—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 1,1978 34 plfck r r«sda*- ‘ - r ill l i l,t 1 .-f ! -v>- > .»^. '* • i lt> •< fC > y?mk:~ Iyl * K •’". . V/ 1 :,. -V,* »* S,*. i. M* ' r More than 800 acres of Adams County farm land have been purchased by two West German poultrymen. Facilities for a million-bird egg opera- (Continued from Page 1) chased from William Spicer for $900,000. Lancaster Farmingvisited the scene during the middle of this week and found Wemer Gross, a graduate engineer of agriculture from Grambek, West Germany, busy removing old barbed wire fences which had become lest and entangled in weeds. Working bare chested and in shorts, the 41- year old engineer carried the tan and muscular build of a youthful farmer. In ac tuality, Gross is a consultant for farming investments and his work brings him to all parts of the world. It was he who selected the Adams County site for the two West German poultrymen. According to Gross, final settlement had not been made as of Wednesday af ternoon, but he felt secure enough to begin with the ground breaking. A huge earth mover stood at the scene. Several acres of the gently rolling land had already been cleared. The holdup for final settlement are minor technicalities, according to Gross, and he fully expects the deal to go through. Final settlement was made Thursday afternoon, it was learned. The two West German poultrymen who are bringing their money and expertise to this country are Paul Schockemoeller and Rainer Lammerdmg. Both have extensive knowledge in the poultry business and are reportedly well financed through a number of business interests in West Germany Schockemoeller and Lammerdmg have formed a corporation in Germany which is known as AMGRAR Their American egg farm will be known as Pennsylvania Quality Eggs, Inc , according to Gross who speaks fluent English and is well acquainted with agriculture in the United States He has worked in this country on numerous oc r ‘'ans • poultry farm is Germans start egg farm expected to be in full operation by about next year, Gross said. Building permits were issued several weeks ago, according to John Schwartz, Adams County agricultural agent. The estimated costs of construction were pegged at slightly over $2 million. Hershey Equipment Com pany, Inc. of Lancaster will handle the building and equipment orders. The Hershey firm handles Big Dutchman poultry equip ment. According to Gross, one of the German poultrymen handles the same line of equipment for European and Mid East markets. When completed the large poultry farm will include 12 chicken houses, each of which has a capacity of 80,000 birds. Eight other houses are in the plans for growing replacement pullets. Gross hopes to have enough completed by this Fall to have at least a por tion of the farm in produc tion. AMGRAR purchased more than 800 acres of land and is reportedly looking for 200 to 300 more acres in order to have a good buffer zone between their con centration of poultry facilities and neighboring areas. This is not unusual, says Schwartz, who specializes in poultry matters for the Adams County Agricultural Ex tension Service. The extra land will minimize manure handling, odor, en vironmental and security problems. Also, the acreage will allow for expansion, should that become feasible. Current plans are that AMGRAR will lease the land to Donald Hershey, owner of Hershey Equipment Com pany Hershey, m turn, is expected to sub-lease the acreage out to farmers who will keep the land in production. Observers both within and outside of Adams County are looking at the German owned poultry farm with mixed emotions. „ ■**»• v r % # ' m|' t <i fgljj tion will be constructed on this site. Ground was broken early this week. Penn State University’s Dr. Anthony Stemberger told an audience in Lan caster recently that Adams Countians - in fact all Pennsylvanians - should take the German decision as a compliment. He notes that the fact they came shows that they are optimistic about the future of the poultry business in this area. He iunted that local egg producers should share that optimism. While some observers look at the developments with suspicion and even fear, most do not One poultryman who spoke at the recent meeting in Lancaster, at which Stemberger was the main speaker, said that local poultrymen who are good managers have nothing to fear from the new com petition. (For more details on that meeting, please see page 98). The Adams County Far mers Association is con sidering the foreign-owned farm as a “problem” for now. At a meeting last month, fear was expressed that smaller egg producers in the area would be forced out. Schwartz speculates that the large German-owned egg farm may hurt smaller producers in the area. On the plus side, he believes that the mcreased demand for feed will put a good floor under the Adams County com market. Furthermore, it will increase tax revenues and possibly attract allied industries. That could lead to Adams County becoming a major egg and broiler producing area such as Lancaster County. Growth of HARRISBURG, Pa. - On August 6, at 10 a.m., the Zembo Mounted Patrol, a unit of the Zembo Temple, will sponsor a horse show at the Quentin Riding Club, Quentin, Lebanon County, Pa. the industry has already been significant. Another advantage Schwartz sees as a result of the German operation is that highly qualified poultrymen will certainly have to be drawn into the area. This high calibre of expertise could be a real plus for all poultrymen in the area, he reasons. “The change is here, and we’ve got to leam to live with it,” Schwartz reported. “I don’t think we can fight it. The challenge will be how to keep the small guy in business. I believe there is still a place for the small producer because the large fellows won’t mess with local egg traffic. No matter where they (AMGRAR) would have located in the Northeast, it’s bound to affect the egg market. With egg prices being as low as they are at the present time, a number of producers are wondering why and how AMGRAR expects to show a profit. Some reports say the Ger man poultrymen claim to be able to produce eggs cheaper. While that may well be true due to the firm’s large volume buying power and large-scale production, Penn State’s Dr. Stemberger may. well have hit on just as valid a reason when he addressed poultrymen in Lancaster last month. “The time to get into the egg business is when it’s way down, not when it’s booming,” he said. “Build more houses when prices are lowest, not when they’re highest,” he advised. The two poultrymen from West Germany appear to be doing just that in Adams County. Horse show set There will be 21 classes in competition and entry fees range from $3.00 to $5.00 per class.' There will be no advanced entry requirements and stalls will be available for a fee -- ■? See your nearest HOLLAND Dealer for Dependable Equipment and Dependable Service: AirviHe, PA Airville Farm Service Airviile, PA 717-862-3358 Alexandria. PA McEwensville, PA Clapper Farm Equipment bon's'ServTce sTTop 814-669-4465 717-538-1362 Annville, PA BHM Farm Equipment, Inc R D 1 717-867-2211 Beavertown, PA Ben H Walter Beavertown, PA 717-658-7024 Bernville, PA Stanley A Klopp, Inc Bernville, PA 215-488-1510 Biglerville, PA Wolff Farm Supply Co Biglerville, PA 717-677-8144 Carlisle. PA Paul Shovers, Inc 35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 tawissa, Abraczmskas Farm Equipment, Inc R D 1 717-356-7409 Chambersburg, PA Clugston Implement, Inc RD 1 717-263-4103 Chester Springs, PA Nevm N Myer & Sons, Inc Chester Springs, PA 215 827-7414 Davidsburg, PA George-N Gross, Inc R D 2, Dover, PA 717-292-1673 Elizabethtown. PA Messick Farm Equipment, Inc 2750 North Market St 717 367-1319 Gettysburg, PA Ymglmg Implements RD 9 717 359-4848 Halifax, PA Sweigard Bros R D 3, Box 13 717 896-3414 lanover, Sheets Bros, Inc Carlisle Street 717 632-3660 Honey Brook, PA Dependable Motor Co East Mam Street 215-273-3131 Honey Grove, PA Norman D Clark & Son, Inc Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 Hughesville. PA Farnsworth Farm Supplies, Inc 103 Cemetery Street 717-584-2106 Lancaster, PA L H Brubaker, Inc 350 Strasburg Pike 717-397-5179 Lebanon, PA Evergreen Tractor Co . Inc 30 Evergreen Road 717-272-4641 Lititz, PA Roy A Brubaker 700 Woodcrest Avenue 717-626-7766 isville, PA Paul Shovers, Inc Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 .ynnport, PA KermitK Kistler, Inc Lynnport, PA 215-298-3270 Mill Hall. PA Paul A Dotterer RD 1 717-726 3471 Millville, PA W O Diehl & Sons RD 1 717-458-6421 New Holland, PA A B C Groff, Inc 110 South Railroad 717-354-4191 Oley, PA A J Noss& Son, Inc RD 2 215-987-6257 Orwigsburg. PA PaulJ EichertSSon RD 1 717-943-2304 Palm. PA Wentz Farm Supplies, Inc Rt 29 215-679-7164 Pitman. PA Marlin W Schreffler Pitman, PA 717-648 1120 Quarryville, PA C E Wiley & Son, Inc 101 South Lime Street 717-786-2895 Reedsville, PA Big Valley Sales & Service, Inc PO Box 548 717-667-3944 Rmgtown, PA Rmgtown Farm Equipment Ringtownt PA 717 889-3184 pa Shippensburj R B Miller, Inc Shippensburg, PA 717 532-4178 Silverdale, PA I G 'sAg Sales Box 149 215 257-5135 Tamaqua, PA Charles S Snyder, Inc RD 3 717-386-5945 Waynesboro. PA Blue'Ridge Fruit Exchange, Inc Waynesboro, PA 717-762-3117 West Chester. PA M S Yearsley & Son 114-116 East Market Street 215-696-2990 West Grove, PA S G Lewis & Son, Inc R D 2, Box 66 215-869-2214 Churchville. MD Walter G Coale, Inc 2849 53 Churchville Rd 301-734 7722 Rising Sun, MD Ag -Ind Equipment Co, Inc R D 2, Route 273 East 301-398-6132 301-658-5568 Woodstown, NJ Owen Supply Co Broad Street & East Avenue 609-769 0308
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