10—Lancaster Farming, Saturday. September 17.1977 EDITORIAL COMMENTS It’s a fair time of year People who live in towns and cities often think of a fair a_s a place with rides, nightly shows, and an otherwise carnival atmosphere Little do they realize that it was the farming community that gave birth to the country fair. While it’s true that agriculture has been pretty much displaced at many fairs, it’s still the mam attraction at many others. And that's what it’s all about as far as the farmer is concerned. Fairs give the farmer a chance to show his produce, handiwork and breeding stock Fairs give him a chance to compete with his neighbor while simultaneously seeing what everyone else has and vice versa It’s been going on for years Equipment dealers and other agribusinesses participate m order to make a good impression and a possbile future sale. Like the farmer, they want to show off their wares. Farmers take it all in, knowing that it is all an important and mutually beneficial part of the program Not to be forgotten are the op portunities for fellowship Oftentimes the country fair is the only place two people meet in a year’s time. Old friendships are renewed and new ones established. The cycle has been Your chance Farmers from all over the country will have the opportunity on Oct. 4 to tell national and regional news media representatives how they assess the current farm economy. And it won’t cost them a dime. The agriculture Council of America, a group which concerns itself with better communications between farmers and consumers, is spon soring this unique opportunity to allow your opinions to be heard It won’t cost the caller a cent You can sound off by calling a toll-free :••••••• u LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ♦••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••I# Farmer blames unfair prices Editor, Lancaster Farming: Your editorial about farmers selling their land for non-agricultural purposes leads me to write this letter and express my opinion on this matter. The biggest reason farmers sell their land is because they are not paid fairly for their products. The fact that farmers are paid too little actually helps the homeowner buy the homes Serving The CenfroJ o n d Southeosfern Pe» r>sy/*onio BY DIETER KRIEG, EDITOR which leads to more houses being built. With cheap food they have more money to spend on other goods. (Houses on lots that are much bigger than they need be, motorcycles for kids, and other luxuries). If people had to spend more money on food, they would not have the money to buy so many luxuries. You showed what could be done by group action on stopping the land going on through generations It s a beautiful part of life on the farm and country fairs Depending on whether you’re preparing an animal for the all im portant steps through the show ring, or strolling leisurely through the fairgrounds, the fair is both tense with excitement and nervous an ticipation as well as carefree and relaxing Whatever the case, it's enjoyable Hectic at times, but nevertheless enjoyable Fairs are a part of lates Summer and early Fall And despite the fact that ram occasionally disrupts some of the activities, one normally associates fairs with perfect Autumn days. Blue skies, with pillowy clouds scattered about and radiant sun shine all around is the usuall “fair" weather. Days at the fair are usually crystal clear since gently breezes swept away the haziness of mid summer. At least that’s how we most often remember them. That too is part of the pleasantry of the country fair. I congratulate all those who an nually undertake the responsibilities of organizing and running the many activities at our country fairs. Long may they live everywhere They’re a tradition we should jealously protect to sound off number (800-424-9881) on the date mentioned between noon and 4 p.m. It seems as though this op portunity should not be overlooked, especially with so many farm prices being as low as they are. Grains, in particular, are a real price problem right now. You may want to tell the representatives of city newspapers about it. For more details on the program, please turn to page 103 of this issue. A story entitled "U.S. farm economy to be explored” will tell you more about ACA’s toll-free call-in fill on the Barley farm. A group action by the farmers would raise the prices of their products. Collective bargaining nationwide, the way the National Farmers Organization suggests, is the way to help farmers and their neighbors. The Beatitudes of Jesus as found in both Matthew and Luke are known and loved throughout the world. Even believers of other religions have often heard these great words and respected them. But of the four “woes” that immediately follow the four beatitudes in Luke, people know little or nothing. One reason might be that there are no matching “woes” in the Matthew versions, only, in Luke. But the most likely reason is that people can much more easily identify with the Beatitudes than the “woes.” It is human nature to be more attracted to promises of future prosperity, satisfaction, happiness, and approval than predictions of poverty, hunger,, unhappiness and rejection. Of course the Beatitudes appeal to us much more! Already consoled Yet, when we read the Beatitudes