A3o—Lawcarttr Famine, SataNay, My 7,1984 ' Marydel Farm receives environmental award NEWARK, Del. - Two Kent County farmers have been honored for their commitment to preser ving the quality of Delaware’s environment. The Thomas Farms of Marydel, run by the father and son team of Isaac and John Thomas, was one of three recipients of the Governor’s Advisory Council on En vironmental Control’s 1984 en vironmental achievement awards. The Thomases were recognized for their use of production practices which minimize soil and water erosion, as well as their efficient waste management system, water control structures and woodland management. Governor Pierre S. duPont presented the citation during a special ceremony Wednesday, June 20, in his Legislative Hall office in Dover. Isaac “Ike” Thomas recently retired from active farming, but his lifelong agricultural con servation efforts are being con tinued by his son, who now operates the family’s 1,000-acre dairy farm. Conservation is a way of life for the Thomases. Ike was 19 when he became treasurer of the 145-year old tax ditch in his community. As a member of the Delaware House of Representatives in 1941, he was instrumental in developing the state’s Soil Conservation District Enabling Act and he has been an unpaid member of the Kent Conservation District since its inception in 1943. Besides chairing his own district, he has served as chairman of the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts and as a director of the National Association of Con servation Districts. Thomas was one of the first farmers in the state to adopt minimum tillage practices, which reduce soil erosion. In addition, he and his son have installed a modern waste management system which allows them to use dairy manure as fertilizer, thus reducing environmental con tamination while benefiting crops. GALVANIZED “T" LOOP STALLS With EASY HR TRAINING BAR Which Prevents Trapped Cow Problems Stall tubing 2-3/8 inches outside diameter, 12 ga. (.109) wall thickness, high yield steel. ALSO AVAILABLE • Standard Free Stalls • Fencing • Gates (38" - 48" - 54” • Automatic Head Gates high) • Automatic Gate Latches PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. Hardware • Farm Supplies ® ox 128 R.D. #4, Lititz, PA 17543 Custom Manufacturing Wood Corner Rd. Crane Service 1 Mil « Wes * o f Ephrata Milking parlor wastes, for example, are spray irrigated onto cropland. To maintain soil and water resources on their farm, the Thomases also practice woodlot management and have installed water control structures such as tile drainage systems and a fish pond. They are active in ditch bank maintenance. In accepting the award on behalf of his family, Ike Thomas ex pressed appreciation to the Soil Conservation Service and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Service for their help in putting such con servation programs to use on his farm. Also recognized at the ceremony were the E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Glasgow site for its state-of-the-art hazardous waste container storage facility and emergency pollution prevention program, and the State Depart ment of Transportation for its development of a construction plan for the St. Jones River bridge on U. S. 113 south of Dover which minimizes filling of wetlands. Dairy promotion bill awaits approval HARRISBURG - A bill, sponsored by Senator Noah W. Wenger, R-36, establishing a statewide Dairy Products Promotion Program, has received the unanimous support of the Senate and House and is now awaiting gubernatorial approval, the senator announced. Currently, the Department of Agriculture is carrying out Penn sylvania’s dairy promotion under authorization of a federal law requiring dairy farmers to pay a 15-cent dairy promotion and research fee for each 100 pounds of milk sold, Wenger noted. “This measure will improve this Grover Biddle, left, head of the Governor's Advisory Council on Environmental Control, reads citation to members of the Isaac Thomas family prior to award presen tation by Governor duPont of Delaware. system by permitting the state Budget Secretary to set up an interest bearing account, sup ported by dairy farmers’ con tributions, that would fund all our state’s dairy promotions,” Wenger, vice-chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, explained. “With gubernatorial approval of this legislation, there will be a state statute providing for a dime WHY HAVE OVER 60 POULTRYMEN REPLACED THEIR DROPPING BOARDS WITH CHEMGRO’S HIGH DENSITY PLASTIC DROPPING BOARDS? IT’S SIMPLE, OUR BOARD IS UNMATCHED IN THE INDUSTRY! • SUPERIOR STRENGTH AND DURABILITY • THICKNESS. A FULL W’ THICK • WILL NOT RUST OR CORRODE • AVAILABLE IN 8’ AND 10’ SECTIONS • FITS MOST MAJOR CAGE SYSTEMS • ALL NECESSARY HARDWARE AVAILABLE • PLASTIC SCRAPER BLADES ALSO AVAILABLE •.BOARDS FULLY GUARANTEED BY MANUFACTURER CALL TODAY: AND SEE THE BOARD !V u. v of our state dairy farmers’ 15-cent federal contribution to stay in the Commonwealth, enabling us to better promote Keystone State dairy products.” Wenger emphasized that the planned program’s funding will be financed solely by voluntary contributions credited against assessments paid to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. QUESTION? ANSWER! rtHEHffiir “With one-hundred percent cooperation of Pennsylvania’s daily fanners, out state stands to realize over $2 million annually as a source for promotional ac tivities,” Wenger said. “Through a volunteer effort on the part of our state’s dairy far mers,” the senator concluded, “Pennsylvania’s marketing and promotional objectives for our own state’s milk supply should be much better served than on the present federal level.” BOX 218 EAST PETERSBURG, PA 1 Phone 717-569-3296
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