Tobacco Sheds
The current tobacco crop
is developing into a very
heavy crop with extra large
leaves and stems. Unless we
get better drying weather,-
there could be some shed
drying problems. We need
dry weather, with clear days
and low humidity to get the
moisture out of the tobacco
plants after they are placed
in the sheds. Growers with
large fans are urged to use
them to get air moving
through the shed. Special
attention to this heavy and
high-moisture tobacco crop
will be needed in the next few
weeks. Some growers may
want to hang some of their
crop on scaffolds for a few
days to help eliminate the
chances of shed problems.
Tuesday, September 10
10-14th York Inter-State Fair
Thursday, September 12
Merrill Lynch Seminar on
Hedging farm products,
Lancaster Stock Yards
Auction Pavilion.
Friday, September 13
Buck Tractor Pull at the
Buck 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 14
Buck Tractor Pull at the
Buck 7:00 p.m.
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