10—Lancaster Farm! Farm Commentary ‘Thanks’ and ‘No Thanks’ Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. Richard E Bell, testified before the House Committee on Agriculture earlier this month to oppose legislation which would make the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) the export seller, marketing agent, or price fixer for all gram and soybeans exported from this country According to Bell, who directed his comments specifically to the sub committees on livestock and grains, the Department of Agriculture does not believe the additional powers of the CCC would benefit anyone. The bill being considered by the Committee (HR 8933) has been submitted under the assumption that "the producer would have a better bargaining position with the government for the export portion of his crop, and that the government could do a better job of supplying the export market than the free en terprise system has done" Fur thermore, the bill’s sponsors further believe that consumers would benefit from it. In opinions stated on this page last summer, I supported negotiations which would allow for long-term gram sales, because they should allow for more stable prices and better planning. With that in mind, smoother dairy, hog, beef, and poultry operations may be expected (all other things being equal) and gram farmers may be able to plan with more certainty. At any rate, there shouldn’t be any more excuses after this on the part of the government as to why we’re holding up sales While supporting the pacts for Sorry, cities come first There’s a shortage of veterinarians in the state of Pennsylvania, and government programs are available to help alleviate the problem Ac cording to Dr Sam Guss, extension veterinarian at Penn State, there are approximately 3,800 head of livestock per veterinarian in the state, and there's little opportunity for entering the profession in the Commonwealth Penn State has a pre-vet program, but students must go elsewhere to complete their studies, Guss pointed out Recently 125 of Penn State’s pre vet majors, with high grades, applied for entrance into vet schools but only 17 were admitted That is bad news, but there’s worse to come Just read on Due to the shortage of animal doctors m Pennsylvania and elsewhere the government is willing to pay up to 60 per cent of educational expenses for individuals Presenting Barney Nixnutz Barney Nixnutz, Unsmn RD39, has been added to the Lancaster Farming staff to be in charge of anything which isn’t news and yet still of possible interest to readers Nixnutz was born the day before yesterday in the midst of a brainstorm - or rainstorm - and is an old Nov. 15. 1975 By ieter Krieg long-term trading as long as caution is never tossed aside I do not support the suggestions now being made that the government can handle the market better than the free enterprise system If a fellow can't think of any other reason for being skeptical of the government’s ability to run things, then certainly the Postal Service can serve as an example of chronic bungling And how about the mess Washington made of the 1972 gram deal 7 Ce/tamly that was nothing we'd want repeated. Government hasn’t been able to run the trains in the United States, and the chief reasons the railroad companies couldn’t make it is because of government interference Then there’s that abominable mess called welfare and the waste of funds through hundreds of agencies which accomplish and do nothing Now, if this bill goes through, the government is going to get a bear hug on gram and soybean production which will have an effect on anyone who produces or consumes food. With the government’s past record of wasting funds, it’s not hard to predict what they'll do with this one Private enterprise has a stake m seeing to it that a profit is made because that's what they need to buy their groceries with But government officials get their salaries out of your pocket and mine whether they did well or not We’ve got the treaty for gram exports over the next five years. Let’s say thanks for that, and no thanks to anything more than that. who will begin their veterinary practices in “deficient areas.” If the young doctor chooses to stay an additional year in the vet deficient area, the government gets even more generous by paying 85 per cent of the fellow’s educational costs. That sounds like a good incentive, but it doesn’t solve a thing First of all, we don’t have enough facilities to tram more veterinarians anyway and are you ready for this 7 the government describes the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas as being the “vet deficient areas " “In the northern tier countries there’s no vet shortage at all,” Guss said, “but that’s where I get all my complaints from ” Where did some of these statisticians get their education, anyway 7 farmer from way back He came into the world with ink in his i ems, a typewriter on his lap, and a pitchfork in his hand The recipient of a genuine B S degree, he was educated by T Wes Bnllik, infamous sports columnist and prognosticator at the Pennsylvania Mirrow, State College In coming to Lancaster Farming, Nixnutz brings with him a large wastebasket and a willingness to accept the buck when everyone else passes it Hjs writings are expected to deal primarily on philosophy, politics, economics, and satire, or just plain humor r NO GUARANTEE I csson for No\ ember IS. 1975 Background Scripture: Genesis 37. Devotional Reading: Matthew 20:20-28. Being a •‘favorite son isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be! Take Joesph for example. He was bom into a devout home and his mother was his father’s favorite wife He was undeniably his father’s favorite son and he occupied a position of conspicuous favor m the household. Not only Joseph knew he was favored, everyone else did too. Evan his dreams taught him to expect a favored role in life. Yet, for a “favorite son," he got off to a bad beginning: almost murdered by his brothers, he is left to die in the wilderness instead. "Handsome and good-looking” Then, • when all seemed lost, Joseph was saved from a