Purchase of development rights
considered by conservationists
HARRISBURG - The
Pennsylvania Association of
Conservation Districts has
called for a state policy to
protect and preserve
productive farmland,
maintain family agriculture
and its traditions of family
life, conservation of the
state’s natural resources
and preservation of open
space for recreation.
It has proposed creation of
a State and Municipal
Agricultural Open Space
Commission so that state
and local governments may
cooperatively administer an
agriculture and open space
program.
A key component in the
proposal would be assign
ment of a $l5 million half
share of the state’s one per
cent real estate transfer tax
to the commission for use in
purchasing development
rights of prime farmland.
Half of the two per cent
transfer tax goes to local
municipalities. About $3
billion in sales are recorded
annually.
Another component would
be prohibition of the use of
eminent domain in duly
constituted land-use
districts.
Lancaster County farmer
and conservationist Amos
Funk, a leader in the fight to
preserve farmland, strongly
Amos Funk
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 22,1978
favors the purchasing rights
policy. Although the
measure is controversial,
Funk’s viewpoint is gaining
support. Joining him in favor
of the idea are two Lancaster
County legislators, Reps.
Noah Wenger of Stevens and
Gibson Armstrong of Refton.
Both have come out stating
that they will consider the
proposal to use state real
estate transfer taxes to buy
development rights of prime
farmland.
Wenger is a member of the
House Agriculture Com
mittee.
Now is
the time
(Continued from Page 10)
addition, beef prices are
very favorable at this time
and a good outlet for cows
that have passed their best
years. If this culling process
could be done on a voluntary
basis, it might be one way to
help the surplus problem,
and maintain the good pnce
for the milk that is to be
marketed.
TO TAKE
THE PROPER TIME
According to the calendar,
some farm operations are a
bit behind schedule, but
nothing real serious at the
moment. I realize that it is
quite normal to get in a
hurry under these conditions
and rush to get the work
done. However, we point out
that this extra speed might
be a safety hazard and also,
does not give farm
machinery a chance to
perform as it was designed.
Too much speed on tractors
and trucks is surely a safety
hazard. Also, too much
speed with grain drills and
com planters will surely
result in poor stands and
reduced income per acre.
We urge that fanners take
the time to do the job
properly in the first place;
good planning and good
management is timely in
order to avoid serious ac
cidents and dissatisfaction
with crop stands.
fyfaXitff'ildb PJltffL
Continued from Page 10
badly. The products we raise
have been replaced in many
diets by ‘Tow chloresterol
substitutes.” There is now a
large body of expert opinion
which believes that the diet
heart disease question is in
disarray. In fact, the weight
of eveidence seems to show
that high sugar, low
roughage food intakes may
be the real culprit Think
how our cattle would do on
this kind of diet. We seem to
know more about feeding
cattle than about feeding
humans.
There is also considerable
evidence to suggest that
cancer rate is lower among
people who do eat eggs.
I believe that the answer to
improved prices for farmers
is honest information
regarding wholesomeness of
farm products. Natural
foods are better for humans
than synthetic substitutes,
when the consumer knows
this, he will buy more of
what we sell. Then we will
have more profitable farm
operations. We don’t need
more hand-outs, which in the
long run mean more taxes,
more regulations and lower
profitability.
Sincerely,
Norman Aamodt
Coatesville
29