E26-Umcaster Farming, Saturday, January 11,1985 Pay attention to market , experts say COLLEGE PARK, MD - Anyone who produces food or fiber is not finished marketing then product until it ends up in the trash bin or somebody’s cesspool, says John R. Martin. Martin, a'Washington County hog farmer and orchardist, says Maryland fanners need to work harder to sell their product and educate the consumer. As the Maryland Pork Producers’ official pig promoter, he echos what economists at the University of Maryland say about the future of agriculture in the state. Farmers need to look at new ways to diversify and sell their products as the Maryland coun tryside slowly gives way to suburbia, the economists says. They may have to change production levels or use new marketing techniques to maintain agriculture’s stable financial condition in the state. Small changes are the key, says Jarvis Cain, an Extension Service marketing specialist at the university. He says no one, single change will save Maryland far mers from future financial problems. “It’s going to be bits and pieces,” Cain says. “That’s how Marylnd agriculture is going to continue to prosper.” Selling produce directly to the consumer is one way farmers can diversify their markets, Cain says. This direct marketing concept has been proposed for many years, but he adds that it takes a “special kind of personality” to sell a product this way. But if farmers are to survive through direct marketing, knowledge of the product and its effect on consumers must be mixed with a good campaign and willingness to provide high quality, Cain and Martin say. Only a limited number of people in specific situations can make a reasonable living with direct HIAWATHA FASTENERS I If) 6261 E. TAFT RD., NORTH SYRACUSE, NY 13212 Sf/ PHONE: (315) 452-0033 4th Annual January Sale Purchase Your Bolts and Nuts . BYTHEPOUND By Phone or Mail /^H|K7 WE SHIP UPS rv\»'° Hex Bolts Wa|hers(USS Flat Washers) Nuts Carriage Bolts (including SAE fine thread) Over 6” long Carr &Gr 2 SAE Flat Washers Vi" thru 1 'A Fender Washers Lock Washers Machine Screw Washers 06 #8 #lO o Grade 5 Hex Bolts USS Grade 5 Hex Bolts SAE Grade 8 Hex Bolts USS Grade 8 Hex Bolts SAE Plow Bolts M 3 head Grade 5 PllPi Plow Bolts Clipped Head 270 Hex Lag Screws Woodscrews Phillips Flat Head Sheet Metal Screws Machine Screws Cotter Pins Drywall Screws f<* e o C S>' e Business Hours; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.'Daily Summer Schedule: April thru Oct. a.m. to 1 p.m. CALL YOUR ORDER IN COLLECT! marketing, Cain says. But marketing is not the only way to save Maryland agriculture from future financial woes, he adds. Other changes are needed. Cain says possible declines in dairy and tobacco industry profits are the main reasons Maryland farmers need to diversify. As the suburban work force seeks homes in rural areas, Maryland tobacco and dairy farmers could profit by changing to other crops or selling their land for development, economists says. Cain says some farmers could do well by selling fresh products to their new neighbors. But whatever way is chosen will take work, he adds. “We already know enough about our products to get in trouble.” Martin says. “Learn something about getting out of trouble through encouraging con- MIDDLETOWN - Penn State University and Pennsylvania Bakers Association will be presenting a series of seminars on baking technology starting January 27th. The seminar will be held in the Continuing Education Building at PSU’s Capitol Campus in Middletown from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PSU’s Food Science Department will be leading the sessions with seven professors coming from the Main Campus. The first seminar will be an overview of the next three seminars and will cover topics such as: functionality of ingredients, quality control, sanitation, and microbiology. The seminars will be beneficial to anyone involved in baking in a bakery, deli, restaurant, or hotel. The cost of $lO5 per seminar in cludes all text materials and lunch. For more information contact Ron Melchoirre at Capitol Cam- 50 Ton To Choose From Seminor set on baking Sale Price Price Per Pound Irif) iaq hes 1.50 1 35 1.85 1 85 i-35 1 65 90 1 15 1 15 2.50 2.70 2 10 1 65 200 .2-70 1 65 200 2-70 2 50 2.50 sumption.” The pork producer says im proving consumer awareness of the benefits of using fresh farm products is necessary to increase sales. This may require more special promotions such as the Dairy Council’s “Fitness You Can Drink” campaign or changing products to meet consumer demands, he says. Martin adds that most farmers don’t know what is good for them in terms of marketing. With a little imagination and some basic public relations skills, the farmer can turn even the most common or popular crop into something special for the consumer. Talking to the consumer can help, the pork promoter says. He and Cain agree that it’s going to take new ideas and the revision of some old ones if Maryland farmers are to survive in changing times. pus, Continuing Education, 717-948- 6275. Eliminate Fencing Problems with ARC 12 Solar Fencing High Tensile Wire - • Eliminates fence sagging • No staples or wire clips • Adjustable enclosed spring assembly for each wire • Optional site rails™ • Optional Arc 110 Volt multi wire unit • Installed by trained dealers • Fully guaranteed by warranty SOLAR FENCING CO. 1-800-247-8150 or KEYSTONE SOLAR FENCE RD 2, Box 148 Watsontown, PA 17777 717-649-5321 dairy farmers.... Stop In For A Visit At Our Farm Show Booth N 22 & N 23 ~ MILK PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION. INC. Kinne Road, Syracuse, New York 13214 315/446-0730 John Deere to buy Canadian firm MOLINE, IL Deere & Com pany and The Versatile 'Cor poration of Vancouver, 8.C., Canada, announced that they have reached a tentative agreement under which Deere & Company would acquire Versatile’s agricultural equipment manufacturing operations and its marketing operations in North America. The agreement is sub ject to successful negotiation of a final agreement and approval of government bodies in the U.S. and Canada. Under this proposal Deere would also acquire Versatile’s agricultural retail credit operations. The manufacturing operations consist of a factory located in Winnipeg, Man., which makes large four-wheel-drive and bi directional tractors, windrowers and pull-type combines. Also in cluded is a factory located in Nobleford, Alberta, Canada, which produces a line of drills and cultivators designed for the western prairie area of the two countries. This acquisition would provide Deere with several new products it does not currently manufacture including bi-directional tractors, certain models of windrowers, and a model of a pull-type combine. It would increase the sales potential of the Winnipeg and Nobleford factories. It is expected that assembly of large four-wheel-drive tractors would be concentrated in the Winnipeg operation which would use a number of components manufactured in Deere’s Waterloo, lowa, operations. Deere says it would expect to continue the distribution of the Versatile product line through the existing Versatile dealers as well as a differentiated line of products through Deere dealers. Versatile, whose other lines include shipbuilding, energy, and cold storage warehousing, had sales of $629.6 million (Canadian) in 1984. Deere’s fiscal 1985 sales were $4.1 billion (U.S.). SPECIAL New 20 Gal. 2 HP PORTABLE COMPRESSORS $347.00. WMt Thy Utt • Curtis-Toledo • DeVilbiss • Atlas-Copco • Speed Air • Joy Rotary Screw • Airline Equipment • Engineered Hydraulic Systems Aftercoolers, Air Dryers, Filters, Regulators, Lubricators, Air Hoses, Quick Couplers, Air Cylinders Machine And Welding Service EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE Call STAUFFER'S MACHINE SHOP RD 3, Ephrata, Pa. Phone (717) 7334128 V« Mile South of Rt. 322 on Pleasant Valley Rd., Ephrata Exit New Rt. 222 • Hydraulic Motors & Pumps • MD Pneumatic Positive Displace ment Blowers • Stauffer Air Operated Water Pumps