10—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 29,1977 EDITORIAL COMMENTS Py dieter krieg, editor Ag is too important to shove around "Agriculture has grown so big in its non-farm programs, which are essentially welfare, that a lot of the fellows working in the U S Depart ment of Agriculture aren't really close to agriculture.” That statement comes from a Washington-based staff member of the American Farm Bureau Federation and was made in reference to a news story concerning proposed reorganization of USDA That gives us reason to be con cerned Although most any move to streamline the workings of govern ment should be praised, some questions may be raised if that so called streamlining interferes with a direct relationship The Cooperative Extension Service is one branch of USDA which may be altered In its proposed new capacity, this long-time agency of service and help to farmers will take in the needs of city folks as well If the city people need educational assistance, let them get their own Let’s not dilute the Agricultural Extension Service by spreading it all around and allowing it to be saturated with ideas and DAY OF RECKONING Lesson for October 30,1977 Background Scripture: Luke 12:35-48. Devotional Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7. television, and m novels we are many who live their lives beyond the grave, we that doesn’t come, we of Christianity is that, are always happy to see the with an “every-man-for- assume that there is no assume that we can do what regardless of how things To Pick and Store Apples then allow it to stand m the ters forget the landowner is and costs nothing to observe should be identified and This is apple picking orchard overnight to cool, his host. If hunters will a few common courtesy listed for each field. Often season but it is also un- Then, place the apples in observe a few sensible rules while hunting; ask you will find a few weeds ;hem Remember, cool apples will keep longer. Ideally, they should be stored at 33 degrees Fahrenheit, at 90 percent humidity, and in dim light or darkness. Since many people can’t provide these perfect conditions, the next best thing is a family type refrigerator Just put apples in a plastic bag, then close the bag loosely or punch a few small holes in it so air can circulate. Now as to picking - it’s a good practice to store the fruit in shade as it’s picked, RURAL ROUTE B M hero rewarded and the vilhan punished. Usually, that’s the way it happens in fiction: justice is done at last. In real life, however, it doesn’t always work out that way, it seems. The vilhans “get away with murder,” both figuratively and literally. The bad guys often continue to win and some even seem to die happy and prosperous. Then too, there are some “good guys” who go to their graves without vindication. Bigger and better barns Because the above state of before the temperature rises too much. If you leave apples in a packing shed or in piles under the trees for one week, you’ll shorten their storage life by about five weeks. To Be Alert For Hunters The small game hunting season will open on Satur day. I would like to remind hunters to be courteous and considerate while hunting on farms and to encourage better relations between farmers and hunters. Criticism of hunting often starts because of few hun programs which might end neglecting the needs of farmers The Extension Service belongs to farmers, and others directly involved in agriculture Let’s not allow it to be taken over by interests which aren’t tied in closely to the farming and gardening scene Too much of that has already taken place at USDA Another proposal made by Secretary Bergland suggests placing the USDA’s Office of Com munications under the Office of Congressional Relations Such a direct political connection between USDA communications and Congress might seriously jeopardize creditability of news releases That's not to say, however, that present news releases put out by USDA are everything a journalist or farmer would want to ask for A third area of concern to AFBF, and cattlemen in particular, is the proposal to place the Packers and Stockyards Administration under the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service It's presently an independent agency AFBF challenges that removing its himself” attitude that once might have been called “ruthless,” but today is likely to be dubbed as “aggressive enterprise.” Why not’ If there is no justice in the world - par ticularly if you can afford to buy it - why not get as much as you can as often as you can. Jesus, however taught his followers that this “dog-eat dog” approach life is simply an illusion, a rather dangerous illusion at that. Life in this world only ap pears to be without justice because our perspective is keep themselves from becoming uninvited guests. Most landowners permit hunting when they are asked permission. Asking per mission to hunt is a small courtesy in return for a pleasant day in the field, yet too few people follow this rule. Landowners may actually need protection from indifferent, careless and destructive hunters. When the trouble starts, many farmers post their land for protection from irresponsible hunters. It takes very little tune Tom Armstrong' (P lum Arrmlrong 1^77 autonomy would reduce its ef fectiveness up . Secretary Bergland may have a good idea in wanting to reorganize his Department, and he’s well within his legal responsibilities to want to do so But any plan which would take away from the present effectiveness of agricultural agencies needs reconsideration The Agriculture Department has been diluted and burdened enough with people and programs which are a far cry from the farmer's interests. If such a trend is allowed to continue, we may eventually have USDA replaced by something like USDHNN Thoughts for the season All the seasons of the year are beautiful in their own way, but Autumn is - to say the least - a lot more colorful Like the grand finale of a July Fourth fireworks display, Autumn's colors are an awe inspiring event which is followed by rest, sleep, and silence Man has witnessed this beautiful season for thousands of years, and reckoning beyond that. But, said Jesus, there is! This approach to life is illustrated in one of his parables: the Wise and Unwise Stewards (Luke 12:41-48). In looking at the unwise steward, we might imagine that we are wat ching ourselves. For dften, we have a tendency to think as he reasoned to himself: “My master is delayed on coming...” In contemporary language we would say: “there is no judge coming to hand out just deserts.” And like the unwise steward, close gates, pick up litter after eating lunch, and stay out of unharvested crops. Keep a safe distance from buildings and livestock and be sure to respect the property of others. To Identify Next Year’s Weed Problems When you walk through your corn fields this fall and winter, you may be looking at next year’s weed problem. Now is the best time to make field by field inventory of weeds that have not been controlled. Weeds that are present - “U S Department of Human Needs and Nutrition " We've already seen how a Select Committee with similar name treats agriculture And it’s a well-known fact that government is trying to gain more and more say m what we eat Reducing the ef fectiveness of direct farmer services and programs will in effect put farmers further into the shadows of urban consumer groups and others who have little or no understanding of the workings of agriculture yet year after year it’s a scene which captivates his sense of beauty. Autumn’s beauty is one of those things you want to see again and again, and you always appreciate it, whether you're five or 105 Every season, and every magical happening in Nature is beautiful So beautiful, in fact, that man, m all his (Continued on Page 35) we please without any fear of judgement. More than food When people begin to believe that there is no divine judgement, they often live in a completely selfish and ruthless manner. So it was with the servant in the parable, but while he was beating the hired help and living like a glutton and drunkard, the master suddenly and unexpectedly returned. Though he had thought he was getting away with something, the unwise steward was judged and punished severe Some of the annual grasses are prolific seed producers, and a minor infestation of the foxtails or fall pamicum can be serious next year if not controlled. If you are growing con tinuous corn and relying heavily on one herbicide, beware. Weeds that escape control will build up very rapidly and cause serious reductions in com yield. By taking a weed inventory this fall, you can select the proper combination of herbicides to effectively control weeds next spring. Farm Calendar Today, Oct. 29 District 1 of Maryland Cooperative Milk Producers holds annual meeting, North Harford High School, Pylesville, Md., 7 p.m. Adams County Beef Producers Feeder Calf Sale, 6 p.m. at South Mountain Fairgrounds. Social hour, with Rep. Bill Goodlmg as guest, will begin at 5 p.m. may seem m the world, there is reckoning - a reckoning, not just for some, but for all. The reckoning will be completely equitable: “Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more” (12:48). The key is to live life with an awareness of the reckoning that will ultimately come. Then, “Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.” To Protect Trees And Shrubs For Winter Trees and shrubs can get C through the winter, but they can do it better with a little help from you. This in formation on winter protection might help save some of your valued trees and shrubs. Thin-barked trees can be damaged by sunscald in the winter. That’s why it’s a good idea to wrap the trunks of such trees as sugar maple, (Continued on Page 16) Monday, Oct. 31 District 3 of Maryland Cooperative Milk Producers holds annual meeting, Carroll County Ag Center, 7 p.m Tuesday, Nov. 1 Lebanon County DHIA banquet, Schaefferstown „ Fire Hall, 7 p.m. J District 8 of Maryland (Continued on Page 16)