—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 3,1977
10
E EDITORIAL COMMENTS B v DIETER KRtEG EDITOR
A farmer’s
The threat of a farmers strike is
very real even though we aren’t likely
to see any milk dumped, calves shot
to death, or baby chicks drowned, as
was the case in 1974 when large
COMMENTS FROM READERS.
OSHA puts squeeze on
Editor, Lancaster Farming:
How much power should
OSHAhave?
Currently OSHA is allowed
to inspect any business at
any time and in any way it
sees fit. I have witnessed a
few OSHA inspections and
applications myself, and I
find its inspection to be quite
arbitrary. The inspections
are undefined in what, where
when and how stiff the fmes
are.
In a feed mill in Boonton,
New Jersey, two 11-inch
intermeshing gears were left
exposed on a Howe roller
mill. The roller mill was
driven by a 15 horse power
motor. In the same building
a grinder in the shop had an
WHEN WE
WONDER “WHY?”
Lesson for December 4,1977
Background Scripture:
Job 1 through 3;
Devotion
Psalms
TO BE CAREFUL
WITH SPACE HEATERS
Colder weather will soon
arrive when many types of
stoves and space heaters' will
be placed into action. Each
year in our country several
thousand people receive
emergency treatment for
injuries associated with oil,
gas, kerosene, electric, and
wood-burning stoves and
space heaters. There is no
doubt these are needed to
provide comfort, but effort
should be made to see that
they are properly installed
and weß vented to the out
side. Too many people still
tiy to build up a fire by
RURAL ROUTE
CEE, I HATE the job
OF OPENING A SILO
fv
strike
groups of farmers protested high
feed and gram prices. That dilemma
had the potential of generating
support from Pennsylvania farmers,
who raise beef, produce milk, and
exposed V-belt driven by a
1/5 horse power motor. The
roller mill drew a $l5 fine
and the V-belt drew a $5O
fine, although it was less
dangerous. At the time of
inspection (which was
unannounced), the tenant
who owned the roller mill,
was unloading by hand a
pickup truck full of bulk
shelled corn. Perhaps the
scene hit a soft spot in the
inspector’s heart because
each of the tenant’s fines
were less than $2O. However,
the total fines were enough
to cause the feed business to
fold. In contrast, fines
assessed to the landlord for
violations with the V-belt
were higher than $5O. *
Why should OSHA have
Although the story of Job
may find its origins in the
times of patriarchs, it is
likely that the Book of Job,
as we now know it, was
written in the 7th century
8.C., approximately 2,300
years ago. It is ironic that
the concept the writer was
attempting to destroy is one
that is still so prevalent
today. In 2,300 years we have
not succeeded in putting that
concept to rest.
Blameless and upright
The writer of the Book of
Job was primarily con
cerned with attacking a
convinc
erroneoi
pouring gasoline or kerosene
on the hot coals; these
vapors will usually explode
and cause injury. Too many
temporary space heaters are
not vented to the outside and
the deadly carbon monoxide
gas causes death. All stoves
and heater should be firmly
installed and protected from
being knocked over in the
building. Potential fire
hazards should be
recognized and removed at
all times.
TO SNOWMOBILE
SAFELY
Snowmobiling is a very
popular winter-time sport
S'
is a dilemma
the right to inspect private
garages and sheds on
farms? The consitution
expressly protects American
citizens from “search and
seizure.” Private residences
are protected. Yet the
privacy of a farmer is in
vaded when inspectors,
without search warrants,
enter sheds or buildings on
farms which house personal
property.
If OSHA can put that feed
mill out of business, why not
small farms? I feel that tnis
bureaucracy has too much
power and it is using it,
unintentionally, in a
destructive manner.
that, if a person suffered in
any way, it was a punish
ment from God.
Correspondingly, if a man
prospered, it was assumed
that prosperity was a reward
for righteousness. In the
story of Job his three friends
seem to assume without
question that Job’s suffering
must be the result of some
iniquity on his part.
The writer of Job was
intent in demonstrating that
concept as quite false. There
must be some better answer
for human suffering than
God’s punishment.
but some attention should be
given to the safety factor and
to the property rights of
others. To assure that ajl
youth under sixteen years of
age will have proper training
in snowmobile safety, the
Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources
Snowmobile Unit has been
arranging for safety courses
across the state. Current
laws state that no owner of a
snowmobile shall permit it’s
operation by any person
under the age of sixteen,
unless the operator is the
holder of a valid snowmobile
safety certificate. Those
interested should be alert to
J
hatch chickens. But su&i drastic
measures for publicity turned them
off and rather than join the cause,
most Pennsylvania fa'rmers
tightened their belts a little more and
endured the pressures' of the
markets
This year agriculture is faced with
a severe dilemma which is similar to
the one of three years ago, and yet
totally opposite; low gram prices.
Pennsylvania farmers, due to their
generally conservative and in
dependent nature, will in all
likelihood let this issue go by as well.
They can sympathize with the plight
of gram farmers because they know
what it’s like to sell corn, wheat,
eggs, cattle, milk, and other farm
products for low prices. But most of
these farmers won’t join m a con
certed effort for higher gram prices
because they can’t afford to and such
actions don’t fit their behavior and
business patterns. -
The fact that eastern agriculture is
largely gram consuming, rather than
gram producing, is also significant m
the strike issue. It’s a case of one
man’s gam,being the other fellow’s
loss. Farmers who utilize gram to
Yours truly,
Stephen Blethen
Towaco, N. J.
the story he is described as a
man who “was blameless
and upright, one who feared
God and turned away from
evil” (1:1). The writer
describes him as a very
prosperous man, even
calling him “the greatest of
all the people of the east”
(1:3). When God speaks with
Satan about Job, his
description is glowing:
“...there is none like him on
the earth” (1:8). When; in
Job 2, we see this prosperous
and happy man in the midst
of abject suffering, we
cannot claim that it is God’s
the time and place of these
courses in their area.
TO SECURE
AGRONOMY GUIDE
The 1978 Agronomy Guides
have arrived from Penn
State and we urge every
local crop producers to get
one of these publications.
This guide covers all of the
major crops in this part of
the country and gives many
details and suggestions.
Many farmers have
benefited from this
publication in recent years
and feel that it is one of the
most important Extension
publications available. A
committee of Extension
By Tom Armstron
in
ie God and die
ir can his tragedy be “In all this Job did not sin
itself
produce meat, eggs and milk can
hardly be expected to jump on a
bandwagon will deliver higher feed
costs. But they can, and are, ex
pressing sympathy to 1 a financial
situation they can identify with just
the same.
Furthermore, farmers and farming
in this part of the country are vastly
different from the kind to be found
out west or down south.
Farmers here won’t support a
strike, which is the latest contrived
weapon for higher prices -- notably
wheat prices.
Be that as it may, it should be
pointed out that there is an awful lot
of sympathy' towards those who
experienced financial disasters this
year or even the last few years. Their
cries for help are justified; their
immediate results in bringing
agriculture into the forefront of news
coverage are noble, and thus far
their methods for doing so are at
least a big improvement over the
ascribed to his response to
his troubles. Satan is con
fident that, although Job’s
faith in God remains con
stant in the face of his
tragedies, if his health is
taken from him, he will
finally turn against God. So,
Satan orders terrible
physical ordeals for Job to
make him abandon God.
Although Job is subjected to
cynicism by his friends, it
was the words of his wife
that must have wounded him
most deeply of all: “Do you
stUl hold fast your integrity?
Curse God, and die” (2:9).
provocations, we are told:
Specialists and Penn State
staff members prepare the
guide each year for the
benefit of Pennsylvania
farmers. Don’t make your
1978 crop plans without the
Agronomy Guide.
TO PREPARE FOR
NEW ARRIVALS
The birth of a new farm
animal is very important
and reflects the future of the
herd or'flock. The sanitary
conditions into which this
new animal arrives is very
important; I fear that many
times this practice is
neglected, in that the little
animal is bom into filth and
undesirable quarters. We
Farm Calendar
Today, Dec. 3
Thomasville 4-H Community
Club will hold covered
dish achievement night, 7
p.m. at the 4-H Center
near Bair. For members
and their families.
Awards will be presented.
Lancaster County Annual
4-H horse and pony club
member recognition ban
quet, 6:30 p.m. at the
Farm and Home Center
Monday, Dec. 5
Workshop on home energy
i'
(Continued on Page 30)
with his Ups” (2:10). So the
writer has illustrated for
cefully that Job’s suffering
must have some other an
swer than sin and punish
ment. But few learned what
the writer was trying to say
and seven centuries later
Jesus’ disciples would look
at a blind naan and ask:
“Rabbi, who sinned, this
man or his parents, that he
was bom blind?" (John9:2).
And today, thousands of
years later we are still
wondering “why?” and
settling on the wrong an
swer.
urge all producers to make
an effort to have their young
animals bom into clean,
sanitary conditions that are
warm and helpful. This
might require special
cleaning „ and disinfecting
during the winter months for
cattle herds, but at all times
for swine producers. Sup
plemental heat is required
for baby pigs and lambs bom
during cold weather. Be sure
your new arrival gets to a
good start, and not become
infected because of neglect
and filth.
savings, sponsored by the
Extension Service, 7:30
p.m. at the Norristown
Library.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Ephrata Area Young
Farmers hold beef cattle
management meeting,
specifically feeding and
handling facilities, 7:45
p.m. at the Ephrata High
School vo-ag department.
Lancaster County DHIA
banquet, 11:45 a.m. at the
(Continued on Page 28)