Alo—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 12,1984
Taking the long view
BY DICKANGLESTEIN
It is good to see more and more farmers and
farm organizatiomns taking a longer-range
view of their problems and concerns.
The lesson of stop-gap, bandaid solutions -
that have been so popular at the federal level -
- has finally sunk in deep enough to leave a
lasting impression on agriculture.
Let’s hope that PIK was the last of these
bandaid lessons. While such stop-gap
measures have helped some in agriculture, it
also seemed they ended up hurting more than
they helped. The repercussions of PIK are still
being felt as evidenced by the "realignments”
you're continuing to see in agribusiness, such
as the fertilizer industry.
As a youngster occasionally I stuck my nose
and fingers into places on the farm that they
didn't really belong. I usually ended up with a
stinging peck on the hand, a muzzle nudge or
even ducking a flying hoof.
Again, I’m likely sticking my nose into places
it doesn’t belong, but editors have been
known to offer their two cents worth even
when it isn't worth it.
These editorial columns have been
restricted solely to offering opinions on strictly
agricultural items. After all, there are more
than enough ag problems and concerns to go
around. But for just once, I’m going to deviate
a bit.
Currently, a major motion picture is being
filmed in Lancaster County about the Amish
From a personal standpoint, I object to the
film and particularly some phases of the story
about violence, etc. I wish it were not being
filmed, but it is and will be widely promoted
and shown.
The sole justification for "on-location”
Farm Calendar
Saturday, May 12
Tenth Annual Mercer Sheep Sale, 6
p.m., Mercer 4-H Park.
Sunday, May 13
Happy Mother’s Day
Monday, May 14
Live on-foot lamb judging spon
sored by Berks Extension and
Sheep and Wool Growers, 5:30
p.m., Peters Bros., Lenhart
sville.
Pa. Dairy Sanitation Conference,
Otis
soy/ ons. it just amazes mf \
How you can sr/u put/n thesej
LONG, HARD WORK DAYS. <
k
None of our business , hut ...
Keller Conference Center, Penn
State, continues through
Wednesday.
Bradford 4-H livestock committee,
8 p.m., Extension Office.
Pa. peach/nectarine research
referendum opens.
Tuesday, May 15
Ephrata Young Farmers meeting,
7:45 p.m., high school ag shop.
York Farmers Association Ladies
Day Out, Yorktowne Hotel, 10
But discussions of the new Farm Bill and
other concerns expressed by farmers and farm
groups show they are taking the longer view.
An Ag Forum in Crawford County recently
before federal ag legislators demonstrated this
longer view. Dairymen particularly are asking
the question; "What’s beyond the diversion
program?”
The vital importance of supporting research
and promotion - not only in the dairy industry
but throughout agriculture -- also demon
strates the recognition of the need for a long
range program of agricultural self-help.
The Pennsylvania Farmers’ Association has
as one of its goals the preservation of far
mland. The Pennsylvania State Grange is
supporting a long-range animal health
program for the Commonwealth.
This long-range broadening of the outlook
toward some of ag’s problems and concerns
can only work toward the good of all
agriculture. Sure, solutions may not come next
week or next month, but they will come.
After all, farming is a profession of the
future. While tending the crop of the present,
farmers always look toward the better crop of
the future.
And, it is good that farmers and farm groups
are taking a more active role m speaking out to
determine their own future.
Who better should primarily decide the
future of agriculture than those whose daily
toil nurtures the very foundation for that
future.
filming is the extra revenue it brings into an
area. But if every decision is to be made solely
on an economic basis, it would be easy to
justify most anything in life.
This one extra infringement on the Amish
way of life was not needed. Their agrarian way
of life must pay the price that all farmers pay,
but they always have that extra cost in privacy
that is inflicted upon them.
But the film is being made and nothing can
change that. But I would like to see something
positive come out of it that could help the
future of that way of life upon which it in
fringes.
Perhaps, some sort of means of support
could be created through the film to help that
future. If it would be too wordly for that fund to
help Plain victims of modern society (fire,
storm, violence, etc.), perhaps it might go
toward research or work to ease their con
tinuing transition in crop emphasis.
But as I said initially, it’s really none of my
business.
a.m. - 3 p.m., featuring walking
tour of Historic York.
Eastern Lancaster County Adult
Farmer program on “Growing
Carrots and Horseradish, 7:30
p.m., Union Grove Alternative
School.
Workshop on Research
Methodology and the
Wednesday, May 16
(Turn to Page Al 2)
YOUR MOUTH’S
RELIGION
May 13,1984
Background Scripture; James 3.
Devotional Reading: EzekieK3:9
We all know people who, a s far
as Christianity is concerned, t ilk a
better game than they day.
Because what they say do isn’t
seem to bear much relation to vhat
they do, we tend to pretty riuch
disregard that religion that comes
out of their mouths.
This doesn’t mean, however,
that what we say is unimportant so
far as our Christianity is con
cerned. In fact, the religion of our
mouths can be vital, particularly if
the mouth and heart aren’t both
committed to Christ.
THE WILD BEAST
In fact, as James sees it, few
things are as likely to condemn us
so much as our own tongues;
How great a forest is set ablaze
by a small fire! And the tongue is a
fire... For every kind of beast and
bird, of reptile and sea creature,
can be tamed and has been tamed
by humankind, but no human being
can tame the tongue a restless
evil, full of deadly poison. (3:5-8).
At first glance, it may seem
James is somewhat overstating his
case against the tongue. But when
you think about it, James’
allusions are pretty much on
target. Words can inflame.
Rumors spread like wildfire. The
NOW IS THE TIME
tftqp
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Afncutture Af ent
Phone 717 394-6851
To Check Farm Ponds
Many farm ponds are showing
both algae and weed infestation
build-up and as the weather gets
warmer, these pond plants will
begin to grow. Permits are needed
in order for the owner to use the
proper materials, and to protect
livestock downstream from the
pond. Before any ponds are treated
in Pennsylvania with any chemical
or fertilizer, the owner should
obtain a permit from the Penn
sylvania Fish Commission. Ap
plication for the permit is
available from the Pennsylvania
Waterways Patrol Office or from
our Penn State Extension Office.
To Check Weevllls
In Alfalfa
We are right into the decision
making period for alfalfa weevil
control. The question comes up,
should I spray or cut it? This
depends on the degree of damage
and just how far your alfalfa is
HPiVINCr
tongue does sometimes seem to
have a will of its own. It can be a
destructive force for evil and a
poison in human relationships. No,
the tongue can be all that and
unfortunately—more.
Slander, harsh words, profanity,
gutter language, sarcasm we all
know how harmful they can be.
Any or all of these is sufficient to
mak° * v, '~ -eligion of our mouths
sigmncantiy inharmonious with
the religion of our hearts. Mw, "
us are more likely to have sinnei
with violent and destructive words
than acts.
BLESSING AND CAUSING
James cites a common example:
With the tongue “we bless the Lord
and Father, and with it we curse
men, who are made in the likeness
of God” (3:9). In case the utter
incongruity of these two uses of the
tongue escapes us, James puts it
clearly: “From the same mouth
come blessing and cursing. My
brethren, this ought not to be so.”
In fact, a faith that produces words
of praise for God and terms of
derision for his children is not a
real faith at all.
But not all the mouth’s ir
religion is always so obvious. It
may be that the words issuing from
our mouths seem “religious”
enough. But it is the motive behind
those words and their effect that
may make them every bit as
destructive as profane cursers.
These seemingly “religious”
words may simply mask “bitter
jealousy and ambition in your
beards.”
True Christian religion of the
mouth is this: “But the wisdom
from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle open to reason,
full of mercy and good fruits... And
the harvest of righteousness is
sown in peace by those who maiwe
peace” (3:17,18). Amen!
along. If your stand is getting
along in maturity, then it would
pay you to cut it early. If you
decide to spray, then it should be
applied only when 60 to 70 percent
of the plants show slight feeding
damage at the tips. In most cases,
spray application will not be
necessary. The economic
threshold line is based on a loss of
1/10 ton of alfalfa hay per acre. At
$lOO per ton of hay, a loss of 1/10
ton equals $lO. If the cost of
spraying is $9.00 to $lO.OO per acre,
you are at the break even level.
The two major problems with
spraying is the physical damage
by running the tractor over the
growing plants and, secondly the
tolerance time from the time of
application until the residue is
“off” the plants. Be sure to read
the label for the tolerance periods
for the different chemicals.
To Use A Starter
Solution For Transplants
Gardening is a way of life foi
farmers and most suburban
people. And if you want to give
your garden a real boost this
spring ... then use a fertilizei
starter solution when you set out
your plants. It’s easy to make ...
just dissolve about 3 tablespoons oi
so of regular 10-10-10 fertilizer in i
gallon of water. And, as you set oui
your plants, such as cabbage
tomatoes or peppers, pour some ol
the starter solution in the hole
stir the 50i1... put in the plant
cover the roots with 50i1... ant
you’ve got that plant off to the bes
start ever.
f
U J
A starter solution makes plan
nutrients available to the younj
(Turn to Page AI2)