Shelhamer praises 's fit By DIETER KRIEG LANCASTER, Pa. - Praising Lancaster County’s large and diverse agricultural industry and telling a gathering of more than 200 dairymen he was proud to be their secretary of agriculture, Kent Shelhamer’s remarks drew approval from the audience. In thanking Secretary Shelhamer for his ap pearance at the Lancaster County Dairy Day on Tuesday, emcee Rohrer Witmer said: ‘‘You’re talking our language.” While noting how im pressed he was with Lan caster County agriculture, the agriculture department chief wasn’t in town to just offer praises. He was here to speak about Pennsylvania agriculture and how various "CAREFREE"® STALLS Jamesway vanized Inside and out for design simplifies cleaning, provides nice appearance, cow comfort. anchored We also install cups, stanchions, pens, and venti lating and manure-handling systems. AGRI-EQUIP. RD2, Farmersville. Ephrafa, PA 717-354-4271 ROY 0. CHRISTMAN HENRY S. LAPP RDI (Shartlesville) Hamburg. PA 19526 PA 17527 215-562-7218 or 215-488-1904 717-442-8134 ERB & HENRY EQUIP., INC. - . . o* 5 Colebrook Road Lebanon PA 22-26 Henry Avenue New Berlmville PA 717 215-367-2169 i. G.'s AG. SALES Rt 113 Box 200 Sihrerdale PA 215-257-5135 aspects and programs fit together to form the entire picture. Secretary Shelhamer said he was proud to be the state’s new agriculture secretary and proud to offer the ser vices of his department. “We’ve got a lot of things for you,” he said, then listing several bureaus and services which he feels are as good or better as any in the nation. Among Pennsylvania’s outstanding ag programs are the level of indemnity payments, which stand higher than any other. “The Bureau of Animal Industries is second to none,” Shelhamer affirmed, “and the Diagnostic Laboratory is highly capable of dealing with problem situations.” Shelhamer hit the dairy farmers’ interests when he "CAREFREE”® in concrete. LANDIS BROTHERS INC. 1305 Manheim Pike Lancaster PA 717-393-3906 CARL L SHIRK STOLTZFUS WELDING SHOP DEPENDABLE MOTORS RDI Fleetwood PA Honey Brook PA 1215| 944 7807 215 273-3131 V * 4 v .\ hSM kk Kent Shelhamer told them that when he was a boy he had to drink his milk at every meal and clean up his plate. “That’s not so any more and that in itself should be a clue for a greater need in advertising and stalls are hot-dip gal life. Nothing is long Attractive Lancaster County promotion,” he remarked. The secretary clearly identifies himself with concepts which would in crease and improve the farmer’s markets. He believes it’s an area which has been overlooked in the past and that the producer should have some say about the sale and price of his quality product. “There’ll be some ups and downs in this business, Shelhamer continued, “but you in the dairy business are lucky because your income is more stable than most. Talk about getting into trouble with budgeting - I’ve been there,” he proclaimed. Explaining, he asked his audience “how would you like to be in the fruit business?” The new ag chief n M. S. YEARSLEY & SON 114 E Market St West Chester. PA 19380 215-696-2990 HARRY L TROOP Rt 1 Cochranville PA 19330 215-593-6731 SWOPE i BASHORE, INC. Frystown R 1 Myersfown PA 17067 717 933-4138 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 5,1977 — owns an orchard in Columbia County. “I’m convinced you’ll have to fight in the future for your piece of the land,” Shelhamer said. “Those of you with land in Lancaster County are fortunate.” He praised the farmers for their dedication and encouraged them to continue in their work. One-eighth of Penn sylvania’s total milk production comes out of Lancaster County, Shelhamer pointed out, stressing the importance of agriculture in the County. “Lancaster County dairymen daily produce the milk for 1.5 million people. The milk you produce has an annual value of $BO million,” Shelhamer said. The agriculture secretary also observed that cow numbers have gone down considerably, but that daily production has remained fairly steady. “This is certainly a tribute to a lot of factors,” he said, naming Penn State University, the Extension Service and the dedication of Pennsylvania dairymen as primary reasons for significant in creases in productivity. There’s been an average increase of 30 per cent per animal, according to Shelhamer’s report. The future, as Shelhamer sees it, looks “iffy.” The agriculture secretary has on numerous occasions voiced his concern over rising milk production. Similar fears were briefly uncovered here at the Dairy Day meeting. The rise in production is just one reason why Shelhamer believes greater efforts in advertising and promotion are in order. Nonetheless, the new agriculture secretary believes strongly in Penn sylvania agriculture. He cited one product after another in which Penn sylvania’s ag production ranks within the top five states in the country. Milk production was included on the list. “And all of that comes from a so-called in dustrial state which is noted for its coal and steel,” said Shelhamer. 119
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