Dairy computer conference
(Continued from Page A 24)
forced Spahr’s comments about
weekly adjustment of rations for
cows at their peak. “Com
puterization allows weekly ad
justment of the grain allotment,
which has been proven to increase
production in early lactation,”
commented Muller. In a review of
the scientific literature, he found
23 publications reporting on 35
experiments that showed an in
creased yield of milk as well as fat.
The benefits of computer feeding
that Muller outlined included:
opportunities to feed more ac
cording to production and nutrient
needs, improved control over gram
utilization, minimized over
feeding, and reduced feeding
labor. But, he cautioned, “for a
computer feeding system to
succeed and be profitable, it must
be managed.”
Dr. A.J. Heinrichs, who along
with Muller organized the second
annua] Penn State conference,
offered advice to farmers con
sidering computer and software
purchases. He described the kinds
of software available spread
sheets, word processing, and data
base systems and the sources of
these programs.
The last few years have been tough for farmers in south
central Pennsylvania. You’ve had to deal with the deadly
Avian influenza and an unusually dry year that produced low
crop yields. You’ve suffered through low egg prices, reduced
milk prices, and marginal pork prices. And, in general, you’ve
experienced high interest rates.
As a major lender committed to the agricultural industry,
Commonwealth National Bank has witnessed these bad and
difficult times firsthand through many of our agricultural
customers. The pressures brought about by the events of
the past few years have caused many of these customers to
turn to us for help. As a result, we’ve spent a great deal of
time working to get them out of some tight spots. We’ve
restructured loans and, where appropriate, we’ve offered
extensions. In all cases, we’ve worked hard to provide good,
sound advice on the best course of action to follow. In short,
we’ve remained committed.
To some, our commitment to lending may seem to have
waned as we continue our work to help those among you who
need it most. But be assured that our commitment has never
stopped. When you need us, we’ll be there as strong as
ever —with aggressive prudent lending, competitive rates,
and just plain hard, honest work.
"When you are interested in
computers, find the software
first,” were Heinrich’s sharpest
words of advice to the dairymen.
Deciding what you want the
computer to do, whether it’s herd
management, accounting, ration
balancing, crop records, or in
ventory management, should be
one of your first considerations.
Networks
Other Penn State speakers at the
conference were Art Hussey,
director of the Northeast Com
puter Institute, Bill Heald,
associate professor of dairy
science extension associated with
the Pa. DHIA, and Dan Bemitt,
senior research associate at the
Penn State Computer Center. All
discussed the concept or ap
plications of computer networks.
Bernitt described the concept of
networking, which is simply a way
to connect things together. Two big
advantages of a computer net
work, said Bernitt, are electronic
mail and data transfer.
And setting up such a computer
network is exactly the goal of Art
Hussey, who is directing the
development of the Pa. Extension
Computerization Project. He
It’s simply not true.
Commonwealth National
Bank not committed to
agriculture? It’s simply not
true, and no one knows it
better than I do.
Charles F. Merrill
President and Chief Exi
A Commonwealth National Bank
described the progress of the
project, which was funded by a
special $2 million appropriation
from the legislature last year.
While microcomputers have now
been installed in each of the 67
county Extension offices, and are
usable, stand-alone units, they will
eventually be linked in a state-wide
computer network. The state-wide
network will be designed to reach
as many people as possible at the
lowest cost per person, which will,
in most cases, simply be a local
phone call.
Hussey predicted “a return on
investment of at least five to one
for the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania.” The Extension network
will function to deliver in
formation, and provide com
munications and services, which
for dairy farmers may vary from
feed ration calculations, to sire
selection, to culling analysis.
Similarly, the national and state
DHI programs represent networks
that will be changing and ad
vancing with the development and
incorporation of new technologies.
Bill Heald described what’s on the
drawing board for Pa. DHIA and
some of the changes that dairymen
can expect in the future.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Dacambar 29,1984-A29
Scientific and Creative
Heald reminded the dairymen to
get involved in these decisions and
changes and remember that DHI is
their organization. And in his
conference wrap-up, A.J.
Heinrichs offered some guidelines
for good computer decision
making, such as defining your
needs, determining who will use it,
Lebanon Co. ASCS
Elects Committees
Committee persons were elected
to the County Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation
Committee in Lebanon County
recently.
Fanners elected to committees
were:
Heidelberg and Millcreek
Townships: Donald Bollinger,
chairperson; Vemon Balmer, vice
chairperson; Warren Bucher,
regular member; Walter Heisey,
first alternate; Eugene Hoffman,
second alternate.
South Lebanon, North Cornwall,
West Cornwall, Cornwall Boro, and
North Lebanon: Mark Hitz,
chairperson; Cyrus Bomberger,
obtaining and evaluating software,
and gaining access to tailor-made
answers to your problems.
But, concluded Heinrichs, “to be
a good manager you’re going to
have to be more scientific, and
especially in the computer area,
have to be more creative.”
You’ll have to learn how to use
that new tool for optimum results
in your dairy business.
vice chairperson; Frank Reist,
regular member; Phil Arnold, first
alternate; Mark Ruhl, second
alternate.
Annville, South Londonderry,
North Londonderry, and North
Annville: John Alger, chair
person; Elvin Hostetter, vice
chairperson; Timothy Tyson,
regular member; Adam Brandt,
first alternate; Lawon Hemperly,
second alternate.
Union, Swatara, East Hanover,
and Cold Spring: Kenneth Blatt,
Chairperson; Thomas Shuey, Vice
chairperson; Jeffrey Werner,
regular member; Clair Wagner,
first alternate; Dennis Hetrick,
second altnerate.
Jackson and Bethel Twps.: Ray
Sattazahn, chairperson; Earl
Ziegler, vice-chairperson; Dale
Maulfair, regular member; Mark
Hunsicker, first alternate; J.
Clyde Bowman, second alternate.
ASCS county and community
committees are in charge of local
administration of national farm
programs such as Agricultural
Conservation, Production Ad
justment, Wool and Milk
Programs. Last year, over 200
farmers about 20 percent of all
farmers in the county-took part in
one or more of the programs ad
ministered by ASCS committees.
Pork and
sauerkraut
(Continued from Page A2B)
giving to the fire company,”
Rodgers explained.
Andy Burger, a fire company
volunteer, has been helping with
the project for two years now. He
says he volunteers because he
wants to help the fire company.
And, he adds, “It’s a real fun day.”
Rodgers, who is in command of
the small army of volunteers, says
no one has assigned jobs. “We try
to let people do what they like to
do,” he explains. Volunteers just
help out wherever they are needed,
whether it’s in the dining room
carrying back empty plates, or in
the kitchen mashing potatoes.
The men and women work
together, with the men doing the
heavy lifting and even washing the
dishes, while the women seat and
serve the customers.
They try to have the food ready
to serve by 11 a.m., even though
they advertise that the meal begins
at noon. As soon as they are ready
and have at least 16 people in line,
the volunteers begin to serve.
The dining room seats 192 people
at a time, with 16 people to a table.
An entire table is always seated at
the same time, because the meal is
served family style. This way,
every customer is assured a fresh,
hot meal.
Since they never run out of food,
leftovers are inevitable. However,
they are quickly sold. If any pork
and sauerkraut remains, it is
easily used up during the com
pany’s bingo games.
Apparently, the fire company
volunteers have been sampling
their leftovers, since their fund-