* VOL. 23 No. 7 Vinter is traditionally, the time when farmers repair equipment--and that’s [ctly whatfarmers’ strike supporters intend to do; fix up instead of buying any I machinery. Fred Sprenkie, York dairyman, takes the tools to a forage pper header. Economic squeeze sends York Farmers striking I By JOYCEBUPP Staff Correspondent YORK “We’ve stood all we 6am take. This is a bad situation when we must do something this drastic to get attention.”- Bernard Gardner is a frustrated farmer. He’s tired of paying rising costs for his farm imputs and having the market price for his grain sink as he helplessly watches, unable to do a thing to change the situation. Straw, hay prices soar, alternatives sought Rocketing straw prices affect farmers most By JOANNE SPAHR JTITZ - Hay and straw ices .have hit an un scedented high this season th alfalfa selling for $145 to 16 per ton this week and aw going for $127. SO last eek. For fanners in Lancaster inning’s coverage area, is means dual hardship - >t only is it expensive to ed the livestock, but it is Deadline nears for special issue LANCASTER FAR MING’S annual Farm ihow Issue will be listnbuted on January K two days before the ’ennsylvania Farm >how gets underway in tarnsburg. We’re letting ready to Prepare material for that issue and are minting this reminder lo readers and ad vertisers alike to send n material of interest. Please contact us if you have something - to contribute. O' V „ **2 Southeastern Pennsylvania Arefe*- Also Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware also expensive to bed the animals. According to dealers, the figures on the straw are probably the most shocking. “Straw has never brought more than $lOO per ton, and New grains and soybeans discussed By LAUREL SCHAEFFER Staff Correspondent LEESPORT, PA. - Berks County fanners had the opportunity to learn new developments and get pointers on small grains and Corn management, marketing stressed By KENDACE BORRY NEW HOLLAND - Corn production and marketing were the subjects covered at the Garden Spot Young Farmers Com Management Clinic held December 13 at Gubernatorial candidates measured By DIETER KRIEG HERSHEY - Id an effort to determine which of Pennsylvania’s guber natorial candidates might best represent the state’s farmers, the Pennsylvania Association hosted Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 17,1977 .liJJlfamlay morning, Gardner decided that someone in _rr, srofcbunty should do hlspl&tif 1 nationwide farmers’ strike scheduled for Wednesday. Taking the matter in his own hands, he began a telephone contact with neighboring farm people. “There just weren’t as many people as we would have liked,” admitted Gardner. Seven farmers and six trucks made a caravan through the city of York, past the County Courthouse and then continued out Route 30 now it's up to over $125,” stated William Rohrbach, manager of Green Dragon Market and Auction, Ephrata. Confirming Rohrbach’s (Continued on Page 32) soybeans December 12 at the Berks County Agricultural Center. Speaking to a group of 70 or more farmers, Elwood Extension Hatley, Agronomist for Penn State, the Garden Spot High School, New Holland. A panel of five representatives from seed companies an swered questions and gave their impressions on the com production methods, while a a dinner on Wednesday evening during which politicians had a chance to expose their views- and answer several questions. The program was part of the farm organization's Political ' Education: Con Bernard Gardner readies a sign telling caravan watchers why farmers in York County and across the nation are demanding attention to their economic plight. Dairymen plan to hold out, use other roughage By JOANNE SPAHK LIT3TZ - With mulch hay setting a high floor for the hay market at $92 per ton, and alfalfa going for as much as $145 to $146 per ton, this week’s hay prices are briefly discussed the present and new varieties of small grains and soybeans which are best suited for this Southeastern Pennsylvania area. While discussing several grain dealer handled the com marketing topic. Representing the com production panel were: Ken Miller, Dekalb, John Weidman, Pioneer, George Steele, Hoffman (Funks), ference, held Wednesday and Thursday at the Hershey Motor Lodge, here. Close to 200 PFA members were in attendance for the con ference, which came at the.' advent of the organization’s membership drive. Farmer fa Hanover. Backdrop for the drama was a day of pouring rsdirand ominous clouds, a factor that was blamed for holding down the participation in the demonstration. One truck bore a large sign reading: “Wanted; 100% parity.” Gardner, along with his brother Anthony, farms 500 acres of barley, corn and milo at their Spring Grove R 3 (Continued on Page 19) some of the highest ever recorded. A poor crop due to bad growing conditions is to blame with drought creating a high demand in Virginia and Maryland this year and of the more commonly known oat varieties the agronomist noted the higher protein content of Dal and Otee oats but also pointed out their lower yields. (Continued on Page 31) . Don Dodson, Cargill Seeds; and Homer Martin, Stand ford (Northrup King). When asked to name the problem that they believed was the most prevelant in (Continued on Page 38) members in most Penn sylvania counties are ac tively soliciting mem berships at this time, Reactions to aimmmta made by the politicians were (Continued on Page 26) $6.00 Per Year extremely wet weather hampering harvesting up state. Tacked onto this low supply is a high demand for mulch hay from expanding mushroom businesses and for fancy hay from hor semen. Combining the low supply and high demand, the price is soaring. “There’s more hay then ever going to Virginia," (Continued on Page 25) In this issue Farm Calendar 10 Editorials 10 Letters 18 European agriculture 20 Lifeontbefarm 28 Taxplanning 30 Homestead Notes 42 Home on the Range 43 Jr. Cooking Edition 46 Kendy’sKoliumn 47 Joyce Bupp 48 Farm Women Calendar 49 Craft feature 52 My Thoughts 53 Dauphin DHIA 55 Classifieds 56 York DHIA 82 Dairyfeature 86 Ida’s Notebook 92 4-H features 96,103 Adams DHIA 97
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers