PFA’ers (Continued from Pan II consumer protection bills. Yost explained that the majority of PFA members were in favor of the con* sumer legislation if it “did not go overboard.” m THE JKGSTAR SOW CASTLE .. .the new, economical, plug-up-and-go total farrowing environment The new SOW CASTLE by AGSTAR provides animals with comfortable conditions they thrive on a completely protected environment just what any good pork producer needs to save more pigs and boost income. And, while your new SOW CASTLE is cutting stress on animals it's also giving you a comfortable place to work The SOW CASTLE comes complete with farrowing stalls, feeders, waterers, slotted flooring, heaters, ventilators every thing except the sows. All you’ll need to do when it’s delivered to you by flat-bed truck is hook up water and electricity then start saving more pigs Models are available in 12 and 24 foot widths (24-foot model shown above), and lengths to 50 feet Combination nursery/farrowmg buildings are also available Call today for complete information, prices, and delivery date to your farm Bank Financing & Leasing Available. SEE OUR SOW CASTLE ON DISPLAY FULL LINE PARTS DEPT. WHY WAIT! L M. HERR Eguincn, mc. R.D.I, WILLOW STREET 717 — 464-3321 One topic which brought much discussion was the issue of food stamps. “A lot of farmers feel that there is a definite need for change in the food stamp program,” Yost stated. The most concern centered LOOK AT THIS INSTALLATION OF OUR SOW CASTLE COSTS LESS THAN BUILDING YOUR OWN Call Us First | —' I Please Send Me Information on □ Calf Castle □ Sow Castle NAME. AODREI around having the food stamp program switched to the HEW Department as currently about two-thirds of the agricultural budget is spent on the food stamps planning and processing. The legislative chairman noted that Congressman Edwin Eshleman had voiced his agreement with the idea that perhaps food stamps were located in the wrong area of government. □ Pig Castle . D Hog Castle STATE. Local PFA members agreed that a tightening of eligibility is long overdue for the food stamp program. One major factor noted was the limiting of food stamps to striking workers. ' Also of a national concern is land use planning and Yost explained that Congressman Eshleman expressed a 100 percent agreement that control of the planning should been a local level for more effective control of farm land. Turning to local matters, PFA members had ad dressed themselves on a number of issues one of the most important being HB 217 concerning payments for municipal sewage and water hook-ups. Local members were in agreement that exemptions should be made for those individuals who do not use the municipal systems but have footage on their properties. “Unless individuals hook on to the systems, we feel they should be exempt from paying fox the footage even if it runs along their property,” Yost noted. “It is unfair for someone to pay for such a system when he is not using it himself.” HB 219 was also aired as it deals with protecting prime agricultural land in Class 1, 2, and 3. The local PFA’ers would like to see the bill passed as farming land could not be sold indescriminately > Need ... HAY-STRAH-EARCORN Buy Now and Save! More and more fanners are buying from us for better value anil all around satisfaction. DELIVERED—ANY QUANTITY Phone Area Code 717-687-7631 ESBENSHADE TURKEY FARM PARADISE PAw Lancaster Farming, Saturday. Pa. ag. *rebounding ’ HARRISBURG -.Penn sylvania Agriculture Secretary Raymond J. Kerstetter told participants at a Pennsylvania Food Day Panorama this week at Camp Hill that the Com monwealth is rebounding as a food supplier in the East because of high energy costs. In the 1960’5, Kerstetter unless by consent of farm and agricultural leaders. Mention was also made of HB 314 which deals with Pa. personal income taxes especially in selling a farm or property. Members would like to see the payment of taxes set up for the year in which a settlement is made. Also noted was SB 178 which would call for the election of the attorney general in the state. The officer is now appointed which members feel is lacking in good judgement. Turning to the local elections ahead, Yost urged members to learn about the candidates and know how they stand on issues im portant to the farming community. >ril 10.1976 IS noted, the number of farms in Pennsylvania declined by 25 percent. With this decline, he said, “our small food processors were wiped out because they coiled not supply large supermarket food chains and wholesalers with the big volume and variety they sought.” However, Kerstetter observed, “the pendulum is swinging back. Tran sportation costs are so high that large buyers in the east are looking to our farmers.” The secretary spoke to a gathering of about 200 people who were attending workshops and exhibits on Pennsylvania agriculture, ranging from the production to the retail phase. Kerstetter explained that his Department was holding a Pennsylvania Food Day Panorama-“because we feel this Commonwealth has a unique relationship with agriculture.'We are a rural state and fanning has been a major enterprise here since William Penn began carving up his holdings.” For that reason, the Secretary said, it was en couraging to see food buyers looking to Pennsylvania again. He added that the Department is seeking to aid this revival with its direct market program. “We are working to locate all food buying dubs and to match them with farm outlets,” said Kerstetter. “We print farmer-to consumer directories, listing farmers’ markets, roadside stands and ‘pick-your-own’ farms in various areas of tire state. In short, we are trying to improve the business of moving and distributing food." 15
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers