taring, Satarday, August 26,197* II Business growing strong By JERRY WEBB University of Delaware NEWARK, Del. - Far ming has gen; through a long and difficult transition from a time when it was a means of survival to a period when it was a rather pleasant and sought after way of life, toward a time when it will be a business and little more. There is ample evidence to show that the family farm is not an endangered species and that it will be around for a long, long time. There is also equally impressive evidence to indicate that farm numbers are decreasing, farm sizes are increasing, and the sums of money involved in typical farming operations are staggering. The evidence also shows that those family farms that are prospering are not typical of the way of life so many of us remem ber. Even though they’re operated as family units, most of them have a very business-like approach to things. So the family farm will probably be around for a long time, but it will become more business oriented, less of a way of life, and more of a means of earning a living. Fanners and their families will recognize fewer dif ferences between them selves and their city cousins and they will find them selves participating in and enjoying most of the same activities. THE QUICK UNLOADER MARTIN SEMI-SOLID OR LIQUID SPREADER Martin V. Model is the quick unloader for that sloppy manure problem - makes effective use of time - no need for slopping your lane or road way. The best spreader for free-stall operations... semi-solid manure storage... even handles stored parlor waste... plus many other uses. Topdress pasture, hay crops, etc. - no problem. Ask you Martin dealer today for his capacity/pnce ratio - a sure winner over many brands. Martin V. Model (pat. pend.) - the quick way to solve that tough manure problem with fast, fast unloading. Models available from 208 cubic feet to 440 cubic feet (level full). THE FOLLOWING FEATURES ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON MARTIN'S VISOO gal.. V2lOO gal., V 2250 gal., V 3300 gal. TANK SPREADERS. • Heavy duty internal chopper type auger • Includes Hydraulic cylinder and all hoses • Includes PTO shaft, jack and ladder. • Spreaders built and designed tohandle manure from free stall barn without adding any liquid • Rear fan built to handle spread of 45 to 60feet liquid or thick manure CALL 717-933-4151 Martin Mfg. for liquid manure equipment - full line of free stalls, head locks, gates and other farm equipment. As fanners find them selves in the main stream of American business, they face new challenges. One of those which is looming large for many mid-Atlantic farmers is what the business community calls mobility. The typical businessman goes where his job is. The profit-oriented industrialist moves bis firm where conditions better suit his purpose. That’s mobility - but the former traditionally clings to the land where he was bom. For many farmers in this area clinging is costly, worrisome, and maybe even foolish. Just because a farmer’s father milked cows on the outskirts of Wilmington, Delaware doesn’t mean that fanner and that farmer’s son must do the same. Land that is worth millions for other purposes might better be devoted to those purposes while that dairyman moves south or west, or perhaps even north to an area better suited to his agricultural enterprise. Some farmers have done this. They’ve actually traded farms, moving from the urbanized east to the gentle countryside of the Com Belt, or to the sunny south, where the winters are milder and dairy profits are potentially higher. Some farmers who were boxed in by urban sprawl have been forced to such drastic measures or be literally closed down by their complaining neighbors. • Manure tank can be filled with barn cleaner Scrape off Ramp Front End Loader or Purflp • Large 12' opening from tank to dis charge fan • Special V-Shape design facilitates smoother flow of manure removal • Braking System Optional, 4-wheel _ Hydraulic Brakes controlled from ~ tractor. Others have seen it coming and have gotten out when the opportunity presented itself. But most farmers have no desire to leave the im mediate vicinity where they have always farmed and where their family has always lived. In fact, most formers count as one of their goals the opportunity for all of their children to either enter into the farm business or to at least find work where they will be close to the home place. That ideal is rapidly vanishing. Farmers who are struggling on the Delmarva peninsula to rent vast acreages are losing economic advantages ~because of their physical location. Why not pull up stakes and go south or west where vast chunks of land Farm •Urban • Commercial THRIVE CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDINGS •Gestation •Farrowing • Nursery/Finishing For Information Write or Phone MERVIN MILLER Lltitz,PA Phone (717) 62^5204 are still available at much more reasonable prices? The Internal Revenue Service has made it rather easy for farmers to trade farms. The laws seem to be fairly liberal in the kinds of trades and the tax penalty can be little or nothing. Trading does require some effort on the part of the fanner, and it requires a FDOTZ Manure Handlers The old strongarm method of Manure Handling gives way to new muscle from PATZ namely the Slurry Manure Pump and compressed-air Liquid Manure Mover These modern methods of manure movement provide simplicity, rugged construction, operational ease, dependability, plus convenience Slurry Manure Pump Slurry or free flowing manure is pumped from a 180 gallon hopper under ground through 12 m PVC pipe to the manure holding area (If bedding is used only fine cut is recommended) Stroke is adjustable and driven by tough roller chain drive/reduction unit Plunger sleeve, and one-way valves all can be removed for servicing Liquid Manure Mover Big 1700 [USJ gallon below-ground pressure vessel collects slurry that is moved simply and easily by as little as 10-12 lbs of air pressure through 12m PVC pipe to manure storage area Simplicity in design, turning swmg-away hatch cover, one-way valve at bottom and flapper valve at the discharge end are the only moving parts get the pnrz facts first MARYLAND DEALERS SASIW. lyip, KENNEDYVILLE. MD WALTER J.HARMSEN PINDER SERVICE CO. 301-822-3085 301-348-5263 HAGERSTOWN. MD LINEBORO. MD TRI-STATE WERTZ GARAGE, INC. FARM AUTOMATION 301-374-2672 301-790-3698 on the farm willingness to leave friends, crops farm somewhere else, relatives, and perhaps a Or> he might want to get into lifetime of community in- the egg business, or produce volvement to start over in a fruits and vegetables, strange land. But a small Here’s another possibility, million dollar farm on the ■. What about the fanner with outskirts of an eastern city a place and outdated can be traded for impressive buildings who wants to holdings in some other state, -continue in the dairy An aging dairyman with a business? Perhaps- he dbe fairly small farm might be better off to find a suitable able to trade for a large (Turn to Page 121) imple, asy and dnveniently ut-of-the Way! -V DISTRICT MANAGER s GEORGE HEATH ' 2618 Arcona Road Mechanicsburg, Pa. 717-697-5466 17055 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER ~ ALEXANDRIA MAXISENBERG 717-669-4027 BALLY LONGACRE ELECTRIC 215-845-2261 BELLEFONTE LUCAS BARN EQUIPMENT 814-383-2806 BELLEVILLE MACLAY & SON 717-935-2101 CAMP HILL LLOYD SULTZBAUGH 717-737-4554 CHAMBERSBURG VALLEY FARM AUTOMATION 717-264-3814 HAMBURG SHARTLESVILLE FARM SERVICE 215-488-1025 KIRKWOOD LANDIS & ESBENSHADE 717-786-4158 LEBANON MARVIN J. HORST DAIRY EQUIPMENT 717-272-0871 McALISTERVILLE SANER FARM SYSTEMS 717-463-2606 MILLERSBURG LANDIS LABOR SAVERS 717-692-4647 MILTON LANDIS FARMSTEAD AUTOMATION 717-437-2375 PIPERSVILLE MOYER FARM SERVICE 717-766-8675 TERRE HILL TERRE HILL SILO CO. INC. 215-445-6736 WILLIAMSBURG LONGENECKERS, INC. 814-793-3731 NEW WINDSOR. MD TRI-COUNTY FARM AUTOMATION 301-775-7365 STREET. MD WALTER WEBSTER 301-452-8521 *