X X T his Week's^ Mi-m .\ w Facing the future BY DICK ANGLESTEIN We’ve been talking a lot about the future lately in Lancaster Farming. Dairy editor Laura England presents the fourth of her five-part series of investigative insight into what dairy farmers see in the future of their profession in today's issue. And, this week the future of Pennsylvania agnculturte was on display at Penn State at the 56th Summer Convention of the Pa. FFA After listening to, observing and admiring many of these blue-and-gold jacketed future farmers, I have no reservations whatsoever about an optimistic outlook for the future. It's impossible to try and discuss all 1700 or so FFA'ers who took part, but let’s take a glimpse at just five who were featured speakers during the week Ron Wineinger, National FFA President; Some national politicians should take lessons from the high level of motivational communication talents that this young man already displays His charisma is absolutely electric He held a youthful audience, who had been fidgeting after some two hours of proceedings, in the palm of his hand and evoked a group participation involvement that rivaled the most enthusiastic Tupper-Ware convention ever staged And he brought it off with a cool that didn't sacrifice any human element Carolyn Witmer, Retiring State President: A more dedicated or hard-working young lady could not have been found to finally break NOW IS THE TIME To Feed Dry Matter on Pasture Pastures are very lush due to the good showers this week. This means that livestock can utilize some dry matter while on pasture. This can include hay, straw or silage. With the dry matter present, they will consume a moderate amount along with the fresh grass. The dry matter slows down the passage of the lush forage through the digestive system. Also, it reduces the danger of bloating when there is clover or alfalfa in the forage mixture. If the animals are out all of the time, then a portable hay rack would be the way to feed hay or straw. Dry DAIRY FARMING JuWT^ By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent Phone 717-394-6851 matter intake is important when pastures are lush and high in water content. To Check Lighting For Layers One of the cardinal rules for poultry management is to never decrease the light period of flocks in production. Most flock managers would never in tentionally decrease the day length to a flock in production but we are in the season of the year when this can happen accidentally. Most layers are in light controlled not light-tight housing. The major sources of light leakage are the exhaust fans and air in take. Pullet flocks placed in the laying house during late fall, the state presidency sex barrier last year. She captained an officer teom and a statewide membership with a combination of charm and ability and even introduced some good in novations, such as the state officer visits to supporting mductry, which should be retained as a prelude to the time that an FFA Foun dation is organized in Pennsylvania. Carolyn's record as state president stands for itself - she performed so well that Pa. FFA'ers did not hesitate to elect another young lady as their leader during the coming year. Laurie Duran, New State President: The polish and bubbling personality she displayed in just the first few hours of her reign shows that she has the credentials and essentials to continue an effective and eventful presidency Laurie comes to her post with a lot of FFA background and experience that will serve her well during the coming 12 months GregMusser, Public Speaking Winner: I’ve had the opportunity to personally ob serve the maturing of this young man from a Creed speaker to the top FFA Public Speaker in a relatively short period of time. Any farmer who has doubts about whether it’s worthwhile to save farmland should hear his winning speech about farmland preservation. He exemplifies the optimism and dedication of today’s farm youth who deserve the right to have enough good land saved for them to farm if they so desire Sean Porter, Creed Speaking Winner: At the age of 15 I couldn't even imagine myself getting up in front of more than 1700 people But this five-foot bundle of FFA not only did it but he recited the Creed with such meaning and emphasis that there was no question that he believed m every word of it When he said. “I believe " there was just no doubt about it These were just not words he was saying, they were statements that will help guide him during the rest of his farming life In each of their individual ways, these five FFA'ers not only squarely faced their future in ag this week, they threw out a challenge to it In effect they said “Look out ag future, here I come I don't intend to let the future control me I’m going to help shape that future and make it better " With the future of farming personified in such youth as, who can have any doubts about it winter or spring can oe given a 14- hour day. As summer approaches and the natural day length exceeds 14 hours, layers in non-light tight housing will be exposed to an in creasing day length due to the light entering the building through fans and air intakes. This increase in day length causes no problem. The longest day occurs on June 21 and decreases until December 21. It is this decrease in day length that can cause layers to go out of production unless the time clocks controlling the lights are read justed to provide the layers with the day length they received on June 21. The two points to remember are (Turn to Page Al 2) IT SURE HRS ■"v> // ' * I \ \ M, -_£3TP THE SWORD IN YOUR HOUSE June 24,1984 Background Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:20 through 18:16; I Kings 1. Devotional Reading: 2 Samuel 14; 25-33. I wonder whether David really remembered all that the Prophet Nathan said to him. David knew that he had sinned in having Uriah killed so that he could have Bathsheba for his wife. “I have sinned against the Lord,” David acknowledged. Nathan’s next words must have come to David with great relief: “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Samuel 12:13). Perhaps in the joy of moment, David did not realize that, though he was pardoned, there would still be consequences of his sin. And one of those con sequences had already been prophesied by Nathan: “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house” (12:10). ABSALOM THE THIEF Unfortunately, Nathan was all too correct. God’s forgiveness did not change the consequences of David’s sins. Thus, although his was to be the greatest monarchy of Israel, and though David would always be remembered as Israel’s ideal king, the “sword” of David’s sin never “departed” from David’s house. Farm Calendar Sunday, June 24 85th annual convention, Pa. Grocer’s Association, Hershey Convention Center. Continues through Tuesday. Annual Convention, Pa. Manufacturing Confectioner’s Association, Hershey Hotel. Continues through Wednesday. Ephrata Area Young Farmers Summer Picnic, 12:30 p.m., Ephrata Community Park. Pa. Flying Farmers meeting, Keller Brothers airport at 1 p.m. Monday, June 25 Pa. State Horticultural Association summer tours to Adams County. Continues tomorrow. PennAg grain meeting and banquet, 6:30 p.m., Sheraton- Conestoga, Lancaster. OUR READERS WRITE Dear Editor: I just came back not long ago from an annual trip. The triangular shaped farm on lx=- It is ironic that it would be Ab salom that would trouble him most. No matter how much David did for his son, no matter how much he loved him, Absalom seemed determined to bring sorrow upon his father. The writer of 2 Samuel tells us of Absalom’s crafty strategy to win the hearts and allegiance of his father’s subjects and concludes with this telling observation: “Thus A‘„_— n did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgement; so Absalom stole uiC hearts of the men of Israel” (15:6). Soon the deceitful Absalom raised an army with which to steal also his father’s kingdom and David had to flee from the capitol. Yet, I rather think that that which sorrowed David most was not the threat to his crown, but that the threat came from his own son - whom he had loved, still loved and could not help but continue to love. O ABSALOM, MY SON! All the love in the world was not enough to save Absalom. At last he came to the end which unknowingly he had chosen for himself. When at last David is brought the news of Absalom’s death, the king utters a terrible cry that strkes a trembling chord within each of us: 0 my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, 0 Absalom, my son, my son! Many of us have had our own Absalom and known the tragic sorrow that tore David’s heart. Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Ab salom,” (19:1) and many must have wondered how David could mourn such a son. But if you’ve known an Absalom in your own life, you know what David knew. And only the grace of God can eventually heal the wounds of the sword that you bring into your own house. 1 Tuesday, June 26 National Poultry Improvement Plan Conference, St. Paul, Minn. Avian influenza forum tomorrow; continues through Thursday. Thursday, June 28 USDA planting acreage report due. Regional Executive Committee meeting, Bradford County Extension Office, 8 p.m. Friday, June 29 Rabbit Conference at Penn State, continues tomorrow. Saturday, June 30 Annual Meeting, Pa. Red Cherry Growers Association, Stonehedge Restaurant, Get tysburg. which my family and I happen to be farming and are making part of our living from, is bordered on two of the sides by public roads. The annual trip that I am talking about is the trip that is necessary to make along the fields which border the road to collect litter before the spring growth hides it from plain view. Every year the booty collected is much more than what was gathered the year before. There are dozens of different types of items. By far the largest number of pieces are beer cans and whiskey bottles carelessly and thoughtlessly thrown there by the alcohol-guzzling part of our population. Cellophane cigarette wrappers, motor oil cans, soda cans and (Turn to Page Al 2)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers