Farm Commentary
Equal responsibility
Something is apparently rotten in
Harrisburg, and if it's tied m with
government that shouldn’t be too
surprising
Earlier this year I walked into a
man’s barn which had manure
scattered in the stalls and in the litter
alley. Cows and calves were running
around loose in the same stable The
pipeline was so covered with dust
and splattered manure that I had to
examine it closely to be sure it wasn’t
the vacuum line.
Up in the feed alley there was an
accumulation of paper bags, baler
twine and scraps of hay. The place
was filthy.
As though the inside of the barn
wasn’t bad enough, the exterior
conditions were equally shameful.
Some of the cows were even m
disgraceful shape, especially their
feet because the dairyman didn’t
believe in letting his cows out. That’s
why they were allowed to run loose
inside the stanchion barn - for some
exercise and heat detection
The mess didn't stop there - it
carried over to the house and
surroundings as well, but that doesn’t
concern either me or the health of
ficials
That particular farm was by far the
Appreciate the inspector
Fieldmen from dairy cooperatives
are probably some of the least ap
preciated men involved m the dairy
business
I’m not proud to admit it. but I
remember when 1 used to get ner
vous about seeing him pull up to the
milkhouse in his car and then check
off a couple of things he wasn't
satisfied with There was never a
comfortable feeling involved with
that, and I’m sure I’m not by myself in
feeling this way
It wasn't until after I was shut off
for three days for high leucocyte
counts that my appreciation took a
turn in the opposite direction Then it
finally became clear to me that the
inspector is of more benefit than a
hindrance Maybe that's debatable in
some cases and with some inspectors
- but that's my thought now
In my own experience, several
years ago. I was concerned about the
leucocyte problem (and ac
companying cases of mastitis - much
of it subclmical) but I wasn’t con
cerned enough It wasn't until after
drastic steps were taken by the dairy
that I straightened things up In the
meantime lots of profits were lost -
not just because of a lost market for
three days - but because of reduced
production for weeks and months
By Dieter Krieg
sloppiest I have ever seen, and
ironically, it has a reputation as the
home of one of the highest producing
herds in the state DHIA testers have
made observations basically the
same as my own. Breed officials and
representatives from a national
magazine - have walked away in
disgust.
The fieldman from the dairy
cooperative has attempted to correct
the situation on numberous oc
casions - even going as far as shutting
the individual off four times within a
year.
Each time the dairyman was cut off,
the decision was overruled m
Harrisburg, according to the milk
inspector.
I checked into the situation myself
one day and was given the typical
run-around
My opinion is - if 99 farmers out of
100 can abide by the rules and
regulations of the health department,
the 100th fellow can too And he
should no matter what kind of in
fluence he may or may not have in
Harrisburg.
The fellow who ignores quality and
health standards and-or DHIA testing
regulations gives the entire industry
a bad image
As a result of it, I've come to the
conclusion that it’s wise to pay a little
closer attention to the milk inspector
Vet, I wonder how many dairymen
really appreciate the fieldman from
the cooperative And I’ll admit that if I
were dairying today I'd get nervous
about seeing him come But I’d heed
his advice more
Dairy specialists, veterinarians and
milk inspectors tell us about various
problems and potential problems
encountered on the dairy farm.
Mastitis is one subject they dwell
' upon most frequently. Recently Don
Ace. Penn State dairy specialist,
stated that 20 per cent of milk por-
duction is lost when the leucocyte
count reached 800,000 At a level of
1 5 million the cut in production could
be as high as 40 per cent
Some time ago the Holstein-
Friesian World published a report
which said that at least 50 per cent of
the nation's dairy cows become in
fected with mastitis, and of those that
do, the National Mastitis Council says
three out of four will be infected for
75 per cent of their milking lives
The Council figures that the
disease costs the dairyman $lOO per
cow per year I'm sure the fieldman
could save dairymen a portion o t this
expense if they'd just listen a little
more
PRIDE AND
PREJUDICE
|,r*ooii for Wcmbrr>■ l‘»
Barkßround Scripture:
Genesis 28.10-22 : 32:1-33.4
Devotional Reading:
Galatians 1-10-17.
Dreams were very im
portant in the life of Israel
and his family
Two dreams had changed
Israel’s life- the mysterious
dream of a heavenly ladder
as he fled the wrath of his
brother. Esau, and the
strange nocturnal wrestling
with a heavenly messenger
from God himself. Because
of his dreams, crafty Jacob
had become Israel, God's
chosen heir to the covenant.
“I had a dream ..
Joseph, his second
youngest son, also was a
dreamer. The only dif
ference was that Joseph’s
dreams got him into senous
trouble and almost cost him
his life.
Of course there was a
troubled household. Israel
had two wives, Rachel and
Leah, and two concubines.
That alone was reason for
jealousy and tension. Fur
thermore, Israel had
children by the two wives
and the two concubines and
the competition between the
four women was reflected in
the twelve children. Such a
household was bound to
arouse . suspicion of
favoritism and in Israel’s
house it was more than just a
“suspicion.”
Rachel, to begin with, was
his favorite wife and Joseph,
his son by Rachel, was his
favorite son What’s more,
the favoritism showed,
particularly m Israel’s gift to
Joseph of a beautiful multi
colored coat.
So Joseph was his father’s
favorite and there is the
suggestion that perhaps he
was a bit of a “spoiled brat’’’
The problem was not just
with his dreams, but with the
way he related to his
brothers. What he said and
did was almost guaranteed
to provoke their jealous
resentment.
One did not have to be a
mental giant to interpret his
dreams: both of them rather
clearly indicated that Joseph
saw himself as greatly
superior to his brothers. The
brothers understandably
interpreted the dreams to
indicate that Joseph thought
that he was in a class apart.
“Here comes this
dreamer ..
Actually, however, the
dreams were precogmtive in
nature: they foretold
something that was to come
to pass in the future. They
represented not just
Joseph’s inflated self-image,
but a situation that was
actually to occur in the years
ahead: his brothers would
eventually bow to him many
years later!
But to the brothers the
dreams spoke, not of the
future, but of the present and
they bitterly determined to
do away with this “spoiled
brat”! Thus, we see the
natural consequence that
often follows from the
presence of pride and
prejudice side by side:
violence’
Still, there was more at
work than just pnde and
prejudice there was also
God’s providence. For as the
seething brothers plotted to
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To Protect
Water Pipes
Colder weather is soon to
come and exposed water
pipes should get some
protection. They may be
buried at least 24 inches into
the soil, or wrapped with
electric heating cable. Water
supplies are a constant need
on most farms and to make
repairs, or thaw out frozen
pipes when temperatures
are near zero can be
avoided. The electric cable is
a very easy way to prevent
freezing but directions
should be followed in ap
plying the cable. If any
splicing or cutting is to be
done, an electrician should
be consulted or do the work.
Mishandling of the cable
could result in a fire hazard.
To Handle New
Corn Carefully
The grinding of the current
ear corn crop for livestock is
a very common practice as
soon as it is picked;
however, with high moisture
content there could be a
problem of heating and
molding of this freshly
ground corn chop. We
suggest that livtetock and
dairy producers grind
frequently rather than only
once per week. Most of this
new corn that has not been
heat dried, will start to mold
after about 48 hours in the
bag or in a feeder. Moldy
com could be toxic to many
animals especially breeding
females, and extreme care
should be exercised to
prevent it from spoiling.
To Winterize Farm
Machinery
Freezing weather means
trouble in water-cooled
motors and engines unless
there is anti-freeze added, or
the motor drained. The
motors used daily often are
prepared for colder weather,
but those on combines or
balers are sometimes
forgotten and allowed to
freeze Also, the protection
of machinery from the
weather is very important
during the winter and we
urge all farmers to get their
machinery under cover as
soon as the last work is done
in the fall. A separate
machinery shed is recom
mended so that all of the
machinery supplies, and
livestock are not housed in
the mam barn. Machinery
wet from snow or rain mean
kill him, Reuben, the oldest
of the brothers, was moved
by God to intervene so that
Joseph’s life could be saved.
The brothers intended
Joseph’s death, but God
intended for him to survive
and live to do important
things for him.
Even m the jealousy
ridden, hate-infested home
of Israel, there was an op
portunity for the grace of
God to thwart the evil of man
and bring good out of a bad
situation. God salvaged
victory out of the seeming
defeat of Joseph at Dothan.
From that defeat there came
an ultimate victory for God
and his will.
So, despite pride and
prejudice in Israel's
household, God’s providence
prevailed.
NOW IS
THE TIME...
M«* Smith
(ounly Agr A ('ml
frlrphom* I'lM.hm
rusty machinery, and rust is
the main enemy of a longer
machinery life.
To Consider Nitrogen
Purchase
The annual question of
when is the best time to buy
fertilizer, and especially
nitrogen, is facing most
farmers this fall. This time
last year there were in
dications of shortages and
higher prices in the spring,
however, that did not happen
and many growers could
have bought cheaper by
waiting until spring. Ac
cording to our Extension
Agronomist, James Eakm,
at Penn State the reverse
might be true this coming
winter and spring. His
suggestion is to buy nitrogen
now and store, if possible, or
apply to heavy soils with
vegetative cover. Due to the
possibility of natural gas
shortages this winter or
spring, fertilizer prices
might be higher next spring.
In most years, the early
ordering and accepting of
lime and fertilizer needs has
been to the advantage of the
producer.
Farm
Calendar
Saturday, Nov. 8
Keystone International
Livestock Exposition
slated for the Farm Show
Building. Runs through
the 14th. For complete
schedule see story in this
edition.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Southeastern Pa.
Fruitgrowers meeting to
be held at the Gilbert
sville Fire Hall. For
further information
contact Herbert Wetzel at
the Berks Co. Extension
office.
Thursday, Nov. 13
E-town young farmers
meeting on corn
production. E-town H.S
ag classroom at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 14
Tillage and soil management
meeting at the Willow
Valley Motor Inn 7:45
p.m.
Monday, Nov. 17
Pa. Farm and Power
Equipment Association
convention in Taminent
Resort Hotel.
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Lebanon Co. DHIA banquet
at the Schaefferstown
Fire Hall 7:00 p.m.
/SA/'T /T
NICE TO
KNOW YOU
CAN BORROW
ENOUGH MONEY
TO GET OUT
OF DEBT ?
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