«- i '" lc ' LS T^'V* *1» "V.“, A VmH 'JOVE^sm PE'HSVLVIM* 168)2 VOL. 29 No. 31 Cow goes to Capitol BY LAURA ENGLAND ELIZABETHTOWN - Traveling off the farm is not a new experience for Ada, a 5-year-old Holstein cow. The stylish bovine, which classified very good at 89 points, has had her share of competitive 4-H round-ups and FFA shows and has enjoyed her youth-oriented excursions. But when her owner, Robert Kauffman R 1 Elizabethtown, told Otis in Tux Did you ever think you’d see Otis in a Tuxedo? Well, he’s all decked out in his finest farming threads on our Editorial Page today. To find out why, turn to PageAlO. Part I An overview (Editor’s Note: Laura England, dairy editor of Lancaster Far ming, has criss-crossed Penn sylvania in recent weeks talking to dairy farmers primarily about one topic - THE FUTURE. What does it bold? What happens after the Dairy Opportunity program ends? How do you see the coming years in dairying? She has put together a special series of articles on “Dairy’s Future - Whatever it holds, it’s in your hands.” In this Five Sections Bob Kauffman and Ada her she would be traveling to Harrisburg on Friday - and it’s not even show season - Ada was just a bit surprised. She was even more surprised when she arrived in Harrisburg and was led up the steps to the' Capitol Rotunda. A weary look in her eyes following her trek up the steps, Ada had heard about walking up hill during her many trips to dairy shows, but this, in her opinion, was ridiotfUuti Not aware of it at the time, Ada was about to make history. No, she wasn’t using her pull to become the first bovine bureaucrat in Harrisburg, but she was about to become the first cow ever to set hoof in the Rotunda. Of the 730,000-plus cows in Pennsylvania, Penns Springs Milestone Ada was chosen for the honor. A phone call from the (Turn to Page A3B) Fred Hughes Penn State Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 2,1984 Dairy Delight is Pleasurable Suicide 9 It's Dairy Princess Season in Pennsylvania. Last weekt/id, Joyce Bupp rounded up the newly-crowned princess in York County, her alternates and court and took the above photo at Rutter’s Dairy Store. And, that sundae is for real loaded with lots of dairy goodies. From the left are Lisa Warner, Kelly Kilgore, dairy princess Judy Perry, Karen Klahold and Darcy Feeser. Lancaster Farming pays tribute to all dairy royalty in the state those already named and soon to be named. For other stories, turn to Pages A 22 and 814. Congratulations Dairy Princesses Whatever it holds, it’s in your hands week’s issue she sets the stage for this Special Dairy Report by talking with Fred Hughes, Ex tension farm management specialist at Penn State. Watch for this special series throughout June and get an insight into something on everyone’s mind - THE FUTURE.) BY LAURA ENGLAND UNIVERSITY PARK - It’s a picture-perfect scene. The cows stand gracefully grazing in the lush, green pasture under a bright, blue sky. Peaceful clouds float pass the midday sun, while husband and wife diligently go about their chores. The children, oblivious to all the workings around them, shout and scream as they play tag in the yard. received JUNB 1984 wv i 4E.CTIOM I'Al U.t LIBRARY P£i'iNSXyAW^ ATfc - UMl’/ERSiT < It’s a picture-perfect scene - almost. A closer look at today’s dairy farming reveals some disturbing flaws. An oversupply of milk, 14 billion pounds, plagues the dairy industry. Feed costs and machinery costs are on the rise. In fact, farmers can expect to see a seven to nine percent increase in input costs this year. And while the cost of inputs is increasing, milk prices are decreasing and money supplies are in jeopardy. Farmers who overextended their credit in years “W e’re going to have a real shakeout of dairymen in 1985 and into 1986.” 17.50 per Year when the economic picture looked bright are now facing the realities of foreclosure. Dairy farmers, in general, are being forced to tighten their belts and watch their management tactics with a keen eye. But despite the very real problems facing dairymen today, one farm management specialist is optimistic about the dairy in dustry’s future. Optimistic, and yet at the same time, urging caution in farm management practices. (Turn to Page A 34)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers