VOL 22 No. 27
In this issue
Farm Calendar 10
Editorial comments 10
Poultry feature 18
Pseudorabies plans 16':
Homestead Notes 42
FFA poultry contest 43
News-Nutrition 44
Farm Women 46
Home on the Range 48
Ida’s Notebook 50
Recipe Swap 51
Jr. Cooking Edition 51
Plant lover’s corner 54
The first hay in the area looks good, according to most accounts gathered
Wednesday and Thursday by Lancaster Farming. Eleven farmers in six counties
were interviewed. Quantity may be down a bit so far, but quality is generally high.
The bugs aren't much of a problem in most areas, however a few reports told of
Improved cattle market sets numbers record
LANCASTER - A feeling
that current cattle prices are
peaking, coupled with a
holiday on Thursday,
combined to give the Lan
caster Livestock Yards a
new record for the number of
cattle sold in one day.
Prices at Lancaster
County auctions are in the
low 40’s for choice cattle and
producers are wanting to
take advantage of it. Prices
have been comparatively
good all this month, and the
highest since last December.
The holiday which may
have contributed to the
Stockyard’s run of 1649 head
on Wednesday is Ascension
Day. Mennonite and Amish
cattle producers, as well as
some others, stayed away
from markets on Thursday
for that reason, therefore
possibly picking Wednesday
to ship their cattle. Some
proof of that theory can be
seen in the fact that the New
Holland auction on Ihursdav
was down to 800 head from
Dairy Issue deadline: May 31
On June 4, LANCASTER FARMING will recognize
the area’s dynamic dairy industry with its Annual
Dairy Issue.
We extend a special invitation to dairy groups and
organizations, as well as individuals, to submit articles
and news on dairying for the Dairy Issue.
To be sure you make the Dairy Issue, please submit
all advertising and editorial material by Tuesday, May
31. Call us at 717-394-3047 or 717-62&-1164. Or write
LANCASTER FARMING, Box 266, Lititz, Pa. 17543.
Serving The Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania Areas - Also Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware
My Thoughts 57
Turkey farmer 58
Cereal leaf beetle 59
Classifieds 63
Lebanon DHIA 90
speaking contest 96
Film equipment outlook 101
Dahphin DHIA 103
Ladies Have You Heard 104
Life on the farm 110
Joyce Bupp 118
Sale Reports 120
Public Sales Register 122
its more usual 1300. Vintage
was up by 300 head on
Tuesday.
The Eastern livestock
Poultry industry facing challenges
By DIETER KRIEG
* LANCASTER-Egg pro
ducers are entering some
real challenging times,
according to Gary Anderson
of the Ralston-Purina
Company. The egg-feed ratio
(the number of pounds of
feed equal in value to one
dozen eggs) currently stands
at 6.8, which is down from
last year’s 7.3 figure and a
five year average (1972-76)
of 7.0.
Anderson made the
comments during an in
formation-packed poultry
business management
seminar held here on
Wednesday. Organized and
presented by the Ralston-
Lancaster Farming, Saturday. May 21,1977
market is considered to be
favorable right now due to it
being lower than the Mid-
west. Buyers are coming
Purina Company, the day
long event was attended by
180 interested egg
producers.
A pretty good demand for
Tobacco planting beginning for season
By JOANNE SPAHR
NEW HOLLAND, Pa. -
Tobacco seedlings raised
under plastic are now
mature enough to be tran
splanted in the field. And,
according to community
members in and around tine
New Holland area, planting
of these specially incubated
plants began as early as two
weeks ago in a few rare
instances. However, in most
cases, tobacco farmers were
just beginning to put the crop
out early this week, with
most having V 2 to two acres
planted by file middle of the
week.
For the most part, this
planting is two or three
weeks earlier than for
growers who raise their
seedlings under muslin.
In most cases, the beds
First hay
looks good,
but quantity
down
significaritihfestations. Although rain is‘usually .frowoed upon, when there’s hay
to be made, most growers are wishing for some showers to improve crop
prospects. Making the rounds, above, is Earl S. Weaver of New Holland. Details of
southeastern Pennsylvania’s hay story may be found on page 22.
here to fill their needs,
Demand is good. Some
cattlemen may” be skeptical
of prices remaining where
eggs is seen by the Purina
representative, who cites an
expanding economy and
rising consumer incomes as
reasons for the favorable
were sterilized in the Fall
and the tobacco seeds
planted in late February or
early March with a plastic
incubating cover placed over
them.
Ice cream standards may change
HARRISBURG -
Agriculture Secretary Kent
Shelhamer last Friday
issueda call to the Food and
Drug Administration in
Washington to hold hearings
F and H scholarships bestowed
By JOANNE SPAHR
LANCASTER, Pa. -
Twelve nursing school or
college bound seniors left the
Farm and Home Center,
Lancaster, last Tuesday
evening feeling more
they are and decided to move
their cattle before they drop,
according to some market
analysts.
demands. He also notes that
the trends are likely to
continue.
Poultry production is
increasing, despite a drop in
Experienced tobacco
growers say that sterlizing
the bed in the Fall and using
the plastic cover go together,
because the land seems to
hold more moisture when
on proposed final regulations
regarding ice cream stan
dards scheduled to become
final on June 13, 1977, if no
hearings are held.
Shelhamer said his
financially secure than when
they arrived. Those 12 in
dividuals, who are planning
to study either agriculture,
home economics, or nursing
in a higher education in
stitution of their choice, were
$4.00 Per Year
Lancaster Famine photo by Dieter Krieg
One Lancaster County
auction operator, however,
does not think beef prices
[Continued on Page 29[
numbers of 40 million layers
since 1970. This year marks
the first year that the trend
has been reversed.
[Continued on Pag* 301
sterilized in the Autumn than
when steamed in the Spring.
However, plastic is “nsky
business,” according to
tobacco farmers, since one
(Continued on Page 29j
Department was the first in
the nation to call for such
hearings which would
determine, among other
things, whether a substance
(Continued on Pace 3p]
all winners of the 1977 Farm
and Home Foundation
Scholarship awards.
Chosen on the basis of their
financial need, scholastic
achievement, and leadership
(Confiowd on Pap 26]