Conservation I Continued from Pip i| Association, told the com mittee that while PFA is opposed to more government regulation, they do realize that some farm owners and operators have a reckless disregard for the soil, and that some of these cases could only be corrected by government imposed ac tions. "But," he said, "we'd also HAY & STRAW SALE EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 12 NOON PAULZ. MARTIN SALES STABLES 2 miles East of Intercourse Sale managed by Harvey Z. Martin TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC IS o ' (/) h- 25 Lbs. Retriever Dog Food s3 44 Highly fortified, protein dry food 44-5*99 o CO L, TIRE GAUGE Reg. $1 99 NOW $ J .59 M 512 {2 S 3 TSC. TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC T like to point out that farmers share a common goal with DER: preservation and improvement of en vironmental quality. Indeed, farmers have a vested in terest here, and a sincere concern. The environment is the farmer’s living. He uses the land, air and water to produce food.” Heim pointed out three major reservations he and the PFA had about the 1977 deadline. He asked: 1 - How will DER deal with those farmers who have applied for a farm con servation plan before the deadline, but have not yet had one designed and im plemented because of the demands placed on the under-finanaced and under staffed Conservation District office? 2 - How does DER plan to educate their field staff on matters of the Erosion Mechanic's Creeper 'WO- 8 * Rugged and durable, with hardwood frame and vinyl covered headrest 1-3336. 2217 Lincoln Hwy. E. Lancaster, PA Phone 717-393-3149 Control Regulations as they apply to agriculture? 3 - In order to adequately Judge implementation of a farm conservation plan, one must know something of contemporary agricultural practices. Docs DER plan to familiarise their cn< forccmcnt personnel with this area? Helm also voiced serious concern over the DER definition of animal wastes as sewage. "Manure is a valuable resource,” Heim said, "and any regulations that might prohibit fanners from spreading it on their land ■ as they’ve traditionally done • will hurt food production.” There are many farmers opposed to the regulations, Heim noted. “But I think much of the opposition come from the fact that there's a lot of misunderstanding concerning the regulations. Farmers are in favor of sedimentation and erosion control, and they favor an approach silitnar to DER’s. But they definitely don't like Split Cowhide Driver Gloves Re « 1.48 $229 ■ TSC Lew Price Adjustable wrist strop ny lon stitchtng 1 size fits all 63-0061 or 63-0365- TRACTOR SUPPLY CO. having government ugenaen telling them what to do. If DER wants to help farmers control sedimentation, then they'll have to do a much better job of communicating with farmers through ex tension, farm groups and so forth. If there’s more communication, I feel certain a lot of the opposition will disappear.” The committee heard from several people during the day that seemed flatly op posed to DER regulation of farm erosion. One was a Franklin County surveyor who told the hearing, "I have yet to talk to anyone who thinks farm pollution is a problem at this time. I think 90 percent of all farmers use some conservation prac tices, especially on steep slopes and next to water ways. Only on out of ten farmers don’t do anything." Keith Eckle, a Lackawanna County dairy and vegetable farmer, asked the committee, “How much environmental quality can we afford? Who will pay the cost, how much will agricultural production suffer, and who makes the decision as to whether we devote ourselves to clean streams or growing food?” In Northeastern Penn sylvania, Eckle pointed out, the conservation problem is greatly complicated by the fact that many of the best farmers till considerable acreages of rented land. He said farmers wouldn’t be willing to spend money on censervation practices for rented land, nor would landlords who were getting only $l5 to $2O an acre yearly rental. “Why should a lan downer pay for terraces when he’s just holding the land for development anyway? Terraces won’t increase the value of rental land at all, and they could decrease the resale value. Unless you solve the rented land problem, conservation regulations are going to put a lot of our best farmers out of business.” Eckle also doubted the conservation measures always paid off in production increases or better soils. “If we do as bad a job of farming PRESIDENT'S SALE NOW thru APRIL 27 g GARDEN HOSE Vinyl Reinforced Reg. $7.99 NOW 6 49 %" x 50’ 44-0818 3 H.P. Green SI Reg. $74.99 20" cut, side dis automatic chol square loop foldmi die safety equipr 44-1104 Mower LL 44-180 Res $85.99 NOW REGISTER FOR FREE PRIZES 2400 W. Market York, PA 717-792-0014 Push Mowe 54* Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 5,1975—19 as people say wc do, we’d have run out of topsoil long ago." George Wolff, a member of the Lebanon County Con servation District board of directors, defended con servationists. "I have terraces on my farm because I think they’re a definite net worth factor," he said. "The cost of my terraces was minor because This hydraulic- reset plow has exclusive double pivot standards that h' h Any bottom on a 2500 Power-Reset Plow can clear any rock that passes under the tractor drawbar. Exclusive double-pivot design lets the bottom move back and up past a vertical position— up to 26 inches above the furrow floor as shown here. Hydraulic power provides the action —and controlled hydraulic return helps the bottom re-enter the ground at nearly the same angle as original entry. An exclusive valve lets you adjust down-pressure to match your field conditions and plowing speed. Choose these 18-mch plows in 4- to 8-furrow sizes Drop by soon and learn more about light draft 2500 Power-Reset Plows. Londis Bros. Inc. Lancaster 717 393-3906 Adamstown Equipment Inc. Mohnton, RD2. Pa 19540 InearAdamstownl 215 4*4 4391 M. S. Yearsley Neuhaus'es, Inc. It Sons Glen Rock, Pa West Chester 215-696-2990 717-235-1306 1818 N. Cameron Harrisburg, PA 717-238-0436 I had them done when the federal government, through the Agricultural Stabilization and Con servation Service, was paying 80 percent of the bill. "But formers don't always need terraces to solve their erosion problems. And for those who do, there will still be money available from Washington for some con servation practices." A.B.C. Groff, Inc. New Holland 717-354-4191 Pikeville Equipment Inc. Oyster Dale (load Oley RD#2, PA 215-987-6277 FT. ESI EME NE Hardened Steel Fence 0 Pliers .99 1.69 “ 1 a Regular 3 99 O Has point on one |aw ham mer head on the other lOV4 long 39-1311 O 4-5-75 «r»i TSC ■H (/) O {/» 4 °
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers