A26—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 23,1982 Perry Co, YC’s stay with a safe bet„.dairying BY DONNA TOMMELLEO MILLERSBURG - On the other side of the Rockies, not too far from the Pacific coast, rests a city, bejeweled in neon signs, black jack tables and one-arm bandits. Infamously dubbed, “Sin City,” Las Vegas, Nev., nevertheless, annually beckons millions of tourists seeking an easy fortune. In 1981, however, Las Vegas attracted thousands of individuals that know all too well that fortunes follow hard, hard work. American dairy fanners. The internationally known Caesar’s Palace was the sight ol the recent National Milk Producers Federation annual meeting. The contrasting lifestyles proved an interesting expenence for many dairy producers in cluding Perry County Holstein breeders Jane and Ken Benner. ■‘lt’s different,” noted Ken. “You almost had to wear sunglasses at night because the billboards along the strip were so bright.” 0£ course, while most dairy farmers rise before the sun, the Benners found they weren’t alone in their habits. "You could walk through the casmo at five in the morning and find people gambling as much as they were the night before,” Jane recalled. Aside from the entertainment Las Vegas provided, dairy farmers from around the nation had a chance to gather, learn from hindsight and plan tor the future. And according to the Benners, members of Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Association, overproduction was the hot topic discussed by everyone. “No segment of farming is in good shape,” noted Ken. "Grains are down, beef’s down, pork is down. And that doesn’t helpr anybody get out of the dairy business.” Some solutions and proposals did evolve from ail the discussion. National Milk proposed a nation wide advertising campaign for manufactured products, par ticularly cheese, Ken explained. "What they want to do is take a nickel a hundredweight off every dairy farmer to pay lor the campaign,’ ’ he said. Another National Milk proposal, they explained, was a national dairy board made up of Secretary of Agriculture ap pointees. According to Ken, the board A long way from home, Ken and Jane shed their dairy shoes and step into those of regional vice president of the National Young jCooperators, during the recent National Milk Producers Federation convention in Las Vegas, Nev. would assess.dairy farmers and the money would be spent on buying back a portion of the national surplus. “The dairy farmers would own their own product and hopefully sell it for more, possible in the world market. The government would still buy what it needed tor its programs,” reported Ken, a Penn State graduate. The Las Vegas trip which provided a tew proposals to the countless questions from dairy farmers, began for the Benners almost two years ago. At the urging of a co-op official, v Jane and Ken decided to compete ''in the Young Cooperators contest. However, - Ken was ineligible because he was .six months too old but Jane continued. With the help of her supportive husband, the Virginia Tech Dairy Science graduate waded through a multitude of questions over a period of two days. In June 1980, the Maryland and Virgina Milk Producers Association had a new Young Cooperator in Jane Benner. The YC program put the Benners m touch with hundreds of dairy farmers in their region. That year they attended National Milk’s annual meeting in Miami, Fla. But this year, their participation in the' worthwhile program furthur in creased as both Jane and Ken were elected Regional Vice Presidents of the National Young Cooperators. As Region 111 vice presidents, the Benners will represent young dairy couples from 11 dairy cooperatives located in 1U Southeastern states extending from West Virginia to Mississippi. When they’re not busy traveling . to and from meetings and enjoying the company of other young dairy farmers, Ken and Jane can be found working hard on their 42!) acre farm, Santee Acres, a name derived from Jane’s Virginia background which means, • ’heavenly mountains." The Benners are milking SO registered Black and Whites. The Bootmaker, Ivanhoe, Mars, Bell and Tony daughters, to name a few, helped put the Benners at the top of the county DUIA with 20,000 pounds of milk and 789 pounds of fat. The Santee Acres work torce is comprised of Ken, Jane, daughter Irene, 12, and hired man David Myers. Tied in the stall barn, the high producing Holstems are fed about jntee ;res owners. jn and Jane Benner check the fruits of their labor. They kept the bulk tank busy this year by topping Perry 40 pounds of corn silage, 20 pounds of alfalfa haylage and five pounds of alfalfa hay daily. The ration is top dressed with a 15 percent protein dry ear corn mix. Dry cows" and heifers receive mixed hay and a different gram ration. in the future, the Benners would like to start some embryo tran splant work. Ken also reported that he’ll be striving tor type in fus breeding program. As regional YC vice presidents these top-notch dairy farmers will vote on important issues and help spread the news m the dairy in dustry. On a local level, / the Benners reach out to still more through 4-H leadership and other county activities. Jane is the Perry County 4-H dairy judging team coach, a reporter and youth chairman tor the Holstein Club and an advisor to Parm Journal. Ken-is president ot the Perry County Holstein Club and a past president ot the county’s DHIA. Continuing to work with and help YC’s on a regional level should not be too difficult tor the already active Ken and Jane Benner. Ken, Jane and hired man David Myers, left, share a joke, Just like their product, they’re a while preparing to vacuum a freshly clipped cow. Jane ex natural. plained that the cows seem to look forward to the “Hoover" treatment. 1 Montgomery 4-H plans beef supper NORRISTOWN - Members of 'the 4-H Livestock Club are busy preparing for the Annual Mon tgomery County 4-H Roast Beef Supper scheduled for Saturday, January 30, 3-8 p.m. at the North Penn High School on Rt. 363 near -Lansdale. The club annually serves about 1,500 people who travel from many locations to enjoy this country style dinner featuring beef from prize-winning 4-H steers. Tickets are available from 4-H leaders, livestock club members or by contacting the 4-H Office at 277- 0574. Prices are $7 for persons over 10 years of age; |3 for children 5-10. Checks can be made payable to "4- H Roast Beef Supper” and sent to 400 Markley Street, Norristown, Pa. 19401, stating number of tickets needed and a self addressed stamped enyelope. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door'but it :ty,WL ighest average of milk and fat. The Benners turned in records of 20,031 pounds of milk and 789 pounds of fat is advised to get tickets in ad- notes that take-out orders are also vance. „ available at the supper. Other features of the evening include a red meat sale, a bake Proceeds from the supper sale and the sale of bread loaves, 'benefit the Montgomery County 4- Chairman Deb Martin of Hatfield H program. Fall crop harvest reflects good growing conditions HARRISBURG - Final estimates for fall harvested crops showed Pennsylvania farmers produced more corn for grain, corn silage, soybeans, hay, potatoes'and tobacco in 1981 than in 1980, ac cording to the Pennsylvania Crop Reporting Service. Based on acres harvested and yield, 1981 production of Penn sylvania corn for gram totaled 134.400.000 bushels, up 40 percent. All tiay, at 4,535,000 tons was up - -eight- percent -and corn silage at 7.371.000 tons was up 17 percent; ■ -V**, *&&&Jf.A%&*& Soybeans production at 3,100,000 bushels was up 23 percent; Penn sylvania white potato production at 5,250,000 cwt, was up 26 percent, while tobacco, at 25,160,000 pounds, was up two percent. National quatities produced and percent changes from 1980 are as follows: com for grain, 8,20 billion bushels, up 23 percent; all hay, 143.1 million tons, up nine percent; soybeans, 2.03 million bushles, up 13 - percent;-nnd_alL4obacco r ios_. billion pounds, iip 15 percent. j* v.i
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