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State budget, energy highlight Lebanon extension meeting
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BY CURT HAULER
SCHAEFFERSTOWN -
Deputy Secretary of
Agriculture Luther Snyder
Tuesday evening outlined
the proposed Pennsylvania
Budget for 1980-81 and told
Lebanon County farmers
how it would effect
agriculture. v
Snyder spoke at the annual
m
Lebanon County Extension
Association banquet held in
Schaefferstown.
In the county which has
taken the lead in many
respects on alternative
energy sources, it was only
natural that energy be
highlighted on the extension
program, too.
Calling farm and land
preservation “a necessity”
Snyder said the state needed
legislation which would
allow the fanner to farm.
But he added that the tune
has come for the public to
decide what it wants
government to do and what it
can do for itself. Although
the Thornburgh ad
mimstratm is concerned
about agriculture, Snyder
said the relative share of the
state budged allocated for
the Ag Department is small.
Of the $6.8 billion budget
for Pennsylvania, just
$15,095,000 is earmarked for
agriculture.
That budget is the same as
last year’s and must serve
for both payroll and ex
penses for the department’s
645 employees.
That figures to 0.002 of the
total Commonwealth budget,
hardly an impressive figure.
Snyder said he believed
the people have sent a
message to government that
they want less government
service.
But he said there are two
areas were the Ag Depart
ment intends to expand.
They are agricultural
commodity promotion and
increasing agricultural
income.
Snyder said the Tran
sportation budget will be
reduced by $16.3 million if
the proposed budget is
passed.
He said this would show up
in poorer mamtamence of
rural roads and bridges.
He said the Governor’s
proposed percentage
gasoline tax would provide
some relief for PennDOT’s
The 1980 officers of the Lebanon County Extension Association include, from
left, President Janis Horst, Newmanstown; Vice President Harold Bollinger,
Newmanstown; Secretary Dorothy Moyer, Lebanon; and Treasurer Clair Ger
berich, Jonestown.
budget squeeze, perhaps world is in this area and said
helpmg the rural highway was U P local people to
situation. make the decisions which
Areas with increased will preserve that land,
revenues in the proposed Deppen noted several
budget are the Industrial ways farmland could help
Development Association ease fbe energy crisis. He
which trys to lure industry to sai( f a bushel of com will
Pennsylvania; the tourism B lve 2-5 gallons ethanol and
department; the Energy pounds of distillers gram
Development Authority, f° r f ee£ h
which is looking into fuel He also pomted out that
alternatives hardwood chips could be
One pleasant plus for used with high sulfur coal to
farmers is $14.45 million make a cleaner-burning fuel,
extra in education, including He said fanners one day
funding for Penn State’s ma y bring manure to a
extension and research central plant which will
budget. generate methane. Farmers
On the subject of extension th en can haul the manure
budgets, Capital Region back to their farms for its
Assistant Director Marion fertilizer value.
Deppen said the Service was Hi Lebanon Extension
pleased to get an extra Service business, four
million dollars last year to directors were elected to the
fill several extension Association board. They
positions. included President Jams
Deppen also spoke of the Horst, R 1 Newmanstown,
“quality and action” of the who has been a member of
Lebanon County programs, tbe executive committee for
and noted the value of ex- f® years and is a past
tension in all phases of secretary of the committee,
agriculture, youth, gar- She is active in sewing, 4-H,
denmg and home economics, and the fair board.
He said fossil fuels will not Vice President Harold
last forever. He said there Bollinger, R I Newman
was a need to look at sf°wn, is a dairy farmer,
renewable energy from the member of the state DHIA
land- board, and a former Holstein
He said some of the best, Club director,
most productive land m the Secretary Dorothy Moyer,
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Lebanon, has been active in
4-H and is a 10-year member
of the executive committee.
Clair Gerberich, R 3
Jonestown, was reelected as
treasurer. A Soil Con
servation district employee,
he has served for two years
as executive committee
president and for seven
years as treasurer.
County Agricultural Agent
Newton Bair announced a
county tour to Mason-Dixon
Farms on March 27. The bus
will leave Lebanon m the
morning and return that
evening.
Cost of the tour is $6. Bair
pointed out the only way a
farmer can get through the
Mason-Dixon methane setup
is on a tour since they don’t
allow individuals.
For details, contact the
extension office.
But be careful how you
dial the phone. Extension
Director Alletta Schadler
said their offices are having
a new telephone system
installed.
The extension office can be
reached only by calling the
county number, 717/274-2801.
That will plug the caller into
the switchboard where
callers will have to ask for
the phone extension of the
particular agent they wish to
reach.
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