B6—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 12,1980 Fertilizer, conservation, fuel tax highlight Grange legislative meeting HARRISBURG - When the State Grange legislative and agricultural committees met Tuesday in Harrisburg, fertilizer law, conservation, and the proposed fuel tax change were among the prime topics of con sideration. Agriculture Secretary Penrose Hallowell told Grangers that the state Fertilizer Advisory Com mittee is scheduled to meet April 25. The Committee, to large extent, is made up of fertilizer dealers. Hallowell said the group will examine the effect of the current Fertilzier Law. He said the law is one of the strictest in the state. But, he added, the Department will enforce the law and if changes are needed, they will have to come from the legislature. He said a couple of com panies are upset with the provisions of the law. One firm owes upwards of $60,000 m fmes and they are going to court to fight the fmes. These firms say the Department’s methods of sampling are not accurate. “There is no justification to me that their claims are based m fact,” Hallowell said. He said if the Grangers were to tour some of the plants in question they could see how mistakes could happen The biggest problem is with bulk blendeid fertilizer, he said. In general, he said, ammoniated fertilizer comes accurately labeled. Liquids, too, give little trouble. Problems generally come with blends which often are made with a front end loader and simple scales. He said the Department WANT MORE FROM EACH COW? Of course you do There is a simple way to make this happen use better bulls, insuring a better beginning for each calf born on your farm BBS ADC For more milk, call me Bangor, PA Baptistown, NJ Columbia, PA Ephrata, PA Holtwood, PA Lebanon, PA Leola PA Newville, PA Port Murray NJ Prospectville, PA Reading PA Stewartstown, PA Thomasville, PA West Grove, PA Elmer, NJ Taneytown, MD Mt Airy, MD Monreoville, NJ Taneytown, MD Mt Airy, MD will continue to check wherever possible. Hallowell also urged farmers to vaccinate heifers for Brucellosis. He said about 80 percent of all heifers in the state now are vaccinated. Pennsylvania currently has eight herds quarantined because of Brucellosis. He said the ag budget for 1980, the third presented, was for the same dollars as last year. But, of course, this represents a cutback in actual funds available. He told Grangers a noxious weed law is in the legislature. He said it will establish guidelines for identifying noxious weeds. Hallowell said his new Chief of Market Services would be John Scott, former master of both the Penn sylvania and the National Granges. Soil Conservation Ser vice’s Bruce Holbrook said his organization is at tempting to develop a state conservation plan. That plan for the State Conservation Committee will outline objectives for the next five years. At present, a conservation evaluation is being distributed to local groups asking imput and evaluation of the conservation situation m four areas: soil, land, water, and people. He said questions on preservation of agricultural land bring almost as many different ideas as there are responses. But, he noted, all segments seem to agree there is a problem. He said the plan is only a schedule of efforts and ideas for the next five year’s work. He said SCS is seeking no new laws m this area. Among problems raised by MILK AMERICAN BREEDERS SERVICE T w 53532 215-588-4704 201-996-2088 717-898-8694 717-733-0966 717-284-4592 717-949 2381 717-656-6509 717-423 6451 201-689-2605 215-542-8479 215-378-1212 717-993-6836 717 225-3758 215 869-9187 609-455-8187 301-447-2742 301 663 4191 609-769-2791 301-447 2742 301-663 4191 Eric Heinsohn Cindy Gordeuk James Charles Damn Yoder Paul Herr Paul Martin Lynn Gardner Jerry Baboms Robert Kayhart William Tyner Robert Greider Tom Engle Ira Boyer Maurice Stump Cindy Hertzell Jack L Kling Allan Pickett Cyndy Hetzell JackL Kling Allan Pickett the Grange committee members was protection of on-farm water supplies from deep wells, contamination, and gas drillers. Concern was voiced about proper strip mine regulations and recovery programs. The suggestion was raised that the state, through Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the state farms, should lead the way in conservation rather than being a contributor to many of the conservation problems suffered around the state. Holbrook said SCS hopes to have a document ready by summertime to clarify its goals. Tom Usidek of the Penn sylvania Department of Transportation outlined the proposed new gas tax regulations. He said PennDOT has lost $6O million in revenue Club congress held in Delaware County Fifty-five 4-H members, leaders, and parents par ticipated in the first annual Delaware County 4-H Club Congress recently, ac cording to Keith Bryan, President of 4-H Teen Council. They represented 11 clubs from throughout the county. The purpose of the meeting was to teach proper parliamentary procedure so that 4-H clubs in the county can become better organized GASOLINE ★ EASIER STARTING ★ MORE EFFICIENT TRY A TANKFUL. YOU’LL LIKE THE CHANGE. CALL LANCASTER AGWAY PETROLEUM DEALER 717-397-4954 ASK ABOUT OUR QUANTITY DISCOUNT PRICES (SSa agway PETROLEUM BOX 1197, DILLERVILLE ROAD LANCASTER, PA. because of reduced fuel consumption. He also said the highway use has in creased and along with it, the wear and tear on road surfaces. He said PennDOT is promoting a program which would apply a flat five cent per gallon tax on retail fuel sales. Added to that would be a six percent tax. As the price of fuel went up 25 cents a gallon, one-half cent would be taken off the flat rate. Eventually, at about $2.50 per gallon retail cost for fuel, there would be only the six percent charge and no flat rate. Most important to far mers, the tax would be applied only at the retail level. Farm fuel tanks are considered wholesale level. As a result, farmers would not have to pay the tax m the first place as they do today, so there would be no paperwork for the refund. and accomplish more. Improving the club business meeting, including recreation in the meeting, and using member demonstrations as a teaching tool were also stressed at the club congress. Jimmy Short, Havertown, gave a demonstration on pyramids and a slide set, “The 4-H Meeting - A Teaching Tool” was presented by Jackie Brown. AGWAY I®) Usidek based his appeal on the idea that the change represents “more than a tax hike for PennDOT ... we’re talking about the vitality of Pennsylvania.” He said without the tax changes there would be road and bridge weight limits imposed, and speed limits on Interstate highways could drop to 45 or 35 mph to make them safe. Also hit are the truckers. The tax package includes increased license fees for both inter-state and intra state travel. PennDOT still wants to return roads to the local AUTOMATIC CATTLE HEAD GATE I a-s—l k i fp » 4ti- T.y ’ s s% I ? * Cattle think they can pass through easily, but the top latch changes ail that. Treatment is now performed fast and easy. Can be adjusted for large or small animals. ZIMMERMAN’S ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLY Wood Corner Road 3 miles West of Ephrata RD #4, Lititz, Pa. 17543 717-733-4466 municipalities. Usidek said the state would give the roads back m tip-top con dition. The state also will bargain with individual municipalities which feel they need more or less money to maintain a road or which wants to accept a road in poor condition and fix it itself. Usidek said the average increase m cost under the new proposal would be about $l5 to a typical motorist who drives 15,000 miles a year m a vehicle averagmg 15 mpg. By raising mpg from 15 to 17, the motorist could save that $l5 a year, he added. The Grangers also met with several state legislators at their dinner Tuesday night. Earlier in the day they toured the manure generating facility at Mason- Dixon Farms near Get tysburg.—CH ==sff * s it " * *•- ■<¥ *’ f
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