AlD—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 26,1980
Lancaster Farming says...
Contrary to popular belief,
Beeferendum is not McDonald’s
latest hamburger dish.
It’s a checkoff program to raise
money for promotion of beef
research and marketing efforts.
Anyone, even a child, who has
owned just one beef animal in the
past year is eligible to vote for or
against the program. This would
include dairy animals shipped off as
cutters and canners.
Farmers can register to vote this
coming week at their local
Agricultural Stabilization and
Conservation Service office ASCS
will accept registrations through
February 6.
Registration requests can be made
by phone. ASCS will then mail the
appropriate form
The vote will be held February 19
through 22
A similar program proposal was
defeated two years ago. But
have been changed since then.
Instead of a two-thirds vote, only a
simple majority will be sufficient to
institute the program.
Dairymen will help to pay for the
beef referendum programs, but only
SIMON PETER
Lesson for January 27,1980
Background Scripture:
John 13:36-38; 18:16-18,
25-27; 21:15-22.
Devotional Reading:
Matthew 16:13-20.
To Uie Fertilizer
on Forage Crop*
Many agronomists feel
that too many farmers do not
use enough fertilizer on their
grass and hay crops In
RURAL ROUTE
>W WHILE,
CLEANER
VOU WATCH THE Ct
,I'M WELDING THE
Beeferendum needs a close look
on tne value of culled cows when sold
for slaughter
Producers can get a refund of the
two cents per hundred dollar
checkoff fee by requesting one in
writing and presenting a receipt.
Lest anyone fear agriculture is on
the wane in Pennsylvania, we’re
happy to point out the national farm
leaders haven't gotten the word yet.
Quite to the contrary, the top men
in each of the major farmer
organizations American Farm
Bureau Federation, National Grange,
and National Farmers Union all
were in Pennsylvania this week
Newest member of the select trio is
AFBF’s Robert Delano, in office just
two weeks.
National Grange Master Edward
Andersen, a bit more experienced
with two months on the job, made his
first return appearance to the
Keystone State since taking office in
Lancaster during November.
We bring you exclusive interviews
this week with both men.
Tony Dechant, President of
We all know a Simon Peter
or two; enthusiastic, take
charge, impulsive, foot-in-
mouth, and frequently
talking a better game than
playing it. The New
Testament allows us to
catalogue both his virtues
and his sins. The man who
first confesses Jesus to be
the Christ, he is also the man
who fails him most in his
greatest hour of need.
Clearly the leader of the
early church, Peter must
nevertheless be taught by a
newcomer named Paul that
his Christianity is too
narrow, too limited.
general terms we can expect
about $3 in return for every
dollar spent for fertilizer on
the average farm crop. On
many forage crop acres this
return can be greater when
properly fertilized. Just
because the land is covered
with grass or a grass-legume
mixture, we should not
overlook the value of liberal
fertilization. The complete
soil test is the place to start
3 out of 3 isn’t bad
I Will Lay Down My Life
Perhaps that is why we
can identify so easily with
.him. We can see in him the
same heights and depths
that we find in our own lives,
the same successes and
failures, the same elation
and shame. We have no
difficulty in hearing our
selves say with him, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the
living God” (Matthew 16:16)
and “I will lay down my life
for you” (John 13:37). The
words would probably come
as easily for us as they did
him.
We can perhaps imagine
ourselves with Peter
receiving that highest of
and meet the recommended
needs. Forage crops can be
produced on all types of land
and are usually some of the
most efficient feeds that can
be fed to livestock. Proper
fertilization will make
greater utilization of forage
lands.
To Review Cattle
Marketing Pratices
The day of the prime- business very long. This is
finished animals is all but not a new suggestion to loal
By Tom Armstrong
I THOUGHT
scjll
il
Last time around the checkoff was
a ho-hum affair This time the sides
are clearly drawn. On one hand, it’s
peaches and cream, on the other, it's
a major disaster.
The American Angus Association
National Farmers Union, brought 14
year’s of experience with him to
Pennsylvania this week But his
outlook on farming is toward the
future and not the past
Dechant, too, is profiled in this
week’s issue
All three men were supportive of
Eastern agriculture. from An
dersen, who pointed out that the
leadership rn saving America’s farm
land comes from this area, to
Dechant, who continues his battle for
higher dairy and gram parity
It takes some doing to get a major
farm leader to a meeting It’s really
something when all three show up for
meetings the same week in the same
area
We appreciate their interest in and
endorsement of Pennsylvania
agriculture
commendations from the
Lord: “Blessed are you
Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh
and blood has not revealed
this to yon, but my Father
who is in heaven ... and on
this rock I will build my
church... I will give yon the
keys of the kingdom of
heaven, and whatever yon
bind on earth shall be bound
in beaven...” (Matthew
16:17-19). No other disciple
was so highly praised as
Peter.
Before The Cock Crows
Nor so soundly rebuked:
“Get behind me, Satan! You
are a Hindrance to me; for
you are not on the side of
God, but of men” (Matthew
history; however, we still
have too many feeders that
continue to feed their cattle
until they are too fat and too
heavy. At our recent Cattle
Feeders Day, Dr. Lester
Burdette from Penn State,
told our local feeders that
unless they stop feeding
cattle into the Yield 4 and 5
grades, they will not stay in
GONNA WATCH
by curt harler, editor
16:23). Like many of us,
Peter often had that ten
ancy to go too far, to
operate without his brain
properly engaged. He
always meant well, but he
was often as much trouble
for Jesus as he was of help to
him. And we can identify
with that, too!
Yet, in Peter’s abject
failures, there is a saving
message for us. For we can
take hope in knowing that
even a failure like Peter
could be both forgiven and
redeemed. Denying Christ
three times in one night
would utterly ruin any
minister’s career today, but
cattle producers. The trend
has been in this direction for
several years. Currently,
over-finished heavy cattle
are bringing from 5 to 8 cents
per pound less than choice
grade handy-weight cattle.
Why put on the extra weight
at higher costs and then have
to take less per pound at the
marketplace???
To Plan Dairy Breeding
Program
A recent report from one
of our Penn State Dairy
Farm Calendar
Today, January 26
Montgomery Co Annual 4-H
Beef Supper, North
Montco Vo-Tech School,
Lansdale
Monday, January 28
Hunterdon Co Horse & Pony
Assoc meeting, Bpm,
Extension Center
Red Lion Young Farmers
says almost all informed cattlemen
support the Beeferendum. But the
Texas and Tennessee Farm Bureaus
are against it
Cham stores or banks which own
cattle have just as much say in the
voting as individual farmers
The members of the Beeferendum
board will be appointed, not elected
But it will be made up of all cattle
producers
It will be unable, by law, to fight
government programs hassling
cattlemen It could solidify farmers’
markets for beef.
But the worst aspect of the
program is the general lack of in
terest, pro or con, by farmers
A relative handful of people in all
likelihood will dictate whether or not
the program passes
As in governmental elections,
those who don't vote have no right to
complain about the way things are
run.
Register this week to vote Read
our many articles presenting both
sides of the question. And vote in
February
You owe it to yourself.
Peter survived that tragic
experience at Caiphas’
house and went on to become
the chief of Christ’s apostles.
The brilliance of Peter’s
character was deeply flawed
with weakness, but, no
matter how towering that
weakness may have seemed
to Peter and his fellows,
Christ demonstrated that the
love and power of God to
forgive and redeem are
infinitely greater. God is a
greater forgiver than I am a
sinner. He is more powerful
than all my weaknesses. His
divinity can overpower my
humanity.
Andy ours!
Specialists, Larry Specht,
relates to the best age to
breed dairy heifers. Ac
cording to the DHIA records
of over 56,000 heifers the
average age of the first
calving was 27.7 months. The
range was from 18 months to
35 months of age. There was
no increase in production by
allowing heifers to reach 35
months before calving.
Those calving from 18 to 24
months of age produced less.
(Turn to Page Al 5)
meeting, 8 p.m. at the vo
ag classroom; Vmton
Growl will speak on
general tractor mam-»'
tenance.
Tuesday, January 29
Dover Young Farmers
meeting, 7 30 p m at the
vo-ag classroom, William
(Turn to Page A 27)
m