VOL 23 Ho. 17 important laborof man. • ** \ ' Serving The Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania Areas - Also Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware Surplus sours dairy outlook By DIETER KRIEG LANCASTER - Over flowing milk supplies are beginning to take their toll on some independent dairies, a number of dairy farmers, and even cooperative marketing associations. The reason is that increased supplies of milk are creating ex traordinary marketing pressures. Although it is widely By DIETER KRIEG GETTYSBURG - The price of food at the retail level is expected to rise by six per cent but the fanner isn’t likely to get any of that increase, according to Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Secretary Kent Shelhamer. He got his figures from the United States Department of Agriculture and revealed his interpretation of them at the recent Pennsylvania-Mary By DIETER KRIEG EAST EARL - Lancaster County pork producer Bill Fisher has been named a Pork All-American by the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council. The announcement came a week ago during the annual meeting of that group, held jointly with the Lancaster County Pork Producers Future Farmers of America tell of pride and progress Thousands of Future Farmers of America chapters across the country joined in celebrating FFA Week Feb. 18-25, showing the general public its pride and -progress. . Special publicity cam paigns and programs in cluded roadside billboards, the distribution of FFA brochures in schools and churches, radio an nouncements, television appearances, and much much more. This week, as a continuing salute to the Future Farmers of America, 'Lancaster Far ming polled high schools in southeastern and central Pennsylvania to find out whafcirarious chapter's did to prdclaim FFA Week- The Farmer skipped in food price rise land Roadside Marketing Conference, held here at the Sheraton Inn. Shelhamer, himself a farmer and roadside marketer, announced however, that those who are in a position to sell direct to consumers may have the opportunity to share in the price rise. Praising the direct marketing concept for its high efficiency, the state’s Bill Fisher is named a Pork All-American Association’s annual banquet at, the Harvest Drive Restaurant near In tercourse. Fisher, a 30-year old farmer who predicts the swine industry in Lancaster County will boom in coming years, received the honor on the basis of his achievements with swine and his involvement in professional and civic Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 25,1978 Howard McDonald results are printed in for thcoming sections of this article. Boasting a national membership of 309,000, the FFA is devoted to agriculture. While it was originally intended for only those with farming interests, the vocational agriculture program today offers seven basic areas of instruction. They include production agriculture, sales and service, agricultural mechanics, agricultural products, horticulture, agricultural resources, forestry, beekeeping, and veterinary assistantships. FFA activities and award programs complement in struction in vocational agricultUre/agribusiness by acknowledged that 1978 will be a profitable year for dairy farmers, it’s one of nervous anticipation for those who are involved in marketing the product. Some smaller milk handlers have begun to send out notices to some of their shippers that they won’t be taking their milk after a certain date. In some cases, the smaller dairies are expected to dose their doors, thus leaving even KentShelhamer organizations. Married and the father of two children, the young fanner will get national recognition for his work when the American Pork Congress convenes its meeting in Kansas City, Mo. next month. A day before Fisher was recognized b> hi<« fellow pork producers, his companions in the Garden Spot Young Farmers A s lation giving students practical experience in the application of, agricultural skills and knowledge gained in classes. A major emphasis of the FFA is the development of leadership skills and abilities to prepare-young more dairymen without a place to sell their milk. The severity of the situation was brought to light earlier this week when nearly 80 officers of Eastern Milk Producers Cooperative met at the Bird-in-Hand Restaurant to assess the situation. Eastern, the largest dairy cooperative in die East, and one of the largest in the nation, has felt the pinch and agriculture chief cited USDA figures to bolster his opinion of roadside marketing. “Most fruits and vegetables sold in this state are shipped hundreds of miles,” he began, “likewise with milk, and the average chicken purchased in the United States has traveled more than 1000 miles before it reaches the consumer’s table.” Shelhamer has been Bill Fisher $6.00 Per Year people for leadership roles in their agricultural careers. To be a member of the FFA students must be enrolled in the vocational agriculture/agribusiness program in a high school or area vocational school. Students may retain their membership in the FFA following their graduation until age2l. Pennsylvania has 20,500 FFA members, according to figures released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The following paragraphs tell of the ac tivities a few of the chapters undertook this week to “tell the world” of the background and purpose of (Turn to Page 20) has been charging its members a special deduc tion to help with the in creased marketing costs. Several other cooperatives are following similar programs. Howard McDonald, general manager of told the nearly 80 officers of District 8, which includes the region from Lebanon County southward into the state of (Turn to Page 33) pushing roadside marketing for a number of years and continues to work for greater development of the idea in the Keystone state. His lack of support from the federal level has him vocally upset, particularly since he believes Pennsylvania has one of the finest direct marketing programs to be found in the nation. “Last year,” said the Secretary, (Turn to Page 24) recognized him as their outstanding member. That award also came on the basis of his work with swme, as well as Charolais cattle and management of over 300 acres of crop and pasture land. Separate stones on both the pork producers’ meeting and the Garden Spot Young Farmer Association (Turn to Page 25)
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