20—Lancaster Farming, Saturday. September 20. 1975 Hon wins ICMtfamd trwo fm H honor* In the State FFA proflclcny awards for or namental horticulture and recently received the Carol Thompson Memorial Award for Outstanding FFA work in York County. During his FFA activities, Jeff earned his county degrees and also his Keystone Fanning Degree. Sommer Job in Horticulture This past summer, Jeff worked for a greenhouse and also took care of many residential properties both caring and designing land scapes. “When I thought of doing the work, I was afraid I wouldn’t find anyone willing to let me help,” Jeff noted. “But it was quite the op posite, in fact I had more work than I could handle.” Jeff noted that many people are interested in pursuing landscaping for residential areas and ex- Apple I Continued iron Pace 1| in spite of lower expected costs for raw materials and ingredients. Grower prices may drop considerably below the last two years.” Haas also believes that the processing market will be down this year, and noted that highest prices were paid last year. Although Baas markets the majority of his apples himself, be is not immune to pricing factors. And the higher yields are bound to suppress prices. He says his own apples look especially good this year. This year’s apple crop is extra large because growing conditions have been nearly perfect in all of the major growing areas across the country. In normal years (me or more of the five major areas will suffer a bad crop and prices go up because of the curtailed supply. This year that won’t happen. Haas described the local conditions as being nearly ideal for growing apples this year. “Spring weather was good,” he said simply, “and the relatively dry summer makes for good fruit flavor.” Acknowledging that the early weeks of summer were rather wet, he explained that it did not hurt the apple crop ~ but ruined cherries. Color is looked for by the con sumer, Haas remarked, and the sunny days and cool nights we’ve had recently are doing just that. It all adds up to lots of apples with good color, size, and eating quality, according to Haas, who has 15 acres of apples on his orchard. Reasons for the big crop go beyond the weather con ditions which we and other areas had this year, ac cording to statements made by How. In assessing the situation, How commented: “For the longer run the major question facing the apple industry is to what extent the 1975 crop size represents the unusual coincidence of good growing conditions in all major areas, or a fundamental increase in productive capacity. If we are facing the major award plained that more people arc conscious of their lawns. "I really believe there is a future in the field and am hoping to find that it will increase in the years to come.” Although college work and activities has taken up much of Jeffs time, the young man has still done much to beautify his own home lawn. The Keeney’s have three flower gardens that were constructed by Jeff, one being a rock garden, one being a flower garden and one constructed specifically for the bicentennial. Jeff would like to pursue a career in horticulture or landscaping but explained that his interests are still open for suggestions. The youth explained at that he might even be interested in teaching in a vo-tech school as that is where he got his beginning interests in hor ticulture. crop causes concern prospects of larger supplies, can markets be expanded to provide adequate grower returns, or must other means be taken to provide adjustment? “Orchard renewal has permitted a shift toward more highly colored varieties and to those suitable for either fresh market or processing. The construction of more con trolled atmosphere storage has enabled growers to extend their marketing season for fresh fruit and even processors their plants in some regions. Mechanical harvesting of apples for processing, which now ap pears to be commercially feasible on well managed orchards with adequate volume, is reducing dependence on seasonal labor. “The total market for apples appears to be ex panding slowly,” How continues. “Per capita consumption of fresh apples has apparently stabilized in recent years after a period of decline following World War n. Consumption of processed products in terms of raw material content is on the increase although the direction and rate of change varies from one item to another. Most of the increase has been in canned apple juice and frozen slices, although canned applesauce still takes a large share of all apples processed. How says, “If current production estimates do reflect increased productive capacity as well as favorable "'TtCteA' ytwi Mown fa a, afan" R D 4 MYERSTOWN, PA 17067 CALL COLLECT 717-866-5708 Jeft Keeney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Keeney, Vireo Rd.. York: is a former FFA member now majoring in horticulture at the York Campus of Penn State. weather this is likely due to a growers response to favorable returns received during the 19G0’s and ex pectations based on technological developments, size controlled rootstock, mechanical harvesting, and controlled atmospheric storage. “Many growers and processors may find the decisions made a few years ago based on expectations at that time are not working out as hoped,” How concluded in his outlook. “The apple in dustry may be under severe competitive pressure for the next few years and there is no simple solution in sight. Haas says the apple market is still free of government interference and adds “that’s the nice part of the apple industry.” He observed that the Apple Advisory Council considers a no government involvement policy to be the best for long range interests. Or chardmen prefer to solve their own problems, even if it means losses. So far the self imposed marketing ad justments have worked out well, Haas pointed out. Orchards must be planned five to 10 years in advance, Haas explained. That often makes decision making difficult and the entire business is risky. “Farming is a risky business,” Haas explained, while taking a bite from one of his apples. “In fanning, flie fruit business is the riskiest, and within the fruit business, it’s cherries which are the riskiest,” he con- tinned. “With most of my orchard devoted to cherries, you can see I’m way out on a limb.” One tool orchardmen have in arriving at decisions is tree surveys, but their value is questionable. How states that the studies are made at irregular intervals and not coordinated between regions. Haas’ opinion is that they are unreliable and are frequently based on inac curate information. How adds that an analysis of trends in production may be especially deceptive if older' trees have been removed to make room for higher density plantings. Forecasts are very difficult and in Washington State, a major producer of apples, there are no tree surveys. Anyway, for whatever statistics might be worth, Pennsylvania’s Crop Reporting Service forecasts the state’s apple crop to be 19 per cent ahead of last year’s. That prediction is, at least, in line with those made elsewhere. Haas, however, is expecting a crop which is three and even four times the size of last year’s. He estimates having six to eight (Continued on Page 31] GIGANTIC FALL CLEARANCE SALE TREMENDOUS SAVINGS ★ YARDMAN RIDERS ★ REMNGTON CHAIN SAWS ★ WHEEL HORSE TRACTORS AND MOWERS ★ SNAPPER EQUIPMENT ★ LAWN-BOY LAWN MOWERS ★ REDDY HEATERS GEHMAN BROS. i mi. no. of Sales & Service TERRE HILL ON RT. *97 PHONE (215) 445-6272 EVERY W> WEDNESDAY IS mt DA|RY EX DAY AT NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC. New Holland, PA If you need 1 cow or a truck load, we have from 100 to 200 cows to sell every week at your price Mostly fresh and close springing Holstems. Cows from local farmers and our regular shippers including Marvin Eshleman, Glenn Fite, Gordon Fritz, Blame Hoffer, Dale Hostetter, H. D Matz, and Jerry Miller. SALE STARTS 12:30 SHARP Also Every Wednesday, Hay. Straw & Ear Corn Sale 12:00 Noon. For arrangements for special sales or herd dispersals at our barn or on your farm, contact: Abram Diffenbach, Mgr. 717-354-4341 Norman Kolb *•0 717-397-5538 \T
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers