AlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 25,1981 Len-Lyn Farm’s (Continued from Page Al) The results for the annual show are as follows: Junior Calf 1. Daniel Landis, Lancaster; 2. Philip Rutt, Quarryville; 3. Kenneth and Jere Skiles, Narvon; 4. Neal Crouse, Stevens; 5. Paul Welk, Peach Bottom. Intermediate Calf 1. Todd Reed, Denver; 2. Penn- Spnngs Farm, Elizabethtown; 3. Kenneth Long, Elizabethtown; 4. Scott Shertzer, MiUersville; 5. Donald Welk, Jr., Strasburg. Senior Calf 1. Robert Barley, Conestoga, Reserve Junior Champion; 2. Rhelda Royer, Lancaster; 3. Sheila Frey, Willow Street; 4. Jeffrey Welk, Strasburg; 5. R. Steven Kauffman, Elizabethtown. Junior Yearling 1. Penn Springs Farm; 2. Leonard Stoltzfus, Gap; 3. Judy Zimmerman, Ephrata; 4. Fultonway Farms; 5. Thomas Barley, Conestoga. U.S. farm productivity rises from era to era WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American farmer’s - knack of squeezing the most out ot agricultural resources has quadrupled the annual rate ot productivity growth in the two centuries since the United States became a nation. The annual productivity growth The total productivity index has rate-a measure ot the rate ot gained steadily since 1950-though change in the tarm sector’s total the rate ot increase has slowed at “Today, the growth of agricultural productivity is governed by the sciences genetics chemistry, biology and by management output relative to its level ot production mputs-rose trom 0.4 percent a year after the American Revolution to about 1.6 percent a year m the 1970’5. While the prodigious output ot American agriculture is hardly a secret, Kenneth R. Farrell, ad ministrator of USDA’S Economics and Statistics Service, reports that productivity growth has ac celerated throughout the four major epochs ot U.S. agricultural technology: • In the “hand power” period of 1775-1870, productivity grew at an average annual rate ot 0.4 percent. • It grew 0.5 percent per year in the 1870-1920 "horsepower” epoch. • During the 1925-1945 “mechanical power” era, it gamed 1.2 percent per year. • me "science power” era ot 1945-1980 saw gams of 1.6 percednt per year. “Today, the growth ot agricultural productivity is governed by the sciences genetics, chemistry, biology-and by management,” Farrell says. In a world that is growing more dependent on U.S. tarmers tor tood, American farm productivity improvement is vital. Since most mputs-land, labor, capital, and management-are limited, tar mers must wring increasingly more production trom them to meet mternational demand. The rate ot productivity increase is one indicator ot just how suc cessful farmers are in getting the most out ot inputs. Farrell finds that, despite some problems, the histone upward trend in productivity continued through the 1970’5. “There has been a slight slowdown ot productivity growth over the last three decades,” he says, "but this has been rather strongly influenced by such factors Senior Yearling 1. Paul Horning, Junior Champion; 2. Harold Witmer, Manheun, 3. J.M. Frey; 4. Melissa Eckman, Peach Bottom; 5. David Landis. Junior Get of Sire , 1. Paul Horning, Sire: Jemim. Futurity Class 1. Robert Kauffman; 2. Joyce Stoltzfus Blank; 3. P. Robert Wenger, Quarryville; 4. Galen Crouse; 5. P. Robert Wenger. Dry Cow Three and Four Year Old 1. Sheila Frey; 2. P. Robert Wenger; 3. Kenneth and Jere Skiles; 4. D. Ray and Linda Geissmger, New Holland. Dry Cow Five Years and Older 1. J.M. Frey; 2. John Frey; 3. Nathan Stoltzfus; 4. D. Ray and Linda Geissmger; 5. Russel Kline, Denver. Junior Two Year Old 1. Rhelda Royer, Best Udder; 2. John and Susan Howard, Willow as the 1970 corn blight and the 1980 drought.” One way ot gauging tarm productivity, Farrell notes, is by using an index which compares the ratio ot the index ot total tarm output with the index ot total tarm inputs used. times-except tor lapses m 1975 (high input costs) and 1980 (drought). However, despite solid overall growth, productivity gams vary trom commodity to commodity and region to region. And this is a major drawback to using the overall productivity growth rate as the only indicator: It measures only broad aggregates, missing sigmticant variations among individual commodities and states. Beet productivity, tor example, tared poorly durmg the 1970’s as u There has been a slight slowdown of productivity growth over the last three decades , but this has been rather strongly influenced by such factors as the 1970 com blight and the 1980 drought teed prices sharply increased and the calving iate tell below 90 percent each year trom 197 a to 1979. But overall livestock and poultry productivity climbed 1.1 percent a year, due to strong gains in poultry and dairy. These gains reflected improved feeding efficiency, larger pig litters, more efficient labor use, selective breeding, hog and poultry confinement operations, and other improvements. However, the ' impressive gams for the livestock sector as a whole otter little benefit to consumers who prefer beef to pork and poultry. Similarly, national productivity Mi eel, <i. (Menu Shenk 11, second Best Udder; 4. J.M. Frey; 5. Scott Shertzer. Senior Two Year Old 1. Douglas Hershbergei, Quarryville, Best Udder; 2. Clit ioi d and Joyce Blank, second best udder; 3. Fultonway Faun, 4. Robert Steven Kauftman; a. Paul Horning. Three Year Old 1. Penn Springs Farm, Best Udder; 2. James Michael Shertzer, Lancaster; 3. Clifford and Joyce Blank, second Best Udder; 4. Nathan Stoltztus; 5. Len-Lvn Farms. Four Year Old 1. Russel Kline, Best Udder; 2. Penn Springs Farm, second Best Udder; 3. John and Susan Howard; 4. Paul Welk; 5. Paul and Maurice Welk. Five Years and Older 1. Galen Crouse, Grand Champion and Senior Champion Best Udder; 2. Clifford and Joyce Blank, second Best Udder, Reserve Grand Champion and Reserve Senior Champion; 3. John Frey; 4. Donald Eckman, Peach Bottom; 5. Harold Witmer. 