VOL 24 No. iT^^ Gasohol will soon be available By DIETER KRERG GLENSIDE Gasohol may soon be available in southeastern and southcentral Pennsylvania, according to Buzz Marcus, a Philadelphia area automobile dealer who has gained exclusive distribution rights in five Middle Atlantic States. The gasohol will flow, be says, as soon as he has fuel distributors contracted to handle the gasohol. Marcus, a partner in Mar-Cam Industries, has been involved with gasohol for about a year. His partner. Mo Campbell, has been one of the nation’s leading promoters of gasohol and has driven a gasohol-fueled Farms not adversely affected by radiation By DIETER KRIEG YORK “Radioactivity and the York ' County Fanner” was the subject of a meeting held here Thursday evening at York College. Organized by York County . Agent John Smith, the event attracted a : crowd of 250, and featured spokesmen from Pennsylvania State .University and tee University ofPennsylvania. In.wakeof teenuclear pcddenton Three Mile Island, and the more recent publicity of cattle dying on a farm located within the 5- mile radius of the atomic plant, tee discussions were designed to be purely educational, Smith emphasized on several ijoccasions. ' Addressing themselves the the subject: “Radiation and the York County farmer” were Dr. Milford Heddleson, soil scientist and ctoOrdinator of environmental programs Slaughter steers slightly higher this week ByKENDACE BORRY LTHTZ Slaughter steer prices at Lancaster County auctions finished this week steady to slightly higher, foilwing a drop in last week’s slaughter market prices. Starting the week off on Monday, at the Lancaster Stockyards, compared to the previous Wednesday, Orchardists predict good fruit pickings By JOAN LIESAU Orchardists are using adjectives such as “good, super” and “terrific” to describe their fruit crops so far this season in Lancaster and bordering counties. Some minor damage did occur in several peach strains, but all in all, producers reported excellent bloom and the season as being on schedule. Tom Styer of Styer Or chards, Langhom, reported having a “super crop of apples.” Because of the good weather and bee activity, Styer said the apples bad a heavy bloom. He also con tributed it to a light crop m 1978. Strong, heavy and large blossoms are reported in the orchard with Stayman Winesap as “very heavy.” Toyota to virtually every part of the country. The first gallon of alcohol was poured into the tank by Senators Frank Church and Charles Percy last Summer. Both Campbell and Marcus are also ac tive in tee automobile racing circuit, in cluding such major tracks as Daytona, Sebring, and Watkins Glen. They are using their knowledge and experience of engines and are coupling it to gasohol. Marcus and Campbell expect to have 15 million gallons of gasohol available during their first year of operation. They claim that tee fuel will increase mileage performance by 3% to 14 per cent. Dr. Roger Granlund slaughter steers were 50 cents to |l.OO higher, with instances of $1.50 higher on Choice steers. High Choice and Prime slaughter steers, yield grade 3 and 5, weighing 1150 to 1390 pounds brought 73.10 to 75.00 per hundredweight, with a few Choice 2 at 1075 to 1350 lbs. going for 74.50 to 75.85. Bob Hodge, president ot Highland Orchards, Inc., Chester County, said it was a cold Winter, but buds weren’t lost. “We have excellent bloom across the board...apples, peaches, cherries and pears,” he said. Hodge added that the first set was a “little sporatic.” “Frankly, I was suprised ft was not better,” he said. Hodge reported this year showed the largest number of bees available. Although there was “ample fruit set, it was not as high as I thought.” Hodge said he lost a few peach strains “because they can’t make it through Pennsylvania Winters.” Ray L. Kirkpatrick, manager of Hershey Orchards, Hershey, reported that certain Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 26,1979 Or. David Kornfefd Choice yield grade 2 to 4, weighing 1000 to 1400 lbs. went for $71.75 to 74.25, with a few reaching 74.25 to 74.85. High Good and low Choice, yield grade 2 to 3, brought 70.75 to 72.50; with Good, yield grade 2 to 3, bringing 69.00-72.00. At the Vintage Sales Stables in Paradise, at their varieties of their peaches “look a little light. Certain varieties, however, look really good and we won’t have to thin them” he added. Styer is expecting 75 per cent of a full crop, with all varieties in consideration. “I’m looking for a good peach crop, not a bumper one,” he said. Groff said that <r In this issue Farm Calendar 10 Editorials , 10 New potato 44 Classifieds 45 Homestead Notes 82 Jr. Cooking Edition 84 Home on ths Range 86 Ida’s Notebook 94 What does all this mean to the fanner? According to Marcus and Campbell, as well as numerous others, farmers will have an additional market for their crops - thus enhancing their potential for income and profits. Gasohol is made from a mixture of 10 per cent alcohol and 90 per cent gasoline. The alcohol is likely to be derived from crops such as com, wheat, or barley, although sugar, wood, and even garbage may also be used. Presently, every state in the union is working on legislation to exempt gasohol from state fuel taxation. Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture, Dr. Milford Heddleson Tuesday sale, compared to the week before, slaughter steers were uneven, with a few early sales weak to 25 cents lower although later sales were 50 to 75 cents higher. High Choice and Prime, yield grade 3 to 4, weighing 1075 to 1375 lbs. brought 74.75 to 76.85; with Choice, mainly his' peaches are looking consistently better than they did last year. He predicted about a 90 per cent crop, “much improved over last year’s 65 per cent picked.” The cherry crop “looks real good” to most of the producers. Kirkpatrick is expecting 80 to 85 per cent of the orchards sour cherry Joyce Bupp . 94 Kendy’s Kollumn 105 Life on the farm 108 Rising-grain prices 112 Farm Women rally 114 York DHIA 122 Forage Day 126 Cumberland DMA 137 farm organizations (notably the American Agriculture Movement) and countless private citizens and businesses are also jumping on the gasohol bandwagon. Marcus says there is no question in bis mind that the energy crunch is real and that it will be with us for a long time, if not forever. Alsp, he believes that the United States is still in a cheap fuel situation. Gasohol, he believes, can help to keep the energy supply flowing, with farmers having a major stake in the process. Primary opposition to gasohol is coining (Turn to Page 19) at Penn State; Dr. David Kornfeld, professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania; and Dr. Roger Granlund, health physicist from Penn State. While not denying that the Three Mile Island incident was serious and could have resulted in catastrophic consequences, Granlund emphasized that dangerous levels of radioactive matter were contained and no harmful effects resulted. The educator pointed out that the total dosages of the week-long ordeal, even within the closest would not have been more than the annual dosage normally received from background radiation. Granlund warned, however, that while the Three Mile Island crisis was over once the reactor vessel was brought under control, the problem itself is farfrom over. yield grade 2, at 1075 to 1400 lbs. bringing 76.00 to 77.00, and 14 head going for 77.00 to 77.85. Choice yield grade 2 to 4, at 1000 to 1350 lbs. went for 73.25 to 76.50, with a few early sales bringing 72.50 to 73.25. High Good and low Choice, yield grade 2 to 3, brought 71.50 to 73.75. At the Lancaster crop and a 70 per cent swee«, cherry crop, Groff said he saw a “little Winter kill” on his cherries, but the crop still looks fairly good. He expects the same cherry crop or, less than last year. Styer reported cherries as being in “very heavy bloom.” Most reported pears, plums and grapes as looking good. Groff expects as many, or more pears then last year. Bugs “have not been a problem, so far, ’ com mented Groff. He explained, as most others did, “we have had a good spray coverage before the ram,” and don’t expect disease to be a problem. “If everybody has as many apples, and we all $6.00 Per Year (Turn to Page 19) Stockyards Wednesday sales, compared to Monday slaughter steers were fully steady, with instances of 50 cents higher on early sales. High choice and Prime slaughter steers, yield grade 3 to 4, weighing 1100 to 1300 lbs. brought 73.50 to 75.35; Choice, mainly yield grade 2, (Turn to Page 23) nave a good crop, I would say apple prices won’t be any higher than last year,” commented Kirkpatrick. Hodge is “hoping returns will keep pace.” Groff felt the prices of fruit will be “the same or slightly higher” than last year. “I’m inclined to doubt a big yield will depress the prices. I think it will hold the line or, go up slightly.” Groff didn’t see a substantial change in prices 1 from last year. The supply of fuel to or chardists appears good so far. Many have planned years ahead for the energy situation, going to smallei, diesel run tractors, smaller dwarf trees and smaller sprayers. Groif said he has doubled the size of his or (Turn to Page 23)
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