OPINION Favorable Market Prices This summer’s favorable market prices for hogs and now the rise in beef prices could result in some good profits for livestock producers this year. All we can say “It’s about time.” But it certainly is nice to be able to report some good news as far as market prices are concerned. Glenn Grimes, agricultural economist from the University of Missouri, said the profit op portunities for swine producers could continue well into next year. Grimes made the statements at the Thirteenth American Farm Bureau Federation Beef Cattle Hog Cycle Forum held recently in Chicago. Ed Uvacek, Jr., an Extension economist and livestock marketing professor at Texas A & M University, said the good market price news extends to the cattle sector as well. Uvacek said this year’s calf crop, the lowest since 1960, is encouraging for beef producers. And with prospects for choice fed steers to move into the mid 60 range during the last two quarters of 1968, it should result in some favorable prices this fall for feeder cattle and calves. “We’ve got several things going for us this fall,” Uvacek said. “First of all, we have a short of supply. And for the first time in many, many months, it looks like the com mercial feed lots are starting to make money. This could be a very unusual fall for the cow/calf operator. And certainly one that will give him calf prices better than what he had last year,” Uvacek said. Of course a note of caution was also expressed. The third panelist, Wayne Purcell, professor of agricultural economics at Virginia Farm Calendar Saturday, September 6 Open House, Sire Power Headquarters, Tunkhannock; contact DuWayne Kutz at 717- 836-3127. District 4-H Horse Show, Hughesville Fairgrounds, 8:30 a.m. Pa. Egg Cooking Contest, Lan caster Farm and Home Center. Sunday, September 7 108th Annual PennAg Convention, Seven Springs Resort, Champion; continues through Sept. 9. Monday, September 8 Bellwood-Antis Farm Show. Bell wood; continues through Sept. 11. Green Township Fair, Com modore; continues through Sept. 13. OTie>, COULD x HIRE YOU TO > HELP MB OUT W m THE HARVEST, AS AIN THIS YEAR f, X DON 'T THINK SO EPT 3M GETTING TOO OLD POR THAT K//VO WORK Tech University, cautioned that with favorable prices cattle and swine producers will have the temptation to rebuild their in ventories of breeding stock. On the pork side, Grime said producers should not make the mistake of convincing themselves that there won’t be an increase in pork supplies in the future. Purcell cautioned pork producers to not invest heavily in expansion unless you are willing to forward price. Grimes agreed that producers who cannot stand risk and those heavily in debt or with other financial problems should forward price their hogs. Seldom have so many factors turned bullish compared with the year before as those that have influenced the hog market this spring and early summer. Yet producers should be cautioned not to make the mistake of assuming that expansion is not going to occur. Yet if hog prices are as high this fall as it seems likely, and feed prices are as low as now indicated, the incentives will be very strong to walk the com off of midwest farms. While we have this good news of favorable prices, it seems certain that livestock producers must be continually aware that the demand side for red meat is a major factor in deciding price profitability. This demand problem is caused by a number of trends including con sumers changing lifestyles', their health concerns and the absence of aggressive product development for beef and pork. We need to all work together so solve these market problems and supply problems so that this summer’s favorable market prices carry over into many years in the future. Tuesday, September 9 Claysburg Farm Show, Claysburg; continues through Sept. 12. Albion Area Fair, Albion; con tinues through Sept. 13. Recreational Vehicle Show, Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg; continues through Sept. 14. Hamilton Bank Farm Ap preciation Day, Wengers Farm Machinery, Myerstown, 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 10 Lebanon County Flower Show, 4 to 10 p.m., Lebanon Valley Ex position Building, Cornwall and Evergreen Roads, Lebanon; continues Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Greenhouse Growers School, Lancaster Farm and Home Center; continues through Sept. 29. By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent September in Lancaster County is Fair time. It is also a time to be concerned about the health of show animals. Fairs should be a place where we can exhibit our animals; they should not be a place for spreading diseases and other ailments. Be considerate of other exhibitors and of other show animals. If your animals have any infection or contagious problems, leave them at home; it’s like keeping a sick child out of school to protect those who are healthy. If you do show, consult your veterinarian about necessary tests and protective vaccines. When you return your livestock Berlin Brothers Valley Fair, Berlin; continues through Sept. 13. Williamsburg Community Farm Show; continues through Sept. 16. Soil Aeration Technology Demonstration, Hathorne Farms, Stanley, N.Y. Farm City Council Kick-Off Banquet, Wilson College, Chambersburg. York County FFA Market Hog Sale, York Fairgrounds, 7:30 p.m. Weekend horse ride in the Blue Mountains, sponsored by Central Berks Riding Club. For flyer call Gene or Beverly at 717-366-1131. Beaver Community Fair, Beaver Springs; continues through Sept. 20. Oratz Fair, Gratz; continues through Sept. 20. Harmony Grange Fair, Westover; continues through Sept. 20. Annual Meeting, Allied Florists of Delaware Valley, Zeigler and Sons Wholesale, Philadelphia. Raspberry and Small Fruits Field Day, Penn State University. York County 4-H Pork and Lamb Roundup, Weikert’s Buying Station, Thomasville, 7 p.m. Twilight Marketing Meeting, Whistle Stop Farm and Nur sery, John Ringoes Road, Ringoes, 6:30 p.m. Register by Sept. 12. Call 201-788-1338. Wednesday, September 17 W. Pa. Flower Growers, Oglever’s Mercer Greenhouse. Southern Lancaster County Fair, Quarryville; continues through Sept. 19. GEE/ THAT'S TOO BAD... BETTY HAD PLANNED ON BAKING UP yoOR FAVORITE, A GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE, FOR OUR NOON TIME MEAL DESSERTS,., V NOW IS THE TIME To Protect Show Animals Thursday, September 11 Friday, September 12 Saturday, September 13 Monday, Sepbember 15 Tuesday, September 16 to the farm after the show, isolate them from other animals on the farm before introducing them to their herd mates. To Install Drain Tile Farmers who have wet spots in their fields might use the early fall months to install drain tile or drain pipe. These areas will be more workable now than in the spring. When the tile is put in place now, winter grains can be seeded on the area with little loss of crop production. Many farms have one or more wet spots in crop land that gives trouble in the majority of crop seasons. These can be corrected with tile drainage systems. In most cases the cost of draining wet spots in crop land is a good investment. Under current production costs, every acre should be managed to produce maximum yields. To Check Feed Bins We are coming into the fall season where we see considerable temperature change from day to night. This causes a lot of moisture condensation, as we see it on car windows in the morning. This same type of condensation takes place in the bulk feed bins on our farms. It causes the build-up of molds on the bins and in the feed. When feed bins are cleaned out, they should be inspected Sinking Valley Community Fair, Altoona; continues through Sept. 20. Thursday, September 18 Lancaster Dairy Goat Meeting, Farm and Home Center, 7:30 p.m. 1986 Women in Ag Day, Villa Leo Quality Inn, Harrisburg. North East Community Fair, North East; continues through Sept. 20. Oley Valley Community Fair, Oley; continues through Sept. 20. Penns Agri-Women annual meeting. Wayne County Extension meeting, BEFORETHE BEGINNING September?, 1986 Background Scripture; Genesis 1:1 through 2:3 Devotional Reading: Isaiah 45:7- 12. Many scientists believe that the universe began with a great ex plosion of primal elements. This theory, called “the Big Bang Theory,” has resulted in math matical calculations that many believe pinpoint a relatively precise moment when the “Big Bang” took place billions of years ago. Some scientists have even constructed a precise scenario of what happened minute-by-minute. I am not personally competent to evaluate this theory or these computations. I do see in them a certain logic and I find these ideas most stimulating and provocative. Sometimes thinking about the I WHEN DO \WE START? thoroughly, right down to the boot. Also, when you are taking feed out of the bin, keep a close watch for chunks of feed; it will tell you if a problem is developing. After cleaning out the bin, it should be sprayed with a mold inhibitor and allowed to dry. You can use calcium proprionate solution as the inhibitor, at the rate of 21 ounces per gallon of water for the spray. One of the best ways to prevent this condensation problem is to insulate the bin. The in sulation will slow down the tem perature fluctuation. To Stop Feeding Trees and Shrubs The time is here when we should not be applying any fertilizer to rose bushes, trees and shrubs. The season’s growing period is about over and new growth should have a chance to harden before cold weather arrives. When we fertilize during the fall we encourage new growth, which will be tender, and will winter-kill in zero weather. It is best to wait until early spring to apply any plant food to these types of plants. Mulching is a good practice to help conserve moisture and control weeds, but keep the fertilizer in the bag until the 1987 season. The Cooperative Extension Service is an at firmative action equal opportunity educational institution 7:45 p.m., Bethany Methodist Giurch Hall. Speaker, Penn State ag economics specialist H. Louis Moore. Saturday, September 20 Pa. State Dairy Princess pageant, Harrisburg Marriott. Recep tion, 5:30 p.m. Dinner, 6; 30 p.m. Little Buffalo Festival of the Arts, Little Buffalo State Park, Newport. Delaware Valley Old Time Power and Equipment Association annual show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., LambertvUle, N.J. Working exhibits, food, hay rides. Parking - $2 per car. Continues Sept. 21. universe and my place in it helps to put things into perspective. IN THE BEGINNING I am also intrigued when these same scientists confess that, although they can estimate what happened in the minutes and hours following the “Big Bang,” there is no way of knowing what happened or was going on even a fraction of a second before it. If in fact there was a “Big Bang” that brought the universe into being, scientists cannot and probably never will be able to determine who, what or why caused the great event of creation to begin. It is important for us to deter mine as well as we can what really happened when the universe came into being, not just as a matter of curiosity about the past, but as a means of understanding the present and anticipating the future. But, if science can tell us what happened at the beginning, it is not less important for us to continue to contemplate what or who caused that beginning. “VERY GOOD” It is at this point that the Book of Genesis and its early chapters mean so much to me, for I find it impossible to think that the world “just happened,” that there was nothing or no one who caused it to happen “Big Bang or no bang at all. For, if the God had a purpose in creating the world and Genesis says this plainly what is his purpose for humanity in general and me in particular? Genesis says, “God blessed them ... be fruitful and multiply ... have dominion.. The Genesis story of creation also affirms something which both the secular world and Christians seem to forget from time to time: “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very, very good” (1:31). Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by the Committee on the Uniform Senes and used by permission Released by Community & Suburban Press
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