AlD—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 3,1983 BY DICK ANGLESTEIN In 1982, Lancaster County retained its Number One ranking in Pennsylvania agriculture with the highest value of farm marketings in the state. But for the first time since detailed records have been kept, these marketings showed a significant drop from the previous year. Let's take a closer look, particularly at the dairy industry, which accounts for well over a third of Lancaster County's farm income. To keep abreast of rising costs, Lancaster County dairymen increased cow numbers by 9,100. This is just about equal to the increase in the total herd size throughout the entire state. And that's a sizable hike. We sympathize with the financial plight of many dairymen that forced this increase. But it did little to help solve the surplus situation. For Lancaster County alone, it meant nearly 150 million more pounds of milk going to market. If the rest of the state’s dairymen had in creased their herds in the same proportion, there would be some 60,000 more cows in Dear Editor: I have been a member of the Mifflin County Farmers Association for more than twenty years. I have served on various committees within the organization, including nine years on the county board of directors. I presently serve as chairman of the local affairs committee, member of Political Education Committee, member of the Policy Develop ment Committee and member of the National Legislative Com mittee. I tell you this, not to brag but to show that I am very interested in my organization. 1 have witnessed first hand what we can accomplish nationally, statewide and most importantly what we can ac complish here in our own county with the backing and affiliation of P.F.A. and A.F.B.F. In my opinion, there isn't an organization operating now or in the past, which can claim even a close second place. I hope you members realize that the way P.F.A. is structured, that you are.-ih fact, in a position to influence policy. You, the dues paying members, should examine your reasons for joining the organization. If you joined because you believe in a grass roots, a policy-making lobbying organization, then I suggest that you get involved. “NOW”. Policy suggestions should truly reflect the thinking of your county OHs— eov/or/s, has this heat has this ) / Yi . P OMAW \ — REALM AFFECTED ME. \ „ HEAT HAD ) J CAN'T SLEEP AT NI6HTS. j- /)A IV AFFECT \ /V j'M uncomfortable and / on you or/5 53 ) k :<bv -™!f° is W Rl v OUR READERS WRITE, AND OTHER OPINIONS F.A.R.M.E.R. is threat association. If a problem is im portant to you, in all probability, it will be of great importance to your County Policy Development Committee. But they cannot develop Proposed Policy if you don’t do your part. The time to do it is NOW. Call your County President and ask for the date of County P.D. meeting. Your input is what is needed for a strong grass roots organization. So far, I have been very com plimentary of the organization. I sincerely hope that you members in all counties understand that I am a true supporter of P.F.A. However, Mifflin County Farmers Farm Calendar Apjjv 4-H District Dairy Show, Meadville Fairgrounds. Ram Lamb Performance Sale at 12:30 P.M. in State College. Tuesday, Sept. 6 Core recertification credit course from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. at the Hunterdon County Extension Center. 1983 Delaware Tested Boar Sale at Delaware State Fairgrounds at 6:30 p.m. Hunterdon Co., N.J., farmland preservation pilot project in formation meeting at 8 p.m. at the Extension Center. Pennsylvania instead of 9,000. And what would that do to milk supplies? Probably add another 600 million lbs. to that already added by Lancaster County. Why did Lancaster County dairymen see the need to increase their cow numbers so sharply while the fluctuations throughout the rest of the state just about balanced out? Lancaster County is the state’s center for feed mills, ag banking, dairy equipment suppliers and dairy and ag newspapers. And Lancaster County has had the greatest recent explosion in dairy capital expansion and renovation. All of this involved high interest rates, which help lead the way for the multitude of spiraling production costs. It’s what is called in simple terms a “vicious cycle." Such dairymen find themselves in the position of many of us. We work longer and harder for the “privilege” of borrowing money. The cost of borrowed money is the greatest long-range cost for most of us and due to the immense capital requirements of dairying, it is exaggerated all the more. Where will it all end? How many times have you asked yourself this question? Dairymen like all farmers have been hit hard in the cornfields by the drought. It will be difficult to maintain past production levels with this winter’s feed. That means smaller milk checks. Smaller by deductions and by reduced production. What do you do then? Borrow more - hopefully at a reduced governmental level. But still borrowed. With the looming massive federal deficits, money could well become scarce and ex pensive after next year’s federal elections. Where will it end? Who knows. But the clock is ticking. Saturday, Sept. 3 Association by policy decision, does take issue with one the organizations within P.F.A., namely “F.A.R.M.E.R.” I feel personally that “FAR MER” is a threat, to say the least, to the reputation of P.F.A. I want no part of rewarding with money or gifts either incumbents or candidates or any one else, in exchange or reward for favorable votes in government at any levels. That is in fact, what “FARMER” is all about. “FARMERS” staff and members are very secretive relative to monies collected and disbursed and members and non- (Turn to Page Al 2) Dairy goat meeting on Ruminant Nutrition at 8 p.m. at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. Wednesday, Sept. 7 Lancaster Conservation District meeting at 7.-30 p.m. at the Farm and Home Center. Hunterdon County, N.J. Board of Agriculture at 8 p.m. at the Extension Center. Saturday, Sept. 10 Mon-Valley District 4-H Dairy Show at 2 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds. THE ISTHMUS September 4,1983 Background Scripture: Genesis 1:1; Psalms 19:1-6; 136:3- 9; Acts 17:24-28, Romans 1:20. Devotional Reading: Psalms 136:1-9. The dictionary defines the term isthmus as: 1. a narrow strip of land running through a body of water and connecting two much larger land areas, 2. a part or passage connecting two larger structures. In 1982 an ecumenical organization was formed in Dallas, Texas to “explore convergences of science and religion.” Composed of clergy and lay people, many of whom represent the scientific community, the organization, although noting that “for centuries the disciplines of science and religion stood as polar opposites antagonists generally lacing ap preciation, dialogue, and un derstanding,” was founded on the conviction that science and religion illuminate the existence of identifiable spiritual realities in the universe. The Heavens are Telling In order to pursue our ob jectives, Isthmus brought to Dallas last fall on three different oc casions four Nobel Prize-winning scientists to explore areas of convergence between science and religion. Each of the scientists Dr. Ilya Prigogine (1977 in chemistry), Dr. Roger Sperry NOW IS THE TIME Vtr~ By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent Phone 717-394-60S1 To Mow or Not To Mow Alfalfa The annual question comes up, should I mow alfalfa the first part of September or not. According to crop authorities it is not just a simple yes or no question. If you have left one of your cuttings go into full bloom, then you do not need to be concerned; however, if you have not, then do not cut the first two weeks of September. The reason for this is, it’s the period when plants are storing food in developing rhizomes for next year’s growth. To disturb this development will result in less rhizomes and less growth next year. The final cutting can be made in late September or early October. The application of a phosphorus - potash fertilizer this fall is a good management practice. Use your soil test results as a guide on rates of application. On stands that have been established this spring, from which one or two cuttings have already been made, it’s best to allow it to stand; this will give a little better winter protection. To Be Extra Safe During This Busy Season We are entering one of the busiest and most hazardous times of the year... silo filling and com picking time. Blend into that time, wheat and barley planting and the last cutting of alfalfa. This means a lot of farm machinery will be on our highways during semi-dark and dark hours. Slow moving vehicles such as farm equipment traveling on highways present a real traffic (1961 in medicine and physiology), Dr. Brian Josepbson (1973 in physics), and Dr. John Eccles (1963 brain research) brought a different perspective to the dialogue, but -all found common ground (an isthmus) in the con viction that their scientific work brought them closer to a spiritual Source of life. For many of those who attenHpH the programs, it was a revelation to realize that science brings some people closer to GoH. It must also be acknowledged that there are many scientists who, unlike those Nobel scientists, do not believe there is a isthmus between science and religion, let along a justification for believing in God. Perhaps the most we can say is that scientists are divided like most groups of people on the question of religion and God. Some, like the Psalmist, took into the night sky and find “the heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork” (Psalms 19:1). Some do not. The difference, as in all things, seems to reside in the in dividual. A God Not Far Actually, that’s the way it has always been in our world. Religion cannot prove God and science cannot disprove him. There is evidence of- both kinds all about us in life. Ultimately, it boils down to the way each of us responds to the evidence we experience. In Romans 1, Paul says that “Ever since the creation of the world this invisible nature, namely his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.” When I take the time to behold this marvelous world, I cannot help but respond in faith and praise and, instead of dimming that perception, for me at least, science only makes it brighter and clearer, revealing,.as the writer of Acts puts it, a God who “is not far from each of us.” hazard. The motorist must recognize that a tractor traveling at 5 to 10 miles per hour is almost standing still compared to a 55 mph car. Most highway drivers have never driven a farm machine on the highway and simply do not realize how slow they do travel. Proper identification and warning is real important. Let’s keep alert this busy fall season both on the highway and in the fields. To Test Forages It is always nice to have a balanced feeding program in your hands, ready to use, when you need it. And fall is one of the times you usually need to make some ad justments as you switch from your summer forages to your winter forages. It is even more important this year with drought stricken crops. If you wait until all the hay is in, the silos full, and the silage fermented before you start doing any testing you lose a lot of > valuable time. Get a head start. Take as much of the guess work as possible out of your feeding program. Test the hay that is dry enough to test (about 10% moisture) and the last of the corn that “tops off” the silo, as you are filling the silo. Request a feeding program based on the use of these forages. Later on, when the silo is fermented and all the bay is in., and dry, you can test again and fine tune your program. To Prepare Farm Ponds Farm ponds are a nice place to (Turn to Page Al 2)
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