AlO—Lancaster Famine, Saturday, March 1,1980
Lancaster Farming says...
Many campaigns are mounted in
the farm community to gain the
respect of urbanites for rural living.
But often the communication is
rather one-sided. What do farmers
really know about the way city people
feel about agriculture?
The Louis Harris pollsters recently
did a survey to find out how non
farmers compare with farmers in
their appreciation for and outlook on
agriculture and conservation.
The survey found more than 80
percent of Americans adhere to an
ethic of conservation. And they do
not equate conservation with strict
preservation ism, which is rejected by
a majority of Americans.
Farmers, understandably, take a
stronger pro-conservation position
than does the public as a whole.
The surprise comes, though, in
how knowiedgable the general public
is about soil conservation problems
and practices. Both formal education
NICODEMUS
Lesson for March 2, 1980
Background Scripture:
John3:l-21; 7:32-52;
19:3842.
Devotional Reading:
Ezekiel 36:28-32.
o
TO INCORPORATE
MANURE
The time is soon coming
when my barns and feedlots
will be cleaned out and the
animal waste will be applied
on the soil. This is a valuable
source of fertilizer and we
hope that all livestock and
poultry producers realize it’s
value. However, the manner
m which manure is stored
and handled will determine
the actual fertilizer content.
After it is taken from the pit,
or the bam into the field, it
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They do understand us
and practical farm experience appear
to be effective in teaching about
conservation.
The Harris people found better
than half of Americans are concerned
about the loss of good farmland. The
public said its second highest con
cern in all agricultural issues is to
“help make sure that our best farm
land isn't used for other things.”
That’s an impressive showing for
the importance of farmland to city
folks. And m recent years they’ve
shown willingness to put their money
where their mouths are.
The Clean and Green am
mendment to the Pennsylvania
Constitution passed by a three to one
majority, even in urban centers. The
tax break to help keep land m
agriculture was an impressive
committment by urbanites to keep
the State’s alive.
Americans indicated their
preference for agriculture in
We often associate the
name of Nicodemus with
timidity. We remember well
that “This man came to
Jesus by night...” (John
3:2). And we know why: he
was a Pharisee, “a ruler of
the Jews,” in ail probability
a member of the Sanhedrin.
We smile somewhat cy
nically when we think of this
powerful man coming to
Jesus secretly so that no one
would know of his interest in
the Nazarene.
Born Anew
We remember also that he
was slow to comprehend
what Jesus was saying to
him. Told that he must be
“bom anew,” Nicodemus
should be incorporated mto
the topsoil as quickly as
possible. Glenn Wissler of
Ephrata Rl, has often told
me that his soil injector
spreader is a good in
vestment. The manure is
injected into the topsoil and
therefore, little leaching of
the fertilizer elements. Also,
fewer objections from
nearby neighnors. Don’t lose
fertilizer values because of
too much time _ between
application in
corporation.
replies, “How can this be?”
And we love Jesus’ reply
that puts him in his place:
“Are you a teacher of Israel,
and yet you do not un
derstand this” (3:9,10).
The writer of John’s
Gospel becomes so intent
upon Jesus’ response that he
fails to tell us anything more
of Nicodemus until Chapter
7. Here we find the Pharisees
and chief priests - probably
the Sanhedrin - discussing
charges against Jesus and
Nicodemus challenging
them: “Does our law judge a
man without first giving him
a hearing and learning what
he does?” (7:51).
It is hardly a ringing
TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE
VENTILATION
The proper ventilation of
dairy and beef barns con
tinue to be a'problem. In the
recent months I have been
approached by several
producers because of
dripping of water from the
roof or ceiling area. Too
frequently this has happened
when a lean-to shed was
constructed against the
mam bam. Another case
was a barnyard covered
over with a roof and built
solidly against the mam
barn. Lester Burdette,
Livestock Specialist from
Penn State, urged producers
to leave a 6 to 8-mch slot
STAR $
TREKJ
%
Vi
allocation of scarce resources by
giving food production a
disproportionate share of land and
water resources compared to in
dustry and jobs, energy, housing, or
recreation.
The public favors conservation
strategies that involve a partnership
between government and the far
mer, based on mutual interest. Only
a tiny segment of the public said
mandatory programs which require
the farmer to pay conservation costs
are fair.
On the other hand, most favor
depriving farmers and landowners
who do not protect soil and water of
any public help for any phase of their
farming operation.
Over three-fourths of Americans
feel we should be more concerned
about getting the conservation job
done than in pinching pennies.
As might be expected, farmers
would allocate more federal money to
confession of faith in Jesus
as the Christ, yet we
begrudgingly admit that at
least Nicodemus spoke up in
public for justice. Even that
took some courage, although
we would like to have seen
courage enough for
Nicodemus to testify for
Jesus. That’s what we would
have done, had we been
Nicodemus, isn’t it?”
Are you sure?
Nicodemus Also
There is but one more
mention of Nicodemus m
John’s Gospel and it is very
brief. In John 19 we are told
that Joseph of Arimathea,
another prominent Pharisee,
between the new con
struction and the old barn.
This will allow the warm,
moisture-laden air to
escape. If this is not done,
the air will be trapped at the
roof and against the old
barn; this causes con
densation and rotting of the
wood structure.
TO EVALUATE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
More sewage sludge is
becoming available for
agricultural use. This by
product of sewage plants has
considerable fertilizer value.
Also, the organic matter is
good for the soil. However,
some sludges contain higher
amount of heavy metals
By Tom Armstrong
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BY CURT HARLER, EDITOR
asked for Jesus’ body and
placed him in his own newly
cut tomb. And John adds:
“Nicodemus also, who had
at first come to him by night,
came bringing a mixture of
myrrh and aloes” (19:39).
And that is all the mention
there is of Nicodemus in the
New. Testament, although
some legends tell us that he
wasi" subsequently baptised
by Peter and John and was
banished from Jerusalem as
a Christian after the mar
tyrdom of Stephen.
Whether or not the legends
are true, if we think about it,
we find that there is more to
admire in this man than
such as cadmium, copper,
and zinc. In these cases the
rate per acre should be
decreased. Too much heavy
metals in the soil will be
toxic to plants. Ray Shipp,
our Agronomy Specialist at
Penn State, reports that all
sludge should be tested
before applied to the soil;
This test is available at Penn
State University. The
maximum rate per acre is
then based on the heavy
metal content. Petails are
available at any of our ex
tension offices.
TO SAVE ENERGY
WITH TREE
WINDBREAKS
The spring months are a
Farm Calendar
Saturday, March 1
Farm Equipment Expo
concludes at Farm Show
Building, Harrisburg.
York County Society of
Farm Women 50th An
niversary, York College,
York.
Eastern Shore Holstein Sale,
11:00 a.m.; Hunter’s Sale
Bam, Rising Sun, Md.
Adams Co. Fruit Growers
Meeting; at Musselman’s
Cafeteria, Bigterville.
*■
agriculture than would non-farmers
Farmers asked $3O out of $lOO for
increasing crops compared to the
general public’s $24.40.
Urbanites agree that most years
farmers have a difficult time staying
in business.
Overall, the Harris people con
cluded, the American people have a
good grasp of the realities of con
temporary American agriculture
They support the concept of the
small, family farm and the federal
policies aimed at preserving and
increasing the number of small family
farms in the country.
We’d agree with that conclusion
The general public seems to be on
the farmers’ bandwagon. It seems all
of the work farmers have done is
paying off.
City people seem to understand
our position better than we might
think they do. Let's not let them
down.
most of us might have
suspected. For the truth of
the matter is that his story
could easily be our story
Although we like to think
that we would have been
courageous spokesmen for
Jesus had we lived then, it is
more likely that our witness
would be, at first, timid like
his. , And in the three
passages in John’s Gospel
we can see a line of steady
growth from a man who
timidly comes to Jesus by
mght to a disciple who
publicly honors the mar
tyred Nazarene. It has taken
some time, but Nicodemus
has surely been “born
anew”!
good time to plant trees for
windbreak purposes
Homes, and other buildings,
that are protected by a good
winbreak will require less
fuel for heating and cooling
purposes. Several rows of
trees planted on the west and
northwest side of the
building is one way to con
serve energy. The trees
should be from 50 to 75 feet
into the wind from the
structure to be protected
I’m aware of a few of these
m the county. Elmer Lapp at
Kinzers Rl, has benefited for
years from his windbreak
and is considering to expand
it larger.
Sunday, March 2
78th Annual Convention,
National -Farmers
Union; Denver, Colorado
through March 6.
Monday, March 3
Pesticide Training Meeting,
7:30 p.m. at the Extension
Center, Flemmgton, N J
Maryland Ag Week.
Frederick Towne
Md.
Milk Marketing Workshop,
. „j(TomtoPageA37)
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