VOL 27 Ho. Sf ■33* LuAnn Brenneman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Brenneman of R 1 Mount Joy. was named the county’s new dairy princess during ceremonies at the Host Farm in Lan caster. Past county princess and current State Princess Alternate Deb Greider said a tearful goodbye to the audience after which she crowned LuAnn. For the new princess’ story, see Page 818. Pa, vo-ag faces cutbacks BY DICK ANGLESTEIN LANCASTER - There’s a growing budgetary paradox facing more and more vo-ag departments across Pennsylvania. Despite an 89 percent increase m v state funds specially earmarked § for vocational education, a number of vo-ag departments are par ticularly feeling the pinch as local school boards tighten budgets for the coming school year. Two programs, which play important roles in the overall vocational agriculture curriculum in the state, are experiencing serious cutbacks in some areas. These are: - Summer programs, m which vo-ag teachers work directly with students on their supervised oc cupational experience projects conducted on farms and with agribusiness firms. - The Young Farmer Program, which is an extension of the secondary school vo-ag experience and permits farmers to take ad vantage of continuing education. ‘‘Reports of cutbacks are spotty across the state in the summer and Young Farmer programs,” I Donald E Evans, assistant professor of agricultural education at Penn State, said. “They are of major concern, particularly in view of the extra SlO million that was specifically set aside in House Bill 517 to improve Three Sections and expand vocational education in Pennsylvania. “The state specifically allocated these additional funds because vocational education, and par ticularly vo-ag, are considered vital to economic recovery in the Commonwealth.” This extra $lO million was added by the Legislature to $l3 million that had already been allocated for vocational education. This PDGA “Big Weekend” attracts largest crowd BY PATTY GROSS Staff Correspondent HUNTINGDON Dairy goat farmers from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Connecticut gathered at the fairgrounds in Huntingdon County last weeked. The sth annual "Big Weekend” attracted 50 exhibitors with 450 goats. Saturday and Sunday were filled with four goat shows, milking competition and something new cheesemaking competition. Following interviews with four young men and women, a panel of judges chose Michelle Haines, 15, Lancaster Farming. Saturday, June 26,1982 Specter probes dairy ideas HARRISBURG - The Penn sylvania Farmers Association in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau, Monday, called for an elimination of laws, after 1965, which provide authority to im plement government-subsidized farm programs. PFA spokesman Roger Hoke presented his announcement before a hearing called for by Senator Arlen Specter to explore the current dairy situation. Hoke was one of several farm, dairy and consumer leaders who attended Specter’s special hearing. Hoke announced that his organization supported changes in the current dairy program which would provide for a •market oriented agriculture. ’ ’ This would mean, Hoke ex plained, that supply and demand rather than government action, should ultimately determine production and prices. “Toward that end, all laws, which provide authority to im plement government-subsidized farm programs should be eliminated after the 1985 crop year,” Hoke said. Prior to 1965, however, Hoke said his organization will work to maintain a viable dairy price support program that provides a floor under milk prices but not at a level that encourages production of large quantities of milk that consumers will not buy. amounted to an 89 percent increase m monies appropriated by the state to, not only stabilize vocational education programs which had already been affected the previous year, but to expand the programs. Despite the added funds, which apparently aren’t accomplishing their intended purpose m some schools, a number of reports of vo (Turn to Page A39l of Honey Grove as the Penn sylvania Dairy Goat Association Youth Representative. Michelle will be the industry’s “goodwill ambassador,” as she distributes awards at such events as the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Ag Progress Days. The very serious honor of “Miss Pennsylvania” was bestowed on “CH Eight Acres T.M. Lana,” a goat owned by Jennifer Croft of Stahlstown. In order for a goat to enter is must be bred and owned by a Pennsylvanian. During the Dairy Goat (Turn to Page A 32) While federal hearings continue During Specter’s hearing, State Agriculture Secretay Penrose Hallowell stressed the importance of Pennsylvania’s dairy industry ‘ Sales of milk from these farms totaled about $1 3 billion, over 40 percent of the state’s total cash farm income Pennsylvania also has 160 licensed milk dealers who employ 11,000 workers Another 27,000 are employed on our dairy farms "But they have become victims of their own success With milk support prices sitting at the minimum level, farmers have been encouraged to produce more to make a living, ” Hallowell stated. Darnel Martin, spokesman for Inter-State Milk Producers' Ag bills become law HARRISBURG - Governor Dick Thornburgh found two pieces of agricultural legislation on his desk last Fnday, along with nearly 100 other bills, as he began a day’s work of lawmaking. With a stroke of his pen, Thornburgh signed into law Senate Bill 1283, the Farmland Preservation bill introduced by Senator Edward Helfnck (R-27th), and SB 1350, the Milk Sanitation bill sponsored by Senators Frank O’Connell (R-20th), Edward Helfnck, and Patrick Stapleton t D-41st) In signing SB 1283, Thornburgh stressed this legislation is designed to “keep state-owned farmlands in agricultural use and assure family farmers are given the opportunity to work them.” "When 1 proposed the Far mlands Management Act in Oc tober of 1979,1 said the state should set an example for the preser vation of our valuable farmland resources,” the governor said "Through the sale of these lands with deed restrictions for agricultural use, or through long term leasing to family farmers Jeff Hockenberry of Maryland walked away with the Best Doe in Show and the Grand Champion Recorded Grade honors. Fellow goat owner Deb Smeltzer of Bellefonte, who received many awards herself, helps Jeff show off his prizes. $7.50 per year Cooperative explained that dairy producers responded to increasing price policies set by the Carter Administration It now appears that changes in legislation are needed to reduce the current level of milk produc tion and also the cost of the price support program to the federal treasury,” Martin said Martin urged bpecter 10 support the National Milk Producers’ Federation program, recently introduced into the U S. House by Congressman Tom Harkm "This legislation would provide for a two-tier pricing system The higher price would be the support level wluch would prevail for up to five billion pounds of milk <Turn to Page A 39) this act will help keep these lands in agricultural production “It is our desire that these farmlands, when leased or sold, will provide an opportunity for farm families and young families to enter or expand their careers in agriculture ” SB 1283 creates a nine-member advisory board to work with the secretary of agriculture in determining the most efficient and productive uses of state far mlands The advisory' committee includes the director of the Bureau of Rural Affairs, the secretary of the Department of General Ser vices, the chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture and Rural Affairs and five farmers nominated by farm organizations and selected by the ag secretary The Commonwealth now owns approximately 15,000 acres of farmland, including 5,822 acres which were formerly operated as state hospital farms SB 1283 transfers these farmlands at the state hospitals to PDA. and other (Turn to Page A 39)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers