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
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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-
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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
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