I
tin \if S 1111H]
VOL 24 No
Good strawberry crop forecast by growers
ByKENDACEBORRY
LITITZ The forecast for
this year's strawberry crop
m Lancaster County was
“good to excellent”, when
area growers surveyed their
fields this week.
Most of the strawberry
patches were reported in
bloom, with several, as of
Thursday, seen in “full
bloom”. And while owners
noted that the strawberries
will be arriving a little later
this year than last year’s
crop, they were hopeful for a
bountiful yield.
Hearing on right to build swine facility held
By JOAN LIES AU
WEST HEMPFIELD -
Hearings were held May 8 at
the West Hempfidld
Township Building to
determine whether two
Lancaster County farmers
had the right to build sow
confinement operations on
their land, which is zoned
agricultural.
Jay Rohrer, Manheim R 7,
Dairy issue coming
On June 9, LANCASTER
Farming will recognize'
the area’s dynamic dairy in
dustry with its Annual Dairy
Issue.
We extend a special invita
tion to dairy groups and
organizations, as well as in
dividuals, to submit articles
Mrs. Carlton Groff,
' Kirkwood, reported that the
strawberry crop that she and
her husband raise “has just
finished blooming” and
termed it possibly “the best
crop we ever had”.
She told that this year
there have been no problems
with the fruit, no frost
damage, and reported that
although the Groffs’ didn’t
use that much mulch around
the plants, during the cold
weather they had a good
snow cover, which kept them
from freezing.
of Terra Grain Incorporated,
presented his case before the
zoning board to approve
construction of a $750,000,
480 sow, total confinement
hog operation. Lawyers
representing Terra Grain
and also various residents of
Salunga and nearby areas
were in full force at the
meeting.
The zoning board passed
and news on dairying for the
Dairy Issue.
To be sure you make the
Dairy Issue, please submit
all advertising and editorial
material by Tuesday, June 5.
Call us at 717-394-3047 or
717-626-1164. Or write Lan
caster Farming, Box 366,
Lititz, Pa. 17543.
Serving The Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania Areas
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 12,1979
“They really look good,”
she commented. “They may
start to ripen around the 24th
or 25th of May.”
Peter Alezih, of Herr’s
Fruit Farms, Lancaster R 2,
termed the crop as “ex
cellent”.
“This slow warming trend,
with the cool nights, really
helped them,” he reported.
“We had no frost to speak of,
and the bloom was ex
cellent.”
“They’re in full bloom
now,” he added. “We’ll be in
down the decision to review
Terra Grain’s case and give
notice at their next meeting
in June. “There are many
points involved,” stated Vice
Chairman of the Board Gary
Mitchell, Lancaster.
Rohrer owns 108 acres of
farm land which has a 15
acre lot across Spooky Nook
and Prospect Roads. This lot
is where the facility is
proposed.
The total confinement
facility would eventually be
from farrow to finish.
Anyone entering the building
is required to shower and
wear white coveralls and
boots for disease protection.
The building proposed is
environmentally controlled.
The proposed manure
handling system includes a
full swing with the crop in
early June.”
“I think that after this
week (ending May 10) ..that
we won’t have to worry
about frost,” he continued.
“But because of the cold
Winter the crop will be a
little later than last year’s”
Fred Funk, reporting for
Funk’s Farm Market,
Millersville, called the
strawberries “real nice”.
“The younger fields are
terrific,” he commented.
“We had two light frosts, but
we irrigated and there was
500,000 gallon open topped
aerated slurry tank.
Sam Fields of SANDS (the
company who will build the
facility) testified to the
buildings being water tight
and totally sealed. “With
this type of aeration system,
you don’t need to treat with
chemicals.” He explained
that “bacteria produces the
odor, and we’re eliminating
the bacteria through air
movement in the facility and
through flushing and
sanitizing. The incinerator
(used for the disposal of
dead pigs) “eliminates any
possible odors,
dissemenation or con
tamination of any sort.”
Fields explained that with
such hot gases, and the
double burners used, it
eliminates any odors. Fields
no problem. The blossoms
look real good and there was
little Winter damage.”
“It should be a good crop,”
he continued. “The
strawberries should start
coming in around May 27,
with the main crop ready
from May 29 into the
beginning of June, if the
weather continues warm.”
Funk thought this year
was a normally tuned season
for the crop, although he
added that weather like this
past week’s could spur the
crop on.
also testified that the only
odor that would be detec
table from the facility would
be a very small amount 50
feet, to the extreme of 200
feet from the slurry tank.
Several surrounding
property owners testified
against the proposed Terra
Grain Inc. facility. Most of
the opposition was directed
against the odor and possible
In this issue
Farm Calendar 10
Editorial 10
Letters 10
Visiting farm group 42
Apple Queen 45
Classifieds 47
Homestead Notes 82
Jr. Cooking Edition 84
Ida’s Notebook 86
Kendy’sKoUumn 86
$6.00 Per Year
“We have been irrigating
our fields,” he added.
Referring to prices, he
thought that in the retail
marketing, the prices should
hold about the same as last
year’s, unless something
unforeseen, like a late
severe frost, should happen.
“But right now the crop
looks good,” he summed it
up.
Mrs. Melvin Eby,
Manheim, commented that
although there have been no
(turn to Page 22)'
decrease in land value in the
surrounding area. Op
position came from Russel
Cooper, owner of Sunset
Mobile Home Park. His park
is 1300 feet from the 15 acre
building site. (The facility
was estimated to require six
per cent of the 15 acre field.)
“I feel a lot of people are
(Turn to Page 29)
Home on the Range 88
PSU Dairy Expo 93
Joyce Bupp 91
Ag exports 99
Angus conference 103
YorkDHIA 125
life on the farm 136
Custom farming rates 138
Apple Blossom quilts 139
Poultry queen 143