sure death by caravan that carried him off into Egypt and slavery. Joseph also had something else going for him; “Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking’’ (Genesis 39:6b). This tune, not only Joseph thought so, but so did his master’s wife. With great persistence she tried to seduce the young handsome Hebrew man. Today, many people would say, “Why not?” But Joseph manfully at tempted to do what he believed to be the right thing. And he was motivated by two reasons. First of all, his master had been very good to Joseph, giving him and sharing with him almost everything he had. Secondly, Joseph knew that his master placed great trust in him: “Lo, having me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand (39:8). Because of his master’s trust and generosity, Joseph felt a responsibility that would not permit him to succumb to the wife’s temptations. Lastly, Joseph believed that to give in to his temp tations would be, not just a sin against his master, but also against God himself. “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God 9 ” (39 9) But the Lord was with him Hooray for Joseph 1 He did the right thing 1 Nevertheless the con sequences of his choice must have seemed disappointing, for instead of earning the admiration of his master’s wife, Joseph became the target of her vindictiveness. Was it Shakespeare who said, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”’ The scorned woman was determined to avenge herself Furthermore, instead of his master rewarding Joseph’s fidelity, he instead accepted the fictitious story of his wife and had Joseph thrown into prison His fidelity brought only more misery to him That seems unfair dosen’t it’ Since Joseph resisted the ?! - I A* ■x To Use Farm Records Since 1975 is coming to an end, we suggest that all farmers get their farm account books up to date and evaluate their various en terprises. Some records need to be kept for Income Tax reporting, but another vital use of these records is to help make plans for the future. A good set of farm records will reveal where money has been made and also what enterprises have lost money. Here at the end of the cropping season would be a good tune to do some “pencil puchmg” in order to make firm decisions for next year. To Protect The Corn Crop We are aware of many new com cribs and storage bins this fall to hold our good com crop. Most of these will do a good job of allowing the com to dry along with protection against rodents. It’s the com stored in piles or on the bam floor, that may need extra attention. If not given good air circulation, it will heat and mold. Also, rats and mice will help themselves and reduce the com quality. We suggest poison bait stations near the pile of com to help reduce the rat population. Extra cats about Farm Calendar Monday, Nov. 17 Pa. Farm and Power Equipment Convention at the Poconos continuing through the 19th. Tuesday, Nov. 18 Lebanon County DHIA Banquet at the Schaef ferstown Fire Hall at 7:00 p.m. Lancaster County Junior Holstein Club meeting at the Farm and Home Center at 7:30 p.m. An election of directors and discussion on the up coming state meeting will be held. Thursday, Nov. 20 Pa. State Holstein Con vention at the Sheraton Inn, Gettysburg. Friday, Nov. 21 Lancaster County Guernsey Breeders Association meeting at the Bird-in- Hand Restaurant 7 00 p.m temptation and did what God wanted him to do, wouldn’t it seem that God should have spared him of these con sequences’ Yet, God never promises us that doing the “right thing” will guarantee us fair treatment. There is never any assurance that obeying God will keep us out of trouble or make people admire us. In fact, as Jesus also demonstrated in his life, doing God’s will, if anything, is sometimes a guarantee that there will be a cross for us The writer of Genesis tells us “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love ” (39 19) That is the only guarantee he gives us' NOW IS THE TIME. . J Max Smith CoiinU \gr. Agcnl Tolophmu* I'M-iitTii the farm homestead is. another way to reduce rodent problems. To Protect Ornamentals Colder weather is on the way when some evergreen shrubs may need protection; this is often true with newplanted yews, azaleas, rhododendrons, and various hollies. If their root systems have not been well established, the cold winds may dry them out and “winter-killing” will be the result. The use of burlap or wooden slats to the west and northwest of the shrubs will be helpful. Also, mulching around die plants to a 3-inch depth will help conserve moisture and-control daily freezing and thawing. In addition, if the plants could be well watered before freezing weather arrives, they will have a better chance of survival. To Inspect Flues and Chimneys With colder weather to come many stoves and heaters will be used. Many local tobacco cellars have stoves and these chimneys have been the cause of fires. A close inspection may discover open areas between the bricks or loose fitting flue connections. Building fires are very destructive and replacement costs are high. Tune spent now inspecting the various heating systems, and correcting fire hazards, may save enormous losses. Ag handbook issued WASHINGTON - The 1975 Handbook of Agriculture Charts - a graphic portrayal of trends in America’s agriculture - was issued recently by USDA’s Economic Research Service. This ready reference book has 200 charts - some with accompanying tables which illustrate subjects ranging from farm commodity trends to family economics. There are also charts depicting the general economy, foreign production and trade, population and rural development, and food and nutrition. Single copies of the 1975 Handbook of Agriculture Charts (AH-491) can be obtained without cost by writing the Publications Unit, Rm. 0054. Economic Research service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. For telephone requests, dial 447- 7255. [CAN vou\ 'gbt along ON PWB HOURS, BLEB? \EACH NtbHTPj / f£P, !Pt , CAN oar MY 7lv° -HOUff NAP IN 7HP' AFTERNOON! $ (; £ & w!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers