KUTZTOWN - Career changes are common in our American lifestyle as men and women seek new challenges and opportunities. But, it is rare indeed when a proposed interstate highway forces a family to abandon a successful business and find new ways to make a living. In 1960, Herbert Schick, of Kutztown R 2, was co-owner of a photo-engraving shop in Philadelphia. The business, in operation for three years, was growing and prospering. Then came the disheartening news. Shick was informed that Interstate 95 would intersect his property, thereby eliminating his business and home as well. “My wife and I had to make some decisions quickly,” Schick said. “We learned that area packing plants were importing hogs because Pennsylvania swine producers were not filling their needs. Rather than relocate the photo-engraving operation, we decided to try our luck raising hogs.” Starting with two Landrace gilts and a boar that were raised on his engraving partner’s small farm, Schick now markets over 3,000 hogs annually. The 220 sows used to produce the market swine are housed in buildings equipped with new technology, including a geothermal underfloor heating and cooling system. “The geothermal heating and cooling that replaced the wood fired hot water system is much NORTHUMBERLAND - Whether it’s to supervise the unloading of coal, sucker tomato plants or fumigate seedbeds, greenhouse operator Boyd A. Mertz, of Northumberland, RD2, thinks and acts quickly. Juggling tomatoes with geraniums, poin settias and hanging baskets in his 70,000 square feet of greenhouses requires on-the-spot decision making. “Bascially we’re in the business of producing quality goods. And, we don’t grow anything that we can’t find a market for,” Mertz said. Since 1960, when he bought his father’s interest in the greenhouse business, he steadily increased the size of the operation, first to one acre of greenhouses, and more recently to almost two acres of cropping area. “I’ve never done anything original, but I’ve copied many successful teachmques. To be successful, you must also pay attention to details like fertilizer, disease control and use of good seed varieties,” he noted. Tomatoes account for 80 percent of his greenhouse business. The season begins in mid-January when he sows certified seeds. By early February, they are usually ready to transplant into troughs. In mid-February, he sows more seeds and the transplants are placed in ground beds by the end of March. Picking begins after May 1. “We normally pick the spring greenhouse tomatoes through July. Then in August the houses are cleaned and prepared for the fall crop,” Mertz explained. “This crop is picked from mid-October through December.” Throughout the growing season, many procedures must be carried out. One tomato bed in each house is tested each week for fertility levels. Beds must be fumigated at least once a week for disease control. Also, once a week, the tomato plants are suckered. While most of Mertz’s tomatoes are sold in Now Jersey, many are marketed within a 75-mile radius Farming became second career for Herbert Schick more efficient and keeps the hogs more comfortable,” the new Master Farmer emphasized. “Air is drawn in from the outside through 10 pipes that are six feet underground. During winter, air enters the buildings at 53 degrees. In summer the air is cooled by the subterranean temperature.” Other operational changes during recent years have helped Schick to produce superior market animals that gain an average of 3.75 pounds per day. These include continued genetic improvement, a dear-span floor, do-it-yourself maintenance and a well designed ventilation system. These improvements have helped us to farrow an average of 11.4 pigs per litter. And, our weaning average is 9.4 pigs per litter,” he said. One of the surprising features of the farm is that none of the 250 tillable acres owned by Schick Farms is used to grow grain for the operation. All land is rented by a neighbor. All animal feed is pur chased. “ Buying feed saves considerable machinery and labor costs. Probably more important, it leaves more time to look after our number one priority, the pigs,” the 52-year-old Master Farmer noted. Schick’s enterprise is operated in partnership with sons Otto and Paul. Otto is in charge of the farrowing house, while Paul takes care of maintenance and crossbreeding. Herbert handles the finishing operation and An- I Juggling goods 9 big of his home. He also sells numer ous products at a roadside market which opened in 1979, mostly under the leadership of the Master Farmer’s wife Joan. This retail store is open from April through July. In addition to the two tomato crops, Mertz buys stock for 22,000 pots of geraniums in July. Cuttings are made in November and by March they are potted. Geranium sales start in mid-April. Mertz also annually sells 1,500 hanging baskets, including im patiens, faschia, Swedish ivy and wandering jew. These he starts in mid-January. “They’re in good bloom by Mother’s Day,” he pointed out. For another seasonal crop, he grows 6,000 poinsettias. They are grown in single, two, three and four-plant pots. These are usually ready for market by Thanksgiving Day. Mertz returned to the family’s greenhouse business after working nine years as a chemical engineer. “I didn’t see any future in that career. Still, the engineering ex perience was helpful. It taught me how to think logically,” he said. One of his major costs is heating the 70,000 square feet of greenhouses. His fuel bill is $40,000 per acre. It requires more than 350 tons of coal each year to meet the growing temperature during the fall, winter and spring. Jeffrey Mizer, Extension hor ticulture agent, said that Mertz manages to make his operation more profitable and efficient every day. One technique he’s working on is bag culture. In addition to managing the greenhouse operation, the Master Farmer serves as an industry and community leader. He is president of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers’ Association and past president of the Northumberland Lions Club. He also is a member of the Pennsylvania Horticulture Council, Pennsylvania Farmers’ namarie, the Master Farmer’s wife, is bookkeeper. “Finding new markets is the major challenge we face since our principal buyer, A and B Packing Company, of Allentown, went out of business recently,” Schick said. “Our one advantage is closeness to urban markets. But without packers, we lose that quickly to the big midwestern producers.” The road to one of the East’s top swine producers has been un conventional. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Schick attended vocational-technical school for pattemmaking. Finding jobs scare in this field, he took a job as a sheet metal worker. Two years later he became an errand boy and later an apprentice in a photo-engraving shop. Following service in the U.S. Navy, he again worked as an engraver until he had an op portunity to purchase his own business. “Growing up in the city and wanting to become a farmer isn’t easy. There’s so much to learn, in fact, I’m still learning,” Schick said. In 1960, Schick moved to the present farm in eastern Berks County. At that time he had 13 gilts, decendents of the original two gilts and boar he raised on his engraving partner’s farm. “Herb Schick gives unselfishly of his time helping others in his community and county,” said Herbert Wetzel, Berks County Extension director. Schick promoted Farm-City Week ac- part of Boyd Mertz 9 greenhouses Favorite seasonal plants li poinsettias and mums require juggling and fast action by Boyd Mertz of Northumberland R 2, shown above in one of his Northumberland County greenhouses. Association, Point Township Fire Company, American Legion and UNIVERSITY PARK - A new publication on calf and heifer housing is now available to dairy farmers. Special Circular 303, “Calf and Heifer Housing,’* provides complete information about types of housing that meet the needs of the different age groups of calves and heifers. “A good calf and heifer housing facility,” say Penn State authors c ~*■» U'i* New heifer Herbert Schick of Kutztown R 2 was a photo-engraver before he began a second career as a Berks County hog farmer. tivities and served as a 4-H club leader. He also is active in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s meat marketing program. He was honored as Penn sylvania’s first Pork All-American in 1970 and Pennsylvania Livestock Man of the Year in 1982. Schick is secretary-treasurer of Sunbury Zion Lutheran Church. auditor, judge of elections, and on Mertz served as township the Northumberland school board. housing circular released *>». jtioueii E. Graves, Extension Agricultural Engineer, and Dr. A.J. Heinrichs, Extension Dairy Specialist, “can help provide well grown replacement animals ready to enter the milking herd at 24 months of age.” The circular describes and pictures facilities to house animals from birth to freshening, with specific requirements for seven age groups. Pen area, feed bunk the Pennsylvania Pork Producers’ Council, past state director of the National Pork Producers’ Council, and member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Pork Producers’ Association, Pennsylvania Livestock Association, Penn sylvania Farmers’ Association and Greenwich Township Planning Commission. length, free stall size and other specifications for each group are clearly listed. In addition, the circular lists the calf and heifer housing plans that are currently available through Penn State. For a free copy of Special Cir cular 303, “Calf and Heifer Housing,” contact your county Extension office.
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