10—Lancaster Farming, Saturda: One of the most valuable 30 minutes of time any dairyman can spend on his farm is observing his herd of cows. And it’s important to note that it be done every day - preferably at least twice daily. By a dairyman’s own admission - myself included -that's often “hard" to do. There’s “real work" to be done in the field, so standing around watching the cows seems like a waste of time. I remember the feeling. But it’s anything but that. And I remember what else I saw while relaxing for a short while in the pasture. And how can any dairyman ever forget the final reward of that half hour or hour spent watching the cows each day. The purpose of the observation is, of course, to find out which cows or heifers are in heat and to have them bred at the proper time to the bull of your choice. At the same time it was also an opportunity to watch the animals in their own natural en vironment. Their grazing habits, social status, and personality traits became more apparent. And there were always a few which would come up to their master for an extra pat on Maryland tobacco “Maryland tobacco is an industry as old as the State itself, and unique in a number of ways,” claims John Witzig, Statistician in Charge of the Maryland- Delaware Crop Reporting Service. Type 32 tobacco, as it’s otherwise called, is grown primarily in Maryland, and we’re the only tobacco producing State in which growers plant the current year’s crop -before the previous year’s harvest is marketed. “In late February and early March,” Witzig ex plains, “farmers begin seeding the crop in 'preliminary beds. But the crop harvested the year before isn’t sold at auction RURAL ROUTE D SET THAT SHOW. Oct 16. 1976 By Dieter Krieg, Editor the head or a friendly “butting” match. Another aspect of life on the farm which is found out there is something which most of us seem to lose at about age 10.1 remember the days - as a small boy - when I was stopped in my tracks by any little thing. And I might watch a spider or an ant in fascination. Not many grown-ups have time or take time for that sort of thmg. But while watching the cows, there’s also an opportunity to watch many of Nature’s other creations. In a very real sense there’s a re-discovery of the wonders around us and a rekindling of the fascinations of boyhood. Last, and most important of all, the' time spent observing for signs of heat pays off in the calves that are born. A cow which passes her breeding time causes the cattleman grief. Once that animal is finally bred to the bull of his choice, he’s relieved. When the calf is born nine months later, he’s proud. In most any purebred herd the farmer is quite often so proud ’of some of his calves that he’ll want to show them off to neighbors and friends. until sometime between mid- April and early June.” Witzig’s office maintains a full estimating schedule on type 32 tobacco, which during 1972-75 meant over $lOO million to Maryland growers. The surveys, taken entirely by mail, are geared to SRS’s national releases on crop production, planting intentions, and acreage. Because many of the State’s farmers produce only tobacco, the Maryland office sends out special tobacco questionnaires to roughly 300 of an estimated 4,500 tobacco growers. Data from other tobacco producers are collected on general farm report questionnaires covering other crops as well. The annual survey schedule begins around April surveyed 1, when growers are asked how many acres they intend to plant. A June 1 survey determines the number of acres that were actually put into production. The June survey also asks growers about their previous year’s crop to get a firmer figure on final yields. The reason is that Maryland tobacco is air-cured for many months and loses about 85 per cent of its moisture. Producers, therefore, have a much better idea of their actual yield once they remove the tobacco from curing bams and sell it at auction the following spring. Follow-up surveys around the first of August, Sep- (Continued on Page 14) FROM WHAT? Lesson for October 17,1976 Background scripture Romans 6 Devotionsal Reading Colossians 3:5-17 It is easy to call Jesus “our Saviour” and say that “he came to save us,” but what does that really mean? From what did he come to save us? “From sin” is the customary answer; but even then we need to explain what we mean by that. In the minds of many people, “salvation” means to be freed from the con sequences of our sin. It means to escape the punish ment that otherwise would be ours, to have the slate wiped clean so that there remains no “black marks” recorded against us. One of the results of salvation, as Paul puts it, is to receive “sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22). The free gift So, for many people the effect of salvation Is to save us or free us of what we have done in the past. Yet, in a .way, others see it as present and future tense too. If God is “in the habit” of forgiving us our sinsr it may seem to us that we are saved from what we are doing now in the present as well as what we might do in the past. As the character in a novel once put it: ‘lt is admirably arranged: God likes to forgive sins and I like to commit them!” In other words, it is reasoned, if through the abundant love of God I no longer have to worry about the past, neither, then, do I need to worry about the present or future either. The cycle seems quite beneficial; I sin, ask for and receive God’s forgiveness, then I sin again and again seek God’s forgiveness, and so on again and again. Since God’s grace is free, since he accepts me as I am, then I can go on being what I am without any fear of God’s judgement. Right? Wrong! Paul himself raised that same question, “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?”, but his answer is unequivocal: “By no means!” (Romans 6:15). Paul’s answer is most important for there are many people today who believe that since God is so gracious and loving and, since we are freed of the legalism of trying to earn or be worthy of his-salvation, that, therefore, it is not too important to avoid sin in our By Tom Armstrong KLOHK i \ ? KLINJ SAVED pc V wow/y 3 « TO PROTECT FARM MACHINERY..,Good farm management requires the housing of farm machinery when not in use. Now that the growing season is coming to a close, many pieces of machinery should be put under roof. We continue to notice too many fanners that leave their machinery outside during the winter months. This means rusty equipment next spring, loads of trouble, and a shorter life for the machinery. With the increasing cost of farm machinery it is poor business to allow it to remain outside and get rusty. Machinery sheds should be separate from the main barn and need not be tight; the main thing is to keep the rain and snow from falling on them. A roof and two sides to the building is often very helpful-north and west. Machinery sheds will soon pay for themselves in less breakage and longer life of the machinery. TO ERADICATE RODENTS...CoIder weather is approaching and many rats and mice will be driven from the fields into farm buildings. I’d urge everyone to make a special effort to keep them from setting up house-keeping this fall, and thus prevent an increase in the population. Walls and foundations should be repaired to keep them out. Storage places should be kept at a , minimum and poison bait'kations used to eliminate stray rodents. Many corn cribs and grain bins are about to be filled with the new com crop; these storage places should be rodent-proofed to keep them out from the very beginning. Rodents will lower the feeding quality and the market price of grains, and make them very un- lives: salvation is easy to get! The New creation And that’s where that line of reasoning goes wrong: there is a difference in salvation being free and being “easy.” It is free, but it is not easy! For the love of God saves us, not only from the consequences of sin, but also from the power of it. If we are really free of the consequences of our wrong deeds, then we are also just as surely free of its power in our lives. One cannot in faith accept God’s forgiveness and still continue to Uve a life dominated by sin. It means that our acceptance of salvation has been a farce, a hollow gesture. It is true that we do not have to become righteous in order to receive God’s give of salvation, but it is also true that, having been of fered it, there must be some changes in our lives that indicate that we have been sincere in accepting it. “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies,” (6:12) says Paul, for that is a clear indication that we have not really accepted his gift. The key is to be found in Paul’s second letter to Corinth: “If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation” (II Cor. 5:17). NOW IS THE TIME... ‘,6 Max Smith County Agr. Agent Telephone 394-6851 appetizing to livestock. In addition, most rodents may be dangerous from the standpoint of carrying disease to livestock and poultry. Good farm management suggests a continued program of rat and mouse control at all times. TO BEWARE OF FROSTED CROPS..,We’ve already had our first killing frost in this part of Pennsylvania; others are sure to come. This means that such crops sudan grass and the sorghum hybrids can be dangerous, if consumed in a fresh condition for the first week after a frost. Livestock should be kept out of the area until the plants die down; new sprouts from the roots may also be toxic. Frosted crops that are made into hay or silage, allowed to cure or ferment for 30 days, may then be used safely. Frosted alfalfa or clover may cause severe bloating, if the animals are permitted to graze the forage while the frost is still on the plant. Keep livestock from the area until the sun has melted and dried the plants. All other common grasses or winter grains may be grazed during or following frost conditions without much danger. TO PROTECT FARM PONDS FROM MUSKRATS...Most farnr pond owners have a problem with muskrats boring into the banks and draining the water; this has happened to many ponds in the past. We suggest that pond owners do some trapping of these animals, or get nearby ydungsters to do the* trap ping. The muskrat season will open later this fall and the pelts are worth some extra spending money. If left uncontrolled, they can destroy a pond bank and drain out all of the water. Banks with at least 8 to 10 feet width will help prevent serious damage; also, the lining of the inside of the pond at water level with crushed stone will also reduce the infestation. Som&7| attention to muskrat contfoJ is urged this fall. Farm Calendar Monday, Oct. 18 Lancaster County Farmer’s Association Farm Promotion at Park City Shopping Mall. All day. Special craft demon strations at 1-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Land Policy Program for Pennsylvania presen tation at Solanco High School, Quarryville Rl, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 Lancaster County Farmer’s Association Farm Promotion at Park City Shopping Mall. All day. Sec. of Agriculture Honorable Raymond Kerstetter at 12-4. Craft demonstrations 1-3 p.m., milking contest 1:35j p.m., butter making '2# p m., beef demonstration 3 p.m. Ephrata Area Adult Far [Continued on Pace 14) Sti i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers