C2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 24, 1981
American Bank now Pa.’s top ag lender
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
READING American Bank
has taken over the top spot as the
leading bank in Pennsylvania tor
agricultural loans.
American’s ag loan total now
stands in excess of $BO million,
according to Gene Richard, head
of the bank’s Agri-Business
Department.
The agricultural loan total,
according to the latest figures
available from the Federal Deposit
insurance Corporation, was
$74,858,000 as of June 30,1981.
In addition, the acquisition of the
former Brownstown National Bank
by American in early September
boosted the total by another $7
million to $8 million in ag loans.
"Beginning in January of this
year, we reviewed our entire loan
portfolio and reclassified many
TUNKHANNOCK - “Dairymen
have the largest milk surplus ever.
We need to be concerned with
increased milk marketing and
advertising now,” stresed Lew Mix
from Agway, Inc., Syracuse, NY
during the annual NEBA-Sire
Power Open House held here
recently.
A brisk and sunny October day
greeted approximately 1,800
dairymen from central, south, and
northeastern Pennsylvania, as
well as members from New Jer
sey.
Mix, director of Farm
Management, Research and
Development for Agway discussed
the “Dairy Outlook”. He reported
that in-1980, dairymen produced
128.4 billion pounds of milk which
has been the largest production
ever. Further, he reported that 9 to
10 percent of this total is being
purchased by the government, and
88 percent of cheese is in the
Commodity Credit Corporation.
"We must substantially increase
marketing of milk through
promotion, advertising, and
market channels or cut back on
production,” said Mix. Fur
thermore, 400,000 to 500,000 cows
should be removed from the
production market to get under the
price support plan.” -
As of October l, Secretary of
Agriculture John R. Block an
nounced the support level for
manufacturing nuUc will be set at
75 percent parity $13.49 per
hundredweight. This price is for
milk with a milkfat content of 3.67
percent the national average
and compares with the present
support price of $13.10.
The support price for milk with
a milkfat content of 3.5 percent
will be $13.18, compared with the
present support of $12.80. Block
said the support price and pur
chase prices announced will be
McCracken’s Mill adds
nutritional
MANHEIM J. Nevin Gish, R 6
Manheim, has been named
ruminant nutritional consultant to
the staff of McCracken’s Feed
Mill, Inc., Manheim, Peter Mc-
Cracken, president, announced
this week.
McCracken’s Peed Mill to expand
their services for meeting the
increasing demand of dairymen
for more precise feed program
ming, McCracken explained.
Gish has an extensive
background in the dairy industry
Following 10 years as a dairyman,
he served for two years as an A.I.
technician and has been involved
in nutritional programming and
consultant service to dairymen
since 1970.
“Gish’s experience and
technical background will be
helpful to dairymen in developing
improved feeding and
■Joans,” Richard explained.
"Previously, many agricultural
loans were classified by the FDIC
according to the department or
section in which they originated,
such as real estate.
"Now all agricultural loans are
correctly listed under that
category.”
For example, before the
reclassification, American’s ag
loan total was listed at about $59
million as of December 31,1980.
In addition to Richard, the Agri-
Business Department has two
agricultural Joan specialist. They
are William Hughes, based in
Reading, and Robert Zook, for
merly president of the Brownstown
Agri-Loan Corporation, who now is
an assistant vice president
reporting to Richard.
American Bank has formed a
outlook forecast at NEBA-Sire Power open house
Dairy
adjusted to the minimum levels
authorized upon enactment of the
1981 farm bill being considered by
Congress.
Mix said, "The Northeast is
doing a better job at balancing
supply and demand, than the West
Coast dairymen. The point is we
must market our product more
efficiently.”
Mix offered the following
solutions and suggestions to the
current problem of too much milk
for the dairymen;
Focus on getting better rather
than bigger
Cull cows intensively,
especially ones that produce 450
pounds of fat or less.
Strive tor higher output and
efficiency per worker in the dairy
operation.
Aim for a twelve-month
calving interval.
Achieve a feeding program
with sufficient fiber to maintain
butterfat test and reduce health
problems.
• Feed good cows liberally and
cull out bottom of herd
Refinance debts to lower
interest costs.
Maintain your cash-flow and
determine your total cost per cow.
—Reduce debt load per cow to
not exceed $3,000.
In summary, Dr. Mix said dairy
producers must take a realistic
approach to the dairy industry and
recognize the need and power of
advertising to sell a product.
“Marketing is a much neglected
factor in agricuture, we are great
producers, but occasionally prone
to hope the product disappears or
sells itself. The future of the dairy
business should not rest upon
government support, but prosper
through a strong and active
marketing program, partially
financed by dairymen,” he said.
“Market milk. It is a great
consultant
management programs tor in
creased profits,’ ’ McCracken said.
J. Nevin Gish
Lancaster Agri-Advisory Com
mittee composed of K. Scott
Buckwalter, Manager of Poultry
Feed Sales, Penntield Cor
poration; Earl F. Martin, owner of
ABC Groff, Inc.; Richard D.
Mellmger, owner of, W.C.
Mellmger and Son; Christian E.
Reihl, dairy and hog farmer; and
M. A. Stoltztus, president of I). M.
Stoltztus, Inc.
During the past winter,
American was among the first
banks to implement a separate
agricultural prime rate of interest
to help stabilize interest costs for
agricultural customers.
The rate has fluctuated ac
cording to the bank’s cost of money
and the overall prime rate and now
stands at 18 and one-quarter
percent.
During the past summer,
product, and your future depends
on it!”
The morning program consisted
of tours of the bull faculties, semen
coUection demonstrations, and
tours of the laboratory and semen
storage area.
The big attraction to members
was the new 31-stall sire produc
tion barn.
Lloyd Ebersole, assistant
manager and director of sire
programs, commented on the
growth and success of the young
sire program and battery of top
Red/white sire directory
BOULDER, CO. - Red and
White Associates of Boulder, Col.
have recently published their third
annual sire directory, it was an
nounced by Fred Hendricks,
ABS names Carmack
DE FOREST, Wl. - American
Breeders Service has announced
the addition ot James A. Carmack
Jr. of Detour, Md. as a ABS field
representative.
A recent graduate of an intensive
Ai marketing seminar held at ABS
faculties m DeForest, Wise., he
will be working in portions of
Frederick and CarroU Counties in
Maryland, whUe still maintaining
close involvement with the family
dairy operation.
Heindel biill
to ABS
WOMELSDOHF - A young
Holstein bull, Hemdei JUmelight-
ET, bred by Hemdei Farms, Inc. of
Womelsdorf, has been selected by
American ' Breeders Service to
enter their Progeny Testmg
Program.
He has been moved to that
company’s facilities at DeForest,
Wise., where he will join ap
proximately 135 other bulls being
tested this year.
Hemdei Limehght-ET was sired
by Glendell Arlmda Chief, +|23B,
+2.039M and -HI2BF out of Hemdei
Hound-Oak Lista Lee. His dam has
production records to 22,233 lbs. of
milk, with aCow Index of +1,438M.
She classified EX-91 2E and is
sired by Hound Oak Hag Apple
.Elevation.
Agway annual meeting next tveek
SYRACUSE, N.Y. The 1981
Agway annual meeting will be field
Thursday and Friday at the
Onondaga County War Memorial,
Syracuse,N.Y.
Beginning at 1:45 p.m. Thur
sday, George Steele will outline the
Chairman ot the Board’s report,
followed by director nominations
and balloting and the General
Manager's Report by William A.
Hiller.
Tfarm Till 1,0 iti iic c
rarm ousmcss
News
Richard was elected chairman of
the Agricultural Lending Com
mittee for the Pennsylvania
Bankers Association for 1981-82.
In this position, he directs
association efforts in legislative
affairs affecting agriculture in the
state and educational programs
for ag bankers in Pennsylvania.
Richard joined American in 1978
to head the newly-formed Agri-
Business Department. Previously,
he served with the Berks-Lelugh
proven sires. "With our increase in
sampling young sires. This new
barn was necessary for the growth
of the program.”
"Recently, Sire Power returned
seven new bulls back to active
service which averaged + 1428 m
and +sl62 oh the July USDA Sire
Summaries. 1 believe this is the
highest PD average ot new bulls
returned to service in the A.l.
Industry, ’ ’ said Ebersole.
"Pedigree indexing has been the
best tool for determining Sire
Power’s matings. Presently the
manager.
This new and colorful brochure
contains 32 well bred bulls having
deep pedigrees with umque blood
for Red and White breeders.
Featured bulls in the catalog,
according to Hendricks, include:
Stnckler Don Duallyn-Red, the
highest Total Performance index
Red Holstein bull available in
North America and Super-View
Bow Knott-Red, a uniquely bred
buU tor Red and Whites, due with a
proof in a tew months.
Red and White Associates was
formed four years ago by a group
of fanner-breeders with the ex-
NGA plans
profit conference
DENVER, Colo. The National
Cattlemen’s Assn, has announced
plans for a National Beef Profit
Conference, to be held June 28-30,
1962, at the new Denver Marriott
City Center Hotel.
The purpose of the conference
will be to focus industry attention
on specific new technology and
management tools which can be
used to increase production ef
ficiency and profitability.
The conference, sponsored by
NCA, will feature speakers from
private business, universities,
government and foreign countries.
They will report the latest in
formation on ways to improve
profitability in all segments of the
industry.
Thursday evening’s program
will feature a tribute to Ronald M.
Goddard, recently retired general
manager and recognition of the
outstanding Young Farm Couples.
On Friday morning, the new
directors will be announced and
introduced and an open forum will
include Hugh Gumming, president,
Curtice-Bums, Inc.; and Edward
Gelsthorpe, president, H.P. Hood,
Inc.
Valley Farm Credit Service m
Shoemakersville, Berks County.
American’s assets exceed
billion and in terms of deposits
ranks among the top 100 com
mercial banks in the nation and
among the top 10 in the state. Its
deposits exceed $1.7 billion. It
serves the counties ot Berks,
Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon,
Lehigh, Montgomery and
Schuylkill through 74 branch
banking offices.
average cow index is over +l3OO m
the current group ol young sires
being sampled.”
DuWayne Kutz, Sire Power
general naanager encouraged
dairymen to continue to-support
the sampling program.
"Competition is strong, but our
programs, - personnel, and
management is keeping us m a
strong position,” said Kutz. We are
pround to have top sires available
and in a position to successfully
offer a quality product and service
at a competitive price.”
available
press purpose ol sampling larger
numbers ol well bred Ked and
While Holstein bulls. This group is
now the largest independent group
in the world developing Ked and
White sires. The red bulls
developed to date were bred in 13
states and Canada with over 100
larmers involved in the various
syndicates owning the bulls.
Por further information on Ked
and White .Associates or to receive
a tree copy of their new sire
brochure, you may write Ked and
White Associates, 2223 Mead Hr.,
Boulder, Colorado BU3OL
nat’l beef
"As evidenced by-per capita
expenditures for beef as well as
per capita consumption, beef still
is, by far, the most preferred meat,
and it continues to have a com
petitive edge,” said J.W. {Billj
Swan, NCA president. "But, in
order to maintain that position in
relation to other, increasingly
competitive protein sources, beef
production and distribution ef
ficiency must be unproved further.
"Cattle producers, persons in
allied industry and research and
extension personnel will be invited
to attend this national con
ference.”
Major topics will include
genetics; reproduction; animal
health; nutrition and feeding, on
pasture and range and in con
finement; marketing, finance and
risk management; and use of
computers and data processing in
management and decision-making
for better profits.'
Swan said NCA was announcing
the conference dates now so that
all interested persons could put the
conference on their schedules.
Program details will be announced
later. Proceedings of the con
ference will be published. The book
is expected to become a valuable
reference and management tool.