—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 21,1978
10
COMMENTS FROM READERS.
Reader says do less and get more
Editor, Lancaster Farming:
There has been a lot of
controversy over the farm
strike situation and food
pnces. I feel that if fanners
had more education beyond
the second grade maybe
they would be able to un
derstand the simple theory
of supply and demand. For
some reason or other far
mers go out of their way to
over-produce whether it be
gram, milk, or beef, etc.
What are they trying to
prove? Who are they trying
to impress? Have any of
these farmers ever benefited
from over-production other
than getting a pat on the
head for doing a good job?
Farmers have more power
than any organization in the
country; they control the
stomachs of every person in
the U S. 1 think it’s about
tune that the farmers made
the people put food at the
head of the necessity list. As
long as the public is going
away from the dinner table
full, they couldn’t care less
about the predicament the
fanners are in.
I am not ahamed to say
that I would like to make
some money farming,
certainly there must be an
TO PREPARE FOR
NEW-BORN ANIMALS
In dairy and swine
herds, calving and
farrowing are quite com
mon at any time of the year.
With sheep flocks most of the
lambing is done during early
Spring. In all cases it is very
important that the owner
provide a clean, draft-free
place for this new-born
animal. Too many are into
filthy and cold places that
get them off to a poor start.
The first hour of a new-born
animal’s life is very im
portant; they should be kept
warm, gotten dry as soon as
possible, and then nurse with
colostrum milk from the
mother. For sheep
producers we suggest
supplemental heat at this
time of the year to get the
young lamb off to a good
start. Most farrowing houses
are built with extra heat for
the farrowing pens.
Dairyment should select a
good clean box-stall for the
cow that is calving.
Remember, the care that is
given a new-bcm animal the
first few hours may be the
breeding
A PLACE
TO STAND
Lesson for January 22, 1978
Background Scripture:
Daniel 6
Devotional Reading:
Psalms 57
The story of Daniel in the
lions’ den is a study in con
trasts.
easier way to make a buck.
However, the way things are
going I’ll have to rob a bank.
The American people have
been eating cheap long
enough. I am not slaving 16
hrs. a day, seven days a
week just to get the
satisfaction of feeding my
urban counterpart at my
cost.
Follow the footsteps of the
machinery companies and
oil compames. Up until 1973
machinery companies had a
very small profit margin so
they created an artificial
shortage for two years,
jumped prices to where they
felt comfortable and then
controlled production very
close to suit their needs.
Same goes for the oil com
pames. Remember the gas
lines? They also created an
artifical shortage when the
price of gas was low. Now
that the price is up, do you
see any gas lines or shor
tages? I’ll bet those fat cats
are happy now.
No way on earth are the
farmers ever going to be
able to control the price of
their product directly, but
they can indirectly. They
can do this by stopping
production and letting the
difference between health
and sickness.
TO PROVIDE SALT
AND MINERALS
All types of animals crave
salt and some minerals in
order to be satisfied. The
providing of free access to
salt is a good practice in
order to encourage con
sumption of large amounts
of water. Heavy water
consumption usually results
in more efficient gains and
greater milk production. In
addition to salt mixed into
the grain ration, we suggest
that loose salt be provided
free choice to all types of
farm animals. The use of
minerals is a bit more in
volved because of the many
different elements.
However, the providing of
free-choice minerals is
suggested in addition to
those mixed in the feed. The
forced feeding of needed
minerals in the grain ration
is a good practice and should
be based upon a forage
analysis test; this is
especially true in breeding
herds of both dairy and beef
cattle. Beef cattle feeders
On the one hand, we have
the presidents and satraps of
the Persian Kingdom in the
reign of Kmg Darius They
sound like a familiar group
of men for they were con
sumed oy jealousy for
Daniel, who occupied a place
of special favor with the
king Learning that the king
planned to set him over the
whole kingdom, “the
presidents and satraps
sought to find a ground of
complaint against Daniel
with regard to the
kingdom ” (Daniel 6 4)
The vulnerable point
The problem, they found,
was that Daniel was held in
such high esteem m the
kingdom that nothing
law of supply and demand
take over providing the
government doesn’t in
tervene and sabotage this
movement with imports.
Look at it this way, “Do
Less-Get More.” Less work
hours, less acres to work,
less animals to milk, less
equipment, and less
production. In return a
profit, conserved energy,
more leisure time and an all
around better way of Life. I
do not advocate starvation in
this country, but people are
going to have to pay more to
eat if I am going to produce
food for them. Furthermore,
the public knows only too
well the importance of
agriculture; however, that
doesn’t help the farmer. The
public can be exposed to all
the ads on prime time TV but
their opinion of farmers will
never change. They will
always consider him as a
third rate persons that
threatens their so-called
high standard of living. (If
they didn’t have to pay for
food they could have another
flashy sports car, etc.) Being
of the agricultural minority
myself I think it’s time for
equal rights!
(Turn to Page 15)
can expect good results by
providing free choice
mineral mix in addition to
salt.
TO ESTABLISH
SOIL SAVING PRACTICES
The Spring of the year is
an excellent time to start
some soil saving practices
on the land. Contour strips,
terraces, and diversion
ditches can all be
established before the 1978
crops are planted. These
various methods of con
trolling water will not only
prevent soil losses but will
RURAL ROUTE By Tom Armstrong
damaging could be found
against him. Finally,
however, they realized that
there was one point at which
this man was vulnerable: his
faith in the God of Israel. If
they could manuever him in
to having to make a choice
between his faith and the
king, they would have him,
for they knew that his loyalty
to the king was exceeded on
ly by his loyalty to his God.
How many people do you
know who have that kind of
reputation today 9 Are you
vulnerable because your
highest loyalty is to your
faith in God 9
One thing we need to note
that Daniel did not seek to
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
Congratulations to all
Congratulations are m order to
scores of people who contributed to
making the Pennsylvania Farm Show
a pleasant experience .We’ll begin
with the many exhibitors - cham
pions, runner-ups and all other
participants, including the agri
business folks - for without tnem
there would be no Farm Snow They
showed us their best and we enjoyed
it Special congratulations are in
Today, Jan. 21
York County 4-H officer
training at the 4-H Center
in Bair, 9 a.m. through
8:30 p.m. Workshops and
square dancing.
New Jersey’s 107th Far
mers’ Week begins today,
runs through the 28th.
Monday, Jan. 23
Public hearing for
southeastern Penn
sylvania milk marketing
area, in the Radnor Room
of the Sheraton Valley
Forge Motel, Route 363,
King of Prussia. 1 p.m.
Fulton Grange meeting, 8
p.m., program: slide
program on covered
bridges from near and
help hold more water higher
on the slopes and fields.
Good topsoil is a precious
natural resource, and every
land owner should make an
effort to keep it in place.
Farmers that are growing
continuous corn should be
very careful to keep their
soil from eroding. In these
cases terraces can be
established to help slow
down the loss of both water
and soil. The adding of extra
organic matter in the form of
crop residues, green cover
crops, and livestock manure
become a martyr for his
faith. When he learned about
the ordinance the satraps
and presidents had gotten
the king to agree to, he did
not blatantly and publicly
defy the ordinance. He did
not seek to become a con
troversial figure. He wanted
only to continue to serve his
God. So, we are told: “When
Daniel knew that the
document had been signed,
he went to his house where
he had windows in his upper
chamber open toward
Jerusalem; and he got down
upon his knees three times a
day and prayed and gave
thanks before his God, as he
had done previously” (6 10)
A note of appreciation is due to the
Farm Show management and the
scores of vo-ag teachers, Extension
agents, and Farm Show employees
who kept events flowing smoothly,
and often assisted in making results
available to news repoi ters Thatle a
big plus for good coverage
Farm Calendar
far, presented by Roger
_ Small, Holtwood.
York County 4-H skating
party, Delco skating rink,
7 to 10 p.m.
Dairy Interests Day in New
Jersey, dairy farmer
panel and program held
as part of Farmers Week,
Holiday Inn, Bordentown,
10:30 a.m.
Sheep husbandry meeting,
Cumberland County
Extension Building,
Claremont Road,
Carlisle, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
Soil Conservation Service
meeting concerning
duckies Creek, at the
Manheim Community
Building, 7:30 p.m.
will help keep the soil loose
and of higher water holding
capacity.
TO PROTECT
BUILDINGS
During the Winter and *
Spring months, we get larger
amounts of water from snow
and rain. Is this water being
properly carried away from
your buildings? Some roof
gutters and down-spouts
may need adjustment or
repairing in order to protect
the building. Drainage water
from around the buildings
should be dtiched away from
The anxious king
We have seen the envious,
plotting enemies (and
recognized their coun
terparts today). We have
seen the faithful Daniel who
doesn’t look for touble, but
won’t run away if it means
denying his faith. This
brings us to the king, a man
of good intentions and decent
sympathies, but vascillating
and even weak Instead of
saving Daniel from his
enemies, he wishes Daniel
luck “May your God, whom
>ou serve continually,
deliver you!” The king is
like many who want God to
order for those who had the top
animals and products
Cattle Feeders’ Day in
Lancaster County. Topics
of interest will be
presented at the
and Home Center.
The 1978 Lime Fertilizer and
Pesticide Conference
begins at the J.O. Keller
Conference Center,
University Park.
Programs continue
through the 26th.
Garden Spot Young Fanners
meeting, feeding animal
wastes to livestock, 7:30
p.m. at the high school.
Thomasville 4-H Club
meeting, at the 4-H
Center in Bair.
the building. I’ve noticed
some buildings that were
taking too much of this extra
ground water at this time of
the year. Extra moisture in
or on a building means
rotted wood and extra
replacement costs. Good
building protection is very
much in order.
do what they themselves
have the power to do. They
want to do the right thing,
but they do not have the
courage.
So, Daniel is cast into the
lion’s den. He had chosen to
make his stand there. There
were many things he might
do to avoid trouble, but he
would not ccmDromise his
faith. So it is with us, too.
Lake Daniel we do not need to
look for trouble as
Chi istians There are issues
which are hardly worth our
efforts But be assured,
there is for each of us a place
where God calls us to stand.
(Turn to Page 15)
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