and woes in Luke 6, the so-called Sermon on the Plain, good common sense tells us that, for the most part, the woes. are much more relevant to our present conditions than the Beatitudes. For example, although there are multitudes of poor people in the world, few people who read this column have ever known real poverty. Few have ever known true hunger - not the kind we feel when we deny ourselves a second helping or a rich desert, but the kind that accompanies one to bed with any empty stomach. Few of us have ever been hated, excluded, reviled or cast out because of our adherence to the Christian faith. So, for the most part, we can hardly appreciate the promises of “tiie kingdom of God,” of being “satisfied” of hunger, of experiencing ultimate laughter, of being vindicated in what the world judges to be humiliating discipleship. One can hardly come back from a place they’ve never been! But the “woes” that im mediately follow the Beatitudes seem to fit our situation in life much more readily. Most of us would hardly think of ourselves as “rich,” yet in the standards of the day in which Jesus spoke these words we would, most of us, be considered quite rich in material things. Today we might admit to being “middle class” or even “affluent,” but let’s not quibble: Jesus would have called us rich! “Woe to you that are full now,” warns Jesus, “for you shall hunger” (6:25). How many of my readers do not have enough and more - perhaps much more - than enough food? And, at least in terms of our religious af filiation, don’t “men speak well” of us, isn’t our religious persuasion largely accepted? It is perhaps only in the category of mourning Sincerely, Leland Stanford Dillsburg BLESSINGS OR WOES? Lesson for Septeihber 18,1977 Background Scripture: Luke 6:12-26; Romans 8:18-39. Devotional Reading: Romans 5:1-11. The woes of middle class TO SOIL TEST DON’T GUESS Fall is a good time to be learning lime and fertilizer needs for next spring. It is a poor management practice to wait until fertilizer deficiencies jshow up before trying to find the trouble. A complete soil test should reveal not only the fertilizer needs but also how much lime is -needed. All requirements should be satisfied before a maximum yield can be harvested. The taking of soil samples this fall before the ground freezes, and having them tested, will give each farmer a chance to place his fer tilizer orders early. Also, quicker testing service can be experienced by avoiding the spring rush. Soil test envelopes are available at any Penn State Extension Office in the state. TO BEWARE OF FROSTED CROPS The cooler weather earlier in the week reminds us that Jack Frost will soon be making his appearance in many parts of the state. Frosted Sudan grass, or one of the sudan-sorghum hybrids, should be handled carefully because of the danger of prussic acid poisoning of livestock. After a killing frost, these crops should not be fed in a fresh condition for at least a week to 10 days. After that time and after they are dried, they may be grazed or green-chopped. The frosted crop may be made into hay or into silage and allowed to cure for at least 30 days and then be safe to be fed. Legumes such as alfalfa or clover should not be grazed and weeping that we may not qualify for the “woes” Jesus pronounces and even that is questionable in light of the continuous and abject misery of those of whom Jesus spoke. For the poor of Jesus’ day the Sermon on the Plain was a ringing assurance of future blessing. But what might it be for us? RURAL [5; A********** when covered with frost; they may cause severe bloating problems. After the frost has melted and the plants are dry, they may be grazed normally. TOPREPARE CORN CRIBS With the amount of old com on the farms this fall, there could be a storage problem for the new crop. In most cases it is best not to store new com on top of old com in a crib or bin; grain insects that may be in the old com can easily damage the new crop also, in addition, the storage bin or crib should be rodent - proofed in order to protect the grain quality. Extra storage cribs or bins may be needed on some farms. The temporary storage of either ear com or shelled com on piles on the barn floor presents problems from heating and from serious rodent infestation. TO CONSIDER HIGH - MOISTURE CORN In recent years many dairy and beef cattle producers have gone to high moisture ground ear com or shelled com. This ensiled com is very palatible to livestock and enables the producer to harvest earlier, reduce rodent problems, eliminates com drying costs, and permits mechanization of harvesting and feeding the com crop. However, there is the need and expense of another silo. Ear com shoiflti be harvested and ensiled when 30 to 35 per cent moisture; shelled com % preserved best when 25 to 30 per cent moisture. A Penn State publication on high moisture com is available for additional details. Farm Calen Today, Sept. 17 Southeastern Penn sylvania District Horse Show at Ludwig’s Comer. District 6 4-H horse show, Lancaster Riding Club, Lancaster, 9 a.m. Rural Ramble, Hunterdon, Soil Conservation District, N.J., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Continued on Page 15) ROUTE SEE, S HOi BIDI ©
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