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2 hog co-op
efforts are
progressing
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
ALLENTOWN and SHAMOKIN
Efforts by Pennsylvania hog
producers to form co-ops and
acquire packing plant facilities are
moving ahead in the Allentown and
Shamokin areas.
It was announced at a debtors
meeting in federal court in
Reading on Tuesday concerning
the bankruptcy of the A and B
packing plant at Allentown that the
proposed co-op of hog producers
headed by Henry Gruber, of R 2
New Tripoli, is the most likely
purchaser of the idled facility.
The hog producer group has
made an offer to the A and B
owners and is awaiting reply.
In a separate co-op venture by
other hog producers, a meeting is
scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday Oct.
2 at the Golden Arrow Restaurant
north of Selinsgrove to discuss
acquisition of the Shamokin
Packing Plant in Northumberland
County.
The Shamokin plant is smaller
than A and B, but is still operating.
It has complete processing
facilities, including a retail store.
Its capacity is about 500 hogs and
80 beef a day. The beef line is
presently idle.
“The separate efforts are
Tnovmg ahead on the part of hog
producers, ” according to Howard
Goss, of PACMA, of the Penn
sylvania Farmers Assn. PACMA is
helping to coordinate the efforts
and provide assistance on funding
applications and other matters.
The two hog producer co-op
efforts are independent of each
(Turn to PageA39)
Solanco Fair crowns its dairy and livestock champions
Repeating last year’s wins were, left to right, Maurice,
Paul, and Mark Welk. They captured the grand and reserve
grand titles in the Solanco Fair Holstein show.
What a stretch of weather we've been having lately. The
corn is drying down; the tobacco curing; and fields and
gardens yielding their final bounty. This photo, taken on a
A lot of ag bills but not a lot of time
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
HARRISBURG - There’s a lot
of pending ag legislation in
Harrisburg, but not a lot of time for
legislators to take action.
The scheduled three-week
legislative session is already one
third spent and there are as many
major pieces of ag-related
legislation as there were days of
sessions.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 22,1984
There was talk in the halls of the
Capitol of a possible “Lame Duck”
session and every poultry farmer
knows the worth of that sort of
bird.
Here’s a thumbnail sketch of the
major ag legislation in this ab
breviated session in the State
Capitol:
Milk Marketing Board
Movement began in the State
BY WENDY WEHR
QUARRYVILLE - Thursday’s
Holstein competition at the
Solanco Fair ended with some
familiar faces in the winners’
circle. Paul and Maurice Welk of
Peach Bottom showed the grand
champion and Paul’s son Mark
exhibited the reserve grand
winner.
The grand champion, Welk-View
Valiant Tiffany, and the reserve,
Yankeeland Milestone Cherry,
captured the same two titles last
year at Solanco. Jim McCaffrey,
judge of this year’s Holstein event,
described Tiffany as a “top cow
who will win a lot of cham
pionships.”
Tiffany also earned first place in
the best udder competition. Paul
Welk commented that she is
probably the best animal that he
and Maurice have ever bred.
As well as being a fine show cow,
Tiffany has also proved to be a
good producer. In her first lac
tation she produced 20,670 lbs. of
(Turn to Page A2B)
Central Pennsylvania farm by Jack Hubley, paints a rural
picture as enjoyable as the recent weather has felt.
In Harrisburg:
Senate this week to extend the life
of the Pennsylvania Milk
Marketing Board - one of two ag
agencies reveiewed under Sunset
regulations. The Senate Bill to
retain the Board contains no major
changes in its present makeup or
responsibilities. Retail price
setting powers are kept. There are
new stipulations that members
must be state residents and milk
Jeff Byers’ entry started his "show" career as a prank pig
and worked his way up to the grand championship at the
Solanco Fair.
(7.50 per Year
dealers must be free of felony
convictions for a certain period.
Farm Show Commission
Also, reviewed under Sunset
regulations - periodic appraisal of
state agencies to see if they are
still necessary - was the State
Farm Show Commission. No
major changes in its makeup or
(Turn to Page A 39)