D 8—■Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 14,1980
BY SHEILA MILLER
SLATTNGTON - If fire
suddenly struck your farm
and leveled your barn and
destroyed livestock and
equipment, could you start
to rebuild tomorrow?
This is a question more
farmers need to ask
themselves. And, along with
the question goes the need to
find out whether the in
surance policy you have is
adequate and up-todate.
This type of problem is a
little closer home for Larry
and PrisciHia Dimmig, R 2
Slatington, Lehigh Co.
Last September, fire razed
their newly remodeled hog
bam. The blaze not only
destroyed the new nursery
and farrowing bouse, but it
also claimed the lives of 7
sows and 80 pigs.
The Dimmigs lost some
equipment, too, including a
Fannall H tractor with
loader, and a New Idea
manure spreader and
mower.
Dunmig said he and a
fnend were working m an
adjacent shed, doing some
welding, when his wife
discovered the fire. By the
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Larry Dimmig surveys the remains of his hog operation, destroyed by fire last
September.
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Could you rebuild
time they got to the bam,
Dimmig said, it was filled
with smoke. And in 15
minutes, it was totally
consumed in flames.
“The old hay caught fire
and the whole thing went up.
All we could save was a
truck and a hose,” said
Dimmig.
When they checked with
their insurance company,
the Dunmigs found their
policy was “no where
adequate to rebuild.”
Dimmig explained that he
was going to go in and up
date his policy after the
remodeling was completed,
but he didn’t finish the work
until just before the fire.
So, the Ehmmigs turned
for help to their local Far
mers Home Administration,
in Allentown. They applied
for an operating loan under
the economic emergency
program in March.
The loan, in the amount of
$49,000, was the estimate for
rebuilding the hog operation,
plus buying sane new hogs.
Unfortunately, even
though the county com
mittee for FmHA decided
Dimmig was eligible for the
loan. County Supervisor
*x * “*
FICKES SILO COMPANY, I
P.O. Box 7
Newville, PA 17241
Phone: 717-776-3129
Trailers Well Worth Their Cost.
Even though repayment
wasn’t considered to be a
problem, according to the
FmHA official, things that
look good on paper may not
always work out. “Who
knows what the future holds
the price of hogs may go
lower yet while the price of
feed goes up.”
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5-<< f ‘ t ,
STATE.
Mike Anderson informed
Dimmig he did not have the
security needed to make the
loan.
Anderson cited a previous
loan made by Dimmig from
Union Bank and the fact that
this bank would be ahead of
FmHA in a second lien
position and that the bank
did not wish to subordinate
or release its judgment.
“Dimmigs did qualify, and
they were certified eligible,
but there were other
problems,” Anderson added.
“He was not refused on his
repayment ability, but on
security.”
“The value of the
property, compared to the
debts against it it just
wouldn’t work. And the real
estate is their only security
because they don’t own any
livestock or equipment to
speak of.”
FEEDING SYSTEMS
ZIP
if disaster struck?
Anderson said his turning
down the Dunnug loan is an
action for self protection.
“It’s not like I’m not willing
to make loans if I can. ...if I
can, I’m willing to help
anybody.”
the situation they find
themselves in now is like
being between a rock and a
hard place for the Dunmigs.
Just when they thought they
were on their way to a
successful hog operation
tragedy struck, with its
chain reaction of hardships.
Without livestock and
equipment, they can’t get
the loan they need to get
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GEORGE HEATH 472 Woodcrest Dr. Mechamcsburg, PA 17055 717-737-0002
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iNDRIA
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814-669-4027
BALLY
LONGACRE
ELECTRIC
215-845-2261
LEFONTI
LUCAS BARN
EQUIPMENT
814-383-2806
BELLEVI
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717-935-2XOI
LANDIS
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LLOYD SULTZBAUGH 717-692-4647
717-737-4554
MILTON
LANDIS FARMSTEAD
CUMBERLAND FARM & AUTOMATION
IBERSBURG
DAIRYING.
717-263-1965
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CARL BAER
717-582-2648
back in business. They have
depleted their savings over
the past several months and
cannot afford to buy the
needed security themselves
and still meet their monthly
payments on the farm loans,
they said.
In letters of appeal to key
political figures, including
President Jimmy Carter,
Dunmigs are desparately
attempting to get the federal
funds they need for a new
start.
They hope to hang onto
their 10 acre farm with the
help of Larry’s second job.
They said their three sons
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215-488-1025
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MARVIN J HORST
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717-272-0871
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like the hog business, and the
family took pride m
producing a quality feeder
pig before the fire.
The Dinunigs, finding
themselves in a tough
position, have not given up
hope and may someday be
back in the hog business.
Their hardship is only one
example of how easily a
successful, profitable
operation can suddenly fall
apart. And it points out the
need for farmers to keep
track of their current assets
and insurance policies m
order to be ready if disaster
strikes.
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UNICORN FARM SERVICE
JAMES E LANDIS
717-786-4158
TERRE HI I I
TERRE HILL
SILO CO INC.
215-445-6736
MARYLAND DEALERS
HAGI
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TRI-STATE
FARM AUTOMATION
301-790-3G98
KENNEDYVILLE. MD
FINDER SERVICE CO
301-348-5263
LINEBORO. MD
WERTZ GARAGE. INC
301-374-2672
STREET. MD
P&S EQUIPMENT. INC
301-452-8521