D24-Lancaster Farming Saturday, November 15,1986 ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A special farm finance survey conducted for the Maryland Department of Agriculture shows that Maryland farmers were on a relatively solid financial footmg when they were hit by this year’s drought UNIVERSITY PARK - John H. Holbert, county extension director and senior agent in Bedford County, recently retired from the Cooperative Extension Service after 39 years of service. Holbert has been responsible for planning and carrying out educational programs in agriculture, 4-H, family living and community development. He was the first extension representative in Pennsylvania to conduct ex tensive farm business planning programs covering all aspects of farm and home. USDA To Conduct Bovine Growth Hormone Study WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a study to analyze the potential economic effects of the use of the bovine growth hormone in dairy cattle, a USDA official announced today. The study will aim to quantify the potential impact of bGH on the federal milk price support program and on the structure of the U.S. milk production industry, according to Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Economics Robert L. Thompson. USDA’s Economic Research Service will conduct the study. BGH is a naturally occuring protein, produced by the pituitary glands of cattle, which regulates bovine body metabolism and milk production. Genetic transfer Da-Farm Scales Can Pay far Themselves to Z Years Make a modest investment in a Weigti-Tronix electronic Farm Platform Scale, and you can weigh gram with 1 % accuracy right on your farm Knowhow much gram comes out of your fields How much goes into storage How much is headed for the elevator And the amount each person is getting when you divide gram with your tenants, family members, or partners Save time and fuel by eliminating unnecessary trips to the local elevator And end costly guesswork by keeping precise records of every gram movement on or from your farm Weigh-Tronix Farm Platform Scales are available for dealer or do-it-yourself CONESTOGA AGRI-SYSTEMS Jay Kreider, Mgr. 215 DW. Main St. Survey Profiles Maryland Fanners However, 10 percent of those responding indicated they may have to exit farming within the next two years These figures, according to Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Wayne A Cawley, Jr . "were pretty much what we expected ” Bedford Extension Director Retires He has conducted educational programs in all phases of dairying, including county promotion and commodity contests, projects to better farm-city relations, home grounds and gardening and community and county com prehensive planning. Under his leadership, 4-H enrollment in Bedford County was nearly tripled. Before being named Bedford County agent in 1953, Holbert served as assistant agent in Lawrence, Warren and Erie counties. techniques recently have made it possible to reproduce bGH on a large scale at relatively low cost, making the purified product available for research and com mercial use. Studies show that bGH, when administered to dairy cattle, significantly increases milk yields. Thompson said that while the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved the hormone for commercial use, USDA is con ducting the study because of the potential impact of bGH on milk production costs and returns, and on the size, structure and geographical aspects of dairy enterprises. Thompson said the study will be completed by mid to late 1987. installation They come with concrete or wood decks up to 80 feet long with capacities to 100,000 pounds Mxican take an investment tax credit and depreciate the system over five years Call your Weigh-Trornx dealer today for a quotation on what it would cost to put a scale in your operation Tbu'llbe surprised at how affordable it is WEIGH-TROHUr Leola, PA 17540 (717) 656-0140 According to the secretary, "Maryland farmers, coming into 1986, were in far better shape than their counterparts in a number of other states We suspected that but didn’t realize just how true it was,’’ Cawley said "The survey shows that the majority of farmers in John H. Holbert Gehl has the answer to every spreading need. a. Solid If you handle mostly solid manure the Gehl 100 Senes box spreader should be your choice It s built to give you more years of service A specially constructed floor with Clad Tuff™ protection prevents the apron from freezing to the floor The Ex Ten A steel frame has more strength than ordinary steel And the copper bearing steel sides form a self healing rust scale that prevents pitting Six sizes are available with load capacities from 135 up to 425 bushels heaped (243 cu ft) b. Semi-Solid The Gehl 500 Series gets semi solid manure onto your fields fast and economically Loading is easy from barn cleaner or bucket with the efficient open top design An internal chopper type auger blends manure and forces it to the oversized heavy duty rear fan tor wide even discharge patterns Engineered to handle high volumes it can spread up to 1500 gallons of semi solid manure in 2 5 minutes with uniform patterns up to 50 feet c. Liquid If you handle only liquid manure a Gehl 700 Senes liquid tanker should be your choice Featuring an internal auger it spreads evenly uphill or down Plus two discharge outlets let you choose either high application rates and fast unloading or moderate application rates And a fill indicator helps prevent overflow during loading d. All off the above The one spreader for a two spreader farm a GeW 300 Series spreader lets you spread liquids semi solids pen pack even frozen manure The patented heavy duty square tube auger makes the big difference Turning at low RPM it produces a unique pulse action that breaks up manure in the lank Specially formed paddles rip through tough clods to deliver a steady constant flow to the discharge The auger can be powered up and down to chop through bridged and frozen material Vanflo discharge gives you complete application control For more answers about the Gehl spreader that best fits your manure management system talk to your Gehl dealer Or contact Gehl Company for a free .u_ manure spreader technical series ._ tnfjM IH buyers' guide Gehl Company, lnV6*t ,n ? 143 Water Street, irfnl* 0 T Sfl 000 West Bend, Wl 53095 f||lU»® iumtißo. QuarryvWe, PA 717-786-3521 STOUFFEI —IHA NOS. MC. Chambarsburg, PA 717-263-8424 OWEKETS OF FONTANA Lebanon, PA 717-867-5161 PEOPLE’S SALES t SERVICE Oakland Mills, PA 717-463-2735 Maryland today are depending on off-farm sources for an increasing portion of their net income The off-farm jobs are paying the heat, light, clothing and food bills for farm families in Maryland and are, in effect, helping keep the He received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 1947 and his master of agriculture degree in 1963, both from Penn State. Holbert is vice president of the Bedford County Fair and a member of the State Association of County Fairs executive board, advisory committee to the State Secretary of Agriculture for the State Fair Fund and the Bedford County Memorial Hospital board of directors. He is also a member of the Bedford Rotary Club, Bedford Grange, Bedford County Farmers Association, Penn sylvania and National Associations of County Agricultural Agents and Epsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. He and his wife, Jean, life in Bedford. Their son, John E., also lives in Bedford, where he operates a home grounds and care business. Raising registered Suffolk sheep is a hobby of both father and son. GEHL! Ask your dealer about GEHL FINANCE IQMON VALLEY AMETTS fiAIAfiE MUER EOMPMENT CO. RicMand, PA 301-733-0515 BcchMtviito, PA 717-866-7518 UKUY A MUST 21WJ45 ‘ 2911 NOS. UtKz, PA 717-6264705 oennett MACHINE CO. Mittord. OE 3024224837 ENROTH BROS. FARM EQUIPMENT New Ringgold, PA 717-943-2131 GEO. W. KINSMAN, WC. Honesdale, PA 717-253-3440 HINES EQUIPMENT Cresson, PA 814-886-4183 Bellwood 814-742-8171 family farm going.” • Overall, 10 percent of those responding to the survey say they are behind on payments. • Of those with debt on farmland and improvements (such as buildings), seven percent in dicated they were behind on in terest land principal payments • Of those carrying debt on farm machinery and equipment, six percent are behind on interest and principal payments with an ad ditional five percent saying they are behind on principal payments only. “The survey doesn’t open any new doors of wisdom for us, but it does give us current benchmark information,” said Cawley. “I hope the state’s agricultural lenders will take a good look at it when making decisions regarding restructuring of farm debt and extension of additional credit needed by farmers over the winter and to plant crops in 1987.” Copies of the survey will be ready for distribution by about Dec. 1, and will be supplied to anyone requesting one. To receive a copy write: Farm Finance Survey, c/o Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. 100 Strict 500 Serin \ j^^B**’ 700 Strict l*► *T*„ < , t*• *3?* w '’'' 300 Sarlu INCHOLS FARM EQUIPMENT Btoomsborg, PA 717-784-7731 PETERMAN FARM EQUIPMENT, INC. Carlisle, PA 717-249-5338 ft/* Mi ELM SALES I SERVICE. MC. Stonaboro.PA 412-376-3740 SPMN6S EQUIPMENT, INC. Springs, PA 814-662-2222 DAYTON EQUIPMENT CO. Dayton, PA 412-783-6990