Alo— (jMCMtar Fenefatg, Saterfay, May t f IM2 Certain sheep producers had better clean up their act if they want to compete in the wool industry That’s the word out from the American Sheep Industry. This national group has gone so far as to say that if contamination of domestic wool continues, the future of U S wool is in jeopardy The culpnt that's contaminating the wool shorn from the backs of U.S sheep is not related to the ovine fiber producers. Actually, the sheep are innocent victims of man's carelessness The primary contamination source is plastic twine used to bale hay and other feeds This twine, if chopped up with the hay prior to feeding, easily becomes air-borne and lands on an unsuspecting sheep while it's casually munching daily roughage If these chopped up fibers don't manage to latch onto the sheep's fleece while it’s up and eating, they'll contaminate the wool when the sheep lies down. The contamination doesn’t have to happen around the barn and feeding area, though It can occur just as easily out in the hay or pasture field. Pieces of twine, plastic bags and other litter are all perpetrators of the con tamination crime. And, the fleeces don't always have to be contaminated while the wool is still on the sheep. Since some sheep producers still insist on using plastic cord to tie up their fleeces, a wool clip that was pure when shorn from the sheep is violated. And, with everyone aiming for fast, con venient ways of handling chores, still other shepherds opt for the modern-day catch-all to carry their wool fleeces to market the good old plastic trash bag. Needless to say, pieces of the plastic bags mysteriously work their way into the wool, too. These shortcuts and timesavers cost the sheep producers plenty when their fleeces are thrown on rejection piles. And, these careless shepherds are making life tough for con sciencious producers. According to Maynard Jensen of the North Central Wool Marketing Corporation, the severity of the situation has forced NOW IS THE TIME To Prepare For Soybean Planting Soybeans should be planted in warm moist soil. A thermometer will help you decide when is the best planting date. Special bayonet type thermometers are best The ideal soil temperature is about 62*F. The reading should be taken at about 8 am. when the soil temperature has stabilized, the thermometer should be inserted at least two inches in the soil. Many people planting soybeans for the first time will either end up with too many plants per acre or too few. This will happen because they will use the pounds per acre philosophy which won’t work with soybeans. Because the soybean seed differs greatly in size, this also means they differ greatly in number of seeds per pound. For example, one variety may average 2,100 seeds per pound while another variety averages 3,100 seeds per pound - that’s a dif ference of 1,000 seeds per pound. So, if you plant a bushel of seed Off the Sounding By Sheila Miller, Editor Wolf in sheep’s clothing By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent Phone 717-394-6851 with 85% germination, that's a difference of about 48,000 plants per acre. The only way to plant beans is by seeds per foot of row. If a grain drill is used, three beans per foot of row is plenty. If a 30-inch corn row is used, 8 to 9 beans per foot of row is about right To Be Careful With Weed Killers How often have you heard of a farmer or gardener that applied a weed killer to his crop instead of an insecticide or fungicide? This happens all too often during the year. Always be sure you are applying the correct materials. Weed killers should be stored separately from other spray materials. 1 know someone who had fertilizer and weed killer stored together in the same colored bag. In his haste, he applied the week killer instead of the fertilizer. Needless to say it was a disaster to his plants. The same thing could happen with any type of pesticide that is stored close to feed or other manufacturing people to indicate that they will no longer purchase domestic wool with this type of contamination "One of the largest users of domestic wool has given us an ultimatum 'lf we find polyester twine in any of the shipment, you own it,' " warns Jensen "We spend a whole year producing that clip and we wreck it in an hour " The reason manufacturers adamantly reject wool contaminated with plastic is because the plastic eventually becomes woven into the woolen fabric The plastic fibers will not accept dye and, therefore, the material has an off colored streak of polypropylene threads running through it When pressed under heat, the plastic fibers in the fabric melt leaving behind a permanently flawed, worthless piece of cloth What can these polypropylene perpetrators do to clean up their acts 7 For one thing, avoid plastic twine like the plague Paper twine should be the golden rule for fleeces since it dissolves during the wool scouring process. Another safeguard is using burlap bags instead of plastic ones to stuff fleeces inside And. lastly, sufficient care when feeding and bedding sheep is essential for top fleece production In 1980, wool production in the US was valued at $92,862,000 in Pennsylvania that figure was $527,000 This year, producers are facing a price that has been sliced in half from last year’s market Wool buyers are telling them they can’t pay any more for fleeces that may be contaminated This penalty price is hurting the “professional" wool producer charging everyone across the board for the mistakes of a few We feel that buyers and sheep producers would be better off if the proposed ultimatum was carried out throw out the fleeces in plastic bags or containing pieces of plastic twine. That might be the only way to teach the careless wool producer a lesson, and it won’t cost the other producers a cut in price. It’s amazing how quickly people learn when it affects their own pocketbook. supplies. Be sure all materials are properly identified and most importantly keep materials in their original container. These mistakes are serious and may be fatal to a person, animal or to your crops. Milk co-op members have been informed how their co-op will be voting on the Pennsylvania Milk Referendum. Members who dif fer with their co-ops block vote, and non coop shippers may cast individual ballots before the May 22 deadline, according to our Dairy Agent, Glenn Shirk. Any producer who needs a ballot, or who has any questions about the referendum, may call the toll free number 1-800- 932-0699. To Refresh Pseudorabies Prevention Guidelines Spring is a busy time for swine producers with field work, spring ceanup and farrowing. It’s a time (Turn to Page Al 2) Board To Cast Your Milk Referendum Vote IN THE SPIRIT May 9,1982 Background Scripture: Revelation 4 through 5. Devotional Reading: Psalm 136:1-9 During the past ten to fifteen years there has been a movement to bring about renewal of worship. It was evident that what happens in most churches on Sunday mornings is often dull at best or depressing at worst. Although church going is a habit that has managed to survive in the nuclear age, it is also obvious that for many, many people, particularly our youth, the Sunday morning worship service is not answering a felt need. “COME UP HITHER” As a result of these perceptions many changes have been instituted in worship, including more par ticipation by the congregation, the use of contemporary language, music and art forms, to name just a few. Some Christians have been pleased by the changes and, predictably, some have not. In some congregations the movement produced some long-lasting changes in worship style, while in others the innovations proved to be no more than a passing fad. If there was a failure in this movement, I think it was to realize that, although changes in form and style may have been necessary. These changes by themselves cannot possibly transform our OUR READERS WRITE, AND OTHER OPINIONS Stray voltage sting We were very interested in Donna Tommelleo’s article “Dairyman blames PP&L for loss of herd,” printed in the March 27 issue of Lancaster Farming. Stray voltage is becoming quite HAV HAWS I Quit complaining, Mary Hand-milkmg was good enough for my father and grandfather, so it’s good enough for you er us ” experience of worship. If worship is to be a vital force what is required is, not so much changes in the form of worship, but in the inner consciousness of the in dividual. For example, take the ex perience of the author of Revelation. He attempts to share with us his experience, saying: “After this I looked and 10, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the Spirit...” (Rev. 4:1,2a). John responded to a call to “Come up hither” and as a result he was at once “in the Spirit.” “WORTHY” and “WORSHIP” John had an experience of revelation from God because he allowed his consciousness to “come up hither,” to nse above the realm of reason and the sense world of materiality. He let go of his inner self and allowed it to be momentarily freed of his physical body and calculating mind. His was a mystical experience which cannot be adequately defined or explained but can be experienced by any who will allow themselves to be lost in the presence of God. For a moment, John forgot John and concentrated on God in Christ: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” When John lost himself in the worthiness of God, he expenenced true worship. The problem with worship in many of our congregations today is not the form and style of it, but our unwillingness to lose ourselves in God and even for a moment to “come up hither” so that we too might know what it means to be “m the Spirit.” a problem to farmers. More publicity should be given so m the future care will be taken to stop this useless damage. We had a very similar situation (Turn to Page Al 2) I I I! 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers