MO—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 9,1580
Lancaster Farming says...
Much attention is being given a
national move to obtain for farmers a
“Right to Farm” law.
A plea for legislation recently was
sounded by Robert B. Delano,
president of the American Farm
Bureau Federation.
Among the rights Delano said need
re-emphasis are the right to own
property for farm use, the right to
develop markets and have free
access to them, the right to use
technology and the available tools of
production.
Closer to home, Pennsylvania’s
legislature is considering an anti
nuisance ordinance bill which has
strong Grange and Farmer’s Union
backing.
It would prohibit local govern
ments from making laws to interfere
with farm or farm processing
operations in their normal run of
business.
"AFRAID
TO BE FREE”
Lesson for August 10, 1960
Background Scripture:
Haggax, Zechanah 1:1-6;
7;8.
Devotional Reading;
Psalms 132:1-5.
TO FLUSH
EWE FLOCK
Sheep breeders are facmg lambs This will enable
the breeding season and sheep producers to get more
need to practice very good a percent lamb
management. One of these crop. The goal should be 2
things to do is to get the ewe lambs for every ewe.
flock in a gaming condition TO ATTEND
when bred. This is called AG PROGRESS DAYS
flushing the ewes with extra ® ne largest
gram or with lush, grass- agricultural events in the
type pastures Many state each year is Ag
shepherds have increased Progress Days held at the
the number of twin lambs by Pann State Research Farm
having their ewes m ex- near Rock Springs m Centre
cellent condition during the County. This three-day event
RURAL ROUTE
WHEN VOUftE DISOBEPIENT I CAN OUV THAT.
HAVE T'SE PWNISHEP } TAKE AWAV C
y~ (MV ALLOWANCE.
I
Rights and wrongs of right to farm
A habitual criminal was
being interviewed on
television. Looking at his
career m crime, it appeared
to the interviewer that the
convict was constantly
trying to get back into
prison. All of his behavior
including the leaving of
obvious clues—seemed
guaranteed to put him
behind bars no matter how
much he protested his desire
for freedom. “But why
would you continue to do that
which was guaranteed to put
you back in jail?” the in
terviewer wanted to know.
“Because,” said the convict
in a moment of rare insight,
“it was safe there. Inside. I
breeding season. If they
have not been treated for
stomach worms this sum
mer, that treatment should
be the beginning of the ef
fort. Ewes that are m good
health condition when bred
will produce more twin
The idea behind these and similar
bills moving in other states is to
assure a free agriculture for the
country and to allow farmers to work
at their most productive levels.
There is, of course, nothing wrong
with either of these laudable goals.
But two things are puzzling.
First, and perhaps the more
perplexing of the pair, is why any
such legislation should be needed in
our society
It may seem quaint to pose such a
question in face of current realities.
But we see food, and its production,
as basic to the survival of any group
or culture.
Laws traditionally are made to
insure the rights of the unwitting,
such as children, or to protect good
persons from bad.
Farmers certainly don’t fall into the
former category If anything, it is
those who hinder farmers who act
unwittingly by throwing stumbling
know the ropes. Outside, I
have never learned.”
The Time Not Yet Come
Many criminals are thus
motivated. Unconsciously
they prefer the security of
their captivity to the
frightening responsibilities
of freedom But this syn
drome encompasses not just
convicts, but many other
types of people as well. Some
people unconsciously prefer
the special privileges of
illness to the responsibilities
of being well. Others who
consciously bemoan their
lack of advancement in then
jobs, unconsciously do all
they can to prevent them
selves from having to face
is scheduled for August 19,20
and 21, and should attract
thousands of people. We are
informed of the participation
of 225 commercial exhibitors
who will be displaying about
$2O million dollars worth of
products and equipment.
Energy saving displays will
feature woodburning
equipment, solar heating
and drying, and both
methane and gasohol
digesters. Some of the
world’s most sophisticated
farm equipment will be
displayed and demon
strated. For a day of change
and eye-opening ex
periences, we urge all
readers to plan on attended
Ag Progress Days this year.
DON'T LET ME
WATCH T.V.r
By Tom Armstrong
blocks at agriculture, cutting off their
nose to spite their face.
Laws of the “thou shall not"
variety trace all of the way back to
the Ten Commandments They
condemn a specific wrong.
With "right to farm” bills, the laws
are being written the other way
around, offering blanket protection
against whatever may be determined
as a wrong
The second bothersome fact will be
found on the other side of the com. It
calls to mind the old saying “For
every right there is a responsibility ”
Just what responsibilities are
going to be thrust upon farmers as
the result of any of these right to
farm bills?
Who will determine standard
farming practice 7 Of course, manure
odor and lime dust are typical farm
byproducts, but how far will this
legislation take a farmer 7
Is noise from mechanized farming
the responsibilities of a
better position. They may
tell themselves that “the
tune isn’t right,” J ’iat later
they will be ready, but for
many the tune never comes.
This was the situation
which the prophet Haggai
found m Jerusalem m the
fifth century B.C. When
Nebuchadnezzer had
besieged the city, he had
levelled it to the ground and
carried off its most im
portant people into captivity.
Left behind were just a
handful of lower class people
to haunt the rums of the
once-holy city. Most of the
people of Judah were carried
into Babylonian captivity.
TO OBSERVE
WITHDRAWAL TIMES
Various drugs and
chemicals are a part of
livestock and dairy
production according to
modem practices. Any of
these have a particular
contribution to make and
should be successful in
controlling infections.
However, the presence of
any of the residues of these
materials in meat or milk is
not acceptable, over certain
tolerances, and can be the
reason for losing a market.
Producers should become
acquainted with the
materials used and learn the
exact withdrawal tune. If
the material is administered
BY CURT HARLER, EDITOR
But when Cyrus, the Per
sian, conquered the
Babylonians in 538 B C , he
published a decree allowing
the Jews to return to their
homeland and rebuild their
temple. Some did, but many,
having grown accustomed to
their life in Babylon, despite
years of yearning to return,
remained there.
Busy With Yourselves
When the exiles returned
to Jerusalem, they found a
reluctance on the part of the
local people to rebuild the
city and its temple. So, “the
word of the Lord came by
Haggai the prophet, ‘ls it a
tune for you yourselves to
by a local veterinarian, he
should know the withdrawal
period. In dairy animals this
means the disposal of the
milk for a certain number of
days. In meat animals it
means do not sell for
slaughter, or do not
slaughter, for a certain
number of withdrawal days.
This is important in order to
produce a good product and
to protect the consumer.
Records should be kept of
the drugs and chemicals
used on all animals and
crops.
TO CONSIDER
MARKET DEMANDS
Cattle and hog feeders are
feeling a bit better in recent
weeks because of the ad
vance in market prices.
Under these conditions it is
tempting to continue feeding
animals longer hoping the
market will continue to rise.
This might happen in some
cases; however, too many
times it does not work out to
the benefit of the producer.
When cattle or hogs are fed
longer because of
speculating on a higher
market, they often become
too fat and too heavy to
command a good price. As a
result they are docked
because of their excess
standard in a predominantly Amish
township?
Only 10 or 12 years ago no-till
farming, with its intensive use of
chemicals, was anything but stan
dard or typical
Upon whom will the burden of
proof fall? Will private industry be
forced to justify new technology with
expensive research?
Will early adopters of new ideas be
forced to defend their practices in
court so the legal system will have
precedent for future cases 7 Will the
government demand further con
cessions in its interference with our
farm operations as payment for the
protection provided?
Make no mistake about it far
mers do need the right to farm as
freely and profitably as possible We
need the nght to farm
It’s s'mply a shame we must have
legislation to guarantee that right
dwell in your paneled
houses, while this house lies
m ruins?” (Haggai 1:4). The
people continued to
procrastinate, saying it
wasn’t yet time to rebuild,
but through Haggai God was
calling them to leave the
security of their self- ~
imprisoning attitudes andVl
take upon themselves the
responsibilities of free men,
putting their trust, net their
sheltered, confining lives,
but in God.
When we are afraid, it is
because we have failed to
put our trust in God. Until we
do, we will continue to be
afraid of freedom.
finish. Also, it costs more to
put on that extra finish by
increased feed require
ments. Many times the cost
of feeder animals
follows the finished market;
therefore, if a feeder waits%|
on a higher market to sell, he
may also have to pay a
higher price for replacement
stock. Sell when animals
reach the desired market
grade that pays the highest
pnce is suggested.
Calendar
Saturday, August 9
Chester County 4-H Hog
Show, Vintage Sales
Stables, 6:30 p.m.
Guernsey show, 4-H Park,
Centreville, Maryland.
Arabian Horse Sale, Farm
Show Building,
Harrisburg.
PA Ayrshire Field Day,
Ardrossan Farms,
Villanova, 9:45 a.m.
Bradford County Junior
Holstein Club Blueberry
Festival, Duane
Farm, Canton. w'
Monday, August 11
Hagerstown Maryland Fair,
(Turn to Page A3 l)
Farm