Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, November 09, 1974, Image 10
o—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Nov. 9, 1974 1 Farm Commentary itinmiiimiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiuiiumdutitQiiutiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiinuimmiiiiiiHmiutuuummmmmitmiiismiiitmiimimimmmmmmmtmDiitmisim USDATOBACCO • turers used about two-thirds foreign- SITUATION REPORT grown and one-third domestic Grown oubide the major U.S. tobacco in cigars. Cigar manufac drought areas, tobacco is in good turersmay further increase the share shape this year.in comparison with of imported tobacco other ma/or field crops. This year's tobacco crop is one-seventh larger than in 1973, but a smaller carryover is reducing supply for the 1974-75 marketing year by 2 percent. This tenth straight annual decline would leave the supply of 5 billion pounds a little short of manufacturers’ and exporters’ desired balance with utilization. The September 1 estimate is for a crop of about 2 billion pounds (in cluding Puerto Rico) up 15 percent 0 * from 1973. This results from a 9 percent larger acreage and yields forecast 6 percent higher. Carryover of tobacco for the 1974-75 marketing /ear (beginning July 1 for flue-cured and cigar wrapper types, October 1 for all others) is down about 10 percent. Disappearance in 1974-75 may total near the 2.1 billion pounds of <tie marketing y§ar now ending. Gams •n U.S. cigarette production and strong demand for high value tobacco n foreign markets mean record levels of use for U.S. flue-cured. Burley benefits from the worldwide surge in the output of blended cigarettes. But it's difficult to believe that the worldwide sag in consumer buying power will not affect the tobacco industry, especially with consumer outlays already swollen by rising food and energy prices. For the year ending next June, U.S. cigarette output is expected to ex ceed the 652 billion cigarettes produced in fiscal year 1974. Population and per capita con sumption are increasing. Cigarette prices have increased only moderately in comparison with the inflationary spiral the rest of the economy is experiencing. Persons 18 and older will smoke more cigarettes m calendar 1974 than last year’s 208 packs per capita, raising total U.S. cigarette consumption by 4 percent Chewing tobacco output continues on the upswing By contrast, for large cigars, snuff, and smoking tobacco, the outlook is for continuation of stable or declining trends. Despite lower tobacco supplies and higher prices, leaf exports this fiscal year may equal last season’s 657 million pounds (730 million, farm sales weight)..Reduced stocks and production shortfalls are still evident in other countries, and this year’s flue-cured crop has been actively sought by buyers for both major and minor destinations. The United Kingdom, a major U.S. export destination, increased its takings m 1973-74 but may take less this season, although the trade embargo with Rhodesia continues. Japan is expected to take more U S tobacco and West Germany may take about the same U S manufacturers’ stocks of imported cigarette types of tobacco on July I represented 2Vz years' usings With foreign tobacco enjoying a price advantage, US tobacco im ports for cigarettes in 1974-75 may rise above last fiscal year’s 200 million pounds Imports for con sumption in 1973-74 rose 23 million pounds In 1973-74 US. cigar manufac- Wheat Stocks Up, But Other Grains Down Stocks of wheat were up, but Oc tober 1 stocks of all other grains were sharply below year-earlier levels, USDA reported last week. ALL WHEAT in storage totaled 1.546 billion (1 billion, 546 million) bu., up 6 pet. from a year earlier, though DURUM WHEAT stocks, at 87.9 million bu., were down 10 pet. from Oct. 1, 1973. Off-farm stocks of all wheat, at 882 million bu., were up 5 pet.; farm holdings, at 664 million bu., were up 8 pet. from a year ago. Off-farm holdings of DURUM WHEAT totaled 24 million bu., up 12 pet., but farm stocks, at 63.9 million bu., were down 16 pet. Oct. 1 stocks of the four feed grains - corn, oats, barley and sorghum - totaled 33.7 million tons, 25 pet. below a year ago. Old crop CORN holdings, at 481 million bu., were down 32 pet. from a year earlier and the lowest for the date since 1948. CORN stocks on farms totaled 287 million bu., down 29 pet.; off-farm holdings, at 195 million bu., were down 36 pet. from a year earlier. Old crop SORGHUM GRAIN totaled 62 million bu., down 15 pet. from a year earlier and the lowest for the date since 1954. Farm stocks of 18.5 million-bu., were up 34 pet, but off farm holdings, at 43.1 million bu., were down 27 pet. from Oct. 1,1973. OATS in storage totaled 667 million bu., down 16 pet. from a year earlier and the lowest Oct. 1 holdings since records began in 1943. Off-farm stocks of 155 million bu., were down 22 pet; farm holdings, at 522 million bu., were down 14 pet. from a year earlier and the lowest since 1934. BARLEY in storage Oct. 1 totaled 321 million bu., down 24 pet. from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks of 126 million bu, were down 8 pet; farm stocks, at 194 million bu., were down 32 pet. from a year earlier. RYE stocks totaled 20.8 million bu., down 44 pet from a year earlier and the lowest Oct. 1 holdings since 1952. Off-farm stocks, at 9 million bu., were down 59 pet., farm stocks were down 20 pet. (Stocks of Grains). There’s A World Surplus, But Meat Imports Are Down U.S. imports of fresh and chilled meat may fall as much as 18 pet. this year. This, despite still-mounting surpluses of beef abroad. The reason; Low prices. With U.S. meat production up sharper than had been expected, the price of manufacturing grade beef has been low. Combine this with higher shipping costs and labor problems in Australia - far the largest source of U.S. meat imports -- and you’ve figured out why Australia, alone, is shipping 200 million lbs. less meat to the U.S. this year. Elsewhere, the beef surplus has caused steadily narrowed trade restrictions. In the EEC, for example, there’s been a ban on all imports of beef and veal. Canada imposed im port quotas on beef and live cattle in August, and Japan has issued no beef import quotas since Oct. 1973. GOD'S PATRIOT Lcmoo for NorembtrlO, 1974 Background Scripture: Jeremiah 1:1-10; 37 through 38. Devotional Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10. One man’s patriot may be another’s traitor. - During World War 11, for example, a number of Germans plotted against Hitler and almost succeeded in assassinating him. Most of these men were soon rounded-up and executed. The few survivors today are regarded by some of their countrymen as patriots, while others look upon them as traitors. Similarly, a significant number of Americans vigorously opposed America’s participation in the Viet Nam War. Some of these refused to bear arms in this conflict on the grounds of conscience. Many Americans today regard these men as traitors to their country, but others see them as true patriots. Patriotism and treachery are obviously a matter of perspective. Surrender There were times in the history of Israel when this question was significantly posed. . The prophet Jeremiah was one man who was regarded by many of his fellow countrymen as a traitor, while others saw him as a ' patriot. From our perspective today there seems little doubt that Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry was patriotically beneficial for his nation. That many of his con temporaries saw him dif ferently, however, is evident and understandable. Judah had already tasted defeat once at the hands of Nebuchadnezzer and his Babylonian armies. Jerusalem had been conquered and ten thousand Jews, including the king, were carried off into exile. Zedekiah was placed on the throne by the Babylonians and it was assumed he would be a puppet ruler. At this same time, however, Egypt was vying with the Babylonians for power and the young king of Judah began to toy with the idea of allying himself with Egypt so as to resist the demands of Babylonia. The prophet Jeremiah greatly opposed this plan, but he was denounced and ignored. The price of prophecy Jeremiah had been right, however, and soon the nation of Judah found itself under seige once again. The prophet counseled his people to submit to the Babylonians lest greater disaster should overtake the nation. His fellow countrymen were whocked and outraged that this “man of God” would counsel such traitorous action.. What they did not un derstand were his motives. Jeremiah did not counsel surrender because he liked the Babylonians, or because he disliked his own nation, nor because he felt the enemy was right or just. His counsel was based upon nothing but Jeremiah’s .. Jv 1 ' *t* a NOW IS THE TIME... Max Smith County Agr. Agent Telephone 3M-6851 TO REQUEST FEED RECOMMENDATIONS A vital part of forage testing is the feeding suggestions that are to be made depending upon the quality of the forage. Many beef and dairymen get their crops tested but do not request feeding suggestions. With the high price of Jecd grains the value of feeding less grain and more forage becomes more important. Our livestock specialists stress the merits of getting more feed nutrients from forage and less from grain in order to keep down feed costs. Forage testing along with feeding recom mendations is getting the proper start on existing feed costs.. TO PROTECT LIVESTOCK WASTE The fertilizer situation continues to be critical with scarcity and higher costs to be experienced in 1975. Barnyard manure is still a very valuable farm by product and every effort should be made to preserve all of the fertilizer elements. To allow manure to be outside during the winter months is to lose valuable fertilizer. If it cannot be spread on fields during the fall and winter months (soil injection is the best method), then the manure should be protected from the weather and be placed in a water tight pit or enclosure. Manure spread on land with vegetative cover during the fall and winter, when the ground is not frozen or snow covered, could be a good method, providing there is not too much slope to the field. Proper manure storage and handling gets Farm Calendar Saturday, November 9 9 - 15th Keystone In ternational Livestock Exposition at the Farm Show Building in Harrisburg. Sunday, November 10 10 - 13th Pennsylvania Farmer’s Association Meeting with headquarters at the Penn Harris Motor Inn, Harrisburg. Southeastern Grape Association Meeting at the Farm and Home Center 1:30 p.m. conviction that this was God’s will. Actually, the advice he was trying to give was intended to save the nation from further suf fering. Because he attempted to be faithful to God’s will, Jeremiah was judged by his people to be a traitor. In God’s sight, however, this “traitor” was one of the nation’s great patriots. more important each year for other reasons than pollution. TO ERADICATE CATTLE PARASITES In areas with high livestock population the problem of internal and external parasites becomes more acute. On farms where there have been heavy livestock numbers for years, many of the worm eggs and spores are present to re infest the animals. Every dairyman and cattle feeder should make certain that he is not feeding a bunch of worms in addition to his cattle. Beef calves imported into the county from states south of Pennsylvania are often infested with stomach worms. Feed grains are too expensive to be wasted on wormy cattle. Every producer should be sure to test feces from several animals in the group and learn of the worm in festation. TOPREVENT t FARM FIRES Good fire prevention practices are the best way to decrease the threat and protect both man and beast. The winter season is ap proaching when most barns are full of crops and livestock. Every farm worker and owner should be - briefed on eliminating -fire hazards andin the use of fire extinguishers. We hope that every fanner has one or more extinguishers in or near the barn or farm buildings, and that it is in good working order, and finally, that every member of the family knows how to operate it. If this is not true, then we’d suggest that steps be taken at once to provide this protection. Monday, November 11 Twin Valley Adult Farmers first monthly meeting. Vo*ag classroom at the Twin Valley High School 7:30 p.m. James Beattie, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Penn State, speaking to the noon convention of PPA members, Harrisburg. Tuesday, November 12 14th Annual Ag-Industry Banquet, Lancaster Farm and Home Center, J. E. Loaning, president of Kellogg Co., speaking. Organizational meeting for those interested in a Lancaster County Junior Holstein Club. Farm and Home Center at 8:00 p.m. Editor’s Quote Book Entry man, houevti wtsi, needs the advue of sonu sa gacious friend in the affans of bjl Plautus “<#!' ; ' ». v.y.