A26—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 5,1983 Meet the new House Ag Committee chairman Chester Co . dairyman Sam Morris BY SHEILA MILLER PUGHTOWN - Standing tall in the Pennsylvania legislature is an easy task tor Cheater County Representative Samuel W. Morris, the new House Agricultural Committee chairman. The 64-year old state legislator, who has been serving his 155th District con stituents since 1967 (with a two year break between 1978 and 1900), makes all of his 6’2” presence felt when it comes to tackling farm problems. Morris’ keen concern for home, Morris’ old stone home, built in 1796, provides a quiet place for the new House Ag Chairman to contemplate the ever-present issues facing farmers. Part of the remodeling effort tackled last year included the installation of this picket fence manure holding structure. Morris said he was convinced that this was the "way to go" after visiting the Lancaster county dairy farm owned by Robert and Susan Kauff man, Peach Bottom, where a similar structure was operating successfully. p" Morris’ 31 head of registered and grade Holstein milkers rest comfortably in their recently remodeled Dutch-style barn. The Morris girls record an average milk production close to 15,000 pounds with a 3.5 test. agriculture in the Keystone State dairying. Today, a newly can be attributed to the fact that remodeled Dutch-style barn he, too, is a farmer. He bought his., bouses 31 head of registered and first farm in Phoenixville in 1942, grade Holstein cows on the home the same year he enlisted in the , farm, a small flock of chickens armed services. Following his tour roam a fenced-in coop providing of duty, and with the pressures of a the daily supply of eggs for the growing family, Morris told Morrises, and a lot of growing Lancaster Farming that he pur- feeder pigs squeal as Morris chased his present farm, a histone wanders over to check their landmark located along Route 100, “pork” progress, in 1946. Things are quieter at the farm, Over the years, the thrust of Morris’ farming efforts were diversified between livestock and now, since the seven children have grown up and left the farm. The big stone farmhouse, built in 1796, is filled with family pictures, books and heirloom furniture and quiet as a mouse. Both Morris and wife Eleanor are kept busy off the farm he, devoting most of his days to “farming" the legislative hall in Harrisburg, and she, guiding the efforts of the French and Pickering Conservation Trust. While the Morrises are away from the farm, the well-being of the dairy cattle is seen to by herdsman Kenneth Brown. Although the Morris dairy bam at one time held 55 milkers, the milking string has been cutback to its present 31 head who pump out a rolling herd average of 14,500 pounds milk and 550 pounds fat with a 3.5 test. The milking string rests com fortably on cow mats in the renovated comfort stall bam, waiting for the time when the stainless steel pipeline will carry their half-day output to the waiting Surge tank (the big white tank is Chester County Representative Samuel L. Morris (D -155th) receives the support needed by a busy Ag Committee chairman from equaliy-busy wife Eleanor. The couple raised seven children, four boys and three girls, on their Chester County dairy farm, while farming and pursuing careers. Helping hands on the Morris farms keep the 500 acres of cropland in production and the cows in top condition. Dan Hammond, left, has been working on the Morris farm for the past seven years while herdsman Kenneth Brown, center, has been learning the dairy business for the past five. dubbed “Moby Dick” by Morris’ youngest son Christopher, 22, a student at the University of Pennsylvania). Explained Brown, the cows are fed according to their DHIA production records. A 50-pound cow, he said, receives 15 pounds of high moisture com, 2 pounds of concentrate, 2 pounds of roasted soybeans, 20 pounds of haylage, 25 pounds of com silage, and 12 pounds of alfalfa hay. All of this feed ration is grown on the Morris farms, which now number three, except the commercial con centrate Few replacement heifers are purchased to fill out the milking string, said Morris. He pointed out that his heifer calves are “homegrown” in calf hutches, and are products of several popular AI sires Danny Boy, M-Jaybee Astro Josie, Arlinda Astrocharm, Elm-Creek Astro Don, Bayless Astro Sneaker, Marvex, and Superior. These bulls are selected for their production genetic potential. Treated green lumber fences the concreted barnyard in front of the bank barn where dry cows and older heifers bide their time in a freestall wing. And the barn’s gutter cleaner travels underneath this scraped-clean loafing area to a year-old- picket-fence manure holding structure. In talking about his extensive remodeling efforts carried out in 1982, Morris said, “I took the bull by the horns and did a lot at once. It was either do something, or get out of the dairy business.” Atrip to the Robert Kauffman farm in Lancaster County convinced him on the manure storage structure, he recalled. Although modern-day milking machines did away with the need to milk each cow by hand some time ago, Morris, who wasn’t raised on a farm, said he used to milk each of his eight cows himself when he first started farming. “I like to milk cows,” said Morris, pointing _ out that he’d still do it himself if time allowed. But the demands of politics leave little time to farm 500 acres and milk cows, although the concerns of the operation are constantly a reminder to Morris of the farming situation. “I remember a time back in the ’6os when it didn’t pay to grow corn, and I wondered why I was growing it If it wasn’t for the fact that I needed the crop for silage, I could have bought It cheaper,” he recalled. He observed that the same situation is facing farmers today. “Agriculture has plenty of problems in good times,” he philosophized. “And these aren’t good times." (Turn to Page A2S)
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