10— Lancaatar Farming, Saturday. Jan. 17. 1976
‘'PSISWmg
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
Milk across the ocean
An editorial appearing on this page
two months ago pointed out the need
to correct a severe sanitation
problem on a Pennsylvania dairy
farm Those responsible for carrying
out the rules and regulations of their
respective sanitation departments
have since acknowledged the
existence of conditions referred to m
the Nov. 8 commentary and have
taken steps to correct the situation.
If my writing about the problem
influenced the initiation of corrective
measures, then I am sincerely
pleased.
But a far greater problem confronts
the nation's dairy industry as a whole.
This column can call attention to it,
but it will have to be the dairymen
and their marketing organizations
who have to blow the whistle, and
their own horn.
The problem is imported dairy
products, and it’s three-pronged.
Our lead story on page 1 hints that
Secretary Butz may betray this
nation’s dairy industry by making a
deal with Europe to swap our gram
for their cheese and butter. That’s
one prong of the problem.
Prong number two is that our
present trade agreements do not
impose countervailing duties against
subsidized dairy imports from foreign
countries Most European dairy
products are subsidized by their
respective governments and it
presents U.S. farmers with an unfair
competitive factor. At least that’s the
way we view it from this side of the
ocean. It should be pointed out,
however, that foreign nations are only
trying to protect themselves.
Granted, the imposition of coun
tervailing duties would favor the U.S.
dairy industry, and, sure enough, we
would be taking an additional step
towards protecting our markets It’s a
delicate matter with definite political
overtones.
The third prong is the most obvious
of all to me and it’s one of which I can
speak as an “eye-witness,” rather
than just a student of events in
Washington and elsewhere.
Sanitation is the problem
A tip of the hat
A note of appreciation goes to
Sperry-New Holland Machine
Company and Lancaster’s WGAL-TV
for the informative agriculture
program which was aired this past
Monday evening That, in my opinion,
is what’s needed to bring about a
better understanding between the
people who produce food and those
who consume it
Sponsored by Lancaster County's
Ir 1 r
BY DIETER KRIEG, EDITOR
Some dairy specialists at univer
sities and farmer cooperatives have
made accusations that foreign
cheeses have arrived at these shores
in rotten or near rotten condition. I
can't confirm that and would hope
that such a scandalous situation is
untrue.
But I can confirm that dairy
sanitation standards as we know
them are almost unheard of in West
Germany. Being a native of Germany,
I reveal this fact with anything but
pride. Nevertheless, some German
dairymen produce milk under the
filthiest conditions imaginable. The
problem isn’t a lack of proper
facilities or knowledge, but simply a
matter of low priority. Neither the
government nor many farmers
consider sanitation regulations to be
important enough to worry about.
It would be unfair to single out just
one country when other European
nations are being accused of the
same lackadaisical attitude. At any
rate, the sad conclusion is that
nothing has been done about it.
If'American dairymen might be
swept aside in favor of European
dairymen, as Butz hinted in his
London speech, then it's about time
the industry starts blowing its own
horn a little more. I’m all in favor of
sanitary regulations which U.S.
dairymen have to abide by, even
though some points on the score
sheet border on the ridiculous. And I
like foreign cheeses.
But I don’t think it’s fair for our
dairy products, which are produced
under government imposed quality
standards, to be placed alongside
products from foreign countries
which do not have similar health
regulations. And I think if the facts
concerning these matters are put
before the public, they’ll bend an ear
our way. After all, American
housewives are the most persnickety
creatures on Earth.
All the dairy industry has to do is
blow its own horn a little more often
and a little louder, even if it takes a
couple more pennies per hun
dredweight to provide the power.
own Sperry-New Holland Machine
Company, the half-hour program
presented scenes of the 1976 Farm
Show in a way which should have
been of interest to non-farm as well
as farm residents. I would think that
such a presentation has educational
and entertaining values, and all I can
add to a “thank-you” is that I hope
we'll see more of it in the future.
THEY LAUGHED
AT HIM
l,<won for January I*. UTS
Background Scripture:
Matthew 8: 1 through 9:34.
Devotional Reading:
Psalms 61
I’m sure that Jeaua found
people laughing at him more
than once, but Matthew
records at least one occasion
when Jesus was the butt of
ridicule and laughter.
In Matthew 9 he is ap
proached by an official of the
synagogue to come and raise
his daughter who has Just
died. Arriving at the of
ficial’s home, Jesus looks at
the girl and announces that
she “is not dead but
sleeping” (9:24). The people
found Jesus’ announcement
so ridiculous that they forgot
the solemnity of the occasion
and broke into derisive
laughter.
Yet, it was Jesus who had
the last laugh: “he went in
and took her by the hand,
and the girl arose”! (9:25).
No shrinking violets
Although healing was an
integral part of the mission
of tiie early churches, the
ministry of healing today is
often greeted by Christians
with derision and ridicule. If
someone claims that his
faith has made him whole,
his associates are likely to
regard him with good
natured amusement.
As one who has par
ticipated in the ministry of
healing for more than ten
years, I have encountered
derision from all kinds of
people, but most
significantly from church
people themselves.
At the same time, I have
noticed a remarkable
change in the attitudes of
some people over the past
few years. Some cymes are
no longer laughing. Some, in
fact, are beginning to take a
new interest in the Christian
concept of wholeness of
mind, body and spirit.
According to
your faith
When we study Jesus own
ministry of healing, we find a
recurrent theme throughout:
the active receptivity (or
faith) of those who were
healed. Note the affirmative
conviction of Jewish official;
“ ... come and lay your
hand on her, and she will
live” (9:18). There is
complete certainty m the
man’s heart and mind; he
does not say “perhaps it will
do some good, maybe you
will heal her,” but “she will
live”!
This is no less true of the
woman suffering from a
hemorrhage. Determinedly,
she approaches him, saying
to herself: “If only I touch
his garment, I shall be made
well” (9:22).
Even when the two blind
men approach Jesus, it is
apparent that they are
convinced that he will
restore their sight and when
he asks, “Do you believe that
I am able to do this?”, their
response is definitely af
firmative: “Yes, Lord”!
(9:28).
The one thing that these
people - a little girl
pronounced dead, a woman
with a hemorrhage for
twelve years, and two blind
men - have in common is
their faith, their receptivity
vv.v * • • v.j.v.v.v
TPHtI
To Use Quality Seeds
Seed ordering time is at
hand and we continue to
stress the use of certified
seeds rather than to use
seeds of unknown origin and
quality. Certified seed may
cost some more but usually
gives greater yields with less
weed and disease problems.
If home-grown seeds are to
be used, they should be
tested for germination and
weed seed content. Seeds
that are offered for sale must
be tested by the Penn
sylvania Department of
Agriculture. To plant seeds
of unknown quality is poor
management and could
result in weed or disease
infection and a poor crop.
With the cost of the various
inputs top quality seed
should give the desired
results.
To Respect
Drug Regulations
Many types of drugs and
chemicals are used in
modern agricultural
production. All of them have
been approved for sale by
the parent company and
federal organization .
However, it is up to each
producer to use them
properly and follow the
directions on the package or
container. The withdrawal
period should be recognized
very rigidly in order to
protect the consumer and
have a quality product. To
take shortcuts is very risky
and could result in the loss of
the market and great
damage to the farming
image. Records should be
kept of every treatment to
animals or to crops so that
proof can be produced in
case of question. Read the
directions before using a
product and then follow the
recommendations.
To Protect
Newborn Animals
Many baby pigs and lambs
will be born in the next few
months. Some of these may
arrive in unheated buildings
and need prompt attention.
To permit the young animals
to be chilled when born will
usually result in sickness
and loss. Producers should
be on the job 24 hours a day
when farrowing or lambing
time arrives. Separation
from the rest of the herd or
flock is suggested for several
days and the use of heat
lamps or other supplemental
heat will more than pay for
the extra time and in
vestment. Don’t permit the
newborns to be on their own
during these cold winter
days and nights. Extra care
and attention will surely
increase profits.
To Use Credit Wisely
This is good advice but
many times it is hard to
follow and to put into
to what Jesus will give to
them. Let others laugh if
they want to, these people
were made whole and they
knew it!
(Based on outlines
copyrighted by the Division
of Christian Education,
National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the
U.S.A. Released by Com
munity Press Service.)
'iW.
Max Smith
( ounU Agr Agent
Telephone TM (.KM
practice. Many successful
people in this use credit os a
management tool to expand
or to run their business; and
there is nothing wrong with
using credit; In fact most of
us do need credit at one time
or another. The big problem
confronting some folks is
they are extended too much
credit and can’t meet their
repayment obligations.
We’re aware that bankers
and other credit concerns
are very much on top of the
amount of credit that a farm
or a business can handle. In
order to get credit the lender
wants to know th-a
repayment capacity of the?
business, a financial
statement, a credit rating,
and just how the money is to
be spent. Good farm records
and a history of good
management will go far in
getting additional credit. We
urge considerable attention
to these two factors at this
time of the year. Good
records along with good
management results in good
finances and successful
farming.
Farm
Calendar
Jan. 19
Twin Valley Adult Farmers
Class meets at Twi|
Valley High School vosf
shop for welding and
cutting seminar. 7:30
p.m
Jan. 20
Inter-State Milk Producers
District Meeting,
Chestnut Level
Presbyterian Church
11:45 a.m.
Ephrata Area Farmers
meeting at Ephrata High
School, 7:45 p.m.
Cedar Crest Young Fanners
meeting at Cedar Crest
High School, 7:30 p.m.
Burlington County Holstein
Tour in Lebanon County.
Jan. 21
Regional Vegetable Growers
meeting at the Coca-Cola
Building in Lancaster.
9:30 a.m.
Jan. 22
Chester County DHIA
banquet, East
dywine Fire Hall,
Guthriesville, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23
Inter-State District Meeting,
Quarryville Methodist
Church, 12 noon.
Jan. 26
Farm Management
Workshop, Dr. Sam Dum,
speaker; 7:30 p.m. in the
Municipal Building,
Lebanon.
Jan. 27
Cattle Feeders Day at the
Farm and Home Center,
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Swine Producers Meeting for
Lebanon County, in the
Municipal Building,
Lebanon. 1:30 p.m.
One nervous new father
was telling his office pals
what a hard time he
when his son was beinir
born A secretary said,
“Who had the baby, any
way’” “My wife did,” he
answered, “but she had an
anesthetic ”
ft