—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Nov. 20, 1976 10 LIFE on the farm Dieter Krieg, By DIETER KRIEG Every Sunday was the same - and yet very special. Whether we were in church or not, my mother always made us wear some of our better clothes while we were m the house during this day Just plain clean clothes would never do. They had to be of the Sunday-best variety or something close to it. And we had to have our hair combed, and arms scrubbed better than usual. The occasion was that we were all invited to first-class Sunday dinner It was as regular a happening at home as a sunrise and sunset All three of my sisters would assist my mother with the preparations during those days when we all lived together as a family. One would set the table. The other two helped in the kitchen The every-day dishes wouldn’t do The good stuff was brought out. A white table cloth was a must. A big vase filled with lots of flowers decorated the center of the big oak table Farm Calendar Monday, Nov. 22 Lancaster Co. 4-H Beef and Sheep Club Round Up, Lancaster Stock Yards. Monday, steers picked for State Farm Show at 1 p.m. Tuesday at 9 a.m. other counties included and baby beef sale at 1:30 p.m. 1976 Forage, Corn and Seed Conference, Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, Pa. with registration from 11:00 a,m. to 3:00 p.m. Conference will run through Tuesday. Water Manure Management Tour. Meet at County Extention Office. Tour will start at 10:30 a.m. and go to three farms. Land Use meeting, York-Vo- RURAL ROUTE By Editor © Dieter Kneg 1976 Tech school beginning at 7:30 p.m. Lancaster Co. Holstein Association Barn Meeting at Kenneth Beiler farm, Paradise. To get to the Beiler farm, travel east on Route 741, come to a crossroads and turn right onto Vintage Road. At the first stop sign continue through and the farm is l /4 mile beyond the stop sign on the right hand side of the road. Tuesday, Nov. 23 Bam Meeting at Furry Frey farm Farm is at 1343 Gypsy Hill Road, Lan caster. Gypsy Hill Road is second road to the left off 222 south after the red Some “canned" cherries or pears were brought up from the cellar. A delicious duck or chicken was roasting in the oven and the aroma was mouth-watering. Everything was being prepared so methodically that it looked easy. My sisters - Brigitte, Hilke, and Fnedenke - all had their responsibilities, while my mother kept busy with her duties. Everything was orchestrated to come up with a superb meal. When everything was prepared, my mother and sisters would take their aprons off and drape them across a chair in the kitchen. Also dressed in some of their finest clothes, they'd come to the big table in the dining room, and call the rest of us to do the same. Flowers, delicious food, and a spotless tablecloth awaited us. Once seated, all members of the family would bow their heads and one would say “Komm Herr Jesus, Set Unser Cast..((Come Lord Jesus, be our guest .”) light at Willow Street (Mylins Comers). The Frey farm is the first farm on the right. York Co. DHIA banquet, Avalong Farms Restaurant, 7:00 p.m. A couple of old fnends ran into each other on a city street and began discussing the cute little dog one gent was taking for a walk “Oh, what a cute little pup,” com mented the first “I got it for my wife,” beamed the other “How’d you ever manage a fine trade like that 9 ” was the incredulous reply Fine Trade By Tom Armstrong HOW COME BUYING OUH TURKEY IN A STORE, DAD ?J THE ACCOUNTING Yet, though we might not dispute with each other over the use of meat or of the proper day upon which to worship in our church, there are many other issues over which we do dispute with each other. To us today they seem much more important, but from Paul and perhaps even the church at Rome to whom he wrote these issues would probably bring the same response: “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God” (14:20) and in place of “food” we might as easily write style of church government, ritual and liturgy, “debtors” instead of “trespassers,” mode of Holy Communion, and many others. Those of us who become so adamant about this form of worship or that, this creedal statement or another, need to hear Paul saying to us as he did the church at Rome: “For the kingdom of God does not mean food and drink (or ... you fill-in the blank) but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (14:17). There is lots of room for differences of practice and opinion in the Church of Jesus Christ, but not for him, “who disputes over opinions” (14:1). So “let us no more pass judgement on one another,” for on the day of the Ac counting, God alone will sit in judgement. There is a story about a man who went about the country selling tickets for reserved seats in the courtroom of the Last Judgement. The tickets were eagerly purchased by people who had a keen desire to be present when the “just deserts” wound be meted out. As they stood in line waiting to be admitted to the courtroom, however, they began to compare their tickets. The Christian who had purchased a ticket marked, “Good for one admission to the Judgement of the Jews,” found that the Jewish man standing in front of him had a ticket that read“ Good for one ad mission to the Judgement of the Christians.” The Fun damentalist who was there to witness the judgement of the Liberal was no less shocked to find that the Liberal held a ticket of ad mission to the judgement of the Fundamentalists. It wasn’t long before all the people waiting in line discovered that each person holding a ticket would be both part of the audience and part of the company of the con demned! Everyone was to be called to account in this Last Judgement. Too late they remembered the words of SHUT UP ANP PUSH THE CART TO CHECK PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT Partnership agreements, like cars, tractors and other farm machinery must be checked regularly and oc casionally overhauled if they are to operate in a satisfactory manner. Once a farm partnership is established, the agreement should be checked at least annually. First, to see how well each of the partners are meeting their partnership obligations. Second, to carefully evaluate the agreement to see if it is doing its intended job. Farming is a rapidly changing business. So don’t be surprised if the agreement you set up only a couple of years ago isn’t entirely adequate to meet your needs today. If it does need changing, make plans to do so before 1977, and put it in writing! TO THINK BEFORE PURCHASING It may not always be the best decision to snap up that first seemingly good offer for the farm. A bona-fide offer today will probably stand tomorrow or next week, and meanwhile a prospective seller can learn as much as possible about a prospective buyer and what he plans to use the land for. Industrial, business and residential uses are increasing for land in rural areas. So assuming that a prospective buyer wants the land only for agricultural purposes can' cost you money, because your land could be worth substantially more if it’s going for a non-agricultural use. Farmers who haven’t checked real estate values recently may be wise to consult or hire a qualified real estate expert. TO CUT MACHINERY COSTS One way for farmers to reduce costs per acre in crop production is to improve field efficiency. Many far mers have purchased larger machines and failed to benefit from this extra capacity because of bot tlenecks created by other equipment which is also necessary to the same planting or harvesting operation. For example, a farmer may purchase a 4-5 bottom plow and then leam he doesn’t have enough tractor power. Again, a farmer may have bought a high capacity baler only to have it frequently sitting idle in the field due to a lack of tractors or wagons to sup port its operation efficiently. We suggest that the “mat- Jesus: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you willl be judged” (Matthew 7:1,2). The Apostle Paul had many occasions to reiterate this teaching of our Lord. In writing to the church at Rome, he asks: “Why do you pass judgement on your brother?... For .we shall all stand before the judgement seat of God” (14:10). No one shall be spared an ac counting. To the modem reader NOW IS THE TIME... Max Smith County Agr. Agent Telephone 394-6851 ching” of all the equipment involved in a cropping operation may be more economical than purchasing a larger unit. Fitting machinery size to the size, shape and topography of your fields is also important. Improved field efficiency can reduce crop costs. BEWARE OF SINKHOLES Sinkholes are naturally occurring depressions m the land surface occurring throughout the limestone regions of Pennsylvania. In the past, many fanners have used these locations to dump garbage and other junk unaware of the serious consequences that could result from this activity. Sinkholes are formed when the roofs of underground limestone caverns collapse causing the earth above them to slump downward. In most cases, sinkholes lead directly into an underground limestone cavern that acts as a conduit for water in die groundwater reservoir system. When garbage and other refuse is dumped into a sinkhole, surface drainage entering the sinkhole can become contaminated and pollute the groundwater supply. The potential for human consumption of this water via contaminated wells is very great. To avert possible tragedy and to prevent unlawful ground water pollution, fanners and other landowners should refrain from dumping trash and other wastes into sinkholes. TO CONTROL WILD BIRDS Many livestock producers have wild bird trouble during the winter months. These birds come by the thousands to feed out of bams and automatic feeders. They not only eat considerable feed but leave droppings in the feeders, and carry a disease threat. They are very dif ficult to control, but effort should be made to screen them out of buildings, and keep their numbers to a minimum. Only a few baits are approved for use in. Pennsylvania; one is Starlicide put out by feed companies; details are available. Producers are urged to check with their County Agent before using other materials. If we get periods of heavy snow cover, the problem will be much greater. TO ADJUST FEEDERS The loss of expensive feed from automatic bunks and feeders is too high on many farms. This usually can be prevented by proper ad justment or repair. Feed grains are still one of the big items in production costs; wasted feed costs money and reduces or eliminates any profit. I’m aware that some feed bunks used for hand feeding have holes and cracks in them; as a result, the feed falls through on the bedding or manure pack. Hog feeders should be ad justed so the feed does not build up in the bottom of the feeder spaces. With outside | Continued on Page 361