10,000 Pound Class 1. Nathan Stoltzfus data do not separate out trends on state and local levels, so individual farmers may tare far better or worse. For example, national corn yields are now 2 1 /z tunes higher than in the early 1950’5-thanks mainly to adoption ot hybnds-with Illinois yields still climbing rather steadily. But, since 1965, gams m North Carolina have leveled ott, partly because more marginal land there has been cropped. Although some tactors beyond farmers' control-such as weather- While no one can predict with certainty what technological marvels lie ahead, many promising paths of research -attect productivity, Farrell says that many major factors are within mankind's grasp: • Improvements m input quality and quantity-such as more and better fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals-have resulted in increases in crop yields in recent years. Irrigation development, Farrell notes, “has unproved the quality of the land input and the quantity ot watei input into western agriculture and narrowed the gap between Illinois and Nebraska torn yields tioin more than 20 bushels pei mi c in the early 1900's frs. r i * in th % JM/O • Economic tactors influence the choice ot the commodity produced and I 1 '!' application ot inputs For instance, a tanner decides whethei to plant com o: soybeans according to the relative market values. And the yield ot the selected crop may be attected by the cost ot inputs. • Government regulations and policies have an ettect Land diversion piogiams enough the the prefix, Smiling Holsteins, had the Top Dairy Herd at the county Holstein Show, Thursday. The Blanks, along with Nathan Stoltzfus, Gap, center, display their winning trio. Their entries from left to right are: Con-Noil Marvex Jo, a 2- year-old, Con-Noil Standout Trina, a 3-year-old and their Ag ed entry, Con-Noil Gay Rosene, Reserve Grand Champion. Senior Get of Sire Kmdig, Conestoga; 3. Kenneth and 1. Con-Noil Farm, Sire. JereSkiles. Lawcrest Marvex; 2. Spring-Belle, Sire: Paclamar Astronaut. Best Three Females 1. Con-Nol Farm; 2. Fultonway Farms; 3. Penn Springs. Produce of Dam 1. Penn Springs; 2. J. Robert early 1970’s actually raised productivity by removing marginal land from production. Total production is, ot course, reduced by such measures Other regulations such as minimum wage and environment protection requirements cut Into productivity by increasing operating costs without yieldmg more products. • Technology is the tmal major tactor. In the past, technological breakthroughs such as hybrid corn and sorghum, mechanical har- are being explored. Pa. Beekeepers will CHAMBERSBURG - Over 300 Pennsylvania beekeepers and their families are expected to converge at the Lighthouse Youth Center, just south of Cham bersburg, for their annual Summer Meeting and Picnic on Saturday, August 1. The event, being held for the first tune in Franklin County, is being hosted by the Franklin County Beekeeper’s Association, ac cording to County Agenty John Shearer All Pennsylvania beekeepers and their families are invited and urged to attend. The day-long event will begin at 9 a m., and will conclude around 4:00 p.m Scheduled activities during the day include, a honey baking contest; appearances by Becky Lesher, Pennsylvania Honey Queen, and Sharon Barr, Pennsylvania Honey Princess; a covered-dish noon meal; door prizes; the Pennsylvania Beekeepers’ Association Summer Business Meeting executive board meeting of the PBA; games for the children; and family en tertainment Those planning to attend should proceed south from Chambersburg on U S Rt. 11 for about 5 miles, then turn east at the Beekeeper’s swarm to summer picnic Dam and Daughter 1. Russel Kline; 2. Donald Eckman; 3. James Shertzer. Dairy Herd 1. Smiling Holstiens; 2. Penn Springs; 3. Neal Crouse. vesting systems, veterinary medicine advances, and other such improvements have triggered great leaps in tarm productivity. While no one can predict with certainty what technological marvels he ahead, Farrell says many promising paths ot research are being explored, such as in creased photosynthetic efficiency, biological fixation ot nitrogen, and twinning in beet cattle. •Research and new technology will not, however, guarantee in creasing productivity in the future,” he cautions. • The economic incentives must exist, and the necessary mtormation to evaluate and adopt the new technology must be available." Picnic Sign pointing toward the Lighthouse Youth Center, just north of the Marion exit of 1-81. Families are requested to bring their own table service and a hot and cold dish. Contestants in the honey baking contest must have their entries at the site-by 10:30 a.m. Classes include- pies; cakes; cookies; candy quick bread; and yeast bread. Out-of-state beekeepers and other interested persons are in vited to join the Pennsylvania Beekeepers’ Association for their Annual Summer Picnic and Meeting. Further details are available from C. Robert Shank, Chambersburg 717/352-3256, or from Haven Keller, Greencastle 717/597-3786
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