—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 10. 1976
64
From Local Ag Teachers:
m
FARMLAND
PRESERVATION
&RURAL
DEVELOPMENT;
KEYS TO THE LAND
USE PUZZLE
By D.M. Robinson
Garden Spot High School
The Pennsylvania State
Office of Planning and
Development has recently
developed an interim report
with recommendations for a
Land Policy Program for
Pennsylvania to help
preserve farm land and
.assist rural development.
These are just recom
mendations at this stage and
need to be aired at public
meetings. The purpose of
this interim report is to
familiarize you with the
recommendations so you can
give thought to them and
make comments to your
legislators if you feel they
are unfair.
Pennsylvania’s rural
regions face many different
Thoughts
in rassmg
problems. For some,
development pressures are
the major concern. Other
areas suffer from
inadequate rural service,
poor transportation
facilities, or a lagging
agricultural economy. Farm
areas near metropolitan
regions usually face the most
serious challenge to the
protection of productive
farmland, and the preser
vation of rural lifestyles.
There is no single solution
to the problems of farmland
disappearance and rural
decline,-but two needs are
clear:
1. Farming, as an
economic venture, must be
sufficiently profitable and
attractive to keep farmers in
business;
2. Rural regions must offer
reasonable opportunities for
employment and ad
vancement, and provide
satisfactory public services,
(or so the state feels).
To help bring these about,
the following recom
mendations are proposed by
the interim report:
I. Establish a state-wide
system of Agri-Zones as a
basis for identifying and
assisting viable agricultural
areas. The Zones would be
organized upon petition of a
group of farmers and land
owners, working with the
Pennsylvania Department of'
Agriculture. They would be
eligible to receive a range of
assistance and benefits
depending upon their needs
and the location of the Agri-
Zone.
'*ll. Improve farm ef
ficiency and quality of rural
life by:
a. Strengthening technical
and financial assistance
presently available to far
mers and farm operators;
b. Improving rural
transportation services as
suggested by results of the
pilot program operated by
the Pennsylvania Depart
ment of Agriculture:
c. Targeting state in
vestments to help improve
the quality and* level of
community services:
d. Seeking to increase and
diversify rural employment
activities.
Three basic actions are
needed to install the
program recommended:
1. Establish Agri-Zones by
appropriate legislation;
2. Develop county land use
plans as a basis for iden
tifying productive
agricultural lands 'and
determining compatible
development;
3. Intensify programs to
aid farmers and rural
communities.
Now these are the
program recommendations
as I have heard them ex
plained. I got the impression
that they feel something
should be done even though
they are not sure just what
the best thing to do is. So
your imput into the public
hearings of these recom
mendations are important.
You may not feel that im
proving rural transportation
and employment op
portunities will do anything
but bring more urbanites to
the country and further
decay the rural atmosphere
rather than improve the
quality of rural life. It will be
Business terminated
TOWSON, Md. - A
Baltimore man charged with
acting as a pest control
consultant and performing
pest control application
without a license or permit
was put out of the termite
treating business recently on
orders of District Court
Judge Edward D. Hardesty
in Towson.
The defendant, Thomas
Lennert, was charged on
information supplied the
Baltimore County State’s
Attorney office by David
Shriver, Supervisor of
Pesticide Regulations,
up to you to make your
feelings known. Remember,
in this Bicentennial year,
that we are supposed to be a
government “Of the people,
BY THE PEOPLE, and for
the people.” This is not
possible if you the people do
not say what you want.
PV.O>H S*?
Allis-Chalmers Will
Make a Believer
Out of You.
A firm believer, that is, in Allis-Chalmers’
complete tillage systems aimed at suiting your
fields ... and your plans.
Monoframe plows that grow with you. Tough
chisel plows that adapt to a variety of tillage
plans, from minimum tillage to full field
preparation. Two-way plows that excel in
strength, speed and flexibility.
Look at our full line of plows and tillage
equipment . We'll help you choose a tillage
system you can believe in.
C. J. Wonsidler Bros.
RDI, Quakerlown, PA 18951
Phone 215 536-1935
215-536-7523
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Annville, RDI, PA
717-867-2211
A. J. Noss & Son, Inc. I. H. Brubaker, Inc.
RD2, Oley, PA Lancaster, PA
215 987-6257 717-397-5179
Shartlesville Farm Ag.-Industrial
Equipment Equipment
Shartlesville, PA Dicinn Cnn irn
215 488-1326 R 2 s '" g . S “ n - MD
H. Daniel Wenger, Prop 301-658-5568
Maryland Department of
Agriculture.
According to evidence
presented by prosecutor
George E. Barrett, Lennert
performed termite control
work for a Lutherville couple
in 1975. Soon afterwards, the
customer noticed swarming
termites and despite calls to
Lennert, he refused to come
back to the couple’s house to
do further work.
Young farmers
The Elizabethtown Young
Farmers will hold their
summer picnic July 11 at
12:30 p.m. at the home of
Ruth and Clair Hoover,
Bainbridge. Those attending
should bring a favorite
covered dish. Barbecue, ice
cream, and drinks will be
served. Hay rides, games
and swimming are planned,
weather permitting.
Roy H. Buck, Inc.
Ephrata, RD2
717 859 2441
Grumelli Farm Service
Quarryville, PA
717-786 7318