10 —Lancaster Farmini EDITORIAL COMMENTS Whose side Every time the price of food rises just a bit it receives a headline in the papers and a spot on the news. And just as regularly as we can depend on that, we can also depend on much of the background information coming from the United States Department of Agriculture. In most cases the explanation is that farmers are receiving higher prices for this or that. Unfortunately that’s only a part of the picture. USDA would do better if they first of all pointed out why farmers are making a little more by explaining how much higher their expenses had risen over Excellent choice The above picture depicts a parcel of real estate which certainly was tagged properly by the zoning board. No one in his right mind would want to farm here anyway, so businesses and industry might as well have it. It seems to be rare that such ex cellent choices are made. Usually it’s always the best agricultural land which is swallowed up by sprawling developments. The public should be made aware Agriculture Farmers are in the news more and more these days, and that’s good news. After having been misun derstood, underestimated, and shortchanged of publicity for thousands of years, they deserve a break. Television news programs are showing an increasing number of agriculture orientated stories which illustrate and explain the farmer's way of life. The 1976 gram crop is an example of what’s being covered. Camera crews and reporters have come back with excellent information regarding the setbacks and losses involved when ram fails to nourish fields. Recently a program featured the consequences of a drought m the Midwest. The people responsible for the presentation didn’t just show Saturday, June 5, 1976 BY DIETER KRIEG, EDITOR parrhing m Pennsylvania Areas are they on ? that same period of time. Also, let it be known how much of the food bill increases were due to the greedyness of Teamster and AFL-CIO big shots. USDA should point out some of these background facts. Judging from quite a number of newscasts, it would appear as though either USDA has failed to furnish that information or editors cut it out of the program. In either case, USDA should be powerful enough to rattle a sabre or two over such incomplete and misleading reports. If they can’t tell the complete story of food production like it is, then whose side are they on 7 of the preciousness of good farming land. Zoning boards should be en couraged to choose carefully and wisely, as they evidently did in this case in Cumberland County. All concerned in the management, transfer and ownership of land should be mindful of the importance of good soil and the consequences involved if it is lost. I hope that the case illustrated here is the beginning of a trend. in the news damage of fields, but followed the effects the whole way through the farming operation both for beef and dairy. At a recent meeting of the Newspaper Farm Editors of America, some editors from the Midwest pointed out that their home-town dailies always carried at least two farm stories on the front page. That’s how important agriculture is m towns like Des Moines, lowa and Topeka, Kansas It's really no less important m many other places. The difference is that some editors and directors know it, and others don’t. Those who do are to be commended for their contribution towards making agriculture more respected and understood. WHERETHE ACTION IS Lesson for June 6,1976 Background Scripture: Matthew 16:18; Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1 through 2. Devotional Reading: Joel 2:28-32. A number of years ago when English cleric J. B. Phillips wrote his translation of the Book of Acts, he en titled it: THE YOUNG CHURCH IN ACTION. The title is appropriately chosen because that is what this exciting book is about: in spiring acts of faith by some of Jesus’ disciples in the early Christian Church. Luke for he is the writer of Acts might just as easily chosen to write of the beliefs of the early apostles, but the story of the early church is not one of doc trines, but of a burning, compelling faith expressed in a multitude of actions and deeds that seemed to turn “the world upside down”! (Acts 17:6). Mighty works and wonders To be sure, the Book of Acts is not devoid of teachings and, in fact, we find within it several “sermons” delivered by some of the apostles. But even these expressions of faith emphasized action, things done more than said. For example, look at Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. Even Peter’s opportunity to preach on that day was the result of some acts by the disciples of Jesus. People passing by heard the followers of Jesus speaking in many languages. Foreigners visiting in Jerusalem heard the message of Jesus Christ in their own tongue! (Note that on Pentecost the “other tongues” that were spoken by the power of the Holy Spirit' were foreign languages which could be understood, not unin telligible “tongues”). Spectators were amazed and demanded; “What does this mean?” (2:12). What shall we do? One cannot help wondering whether Simon Peter had been waiting for just such an opportunity. At any rate, the question was the perfect cue for him to begin speaking. And of what does he speak? Mostly about ac tions: “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders which God did through him in your mid st ..(2:22). Simon Peter will speak later of the teachings of Jesus, but Ids primary appeal is in terms of the acts of Jesus: the won drous deeds he did, the manner in which he lived, the courageous way in which he died. This approach struck a responsive chord with many of his listeners for the Old Testament is primarily the story of the mighty acts of God through his people. The Jew was much more in fluenced by what God did than by what he was reported to have said. So, Peter appeals to them by reminding them of what God has done through Jesus of Nazareth and these mighty TO USE WOOL POOLS... The proper marketing of the wool clip is very important to sheep growers because it is one of the two major sources of income for the year. In this area we have two nearby cooperative wool pools that are available to Lancaster County growers. The one in Berks County is to be held at the Reading Fair Grounds on Wednesday, June 9. The other is in Cumberland County on Thursday, June 17, at the Carlisle Fan- Grounds. Both of these pools are open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the days mentioned. The wool crop is to be brought to the location and will be graded and the price based upon the grade. Top grades will bring 66 to 67 cents per pound. The wool fleeces must be tied with paper twine, be clean, and dry. Local growers are urged to accept this method of selling their wool. TO PREPARE GRAIN BINS ... The 1976 winter grain crop is ripening and the grain bins should be prepared; old grain should be removed from the bin and not covered with new grain. The bin should be thoroughly cleaned and sprayed with an insecticide to kill any grain insects. Materials that may be used include Malathion or Methoxychlor and all parts of the bins should be thoroughly sprayed several days before the new grain is stored. Growers are urged to refer to the 1976 Agronomy Guide for exact details and mixing instructions. Be sure that the new grain crop goes into an insect free storage. acts themselves, Peter asserts, are the proof that Jesus is the Christ whom God had promised. And what is to be their response to all this: a debate on the theological issues? a commemorative ritual? a symbolic gesture? No, once again the focus was to be on' an Act: “Repent and be baptised ... and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”! RURAL ROUTE WELL OAO IT'S TIME TO PICK OUT ANOTHER CL UR STEER. ■I-* Oea-«*— I MEAN RIGHT DOWN TO THE BITTER END WHEN IT COMES TIME TO SEIL IT, > AV.;.; NOW IS THE TIME. . . W ’"*3 Max Smith M County Agr. Agent ;|;j Telephone .‘594-685 1 [jjj TO SPRAY FOR LEAF HOOPERS ... Some crop specialists believe that the potato leaf hopper is the most serious pest of local alfalfa plants. We agree that considerable damage is done each summer. Both the second and third cuttings should be protected in this area. The new growth should be sprayed with the plants are 4 to 6 inches high with [Continued on Page 12] Farm 9 Calendar Saturday, Junes Pomona Grange will visit Topton at 9:45 a.m. Sunday,June6 Open House at the Heritage Center of Lancaster County on Center Square for Bicentennial programs. 1-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 9 Eastern Milk Producers Cooperative Association annual meeting at the Hotel Syracuse in Syracuse, New York. Berks Co. Wool Pool to be held at the Reading Fairgrounds from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wool should be tied with paper twine and be clean. Thursday, June 10 Nurserymen’s meeting the Flemington Fairgrounds Flemington, New Jersey. Blue Mountain Dairy Goat Association meeting at the Penn State Schuylkill Campus at 7:30 p.m. Schuylkill Co. Extension board of directors meeting at 8 p.m. in Extension office. Saturday, June 12 Garden Tractor Pulling Contest at the Ontelaunee Grange Hall 1 p.m. Dairy banquet at the Bem ville Grange Hall 7 p.m. Four Wheel Drive Tractor Pull at Rough and Tumble Track in Kinzers at 7:00 p.m. Food stand will be in operation. By Tom Armstrong I KNOW, SOT ARE yeA ... THATS WHAT YOU SAID \ & THE FIRST TEAR yooW»HT \ | INTO CLUB WORK. NOW WERE J * THE ONLY fiARM IN THE COUNTR/ j | STILL FEED!NO AN EIGHT YEAR J | OLP STEER. ' “ f « 7>jS jqML BBS ' s
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers