B2—Uncaster Farming, Saturday, August 2, 19 80 State LANCASTER - Sale of farm products in Penn sylvania amounted to $2.2 billion in 1978, according to the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Com merce. The total is based on the preliminary results of the 1978 Census of Agriculture, which counted 59,973 farms in the State, with average per farm sales of $36,566; an average size of 146 acres; and average value of land and buildings $187,347. Comparisons with totals from the previous census (1974) should be made with caution because of significant improvements in data collection procedures for 1978. Bureau officials believe that the im provement in data collection had a much greater effect on the count of farms than on measures of agricultural production. The im provements are discussed further below. While Pennsylvaaia farm product sales climbed 46 percent from $1.5 billion in 1974, farmers’ expenses also grew, with feed purchased for livestock and poultry up h orn $340.7 to $433.5 million in 1978; hired farm labor from $112.8 to $177.8 million; and gasoline and other petroleum products from $58.1 to $90.4 million. The total energy cost for Pennsylvania farms amounted to $129 million. The market value of all machinery and equipment went up 59 percent from $l.l to $l.B billion four years later. Livestock and their products brought a return of $1.2 billion, 55 percent of Pennsylvania’s total farm sales, compared with $828.8 million in 1974. Dairy product sales from 16,026 farms brought $762.7 million. The inventory of 662,800 milk cows was down from 670,600 in 1074. Pennsylvania’s total cattle and calves inventory 1.736,400 also was down from farm product sales reach $2,2 billion 1,732,500 in 1974, but the 943,900 sold from 37,500 farms in 1978 was ahead of the 824,700 sold in 1974. Twenty-nine percent were fattened on grain and con centrates. 'Die inventory included 179,900 beef cows, compared with 192,300 in 1974. 1 A total inventory of 811,900 hogs, 95,600 for breeding purposes, was counted on 12,741 Pennsylvania farms, with 1.3 million reported sold, of which 338,100 were feeder pigs. Approximately two percent or 308 farms reported 500 or more hogs and pigs, accounting for 33 percent of the State’s total inventory. Inventory of sheep and lambs on 3,176 farms was reported at 102,100 head, with 80,700 shorn, yielding 557,200 pounds of wool, and 62,800 head sold. The horses and ponies inventory increased from 45,700 to 62,000. Sales of poultry and their products amounted to $335.8 million, compared with $220 million in 1974. Broilers sold increased from 56.5 to 87,3 million birds in 1978, and chickens three months or older went up from 14.3 to 18 million. Hens and pullets of laying age gained from 12.4 to 15.7 million. Turkeys sold from 398 farms were reported at 4million birds. Crops brought a return of $648.5 million, compared with $448.2 million in 1974. Hay, the leading crop in acreage, was cut from 2 million acres, yielding 4.5 million tons, compared with 1.6 million acres and 3.6 million tons in 1974. Com placed second on an acreage basis, 1.2 million acres producing 115.5 million bushels. Com for silage or green chop was the third ranking crop with 429,100 acres yielding 6.6 million tons. Other field crops were oats, 310,700 acres; wheat, 195,600 acres; barley, 86,200 acres; and soybean, 77,100 acres. Other measures of Penn sylvania farms also por trayed gains as the average value of land and buildings per acre climbed from $734 to $1273; and total cropland up from 5.3 to 5.8 million acres in 1978. Additional facets of Pennsylvania farm as depicted in the 1978'Census of Agriculture include the following: Ninety percent or 54,033 of the 59,973 farms were operated by individuals or families, 4,752 by part nerships, and 981 by cor porations, of which 864 were family held. Ninety-one percent of the operators owned all or part of the forms they operated, with 36,324 fulty owned, 16,473 putty owned, and 5,176 operated by tenants. Fanning was the principal occupation ef 31,498 or 53 percent of the operators, while 28,475' spent most of their work tune at a nonfarm occupation. Eighty-nine percent of the operators who reported place of residence lived on the farm they operated. Some 2,881 farms, five percent, were operated by women, as revealed by a question on sex of operator asked for the first tune. BRUTE STRENGTH IN A FUEL-SAVING PACKAGE. Bush H0g146 HeavyOuty Of (set Disc Harrow Here’s a disc harrow engineered to penetrate the toughest soils in stride. This heavy duty model has a 4." x 4" square boxed steel frame, V/z gang bolts and ductilesteel gang hangers. And the 146 has more than muscle. It also features a split transport axle which E IN SOON TAKE A SE-UP LOOK BUSH HOG LITY. BUSH HOG BENCE'S FARM EQUIPMENT RD2 Bedford, PA 15522 814-623-8601 CLAPPER FARM EQUIPMENT RDI Alexandria. PA 16611 814-669-4465 IVAN J. ZOOK Belleville, PA 17004 717-935-2948 NEVIN N. MYER At SONS, INC. RDI Chester Sprints, PA 19425 215-827-7414 Pennsylvania farmers Farm product sales of $40,000 or more; 21,151 were younger on the average $lOO,OOO or more were sales above $20,000; than in 1974, 49.8 years recorded by '7 percent or 38,822 had sales of less compared with 50.6. 4,337 farms; 14,643 sold $20,000. It s not a Bush Hog if it doesn t say Bush Hog See your Local Bush Hog Dealer THOMAS L. DUNLAP MILLER SALES & SERVICE RDI Box 105 INC. Jersey Shore, PA 17740 Stewartstown, PA 17363 717-398-1391 717-993-2470 PETERMAN FARM EQUIPMENT, INC. 225 York Rd. Carlisle, PA 17013 717-249-5338 GEORGE N. GROSS, INC. 5261 Davicisburg Rd. Dover, PA 17315 717-292-1673 lets you adjust each side for even pene tration and reduced side draft. That means improved fuel economy. Plus, the completely adjustable tongue brace and double-action spring be tween the tongue and frame give level discing on rolling ground. Model 146 Heavy Duty in CHAPMAN EQUIPMENT CENTER RD2 Wescosville, PA 18106 215-398-2553 UMBERGERSMILL RD 4 Box 132 STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE Lebanon, PA 17042 Cochranville, PA 19330 717-867-5161 215-593-2407 REEDY BROS. CO. RD4 Gettysburg, PA 17325 717-334-3710 70-100 HP. A available in 6-13 widths 50-95 /V\ ALLIED PRODUCTS CO*ro*Al/OM FARMERSVILLE EQUIPMENT, INC. RD4 Ephrata, PA 17522 717-354-4271 A. L. HERR A BROS. 312 Park Ave. Quarryville, PA 17566 717-786-3521 AGWAY INC. Biglerville, PA 17307 717-677-7131
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers