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