C2B—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 31,1980 Crop farmers face an problems they know lie interesting dilemma this ahead. There’s only so much year. It centers around a belt tightening a farmer can continuing cost-price do and some of them have squeeze. run out of notches. One economist I was Weakening gram markets, reading recently was triggered by reductions m comparing the 1900 situation pork and poultry production to that of the post-World War and an uncertain world I era, when a cost-pnce situation could mean even squeeze and a collapsing lower crop prices this fall, world market turned into an And that could spell disaster, economic disaster and Farming is a strange triggered the start of the business, unlike most others great Depression. It may not be that bad, but some farmers are definitely worried. Prices for everything they need to grow crops have increased since last year. Fertilizer and fuel prices have shot up dramatically. Machinery prices continue their upward spiral. Even land rents are higher than last year, and prospects for corn and soybeans next fall don’t look that encouraging. It probably means the good managers who aren’t borrowing a lot of high pneed money will still make a little profit. But those with expensive rented ground and lots of borrowed money start out m trouble. There seems to be a kind of cautious optimism Caution, because of the obvious economic facts of crop production, and optimism because they are farmers and it’s spring. They’re always optimistic during those first warm days when the tractors start rolling and they’re plunged into the midst of what they do best. That optimism is tem pered this spring by Plans are made in the winter that are virtually irrever sible and unstoppable. Once a decision is made to till certain acres and plant certain < i ips the rc«,t just follows in sequence fer tilizer, fuel, pesticides, seed must be purchased. Equipment replaced and repaired. When the ground warms up farmers go to the field with the hopes and plans of a long winter in their hip pocket and that look of eternal optimism on their faces. Then they watch as the bugs and the drought and the diseases and all the other plagues take their tom. Aner all that, if there’s anything left to harvest, they return to the field in a great flurry of activity designed to reap the crops that feed a hungry world. Six months or more after those plans were set, they finally reach the reality of so many bushels m the bin and a market that will pay them so much a bushel Sure, some can hold on and wait for better prices, but some need the money and must sell at whatever the price. Those who hold on often find the price the next spring even less that it was at harvesttime. And the cost of storage must then be added to those other costs that have gone into the crop. It’s not an easy way to make money Maybe that’s why no more than four percent of the population has the kind of optimism and risk-taking ability to hang in there. It looks as though 1980 will be a particularly important year for many farmers. The stakes are so high and the opportunity for loss so great that many will be unable LIQUID GLASS ITS WATERPROOF, ACID AND SALT PROOF Apply like paint, when dry has a surface like porcelain. Has lasted for 11 years in milk houses and still is in good shape • Poultry & Cattle water troughs • Farrowing & Finishing Houses • Water Proofing Basements USDA APPROVED FOR MEAT PROCESSING ESTABLISHMENTS. AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF GLASSBOARD AND TILING! LANCASTER CO J.B. ZIMMERMAN & SONS Blue Ball & Strasburg, PA 717-354-4955 BRANDT'S SUPPLY INC. 601 E. High St. Elizabethtown, PA 717-367-1221 LANCASTER & CHESTER CO. LAPP'S HARDWARE AND DAIRY SUPPLIES RD 4, Box 96, Loop Road Quarryville, Pa. 17566 717-786-3970 BEDFi BENCE FARM EQ. Bedford, PA BERKS CO. i A roc El crTDTA. ARTHUR MILLER SURGE LONGA»E ELECTRICAL DAIRY SUPPLIES ahom' c * Wind Ga P* PA 1 215-863-9712 215-845-2261 POTTER CO. M & M BARN SALES RD #1 Westfield, PA MARYLAND P & S EQUIPMENT INC. 3639 Grier Nursery Road Street, MD 21154 301-452-8521 Direct Dealership Inquires to: HORACE E. HEINDEL & SONS FARMS Eastern Region Distributor P-O, Box 3146, York, PA 17402 Call Jeff-717-755-8062 to make the cut Even those farmers have returned to the who are well financed and fields, planting virtually are good managers will find every acre that’s available this a difficult year. with that same determined Any kind of natural, optimism that keeps far disaster, such as a prolonged ming strong, dry spell or a wet fall, could Win, lose or draw, they’re turn it into a no-wm year m for at least one more In spite of all these things, season. Some Uses: RDCO • Bunk Feeders • Milking Parlors • Mangers • Use Instead of White wash YORK & ADAMS CO PARADISE FARM & HOME CENTER ROI, Box 265 Thomasville, PA 717-225-1064 LEBANON CO. HUBER'S ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLIES SlOTulpehocken Road Myerstown, PA 17067 BRADFORD CO. HARLAN MARTIN’S SURGE SALES Troy, PA 717-297-3972 NORTHAMPTON CO FRANKLIN CO DON UPPERMAN DAIRY EQ. 1126 N. Franklin St. Chambersburg, PA 717-264-6007 VIRGINIA JOHN G. DALLAIN RD 1 Box 113 Remington, VA 22734 703-439-3842
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers