AlO-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, October 5,1985 NOW IS THE TIME To Manage Horizontal Silos Most of our permanent silos are filled, but we do have some livestock and dairy producers that need to store silage in temporary structures. In many cases this is a trench or a bunker silo, mostly above ground. In these cases, it is very im portant to keep out excess water and air from the silage mass. This will require tightening down the plastic cover week by week as the silage settles. Also, surface water should be drained away from the silage area. There are cases where the black plastic is flapping in the wind during fall months. This will usually result in large amounts of spoiled silage. To Salute 4-H National 4-H Week runs through the week of Oct. 6to 12.1 wish to commend the over 3,500 4-H members, volunteer leaders and professional youth workers for their accomplishments and service to Lancaster County. Through 4-H projects and ac tivities, youth from all social and economic backgrounds, both rural and urban, demonstrate that they can make a difference in food production and conservation of our natural resources; improve economic understanding, and make future career decisions. Ten countries buy 60% of U.S. ag exports WASHINGTON - Just 1U countries bought nearly 60 percent of the $3B billion worth of U.S. agricultural exports last year. According to the Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service, sales to 10 countries ac counted for about 80 percent of our feed grain exports, by value, more than 60 percent of the wheat, 78 percent of the soybeans, and 78 percent of the cotton shipped. International economist Steve MacDonald notes in a recent National Food Review article that “most of the buyers were also on the list 5 years earlier, but there have been some shifts. The United Kingdom and Italy have been replaced by Egypt and Spain. Mexico, Korea, and Taiwan in creased their shares.” East Buys West Japan has been the largest customer for many years, con sistently buying more than twice what others do from this country. Japan accounts for 20-30 percent of U.S. fruit, soybean, tobacco, cotton, and feed grain exports. MacDonald credits rising incomes in Japan for increasing demand for meat, which meant the expanding livestock and poultry sectors were faced with importing 70 percent of their feed needs, of which about 80 * a,, ***** m -‘'‘- UNCLE or/S , HAVE YOO By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent Phone 717-394-6851 As a result ot the tine exchange programs, 4-H also contributes to international understanding and increased world food production. Four-H provides an important pathway to the future for many youth. To Beware of Spiny Pigweed in Pasture Redroot or redroot pigweed is a common, easily recognized annual weed in gardens and cultivated fields. We are now seeing the first cousin of this weed—spiny red root—appearing in many areas of the county. If you do not know what spiny redroot looks like, you can tell quickly what it feels like by carefully rubbing your fingers along the stem. Two needle-sharp spines occur at the juncture of each leaf with the stem. These spines prevent all grazing animals from eating these plants. Consequently, we are seeing tremendous numbers of these weeds appearing in many upland pastures along cow paths, in open spaces or loafing areas. Some have been found in alfalfa fields, a bad situation. These weeds now have mostly red stems and can easily be spotted. The plants should be cut before heading out and going to seed. For control, use Banvel or any of percent comes from the United States. Together with Japan, Taiwan and Korea bought about 40 percent of all U.S. feed grain exports in 1984, compared with 27 percent in 1979; and 33 percent of the soybeans, up from 28 percent. The three countries also took about half of the U.S. cotton exports and a quarter of the tobacco, about the same as 5 years earlier. “From 1979 to 1984, these countries in creased their share of all U.S. farm exports from 23 to 27 percent, with wheat the only major product declining,” says MacDonald. EC Buys Less "Die share of agricultural exports going to four major European Community customers fell from 18 to 13 percent over the 1979-84 period, the National Food Review article points out. Sales to the largest EC customer, the Netherlands, declined 7 percent, and sales were off 15 percent to West Germany. The United Kingdom and Italy fell out of the top 10 category because imports of U.S. products slipped 27 and 17 percent, respectively. In 1979, the Netherlands, West Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy bought $5.9 billion worth NOPE I BUT WNEA/ *v\ the 2-4 D type herbicides. You can spot spray the plants now but the best time would be just about the time in May when com planting time is over. The important thing is to spray the pasture. A second application to Mil late appearing weed seedlings would likely be needed. Always follow label in structions when applying any pesticide. To Sow A Fall Cover Crop Our concern for soil con servation should include a cover crop following tobacco, com or other row crops. This is an ex cellent practice and we encourage all farmers to keep their land covered with some vegetation during the winter months. The cover crop could be any winter grain crop or domestic ryegrass and field bromegrass. Then next spring the growth can be pastured early and then plowed down or used in a no-till grain operation. Cover crops not only add organic matter but help to hold the topsoil during the winter months. They are well worth the investment. You need to be aware that some herbicides such as atrazine and simazine applied at the higher rates, will affect germination, but if used at one pound of actual material per