—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