AlO-Lanowter Fanatic, Saturday, April 13,1985
NOW IS THE TIME
To Start Grazing Gradually
With the amount of moisture in
the soil this spring, warm weather
will bring growth very rapidly in
most pasture areas.
This will also be true with
producers that are planning to
graze winter grains such as rye or
barley.
The herd or flock should be
controlled at first, and not allowed
on the area for more than a half
hour; bloating and scouring may
result if they consume too much of
the lush forage the first few days.
Also, it’s best to feed the animals
some dry matter such as silage,
hay or straw before turning them
out to pasture the first few times.
Dairy farmers should keep
milking cows from the grazing
area at least 4 to 5 hours before the
milking period.
To Consider Others
This is the time of year when
relations become a bit strained
between farmers and non-farm
residents of the rural community.
This does not have to be this way
if each person tries to understand
the feelings and intentions of the
other person. When livestock and
poultry waste is spread on the
farm land, which is an excellent
practice, some people think they
are going to be permanently in
jured by the odors.
Farm Calendar
Saturday, April 13
Maryland State Holstein Show,
Cow Classes, Tunomum, 10
a.m. •"
Benefit auction for Dauphin Co.
Agriculture and Natural
Resources Center, Gratz
Fairgrounds, 9:30a.m.
Tuesday, April 16
York Farmers Forum April
meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Moser’s
Restaurant.
Potato ban extended in upstate New York
WASHINGTON - An additional
area of upstate New York has been
included under federal regulations
to prevent the spread of the golden
nematode, a destructive pest of
potato crops, according to a U.S.
Department of Agriculture of
ficial.
“Monitoring by USDA and state
personnel indicates the golden
nematode has spread beyond its
former boundaries in upstate New
York,” said Bert W. Hawkins,
administrator of USDA’s Animal
and Plant Health Inspection
Service. “To help prevent further
cornep *
DRuCtU
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
Phone 717-394-6851
When farmers understand the
possible reactions from others in
the community, they should at
tempt to spread this waste on fast
drying days and then incorporate it
into the topsoil just as soon as
possible.
On the other hand, non-farm
people should understand this
practice is a part of modern far
ming and a part of rural living. It
may be unpleasant for a short
time, but as far as I know, rural
odors have never been proven to be
health hazards. We hope everyone
tries to understand the needs and
cares of others.
To Manage Alfalfa Stands
With nearly every species of
livestock, the feeding of top quality
alfalfa hay or silage is highly
recommended. At dairy meetings
we hear how good alfalfa is in the
ration, and at sheep meetings we
leam that good alfalfa hay is the
backbone of the ewe feeding
program.
Alfalfa meal is often used as a
source of protein in other rations.
It all adds up to the fact that alfalfa
is one of our most important forage
crops.
Every farmer should make a
special effort to produce
maximum amounts per acre. This
takes management along with
Wednesday, April 17
York Co. ASCS Spring Banquet, 7
p.m. at Spnngettsbury Fire
Hall.
Thursday, April 18
Annual Fund Raising Banquet, Pa.
Poultry Federation, Hershey
Convention Center.
Commercial Fruit Growers
Meeting, 7:30 p.m., York
spread, part of Livingston County,
N.Y., has been added to those
areas already regulated. ”
The golden nematode is a small
worm that attacks the roots of
Irish potatoes and a few other
plant species. Golden nematode
infestations can drastically reduce
yield and even destroy an entire
potato crop if unchecked. The
nematode’s range currently is
confined to parts of upstate New
York and Long Island.
Hawkins said the golden
nematode is the most serious pest
threat to the U.S. potato industry.
THANK
you
OTIS.
proper lime, fertilizer, insect and
disease control.
Since we are now at the begin
ning of another cropping season,
more attention to alfalfa might
benefit many farmers. Don’t be
satisfied with a poor stand. The
crop is worthy of our best effort.
Trees are a very important part
of our landscape, this is true in the
urban areas as well as in the rural
areas. This time of year is best
suited for planting all kinds of
trees.
Some are used for landscape
purposes; some for shade and
some for windbreaks. Trees are
important to our environment and
they add grace and beauty to many
areas.
Trees provide shelter for many
kinds of birds and wildlife, as well
as the ability to conserve soil and
moisture.
If you desire to plant trees,' it
should be done before hot weather
arrives. Trees should be moved
with a ball of soil wrapped in
burlap. After planting be sure to
keep the soil moist throughout the
summer. Be a tree planter, you’ll
feel better for it.
The Penn State Extension Service is an
affirmative action, equal opportunity
educational institution
' *5
County Extension Office
Saturday, April 20
Little International at Penn State
Sheep Industry tour, continues
through Thursday.
1085 NASDA National Food and
Agriculture Exposition, Kansas
City.
“In orer to protect uninfested
potato-producing areas, federal
regulations prohibit the interstate
movement of potatoes, soil and
other items that could harbor the
pest from infested areas,” he said.
Regulated areas now include all
or part of Cayuga, Genesee,
Livingston, Nassau, Orleans,
Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Wayne
and Yates counties in New York.
Sections of Livingston county now
included in thq regulated area are
the towns of Avon, Caledonia,
Geneseo, Groveland, Leicester,
Lima, Livonia, Mount Morris,
West Sparta and York.
To Plant Trees
Monday, April 22
'CAUSE HE JO
A couple or
TRANQUIL/.
BLOOD PRE
THOMAS THE
COURAGEOUS
April 14,1985
Background Scripture:
John 20:24 through 21; 25.
Devotional Reading:
John 21; 1-14.
I think the Apostle Thomas has
had to take a bum rap from fellow
Christians across the years.
Although I have known of a few
churches named St. Thomas, he is
much more widely known as
“Doubting Thomas.” Whenever
his name comes up, Christians are
apt to respond with a dismissing
smile or self-nghteous disdain. If
he is held up as an example, it is
almost always as a negative one.
Everyone remembers that he
refused to accept the testimony of
his fellow apostles, saying:
“Unless I see in his hands the print
of the nails, and place my finger in
the mark of the nails, and place my
hand m his side, I will not believe.”
Some Christians also remember
that, when Jesus proposed to go up
to Jerusalem after the death of
Lazarus, Thomas was pessimistic
about the outcome (John 11:16).
They may also recall that when
Jesus said to his disciples, “And
you know the way where I am
going,” Thomas protested, “Lord,
we do not know where you are
going; how can we know the way?”
(14:5).
LET’S GO!
What we may forget is that, even
though he was fearful of the out
come of going to Jerusalem, it was
OUR READERS WRITE,
AND OTHER OPINIONS
State Grange head, backs RCMA
I am concerned about the future
of our Pennsylvania diary far
mers.
The milk support price is
scheduled to drop to $11.60 later
this year. That would bring the
price down to 1979 levels. In the
meantime, costs of production and
costs of living in general continue
to rise at the rate of 3 to 4 percent a
year.
To a dairy farmer, a 50-cent drop
in the support price will mean a
decrease of 65 cents an hour from
March, 1985 prices. It a farmer
sells 50,000 lbs, of milk a month, he
will receive $325 less in the month’s
milk check. At 100,000 lbs., that
means $650 per month less in in
come.
In federal order 4, the milk price
has already dropped 77 cents per
cwt. from January to May, 1985.
But thoro is one bright spot on the
horizon. Dairymen now have a
chance to help themselves get a
better price for milk by joining the
Regional Cooperative Marketing
Agency (RCMA). RCMA has been
called a “super cooperative” that
Thomas who said, “Let us also go,
that we may die with him.” And in
John 14, it was Thomas’ challenge
to Jesus that occasioned Jesus
immortal words: “I am the way,
and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father, but by me”
(14:6). And, when the Resurrected
Christ appears to him in John 20, it
is Tho r ' sponse that is the
most ringing ol <ni oimitments;
“My Lord and my Goa!” (20.f"'
I think that, on these grounds,
this much-maligned apostle is just
as deserving of the title,
“Courageous Thomas,” as he is
“Doubting Thomas.” To me it is
not so important that he en
tertained skeptical questions in his
mind, but that he overcame his
skepticism and put his life on the
line in a manner that served as an
example for those who found it
easier to say “Christ is Lord,” than
to act as if it were so.
FAITH AT WORK
Some of the other apostles found
it relatively easy to put their faith
into words, but Thomas is ex
ceptional because he turned his
questions into positive actions that
should speak louder than his
words. Actually, I wouldn’t call
Thomas a “Doubter” as much as I
would a “Questioner” and that
could very well make him the
patron saint of our age. Today,
with the advent of science and high
technology, people have more, not
fewer questions. Just as the
Gospels do not tell us that Jesus
ever rebuked Thomas’ questions,
so I would not chastise those who
have the courage to ask the hard
questions that must be asked. Hard
questions generally produce better
answers.
Lots of people have “all the right
answers,” but live as if they are
untrue. I’ll take the Thomases of
this world who ask hard questions,
and live courageous answers.
is organizing throughout the
northeast to bargain for over-order
prices for milk. Its membership is
made up of both independent and
cooperative farmers. Many major
-dairy cooperatives in the north
eastern states have already joined
the effort.
RCMA is seeking to sign up 95
percent of all dairy farmers in the
northeast after which it would
bargain for over-order prices so
dairy farmers can maintain some
sort of income. There are no dues
for RCMA and no assessments
Normal operating costs
(averaging one-half cent per cwt.)
would be deducted from the over
order price collected from han
dlers and returned to the farmer.
I don’t see higher milk prices
coming out of the 1985 Farm Bill
with the Administration planning
to scale down its involvement in
the dairy price support program. If
dairy farmers don’t take the
initiative to help themselves, they
can be assured of lower prices in
1985-1986.
As a dairy farmer myself, I know
how hard it is to make the milk
check reach. I urge all independent
dairy farmers to join RCMA as
they are contacted by dairy far
mers in their counties. Let’s all
work together for better milk
prices.
Charles E. Wismer, Jr.
Master
PA State Grange