*2o—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 21,1981 PRESCOTT A week-long celebration of farm and city folks getting to know each other in Lebanon County was culminated here at the filled-to-capacity Fire Hall Thursday evening as the second annual Farm-City Banquet drew to a close. As a fledgling stretches its wings, so the Lebanon Farm-City committee tried out some new flight patterns in getting this public relations event off the Legislators and farmers gathered in Lebanon on Monday morning for the Lebanon Farm-City Legislative Breakfast. Pictured, from left, are Bill Sonntag, aide to Sen. Edward Heifrick; Dave Wauls, Lebanon Chamber of .......1... ■ " ■ ■ ■ 1 . . .. .. _ .. SEE r« TT BEFORE Forniuted Buildings b y Butler your r ii vm i buy* YOU BUY THE BUILDING... WE'LL BUY THE CONCRETE! BORER MFC. CO. Attn. P.E. Hess Box 337, Oxford. PA 19363 Dealer Inquiries Available in; Pennsylvania Counties Armstrong. Indiana. Erie Crawford Warren. Elk, Cameron, McKean, Clinton Lycoming Sullivan Wyoming Luzerne Columbia Butler Mercer Lawrence Beaver New Jersey Counties Sussex Morris Passaic Atlantic Cape Mav No Dealer Fees. Address County City Phone Lebanon County celebrates anther si ground this year. Making its debut on the Lebanon Farm-City ac tivities calendar was the legislative breakfast, held Monday at the Treadway Inn, Lebanon. Last year's successful farm and business tours and job exchanges between farmers and businessmen were restaged this year, along with the popular Sheep to Shawl con test, poster contest, and farm equipment display, held for the second year at the Lebanon Valley That’s right. Free concrete for the foundation when you buy a Butler farm building. Enough concrete for a curtain wall foundation.* And if you decide to pour a complete floor, we’ll credit you the amount of concrete for the curtain wall foundation. OFFER ENDS NOVEMBER 30th * Free concrete furnished is based on amount specified in Bytier foundation drawings (or 15« wind load. 16* hijth build — ——’ —— j mgs. and concrete # 545 00 per cubic yard, offer not applicable on 1-bay buildings and roof systems This Butler offer ~~~~~ • available only through participating Butter Agri-Builders rsi State. Plaza Mall More than 50 Lebanon County farmers and ag business representatives were updated on the current farm-related legislation being worked on at the state capital. They listened to comments made by Lancaster County’s Rep. Noah Wenger, vice chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and Bill Sonntag, legislative aide to Sen. Edward Helfrick, chairman of Commerce; jnnis Grumbine, program chairman; Rep. Nicholas Moehlmann; Rep. Noah Wenger; Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chet Heim; Sen. Clarence Manbeck; and Rep. George Jackson. LEASE BUILDINGS & BINS ON MONTHLY PROGRAM KNOXVILLE CONSTRUCTION j Knoxville, Pa 16928 PH. 814-326-4188 I A. E. ENGEL. INC. C&M SALES INC. ORVILLE MACK W.R. MOODY, I PO. Box 216 R.D.n ' P.0.80x 47 CONTRACTOR | Marlton, N.J. 08053 Honesdale, Pa 18431 Nazareth, Pa 18064 n 3 Walnut lane | •PH 609-983-4404 PH. 717-253-1612 PH.215-759-1331 Wes t Newton PA 15089 B.T CONSTRUCTION P.O. Box 535 Biglerville, Pa. 17307 PH. 717-677-5121 the Senate Ag Committee. “There are strong ties between neighboring Lancaster and Lebanon counties,” remarked Wenger. “We both have similar economies, agriculture, industries, commerce, and tourism.” Wenger recognized that agriculture in both counties has suffered economic hardships, with “two years, back to back, that were unprofitable.” This economic crisis that is surrounding the agricultural industry will also have a profound effect on other businesses in the community, Wenger pointed out. “Nobody lives to themselves,” he shared. “Whatever happens down on the farm will affect merchants on Main Street.” Wenger voiced his opinion that Americans are able to purchase wholesome, nutritious food at reasonable prices “sometimes too reasonable compared to the cost of production.” Calling agriculture the “bright spot” of the economy, Wenger pointed out that “if it weren’t for agriculture’s exports, our nation’s deficits would be worse than what they are now.” Pennsylvanians are lucky that the state’s second largest is agriculture, noted Wenger, because this provides over $2 billion in revenue and an important link in the food chain. “The local supply of food acts as a buffer to the high cost of fuel and tran sportation costs,” he said. “In times of recession, we’ll pull through better with our industrial mix than those states who have poured all their resources Into one industry.” LEROY E. MYERS, INC. Route 111, Box 163 Clear Spring, Md 21722 PH 301-582-1552 Wenger reviewed some of the current legislation in the Com monwealth that affects the farm community, citing Act 43 which permits local governments to outline agricultural districts along with House Bill 1823, the Eight to Farm Bill. “I’m encouraged and optimistic that HB 1823 will pass the House this calendar year,” exclaimed the bill’s prime sponsor, adding that he hopes the Senate will pass the legislation early in the next session. Wenger was not.as enthusiastic about two other pieces of legislation, the Tax Reform and the Water bills. “According to a Penn State study, farmers, in relation to in come, are paying too much tax,” commented Wenger. “The Tax Reform Bill does little to alleviate this problem. “I believe the idea of changing from a real estate tax to an income tax is sound. The worst part is the business occupancy and use tax which would require small mer chants who lease their stores to have to pay tax and the landlord would no longer have to pay real estate taxes. “Theoretically, these landlords are then supposed to reduce the rent according to their savings on taxes. Who are you kidding? These landlords will see this as their chance to catch up on low rental rates. “The dollar for dollar tradeoff isn’t realistic. The small merchant would have to pay the business use and occupancy tax and if he makes any money, he’ll have to pay an additional income tax. This will mean greater taxation for the D. E. SMITH, INC. POGO INC. FOUR COUNTIES Mifflmtown. Pa. 17059 1841 Jerty s Road CONTRACTOR -ever PH-717-436-2151 Street, Md. 21154 RD.,80x249 Siol PH: 301-692-5350 Coalport, Pa. 16627 PoBc PH 814-672-5751 Ch ® s^er^°"'! i r rl. 0. A. NEWTON ,'TRI-STATE MARINE & SON CO. i (*> DIST. INC. Bndgeville, Delaware 19933 I Route 256 PH; 302-337-8211 Deale, Md. 20751 PH: 301-867-1447 BUTLER AGRI-BUILDER WRITTEN WARRANTY SEE YCSR AGRI-BUILDER FOR DETAILS! people who keep c going.” Concerning the Wenger conceded tha controversial bill “D.E.R. should have and only that, first mented. “This legislation bureaucrats, who an known to be sensit needs. In charge of ces.” He noted that there is a growing coi Pennsylvania citizen possibilites of water s droughts, Wenger sj weighing the choii weather and bureauci we’re better off taking with the weather. ” Speaking on Sent Sonntag spoke to tl Lebanon County far hazardous waste s mendations. “Business has got to to put hazardous agriculture has to hai it. Business will be 100 areas as the easiest f rid of the waste, re serious impact on agri said. To deal with th< Sonntag announced t Helfrick’s committei looking at tagging a' Act 43 which wou hazardous waste sites t in agricultural district* He also noted the would exempt mam structures from real es currently on the H awaiting the vote whicl LEASE See Your A{ For De ★ VARIOUS SIZE WIDTH AVAILi * THESE BUILDII ED FOR SELF EC will furnish En Foundation Dr *s WA CONS RDI Strasbi PH: 7j