VOL. 30 No. 24 Looking over the official proclamation designating next week as Grange Week are, from left, state Senate Minority Chairman Edward Zemprelli, State Grange Master Charles Wismer and the President pro-tern of the Senate, Robert Jubelirer. Grange Week hegtltt Sunday HARRISBURG - Citing the important role that Pennsylvania granges have played in the state’s rich agricultural heritage, Governor Dick Thornburgh proclaimed April 21-27 as “Penn sylvania State Grange Week.” The observance coincides with a nationwide celebration that spans all 41 grange states across the nation. Local grange chapters throughout the Commonwealth will celebrate Grange Week with mall exhibitis, open house events, media events and other activities. On the state level, the Penn sylvania State Grange will host members of the state general assembly for a legislative banquet on April 23 at the Penn Harris Motor Inn, Camp Hill. Grange members from across the state will stress the organization’s legislative goals to their legislators, including curbing foreign investment in Penn- One exhibitor takes time out to relax at the Maryland State Holstein Show last weekend in Timonium. For complete coverage of the event, turn to page A2B. Five Sections sylvania agriculture; requiring deposits on all beverage bottles and cans; providing payment protection for poultry farmers; and taking measures to ensure rural clean water. In designating Grange Week, Thornburgh said, “Since the Grange was founded (in Penn sylvania) in 1873, its members have dedicated themselves to improving farming and rural life in the interest of all Penn sylvanians. Pennsylvania recognizes the important services provided by this grassroots organization. The Grange main tains standards of productivity and patriotism Co ensure that Penn sylvania agriculture keeps growing better and that rural America remains vibrant.” State Grange Master Charles Wismer said Mercer County has one of the best county-wide Grange (Turn toPageA33) INSIDE this week’s Lancaster Farming Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 20,1985 Milk production up 1.1% BY JAMES H. EVERHART U.S. milk production m March jumped 1.1 percent over March 1983 figures, leading dairy experts to predict dire consequences for the dairy economy. The unexpected jump, which occurred in the last month of the paid diversion program, could mark the beginning of a feared “spring flush,” experts noted. A marked increase in produc tion, they said, could drive down prices, force some producers out of business and cloud dairy policy for years to come. Most importantly, it might mean that dairy producers will face a hostile U.S. Congress later this year when dairy policy is up for review. USDA’s statistics indicate that most of the production increase could be traced to unproved production per cow, according to a USDA official. Cow numbers last month, he said, were almost exactly the same as they were in March 1983, though they did increase significantly over levels reported earlier this year. Pennsylvania’s production was up about 2.6 percent, Maryland’s climbed a whopping 8 percent and MARCH PRODUCTION 1.1% Ag in the classroom Elementary students in two Lancaster County school districts were enthusiastic participants in Ag in the Classroom programs this month. For photos of the kids and a story about the farmers who volunteered their time to make this program work, turn to page 814. New York’s remained the same. Production m Federal Order 4 climbed an estimated 3.1 percent, officials added. “It’s obvious that, as dairy diversion came to a close, production was on the increase,” the USDA spokesman said. When asked if the production rise im plied a trend was forming, he said, “it just indicates we’re back to business as usual.” Earlier, experts had predicted that production would rise a modest 1 to 2 percent after the paid diversion plan ended April 1. And though most said it’s still too Pennsylvanian named National Ayrshire Boy JANESVILLE, Wis. - A Somerset County youth earned the National Ayrshire Boy title at the 110th annual convention of the National Ayrshire Breeders’ Association, held April 10-13 in Janesville, Wis David Paul, Garratt, competed with six national youth finalists to win the award. A Pennsylvania Ayrshire yearling also topped the National Ayrshire Sale on Saturday, April 13 Ardrossan Lib Evermore, a yearling heifer, sold for $4,200 to a Wisconsin Ayrshire breeder. Paul owns 15 Ayrshires and has been successful in the junior show circuit in Pennsylvania. The 20- year-old youth farms in part nership with his parents on their home farm in Garratt. “I bought my first Ayrshire in New Enterprise, from Erica Swemhart, when I was a freshman in high school,” said Paul. “Everyone had Holstems, so I had to be different.” But, Paul mentioned, his dad had shown Ayrshires when he was an FFA student, too. Today the Paul York Holstein Tour York Holstein breeders took a look at some outstanding in vestor cattle and high production family herds on their annual spring tour last week. For complete coverage of the tour, turn to Joyce Bupp’s story on page A2O. $7.50 per year soon to know for sure, they now say those figures may have to be revised upward as high as 2 to 4 percent. “It does look as though there is more upward pressure on production than we anticipated,” said James Fraher, economist for Inter-State Milk Producers. The co-op, he said, had noticed significant increases in the milk marketed by individual producers. In March, he said, producers sold an average of 200 pounds more milk per day, “a much larger (Turn to Page A 32) David W. Paul family’s dairy operation consists of 155 Holstems and 15 Ayrshires, but Paul says he would like to build up the Ayrshire numbers so the herd is half and half, Holstems and Ayrshires. Paul’s 1984 Ayrshire herd average stood at 14,735 pounds Rulk at 4.2 percent test. He has (Turn to PageA33) Kids romp on Century Farm Lancaster County farmers Robert and Grace Lichty opened their century farm to several groups of preschool children this week. The children had the op portunity to romp in the haymow and enjoy spring flowers while learning about farming. Complete coverage of their excursion is on page 824.
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