AlO-Lancaster Fannins, Saturday, November 2,1985 NOW IS THE TIME To Observe Weed Population Now that most of the com has been harvested, we can plainly see what weeds failed to be controlled in these fields. We are seeing more of the persistent, hard-to-control weeds appearing in our crop fields during the past 10 to 12 years. In part, this is because we have changed our farming methods, particularly tillage techniques and we’re not using crop rotation in the case of continuous com. Bindweeds, horsenettle, curly dock, Canada thistle, John songrass and, yes, even woody plants such as brambles and small volunteer trees have appeared in increasing numbers. We need to note the presence of these weeds now and prepare to deal with them. When you notice a new weed, have it identified and take ap propriate control measures before that weed becomes a menacing problem. If weeds are escaping your control efforts, find out how to change your weed management program. To Winterise Small Engines Many small engines on farms and around homes will be hard to start next spring. But you can change that by properly win terizing your small engines. Here are some suggestions: CAMP HILL - The president of the Pennsylvania Farmers’ Association (PFA) urged mem bers of the state House to pass the so-called “bottle bill,” which was reported out of the House Agriculture Committee today by a 19-2 vote. “Passage of this legislation will be a benefitto all citizens,” said Keith W. Eckel, PFA president. The proposed returnable beverage container law (H.B. 479) would place a value on beverage containers in Pennsylvania, which would encourage consumers to return the containers for the deposit. The proposal would also prohibit detachable pull-tabs and non-degradable plastic packaging. PFA has been an outspoken supporter of the legislation, because of the damage discarded bottles and cans do to farm equipment and farm animals. It has been attempting to get the legislation approved for several years. “Bottles and cans produce many problems for our society, but most of them in the form of trash or litter,” Eckel said. “There are ways to use bottles and cans over and over again if the proper in centive is there. We can’t con tinually expect to find suitable land fill to dump our bottles and cans. “To any reasonable person, it seems logical to reuse the con- Comr a 7 SPEED ,-r 4 I By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent Phone 717-394-6851 • After running the engine to reach operating temperature, drain the crankcase and refill with new oil of proper weight, as specified in the operator’s manual. • Add a few teaspoons of gasoline stabilizer into the gas tank and run the engine for several minutes to make sure the additive flows throughout the fuel system. • If the engine is water cooled, be sure the anti-freeze in the cooling system is sufficient for the lowest temperature. • Remove the spark plug and poor about a tablespoon of clean oil into the cylinder. Also clean and regap the spark plug or replace with a new one. • Use an air gun to blow loose dirt and chaff from the engine. Remove and service the air cleaner. • Finally, cover the engine with a piece of canvas and store in a dry place under cover. To Eliminate Feed Waste Feed costs are one of the major items in the production of meat and milk on most farms. Under today’s market conditions, it is very important to keep feed costs to a minimum. In the case of cattle and hogs, if any money is to be made, it has to be made on the cost of gains rather than on the margin between first PFA supports bottle bill tainer if possible,” he said. “Beverage containers can be reused.” Eckel said, “The main thrust of the proposed legislation is to eliminate the need for the ever expanding landfills, thus saving citizens from increased taxes; give consumers an incentive to stop littering along our highways; save thousands of dollars in farm equipment repair and the death of farm animals; and to save our valuable resources. “ Our opponents say the proposed law will not work,” Eckel said. “We say they had better check their facts. Presently, there are other states with similar laws on the bodes and they are doing what they were intended to d0...510w down littering. I don’t know of a single state where they are at tempting to change their ‘bottle bill’ laws for a good reason; they’re working.” Seventy-nine percent of all fanners - in Pennsylvania have experienced equipment damage because of bottles and cans being caught in their machinery. This fact was revealed through a survey that was commissioned with an independent research firm by the Pennsylvania Fanner Magazine. It was the same survey which said 75 percent of the fanners experienced livestock injury or death from discarded bottles and I • If cost and selling price. Therefore, the less feed the animals eat per pound of gain, or pound of milk, the better it will be for the owner. In many cases feed is being wasted. Cracks and holes in feed troughs and feed bunks, are sure to waste feed. Improper adjustment of feeders will waste feed. Check your feeding equipment and be sure the feed is being consumed, not wasted. The winter season brings with it snow and ice storms that can damage and knock out our supply of electricity. Most farms are badly crippled without electricity, so the need for a standby generator is recognized. I know that many poultry farms in particular, already have this equipment. However, if the generator is not in good working condition, it may not do the job in an emergency. These generators should be run once a week to reassure yourself that it’s in good running condition. If it is a tractor hookup type, then take the time to make that con nection each week. When the power goes off, you don’t have time to run tests on the equipment to make sure it’s in proper working order. cans shredded into feed stuffs during harvest. “Between equipment and livestock damage, farmers lose about $37 million annually,” Eckel said. “That figure doesn’t even take into consideration the time that fanners lose in repairing equipment. “The consumer should be aware of this tremendous cost because they are the ones who must in the final analysis pay for this added cost in the form of higher grocery bills,” Eckel said. State egg output up nine percent HARRISBURG - Penn sylvania’s September egg production totaled 399 million, nearly nine percent above Sep tember 1984, according to the Pennsylvania Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. The average number of layers on hand during September 1985 was 18.7 million, compared with 16.7 million on hand a year ago. Egg production per 100 layers was 2,138 compared with 2,202 for September 1984. U.S. laying flocks produced 5.53 billion eggs during September, down one percent from thye 5.62 billion produced a year ago. To Check Standby Generators WHO BUILDS THE BARRIER? November 3,1985 Background Scripture: Romans 8. Devotional Reading: Galatians 5; 16-24. In those times when God seems absent from our lives, when it appears that he is not present to help us in our trouble or sorrow, it is customary for us to assume that he has for some reason placed a barrier between himself and ourselves. It is also customary for us to assume that the reason for his absence is his displeasure with us - something we’ve done or not done, something present in our lives that shouldn’t be there or something lacking that should be. The Psalmists frequently complained that God had forsaken them: “0 God, why dost thou cast us off forever?” (74:1). King Saul was convinced that God no longer listened to his prayers. Even Jesus cried on Calvary, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” If all of these - and more - ex perienced a barrier between God and themselves, it is not so sur prising that we have also ex perienced it. ACCORDING.!© THE FLESH Yet, the Bible seems to indicate that it is really not God who abandons us, but we who abandon him. If there is a barrier between us in of "reat need, it is Farm Calendar Monday, November 4 SE Christmas Tree Grower’s meeting, 7 p.m., Penn State Campus, Schuylkill Haven. Hog and Cattle Feeding Meeting, Cumberland Valley High School Vo-Ag Room 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 8 Lancaster Conservation District monthly board meeting, Farm and Home Center, 7:30 p.m. Pennsylvania Farmers Union annual convention, Hotel Hershey. International Arabian Horse Association Annual Con vention; Cityline Marriott, Rt. 1, Bala CynWyd; continues through Nov. 9. Thursday, November 7 Fayette County DHIA annual meeting, 7:30 p.m., Glison’s Restaurant. Lancaster County Poultry Association annual banquet, Four Seasons Restaurant, Landisville, 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 8 Keystone International Livestock Exposition, Farm Show because we have perhaps un wittingly erected it ourselves. God does not desire to separate himself from us even in the midst of our sin. One of the ways in which we build such a barrier is to focus our whole attention and being on the material side of life. Whether our hangup is fond, drink, clothing, money, our other material pleasures, stifle our spiritual selves when we fau recognize that we are both flesh and spirit. It is not that God becomes angry with us for our material preoccupation, but that these “things” erect a barrier that tends to shut him out. Thus, Paul reminded the Romans that “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (RomansB:l4). WHO IS TO CONDEMN? Another way we build a barrier between ourselves and God is by failing to really accept his forgiving grace. Although in our minds we “know” that it is through God in Christ that we are freed from out guilt, we still may live as if we don’t believe it. We act as though we are more powerful sinners than he is a Savior. So Paul reminds us in Romans, “It is God who justifies, who is to condemn?” (8:34). To live with unrelieved guilt is to actually reject the grace of God. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” asks the Apostle (8:35). His answer: Nothing or no one! “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Chirst Jesus our Lord” (8:38). Unless we ourselves build the barrier. Complex, continues through Nov. 13. 1985 Southeast Holstein Seminar, Walkersville Fire Hall, Walkersville, Md. Nittany Lion Fall Classic, Ag Arena, University Park. Pa. Livestock Association annual meeting, Harrisburg, East Sheraton. Saturday, November 9 Cumberland County Farm Women Convention, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Best Western Inn and Restaurant, Carlisle. North' American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, Kty.; continues through Nov. 22. Pa. State Beekeepers Association annual winter meeting and banquet, Country Cupboard, Lewisburg. Monday, November 11 National Grange Convention, Eugene, Ore. Tuesday, November 12 Pa. State Brown Swiss Association annual meeting, Best Western Inn, Carlisle. Wednesday, November 13 Pa. Rural Electric Association annual meeting, Harrisburg. Thursday, November 14 National FFA Convention, Kansas City, Mo.; continues through Nov. 16. Sire Power, Inc. annual meeting, Tunkhannock. Saturday, November 16 Southeast District 4-H/FFA Calf Sale, New Holland Sales Stable. Lebanon Farm City Week begins.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers