Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, March 01, 1975, Image 10
10 —Lancaster Farming. Saturday. March 1, 1975 U.S. Milk Production Dairymen changed a habit of a generation last year They reduced herd culling to such an extent because of low slaughter cow prices, apparently ■ that milk cow numbers increased from July through December 1974 for the first time since 1953 That accounts for the increase in dairy cattle numbers picked up by the annual cattle in ventory of Jan 1 If There Hadn’t Been A 1973 . . . Fact is - except for 1973 - it was the highest in history Trouble is, it has to be compared with 1973 By that standard, the $27 2 billion in realized net farm income was down 16 pet. And, though cash receipts for farm marketings did hit $95.0 billion, up 7 pet from the previous high (of $BB6 billion) set a year earlier, production expenses, at $748 billion, were up 15 pet. Government payments were off an estimated $2 billion. That put them at about $6OO million and the lowest since 1960 Hog Imports at Record High, Cattle Are Lowest in Decade Hog and cattle imports both off sharply in December But, while hog imports finished the year at an all time high, imports of live catlle were the lowest since 1964. Hog imports totaled only 1,612 head in December, less than a third of the Dec. 1973 total. But, the Han. - Dec total, at 196,347 head was 2V* Egg Output Numbers Dip US. egg production and layer numbers continue to downtrend Though egg production per layer hit a record high last year, layer numbers and total egg production both declined for the third straight year Total egg production, at 66.0 billion, was off 1 pet. from a year earlier and Russians Post Banner Livestock Year, But Lower Crop Yields Aided by abundant feed supplies from 1973’s record harvest, Soviet livestock production hit record highs last year But, these gams were more than offset by sharply lower crop output As a result, over-all- farm production declined 3-4 pet in the USSR in 1974, according to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. Both meat and egg production increased 7 pet, wool output was up 6 pet, and milk production was up 4 pet from 1973 But, production of grains, sugarbeets and vegetables were off 11-12 pet, while potato output plunged 25 pet The reason for the lower crop production Bad weather Though d by an early spring, weather turned cool and rainy in parts, there was frost damage as well This was followed by a summer long drought, and finally abnormally Outlook Revised As tfie result of that increase, and possibly because of the boosts given milk prices last month, USDA revised its milk production outlook While it still hasn't gone beyond the first 6 months, it now thinks production during Jan. - June will remain near year-earlier levels At Outlook Conference time, it had predicted output during the first 6 months would run "well below” year earlier levels. By almost any standard, 1974 was a banner year for farm income Prices received by farmers were up 64 pet and were the highest on record, as were over-all cash receipts from farm marketings And, while farm production expenses were sharply higher and government payments sharply lower, realized net farm in come was more than 50 pet higher than in 1972 - more than double that for 1971, according to the USDA’s most recent "Demand and Price Situation" report * times the 1973 total, more than double the previous high (of 89,032 head) set in 1972 December cattle imports totaled only 16,136 head, less than one-tenth the Dec. 1973 total The Jan - Dec total, at 568,271, was only a little more than half of the (1,038,985 head) imports of a year earlier Down - Layer to 36-Year Low the lowest since 1965 Average number of layers on farms, at 286 5 million, was down 2 pet from a year earlier - and the lowest since 1938. Production per bird, at 230.5 eggs, was up from 227 a year earlier and record high heavy rams that caused during the harvest season Meat production was up 1 million tons, to 14.5 million tons Egg output totaled 55.0 billion, compared to 512 billion in 1973. Milk production hit 91.8 million tons, up from 88 3 million in 1973. Wool output reached 461,000 tons, compared to 433,000 a year earlier But, gram production sagged - from 222 5 million tons m 1973 to 1956 million last year Sugarbeet production dropped from 87 0 million tons m 1973 to 764 million m 1974 Sunflowerseed production was off - from 74 million tons a year earlier to 68 millipn tons last yeat - Vegetable production, from 25 9 million tons m 1973 to 23 1 million last year And, potatoes, from 108.2 million tons to 80 7 million last year fcasaji JW ii THE ULTIMATE WORD Lesson for March 2.1975 Background' Scripture: Hebrews 1 through 2:9. Devotional Reading: John 1:1-5, 10-13. There is a story about a father who took his children to the circus. There, for the first time they saw an elephant. When they got home their • mother questioned them about what they had seen. All the children wanted to tell her about the strange beast they had seen: the elephant! “What did he look like?” the mother wanted to know. Little Johnny, who had looked at the elephant from one side of the cage and seen only the face of the beast, described the elephant in terms of the long, grey trunk that lifted food to his small mouth. Lucy, who had viewed the elephant from the side, described the huge m animal in terms of his enormous body. Bobby, however, who had seen the elephant only from the rear, was fascinated by the huge, thin, flapping ears. “Why,” said mother mischievously, “I have a hard time picturing him from your different descriptions.” At that, Ellen, who had not yet been heard from, handed her mother a Polaroid photograph she had taken of the elephant: “Maybe this will help you, Mother.” “Many And Various Ways” The story is a parable of man’s attempts to define and describe their experience with the Divine demension in life: the reality we call God. It is not that some views of the Divine are wrong, but that they are incomplete, only part of the Each approach reflects God’s attempt to reveal himself to men. He has always used a variety of methods and means. The writer of Hebrews acknowledges this when he says: “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets .. .” (Hebrews 1:1). There has never been just one way by which God reveals himself to man. These ways are often so diverse so as to seem con tradictory and incompatible. But they are not: it is man’s limited, partial vision that creates the conflicts. Man has a finite mind and. whenever he attempts to comprehend the infinite he is forced to admit defeat. flooding “In many and various ways,” God has spoken to us over the centuries. He has spoken to us through all kinds of religions and religious leaders. He has spoken to us through men who did not even know that God was using them. Each of these pictures has helped us to better understand the nature of God, yet the composite picture is always incomplete at best. God’s Reflection This is what we find to be the uniqueness of Jesus Christ: what we find par tially in others, we find completely in him. The writer" of Hebrews says it this way: “but in these last w 1 "Mm*- To Use Certified Seed Many kinds of seeds will be going into the ground in the next few months. Certified seeds are worth the extra cost and will help insure a good crop. When home grown seeds are used, or those from a neighbor, the germination-is unknown, the amount of weeds present is a question, and several diseases may be on the seeds. Also, it is unlawful in Pennsylvania to sell seeds unless they are tested and approved by the Bureau of Plant Industry at Harrisburg. Don’t take the risk of planting poor quality seeds because the cost of inputs will be just as great as with certified seed. To Beware of Sewage Sludge We are aware of the availability of sewage sludge from the various public sewage plants. Also, we know of the problem of disposing of this sludge* in the community. The fertilizer content of sludge will vary, but on the average the content of dry sludge is about 3 percent nitrogen, 1 percent phosphorus, and one-half percent potash. Also, in many cases only about half of this fertilizer value is available the first year. Another consideration is the amount of heavy metals in the sludge, such as copper and zinc. If farmers are going to utilize sludge we suggest they do the following: (1) Have the sludge tested. (2) Have the soil tested to leam the needs. (3) Request approval from the regional office of the Department of En vironmental Resources. In addition, don’t apply the sludge within at least 100 feet of any stream. Calendar Monday, March 3 7:30 p.m. - Manheim Young Farmers meeting at the Manheim Central High School. 6:15 p.m. - Pa. Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting at the Holiday Inn at State' College. Tuesday, March 4 9:30 a.m. - 1975 Livestock days he has spoke to us by a Son ...” (Hebrews 1:2). The Christ does for us what Ellen’s polaroid photo did for her mother in the story. The writer of Hebrews says. “He ■reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature .. .”(1:3). In Christ we see the clearest of all reflections of God. It is the best likeness of God available to man. To view Christ may not dispel all the Divine mysteries, but in huh we find a sufficient likeness so that the major questions of life may be answered. God has spoken many tunes to man and in many different ways and we must respect what-others have heard*him‘ say. Yet, those who follow Christ will humbly believe that in him God has spoken his ultimate word. NOW IS THE TIME. .. 1 Max Smith County Agr. Agent Telephone :i!IM1851 To Permit Soil To Dry Spring is just around the corner when many gar deners and farmers will be anxious to get out in the garden or fields and start the spring planting. It will be a mistake to work soil that is too wet because it will be hard and lumpy all season. Heavy clay soils should be given more time to dry than sandy or loam-type soils. Also, with heavy equipment used on our farms today, it is more important to wait until the soil is dry before working it. The hand test where you squeeze a handful of soil and then roll it along on the ground as you would a bowling ball, is suggested. If it stays in a ball, the ground is too wet; if it crumbles and falls apart, then the soil is sufficiently dry to work. Don’t work in the mud or wet woil. To Beware of Liquid Manure Pits The use of the water-tight pit to store all types of manure is very common in this area; at a recent meeting of swine producers, nearly half of the men had liquid manure systems. This is an excellent method of storing manure to preserve the fertilizer nutrients. However, there is danger of toxic gases forming from this manure and every producer should recognize this hazard. This is especially true when the manure is mixed for hauling to the fields. We are hearing of more and more csses of both livestock and men being overcome. All liquid manure operators should be ex tremely careful when emp: tying the pit, and extra caution about going down into the pit. Some attention to this possible hazard is urged at this time. Day at Fenn State. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. at the J. 0. Keller Conference Center-State College. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Lan caster County Dairy Day at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. Wednesday, March 5 9:00 a.m. - Schuylkill County- Agronomy Day at Begins United Church of Christ. 7:30 p.m. - Lancaster County Conservation District meeting at the Farm and Home Center. 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Lan caster Fruit Growers Meeting at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. Thursday, March 6 7:30 p.m. - Poultry Education Meeting at the Farm and Home Center. 7:30 p.m. - Lancaster County Holstein Association Barn Meeting at the Albert Fry farm in Manheim. Friday, March 7 6:45 p.m. - Manheim Young Fanners Banquet at the Manheim High School Cafeteria. 7:30 p.m. - Lancaster County Holstein Association barn meeting at the farm of Amos and Kenneth Rutt m Quarryville.