10
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
I say good bye , and thank you all
for the satisfaction I found
Today marks the closing of a
chapter in my life It’s time to say
good bye.
In doing so, I want to acknowledge
once again the appreciation I have
for the thousands of people who have
made me feel welcome m their
homes, on their farms, at their field
days, and at numerous other
gatherings. I want to thank those
who wrote and called or chatted with
me at meetings. That, more than
anything, made my job pleasant and
rewarding
Since becoming editor of Lancaster
Farming in July of 1975 I’ve had the
personal satisfaction of watching this
newspaper's readership double
That fact is an intangible trophy for
me, and I have all of the subscribers
to thank for it
The editorship of Lancaster
Farming has been a rewarding and
educational experience Yes, it's
been a demanding job too - I think
every bit as much as farming - but it's
all been worth it The tasks and the
hours aren’t so bad if one enjoys his
work You, the readers, have helped
to make it that way
I’ve gained many friends and
recognition My position has allowed
me to experience situations which
are truly unusual and gratifying. For
example, I’ve dined with Amish
families in Lancaster County, and
I’ve been to the White House twice to
meet with the President I've
Tobacco crop
(Continued from Page
the symptoms of wilting and
breaking of the stalk.
The disease was brought to
the attention of John Yocum
*onn Yocum points u - y areas of a tobacco leaf at the
Penn State research farm near Landisville. This spotting results from the blue
mold disease.
RURAL ROUTE
WOULD you LIKE
CREAM FOR you/?
■ COFFEE. S/R ?
)JW\
—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 18,1979
$f » Ce"' o i o'-d o A eo*
BY DIETER KRIEG, EDITOR
and Arnold Lueck a momh
ago. By the tune the disease
was noticed in the field most
of the damage to the plants
had occurred so spraying
was not recommended.
According to Donald
traveled to parts of the country
which I might otherwise have only
read about
This job has been an education
over and over again The entire world
has become bigger because of it The
hundreds of farmers I’ve talked to
had interesting ideas to share, as did
the scores of agricultural leaders and
researchers I’ve become acquainted
with All that and more helped to
make my job interesting.
I can honestly say, as a final
editorial note, that I would encourage
people - young and old alike - to
mingle with one another at neigh
borhood picnics, educational func
tions, banquets, fairs, or what have
you It has proven to me that a warm,
honest, friendly, helpful spirit is very
much alive in our farming com
munities That’s a credit to our
families, community, and country
Please keep it up
Being a sentimental person, the
memories of my 4-year career here at
Lancaster Farming will undoubtedly
linger on for the rest of my life.
1 have much to be thankful for
I thank God for the guidance He
has given and all of you for the
support you have shown
It is time to say good bye.
In doing so, I offer my best wishes
to my successor, and all who made
my job a pleasant assignment
Auf Wiedersehen 1
Rohrer, a Strasburg area
tobacco grower, blue mold is
more noticeable in the newer
tobacco varieties. John
Yocum admits that at the
present time there is no type
(Turn to P*
V£S PLEASE
NATIONAL
SECURITY
Lesson for August 19. 1979
Background Scripture:
2 Kings 16;
Isaiah 7 through 8.
Devotional Reading:
Psalms 25:1-10.
King Ahaz holds a rather
dubious distinction: he was
despised even more than
most of the kings of Judah.
In a sense it might be said
that he excelled m being a
terrible monarch.
The reason for his
blackened memory was his
betrayal of the worship of
the one God of the Hebrew
faith. The heinous practice
of child sacrifice was
reintroduced by this king
who led the way in
sacrificing his own son. It
also appears that he took an
active role in introducing
other religions into the life of
Judah.
Anyone who has studied
the Old Testament with any
depth knows that Ahaz was
one of a number of kings of
Judah and Israel who
reigned as virtual enemies of
God. But it is not enough for
us to dismiss Ahaz simply as
just one more evil king. If his
story is to have any value for
us at all, we must try to
discover why he did what he
did. And if we make that
discovery, we will find that
we stand much closer to
Ahaz than we might have
imagined.
Come, Rescue Me!
Why did Ahaz encourage
the intrusion of pagan
religions? Was it that he
wanted to defy the God of
Israel and Judah? Was it
because he wanted to lead
his people into debauchery
and moral nun? Probably
not. When we read his story
in 2 Kings 16 we detect that
his strategy is a practical
one, rather than theological.
His kingdom stands in peril
of being overwhelmed by-
Judah’s traditional foes.
Israel and Syria. Both of
these nations alone were
mightier than little Judah;
together they were truly
frightening.
So Ahaz did what countless
other statesmen in the same
predicament have done: he
made an alliance with an
even stronger power in order
to protect his kingdom. To
the mighty Assyrian king,
Tiglcthpileser, he sent a
desperate message: ‘T am
your servant and your son.
Come up and rescue me...”
(2 Kings 16:7). Ahaz bought
Judah’s protection at the
price ot groveling before the
mighty Assyrians.
Up To Damascus
In the short run it was a
wise move. Tiglathpileser
By Tom Armstrong
GEE ..IT USED To SE
SPELLED C-R-E-A- M
TO ATTEND AG
PROGRESS DAYS
To the best of my
knowledge Pennsylvania,
does not have a State Fair.
Most folks feel that the State
Farm Show in January takes
place of a State Fair. There
is another event that helps
fill the lack of a State Fair
and that is Pennsylvania Ag
Progt ess Days.
This huge event is to be
held August 21 - 23 at the
Rock Springs Research
Farm near State College,
Pa. For the purpose of farm
crops and farm machinery
exhibits and demonstrations
there is nothing in the state
to equal Ag Progress Days.
In addition, there are
displays and events for
youth and for women. A
brochure is available from
any Pennsylvania Extension
Office that will give full
details. This should be
another very helpful and
educational event.
TO ESTABLISH
SECURITY MEASURES
Farmers have a difficult
task of protectmg their
property from robbery and
thefts. They have so much
equipment and livestock in
different places. Hov/ever,
we suggest that every effort
be made to protect farm
materials and animals. Good
lighting during the night is
very helpful.
A good watch dog can be
used to warn owners that
strangers are around. To
keep machinery sheds and
shops under lock and key is
also suggested. Dairy and
livestock producers may
want to keep gates locked.
Loading chutes make it easy
for the theft of livestock
unless the gate or bars are
locked. Some attention to the
protection of property is
suggested at this time.
TO MEET
MARKET DEMANDS
Livestock producers
should make every effort to
put out animals that are m
strong demand We are
aware of the situation m the
fat cattle market where
Farm Calendar
Today, August 18
Northeast Chianma Field
Day at Lauxmont Farms,
south of Wnghtsville.
responded to the plea and
devastated Syria with his
massive armies. In the long
run, however, Ahaz, it
turned out, paid a price far
too great. He and his
kingdom not only became
the puppets of Assyria, but
the introduction of the
Assyrian religions into
Judah sealed the demise of
that kingdom
If was not that Ahaz hadn’t
been warned. Isaiah, in
spired by God, called Judah
to put their trust in God
alone, not their alliances.
But Ahaz did not listen and
disaster was the eventual
result.
It is so easy for us today to
discern Ahaz’s tragic
mistake. Yet Ahaz’s ghost
rises from the pages of our
Bible to point an ethereal
finger at us and ask: “And
where do you turn for your
national security?”
feeders are continuing to
feed heavy cattle hoping that
the prices will advance. This
is a risky decision because
too many tunes the market
does not improve; the result
is that the heavy cattle are
discounted and the cost of
gams were too high.
With the value of feed
grams stronger than m
recent months, it continues
to be questionable about
feeding cattle too long This
same thing is true m hog
production. The producer
should keep abreast of the
market and try to move the
animals when they reach
that certain weight and
grade. To keep them on feed
longer is poor economics.
In addition, we might add
that when market animals
are slaughtered the feeder
should try to learn how they
suited the packer. Too many
bruises, or too much of other
unsatisfactory things, will
turn the buyer away from
that strmg of livestock the
next tune.
TO MAKE GOOD
CORN SILAGE
In a few weeks some
livestock and dairy
producers will be making
corn silage. This is one of the
most economical feeds
known today. We urge
growers to cut the com in the
dent state when feed value is
at the peak. Silage additives,
such as urea for dairy and
beef animals, and ground
limestone for beef cattle,
will improve the feeding
value of the silage. When
corn is cut at the proper
stage of maturity no
preservatives should be
needed. Silages made from
other than whole-plant corn
may need some feed ad
ditives (ground grains or
sweet mixes), organic acids,
or sodium metabisulfite.
Additional information on
these materials may be
obtained by contacting your
local Extension Agent To
make com into silage is one
of the best methods of
preserving the maximum
feed nutrients from the crop
Epnraia Area Young
Farmers ice cream social, 6
pm atWoodcrestßetreat
Southcentral Penn
sylvania Championship
Holstein Show, Carlisle
Fairgrounds.
Sunday, Aug. 19
Lancaster County Far
mers Association picnic at
the Quarryville
Fairgrounds, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 21
Ag Progress Days start,
continue through Thursday
at Penn State University’s
research farm in Centre
County.
Lancaster County
Guernsey Field Day at Bob
Rohrer Farm, Lime Valley
Road, near Lampeter, 7 p.m
All New Jersey Holstein
Show, Warren County
Fairgrounds, Harmony, 9
a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 22
Threshermen’s Reunion at
Rough and Tumble
Engineering Grounds,
Kinzers. Today through
Saturday.