VOL 29 No. 40
Hog producers trying to form packer co-op
Signing pledges to form hog producer packer co-op are, seated from left, Sterling
Zimmerman, Werley’s Corner; Earl Wessner, R 2 Kutztown; and Henry Gruber, R 2 New
Tripoli; standing from the left, Carl Wessner, R 2 Kutztown; Harold Handwerk, R 1
Kempton; Harry Gruber, R 1 New Tripoli; Butch Wessner, Kempton; and Herman
Oteftrjgj**2 Breinigsville.
1250-sow unit under construction
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
SEVEN VALLEYS - A 1,250-
sow farrow-to-finish complex,
believed to be the largest in
Pennsylvania, is under con
struction in Seven Valleys, York
County.
The operation, in which initial
gilts and boars will be brought in
late this month, will be marketing
some 25,000 hogs a year when in
full operation.
The complex will be managed by
Providing higher
k Research
iFroduction
V Marketine
AG PROGRESS
FARMERS: Mark your calendar for Aug. 21-23 to visit Penn
State’s outstanding agricultural extravaganza.
ADVERTISERS: Next Friday, Aug. 10, is the deadline to
contact us to be included in the big Ag Progress Issue on
Saturday, Aug. 18.
Four Sections
In Seven Valleys, York County
Pennfield Corporation, which now
has some 7500 sows in its system of
major complexes with which it is
associated, according to Ray Lehr,
manager of the Feed Marketing
Division.
The multi-million-dollar com
plex will contain two large
buildings connected in an “off-set -
H” format.
Under construction now is the
first building measuring 490 feet
long by 106 feet wide. It will con-
For Farming
Lancaster Farming, Satarday, August 4,1984
tain gestation, farrowing, pre
nursery and nursere facilities.
It is expecffd breeding
operations will get under way
about the end of August.
The second will
measure 594 feet long by 106 feet
wide and contain grower-finishing
facilities. It will be completed in
time for the first hogs to be grown
out and finished for market.
At any one time some 12,500 hogs
Pa. Food Products Month proclaimed
BY SUZANNE KEENE
HARRISBURG - At special
ceremonies in Strawberry Square
in Harrisburg Wednesday, State
Agriculture Secretary Penrose
Hallowell read Governor Thorn
burgh’s proclamation designating
August Pennsylvania Food
Products Month.
Farmers, producers, processors,
grocers and restauranters
throughout the state are joining to
pay tribue to Pennsylvania food
products during August, the
traditional time for peak harvest of
fruits and vegetables in Penn
sylvania.
Hallowell said Governor
Thornburgh has set the month of
August aside to recognize
agriculture’s contribution to the
state’s economy. Through events
like the one at Stawberry Square,
he said the governor hopes to
make consumers realize the im
portance of having a strong
apiculture in the state.
Hallowell noted that naming
August Pennsylvania Food
Products Month should help
Pennsylvania products to be used
to «n even greater degree. “We
(Turn to Page A3O)
(Turn to Page A 33)
Would buy and operate
A & B plant at Allentown
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
WERLEY’S CORNER - An
effort was launched among hog
producers in several parts of
Pennsylvania this week to form a
packer co-op to buy and operate
the idled A. and B. Packing Plant
at Allentown.
Spearheading the effort to enroll
some 200 hog producers at $l,OOO
each to get the program rolling is
Henry Gruber, of R 2 New Tripoli,
hog producer, buyer for A and B
and well-known livestock judge.
An initial meeting of hog
producers was held Tuesday night
at the Werley’s Corner hotel of
Sterling Zimmerman - another
well-known buyer and trucker in
the state’s hog industry.
Gruber also made additional
contacts among beg industry
leaders and producers in Lebanon
and York counties this week.
On Tuesday night a number of
hog producers from the Lehigh and
Berks county areas became the
first farmers to purchase $l,OOO
shares of common stock to provide
the seed money in the effort to buy
and take over the A and B plant.
The effort is aimed at enrolling a
minimum of 200 hog producers at
$l,OOO each to provide a $200,000
fund to apply for low-interest state
and federal loans to make an offer
for the plant.
Gruber told the approximate 30
hog producers on Tuesday night it
is hoped that arrangements can be
completed to make the offer for
purchase as soon as possible,
hopefully during the coming week.
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Penrose Hallowell
enjoys a fresh mushroom from 1984 Mushroom Queen
Angela DeProspero at the kick-off ceremonies for Penn
sylvania Food Products Month in Harrisburg.
$7.50 per Year
“If you want to stay in hog
production,” Gruber told the
producers, “you must look over the
horizon at the future of your in
dustry.
“There’s a real concern about
maintaining packing plant
capacity in Pennsylvania.
“The industry needs additional
capacity and competition to make
your hog product a viable com
modity.
“We need this plant and others to
make the hog business flourish in
Pennsylvania.
“We don’t want our business to
have the problem facing beef in
which there’s essentially only one
packer.
“But we need a sincere interest
shown by hog farmers.”
In addition to the initial $200,000
goal to get the acquisition ball
rolling, an overall amount of $4
million to |6 million would be
needed to purchase the plant,
make some renovations and
establish a line of credit to begin
operation.
Working with the hog producer
group is the PACMA unit of the
Pennsylvania Farmers
Association to coordinate legal and
loan efforts to apply for state and
federal low-interest monies and a
line of credit.
While PFA is assisting with the
acquisition effort, the plant if
purchased would be run entirely by
participating hog farmers through
a board of directors who would
(Turn to Page A 37)