84-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, February 22,1986 On being ffk a farm wife I^ -And Joyce Bupp Gee whiz. Seems everyone I talk with lately is into computers. And I get lots of suggestions that a computer would probably be beneficial in our office. Given the ongoing ag cash flow crunch, it would likely tell us we can’t afford high-tech, disk-drive hardware. Still, with all the mumble-jumble of ag trends and economic un certainties spinning around in our heads, a computer to sort them out might make sense. As it is, all they do is muddle up my thoughts; and dwell on these depressing facts can soon lead to a headache. Let’s look at some of the input data we might run through a computer trying to figure out where farmers are headed: punch in surpluses, imports, reduced exports, rising costs, falling prices, projected tight-belt federal budgets, dairy herd buyouts and a deficit-slashing white knight named Gramm-Rudman. 7IMMERMAN ■sssp:« 717-354-9611 MANUFACTURING CORP. CALL FOR PRICES AND YOUR LOCAL DEALER AIR-O-MATIC VENTILATION SYSTEMS ■ Wall Fan With Hood And Cabinet Rugged, Heavy Duty WAGON GEAR ZIMMERMAN AUGER SYSTEMS FOR EMPTYING MANURE PITS Efficient Economical and requires less Horsepower than most systems Jbir - ' -AT Portable Stationary Now input this additional data: a government policy to promote plentiful cheap food, and an off the-wall trade policy that denied our excess production to other countries we want to punish...who then go elsewhere, and leave us with even fatter bins. Feed in this, too, on our problem solving disc: We want, we need, we must have, soil conservation. So we set up a Conservation Reserve. Enter the data that shows farmers who live on the land they till practice better conservation. Then, input the numbers that show farmers losing their land to financial stress, high interest, loss of trade, and additional statistics relating the amount of land being taken over by larger entities, many of them foreign investment operations, who may not give two hoots about saving soils. Add federal proposed budget data; a USDA budget proposed 48” High-Volume Portable Cooling Fan AIL with a 17 percent cut. Key in that a full third of that budget is for the food stamp, nutrition and feeding programs and nutritional aid to Puerto Rico. Enter further budget cuts to such items as conservation, and farmer and rural education through extension. Next, let’s punch in the defense budget: a 37.8 percent boost in funding over the next five years, with a 1986 $320 billion spending request. Add increased funding for friendly nations to acquire “modem military equipment.” And, don’t forget cuts to jobs training programs, and reduced funding for education. On a more personal basis, punch in a 40-cent milk assessment per hundred pounds, beginning April 1, to fund the buyout of neighbors’ herds, and help reduce the production surpluses. Then follow it with this data; an Irish investment firm preparing to put in five, two-thousand-head, dairy cow operations in Georgia I—_ ile, leal OR And 'orn 3,000 to 24,000 lbs. Variety of Sizes Made to Order YOU NEED A FENCE?? A & J Fencing. All kinds of fence. Specializing in high-tensil fence We also do post driving Please Write To: RD 1 Box 266 Kinzers, PA 17535 Saf-T Stainless Steel Chimney Liner Heat-Fab Stainless Steel Chimney Liner is the professional installer’s best solution for relining brick chimneys with deteriorated tile or those that were never lined. A professional installer can reline a chimney in half a day and restore it with an anticipated life of 25 to 30 years of wood burning appliances. Heat-Fab uses only 24-gauge stainless steel and resistant welds for the kind of safety that satisfies code requirements as a substitute for 5/8” fireclay liner. Best of all, it’s far less expensive then replacing chimneys and one of the most economical products of its kind. From Heat-Fat, where else? It is important that Saf-T Liner be installed to conform to local codes. Fittings For Flexible Lining Systems • Connects all major flexible lining systems to standard diameter Saf-T Liner • Heavy duty 24-gauge stainless steel • Welded seam construction • 5”, 6”, 7”, 8” round diameter and 10” oval sized • Elbows, tees, Removable tees, couplings, oval to round Quality venting products used by professional installers J INCORPORATED IBnm natlijfrill COLEMAN CENTER 89 Old Leacock Rd. RDI, Ronks, PA over the next five years - the same period of time we’ll be buying out dairy herds to reduce production. Feed all that into a keyboard, and onto a floppy disc, let the “brains” of microchips whirr in around for awhile, and then punch for a printout. Would it read out a numerical revelation of an entity heavily Petersen is FFA Member of the Month NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - New Jersey FFA announced Kenneth Petersen of the North Warren FFA Chapter, as February’s Member of the Month. Petersen, 16, of Blairstown, is a sophomore at North Warren Regional High School. Currently Ken holds the office of vice-president of his FF A chapter. The FFA and vocational agriculture education allow students to explore and expand their knowledge of the fields of agriculture. Ken has had this armed to defend a poorly educated, unemployed population, hoping to continue eating Cheap food produced from eroded farm land owned by foreign money’ Or would the computer take the same way out my head wants to; “Does not compute.” It points to a headache. Until the pain starts slipping, and ends up closer to the heart. opportunity through several SOEPs (Supervised Occupational Experience Program). Raising beef cattle, working at a produce market and for a local florist have been some of Ken’s practical experiences in agriculture. Ken has also learned about leadership and public speaking skills through FFA. Ken’s FFA advisor, Annette Shumaker, states, “Ken is dedicated to agriculture and the FFA.” Young individuals, like Ken, interested in agriculture, have the opportunity to understand and gain knowledge from vocational education and the FFA Heat ' your home with ■it_ style. CXDALBJiOpKD/LLE (< mi. mi ff OHt/tftMU Excellenca In Cast Iron ' / * Sine* 1709 ifu m now 3533 Old Philo. Pk. Rt. 340 Smokotown, Pa (4 Milts I. o( lomasttr) Tun Thurs IFn 10 8 Wtd i Sal 10 S j{7l7) 397-7539 liner ,/ } t ! 'Ji STORE HOURS: Mon. thru Sat. 8 to 5 Tues. & Fri. - Till 8:30 r: 111 The Darby t/
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers