A24—Lancaster Famine, Saturday, May 23,1981 BY SHEILA MILLER FONT ANNA “In the begin ning when God created man. He also established a divine principle that of being a good steward, not only of money and life, but also of the soil. After creating man. He placed him in the garden for a purpose,” remarks Abe Hoover, a farmer and Mennomte minister. After 26 years of milking cows, first in Lancaster County and then in Lebanon, and tilling the land as a tenant and finally an owner, the Hoover’s beliefs are not merely Sunday discussions, forgotten during the week. Throughout his farming career, he has practiced what he preaches. Reverend Hoover reflects on his experiences in stewardship and his convictions to soil conservation. Citing the scripture, Hoover says, “The Lord God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15” Adding his personal sentiments, he states, “I believe this com mandment is valid for 1981. We have the privilege and duty to preserve our soils for the following generations. “To be a good steward of the soil calls for some planning and sacrifice. It is important to know what is really happening to our CIKI II Ask About Ford Credit r lirl MmIVI le\r • At Lancaster Ford Tractor Field Test A Ford Blue Power Special And Get This Pocket - f c«rHir , H* v )<n pow6r we* FREE! ** Wait till you feel new Hip Pocket Power on the Ford Blue Power Specials 60 to 86 PTO horsepower * Thev ve cot increased engine displacement tor greater lugging power than before Improved fuel pumps and controlled-flow injectors give you smooth performance, casv starting Optional front-wheel drive boosts traction and cuts tillage time See us for details fodav PRE-SEASON FINANCING until Sept. 1,1981 on most Farm & Ind. Tractors Tractors Equipment Stewardship means sacrifice for Lebanon farmer. soils if not properly taken care of and left go without any planning and purpose.” Hoover’s beliefs are not merely Sunday discussions, forgotten during the week. Throughout his fanning career, he has practiced what he preaches. As he leans back against his chair, Hoover beams as he states he has 10 grandchildren to plan a future for in farming. “I’m responsible for taking care of the land for them,” he says. Since he began to farm near Ephrata in the 19505, Hoover recalls, conservation has been important to him. “I always felt it was more im portant to be stewards than to domineer the markets. As a tenant farmer in Lancaster, I recognized the importance of cover cropping with rye grass as a soil builder and retamer even when the landlord didn’t see it,” he remembers. After ten years of leasing, Hoover and family purchased their own farm m Lebanon County and moved there in 1964. As a vivid scene from the past LANCASTER FORD TRACTOR, INC. THE HOME OF THE RELIABLES 1655 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster, PA Flory Mill Exit off Route 283 Phone: 717-569-7063 moves across hxs memory, Hoover says, "That first year on our new farm gave me the conviction to take care of the soil irregardless of what I was taught.” Conjuring up a picture of the past, Hoover describes what he saw happening to his new farm after the first hard ram. “When I looked out at our five acre meadow, I saw it was com pletely under water. All the water was coming down out of the fields which were farmed with the rows running up and down the hills. 1 saw my ground going down stream. “I knew then we needed to change and I was ready to change,” he recalls. That year, Hoover signed up with the Lebanon County Con servation District for help in planning the 75-acre farm, plus an additional 42-acre farm he had just purchased. Over a two-year tune span, the •up-and-down-the-lulT" farming was erased from the -cropland fields on the farms. In its “When I looked out at our five acre meadow, I saw it was completely under water. All the water was coming down out of the fields which were farmed with rows running up and down the hiUs. I saw my ground going down stream. 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Over the years, the “We have the inconvenience of working fields with curves. If we had put those fields all in com, we would have had more return from the farm t over five years. But you don't look at your pocketbook. operation grew along with the amount of land farmed by Hoover and sons. Even on the rented ground/ soil stewardship was practiced despite the sacrifice it required. “We worked with our landlords, and most tunes the conservation idea was of mutual interest. “Of course, we'had to sacrifice AND FORD CREDIT FINANCING FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS If you’re considering a new tractor or equip ment BUT are concerned about the availability of financing, better see us 1 We have BOTH . new Ford tractors and equipment AND the financing you need' Arranged through Ford Credit some of the farmland when the waterways were installed and there was more hayland with contour strips. But then you don’t get soemthmg for nothing. “We have the inconvenience of dairy working fields with curves. If we had put those fields all in com, we would have had more return from the farm over five years. But you don’t look at your pocketbook. ' “When you work with landlords and sell them on conservation, they’ll also benefit they’ll have the scenery, the landscape, and a better outlook.” Along, with the permanent conservation practices installed on the crop fields, Hoover explains his family believes in the benefits of no-till and minimum tillage in preparing the 400 acres of com ground they farm. Where they remove the com for silage, he says they generally sow a winter cover crop; .on the 250 com acres that are picked and shelled, the stalks are chopped and used for bedding or blown on the NEED NEW EQUIPMENT FINANCING? We’ve got the EQUIPMENT r Ford Motor Credit Company - (Turn to Page A 25)
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