acre, will be safe. of U.S. agricultural products, including $795 million in feed grains, $260 million in food grains, and $2.1 billion in oilseeds. The four nations purchased 62 percent of our exports of feed and fodder (excluding oilcake), and over a third of U.S. soybean exports that year. “Last year exports to these four customers dropped to $5 billion because of the slowdown in the EC’s economic growth to about 1 percent and an agricultural policy that stimulates domestic production by guaranteeing farm prices above world market levels,” says MacDonald. At $1.4 billion in 1984, oilseeds comprised the largest share of U.S. exports to the four major EC buyers (typically outselling grains 4 to 1 in value) because of high domestic grain prices, the absence of import levies on oilseeds and products and other nongrain feeds, and Europe’s need for high protein feeds. China Feeds Its Own China, while not one of the top ten, nonetheless has been a for midable market in recent years, according to MacDonald. Trade with China developed as tensions eased in the 1970’s and blossomed in the early 1980’s when its policy CONDEMNATION OR CONSECREATION? October 6,1985 Background Scripture: 1 Timothy 1; 4; Titus 2:1-5. Devotional Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Lots of people find 1 Timothy 4:1,2 a handy proof-text, “...in latter times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared...” So, many Christians are “big” on “deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” For them, the essence of Christianity is the condemnation of such “spirits and doctrines.” But one must read further in Timothy to get the true import of the message. For the writer of 1 Timothy goes on to speak, not to condemning “deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” but of consecrating all of life; “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (4:4,5). TRAINING IN GODLINESS The heart of Christianity, therefore, is consecreation, not condemnation. It is to affirm the Farm Calendar Monday, October 7 Hollidaysburg Community Fair, Hollidaysburg; continues through Oct. 10. Manheim Community Fair,'- Manheim; continues through Oct. 11. Annual Meeting, Pa. Association of Conservation District Direc tors, Treadway Inn, Lancaster. Bradford County PFA annual meeting, Wysox Fire Hall, 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 8 Cattle and hog feeders meeting, 7:30 p.m., Blue Ball School. Call 354-4525. encouraged imports. U.S. sales to China climbed from $lOl million in 1975 to $2.2 billion in 1980; however, a 50-percent increase in domestic output since 1979 cut its need for imports from here to only $692 million in 1984. “Cotton and corn accounted for over one-half of 1979 U.S. farm exports to China, which is now a competing exporter of these products, as well as soybeans,” states MacDonald. “Although wheat production has reached record levels, internal tran sportation problems force con tinuing imports. The United States (Turn to Page Al 2) WH£ A/ 1 DIDN'T /*/aa 'Right iVV •'V goodness of God’s creation, not to condemn the evil in the world. Of course, there is evil. Of course, there are “deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” But the way to respond is by “accentuating the positive,” not dwelling on the negative. The best way to combat evil has always been, not to fight the evil, but to make the good work. If Christians spent half as much f demonstrating the goodness ot ttic spel as m fighting against “false teachii they would find the latter quite unnecessary. The “false teachings” of which the writer of Timothy is speaking hold that the world is essentially an evil place. In the time when this letter was written, many preached against such “worldly” pursuits of marriage. Anything that was derived from the world was “evil ” THANKSGIVING FOR CREATION But that is not the way the writer of 1 Timothy sees the world: “For everything created by God is g00d...” That is an earthshaking statement, and one that must be ignored if we are to believe that the world is “evil” and that Christians must hold themselves aloof from it. We cannot believe in the goodness of God’s creation if we hold that the world is evil. What this means is that God creates everything for good. But there is much in this world that can be used for evils. Our purpose as Christians, then, should be to use everything in this world as the gift God intended it to be. That means putting the world to good use. And one can do that, not by con demnation, but by consecration receiving it with thanksgiving and hallowing it with prayer. Thursday, October 10 Unionville Community Fair, Unionville; continues through Oct. 12. Mercer County Feeder Calf Sale, Mercer Livestock Auction, 7:30 p.m. Pa. National Horse Show, Farm Show Complex. Harrisburg. Monday, October 14 Advertising and Promotion Agency, Middle Atlantic Milk Marketing Area annual meeting, Baltimore. Continues through Oct. 15. Tuesday, October 15 National meeting on Poultry ' - Health and Condemnations, Carousel Hotel, Ocean City, Md. Pa. Women in Ag Day, 10:30 a.m., Holiday Inn, Harrisburg. Dairylea Annual Meeting, Syracuse, NY. Continues tomorrow. Annual Meeting, Butler Farm Credit Service, Quality Inn, Butler. Wednesday, October 16 Annual Meeting, Penn’s Agri- Women, Harrisburg. World Food Day. Thursday, October 17 Dillsburg Community Fair, Dillsburg. Continues through 0ct.19. Annual Meeting, Meadville Farm Credit Service, Saegertown Sr. High School. Annual Meeting, Bedford Farm Bureau Co-op Association, St Thomas Catholic School, Bedford. Annual Meeting, Pa. Veterinary Medical Association, Host Farm Resort, Lancaster. Saturday, October 19 Adams County 4-H Dairy Club banquet, 7 p.m., Bonneauville Fire Hall.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers