,huuoicals division T<) pattee LIBRARY STATE UNIVERSITY .DIVERSITY PARK PA 16802 VOL. 29 No. 9 Moving south, west from Lancaster BY LAURA ENGLAND LANCASTER - The federal state avian flu quarantine zone was expanded Tuesday to further protect the state’s poultry industry and to provide poultrymen reasonable access to processing plants. Previously set at 2,800 square miles, the quarantine zone now i overs 3,100 square miles in all or parts of nine counties. These in lude all of Lancaster, York and \dams counties and portions of I ranklm, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks and Chester ounties. According to task force spokesman Don Nielson, the quarantine expansion will allow loultrymen additional access to processing plants. Under quarantine restrictions, no live >irds, nest run eggs, hatching eggs ir day old chicks are permitted to i mve outside the area These restrictions prevented processors outside the quarantine /one from gaining access to poultry and egg products within the quarantine. The expansion will ielp meet marketing needs, Nielson said. Poultrymen will still be required to have all products inspected by the government and certified free of the deadly avian virus before moving them off the farm. Partly responsible for the ex pansion was a positive diagnosis of a 31,000 bird turkey flock near East Berlin on the York-Adams County line. Infected with the highly pathogenic avian virus, the flock was to be depopulated Wednesday and Thursday, Nielson said. This flock represents the westernmost movement of the avian flu virus. Representing the southernmost movement of the disease was a hot flock of 50,000 layers near Nottingham, Chester County. This flock was diagnosed Wednesday morning, Nielson said. Lancaster plans 5-yr. no-till promotion BY LAURA ENGLAND LANCASTER The Lancaster County Conservation District approved Tuesday a five-year plan to promote conservation tillage within the county. Moved by vice chairman Amos Funk, of R 1 Millersville, the five year plan will incorporate the already established corn planter assistance program in efforts to promote soil erosion prevention. Under the current program, farmers rent one of the districts no-till corn planters and receive information and training in planting no-till crops. Through the five-year program approved by a unanimous vote, demonstrations and tours will be conducted with the cooperation of Extension personnel and con servation district specialists. Goals of the program, in addition to providing an awareness for jp secure Three Sections Avian influenza continues to spread The new quarantine boundry runs north on Interstate 81 from the Maryland state line in Franklin County into Lebanon County. There, it picks up on Interstate 78 and travels east to the Berks County line and follows south to Rouje 442. From Route 442, it runs east to Milk plan details due next week BY IRISH WILLIAMS LANCASTER Dairymen debating whether to participate in the milk diversion program which is scheduled to begin tomorrow must wait until at least Jan. 3 for dlttVflrai program from ASCS. William Clayton, Pennsylvania ASCS program specialist for the Milk Diversion Program, said, county ASCS offices in Penn sylvania will have contract forms and regulation handbooks available for dairymen on Jan. 3. Maryland ASCS officials will also have these materials ready for distribution on the 3rd. However, the sign-up period for the program, when ASCS will be accepting contracts, will not begin until sometime in the middle of January, no specific date had been set at press tune. Jan. 31 is the last day dairymen will be able to contract to reduce their production under the Milk Diversion Program. Only dairymen that contract with ASCS to reduce production and who comply with the regulations of the contract will receive incentive payments, (Turn to Page A 35) funds to hire a conservation tillage specialist and purchase tillage equipment. About $4OO is needed, Funk said, to purchase two hydraulic adap ters and a universal hitch for the com planter. The money is also needed to pay mileage expenses for the use of a jeep and a scout in transporting tillage equipment. QeraldM. Heistand Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 31,1983 (Turn to Page A 35) The map above shows the expanded quarantine area for the Avian influenza. The star on the left represents the most western point of the quarantine, which is a turkey flock near East Berlin, near York/Adams County border. The star on the right represents the most southern point of the quarantine, which is a layer flock in Nottingham, Chester County. This is the year that was in ag BY KIMBERLY HERR LANCASTER It was a year of ups and downs, of struggles and triumphs. It was a year when farmers learned to expect the unexpected. Playing a large part in the unexpected aspect of 1983 was the weather. A surprise snowstorm hit Central Pennsylvania February 11, bringing more snow than the area had seen for years. And as winter melted away, the precipitation continued, making for a soggy spring. But then, just as everyone was complaining about all that moisture, it stopped. And again the unexpected oc curred as the summer of 1983 Also approved by the board was a $2 increase in per acre charge for com planter rental. The increase brings the rental fee up to $7.50 per acre. Funk, who moved the in crease, said the additional money will help in meeting the county goal of 2,000 no-till acres in 1984. In other business, Aaron Z. Stauffer, R 1 Ephrata, was re elected chairman while Nancy J. Burkhart was re-elected secretary-treasurer. Robert E. Wagner, of R 2 Quarryville, was elected to serve his first term as vice chairman and as an executive council member. The board introduced Gerald M. Heistand as the district’s new conservation tillage and manure management specialist. Holding a degree in agricultural engineering from Penn State and a degree in liberal arts from Elizabethtown (Turn to Page A 35) turned out to be one of the hottest, dryest summers in Pennsylvania. Farmers watched helplessly as their crops suffered under the devastating drought conditions. But life went on and the summer show circuit brought happiness and success to many. A Penn sylvania bull sold for $lOO,OOO at the National Holstein Convention in June, and champions were crowned at the Southcentral and Eastern Holstein shows in August. And more champions were honored across the state as 4-H clubs participated in round-ups and shows. The summer of 1983 also saw record crowds attending Ag Progress Days at Penn State, despite the August heat, and 500 people attended the National Jersey Convention in June. fa 17.50 per Year 1983 was also a time to honor individuals. Penrose Hallowed was reappointed as Pa. Secretary of Agriculture in January. J. Paul Espy was chose by cattlemen as their Man of the Year in March, and Tamara Lynn Cree was chosen Pa. State Dairy Princess in Sep tember. This was also a year for farmers to keep abreast of what the politicians were saying and to take an active part in getting legislation passed. In February it was an nounced that pigs without iden tification numbers would not be accepted at markets. Then, on a positive note, Penn sylvania approved $250,000 in loans to encourage direct marketing, and on April 2, the Senate passed the Clean/Green two-acre splitoff. (Turn to Pace ASS)
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