IL. 32 No. 9
Remembering The
Top Stories Of 1986
As we end the old year, let’s take a look at some of the stpries that
appeared on the pages of Lancaster Farming. While it’s impossible to
mention all the top stories here, maybe by thinking about one or two
news items each week, you will remember the year as it relates to
your own experience. So here is our mention of the top farm news
stories of 1986.
JANUARY 4
The cost of American agricultural products are in line with world
competition according to USDA’s economic research service. Unlike
the popular belief that land and labor costs make American ag
products too high priced, USDA found that in many cases the ad
vanced technology really gave U.S. farmers the advantage.
JANUARY 11
For the first time since the final quarantines were lifted on October
4,1984, the avian influenza virus surfaced in a Pennsylvania poultry
flock. The outbreak was discovered in a Snyder county broiler flock.
JANUARY 18
The 70th Annual Farm Show brought together top entries in all kinds
of Pennsylvania produce and livestock. Governor Richard Thorn
burgh opened the show by becoming the first person to use the brand
new Penn Pages computer hookup between Penn State and the Ex
tension offices.
JANUARY 25
The herd buyout program was explained to dairymen at the York
county 4-H center. Dairymen had the month of February to decide
their fate for the next five years.
FEBRUARYI
A study conducted for the Mid-Atlantic Milk Marketing area showed
that women consumers estimated the fat content of milk to be 36
percent while men think it’s only 26 percent fat. So MAMMA launched
an advertising campaign to puncture that myth and win back the
consumers to drink more milk.
FEBRUARYB
The Pennsylvania Young Farmers Association honored two farm
couples during their annual meeting in Grantville. Harry and Ella
Mae Wasson, Centre Hall, and Jeffrey and Nancy Hillegass, Berlin,
received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
FEBRUARY 15
Nearly half a million FFA members across the country were
promoting FFA week. This year’s theme was “Leaders For The New
Fields Of Agriculture”.
Dr. Robert Oamm
(Turn to Page A 27)
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 3,1987
DHIA Head Analyzes Program;
Looks To The Future
BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER
MANAGING EDITOR
Editor’s Note: In a special in
terview this week, we look into the
workings of the Pennsylvania
DHIA Program through the eyes of
Robert Damm, DHIA director of
marketing and field services
Damm came to the Pennsylvania
DHIA Program earlier this year
and has already put into place
some new management practices
that have been widely accepted as
extremely good for the state
association.
We asked Bob Damm about the
present services offered by DHIA
and where he sees the program
advancing in the future. Here are
our questions and his answers.
Q. So our readers can get to know
New Futures
Market Analysis
Column Begins
A new futures market analysis
column begins this week right
under our normal futures market
daily closing bids report. These
market reports for grains and
livestock are provided by the
Pennsylvania Farmers
Association ACRES program. A
phone number to obtain more
information is given with the
report.
With the new year, we think of new beginnings. And baby animals around the farm are
the epitome of that which is excitingly new. What's more fun than watching a mother sow
and her piglets.
In this photo, we caught the feeding-time action in the barn of Gerald and Judy Long
and family, RD2, Annville. The Longs have a whole barn full with 240 piglets that have
arrived for Christmas between December 20 and 26. And by the time January 31 is
here, they expect 500 more.
You can be sure a lot of new, exciting things are happening at their farm. And this also
gives the Lancaster Farming staff a chance to wish you and your family a lot of new and
exciting things to happen around your farm in the new year, too.
you a little better, would you tell us
about your professional experience
and background?
I guess the adult years are
essentially separated in two
segments one of which is
academic, and the other is
production agriculture. I have a
PAMA and a PHD in ... English
and English and philosophy
respectively; about five years
teaching experience at the
university level, a couple state side
and one Canadian after which I
operated 312 acres and a 60 to 65
cow dairy with 150 total cattle
since 1972 in Wisconsin. During
that time activities were not
limited to the farm but a high level
of- involvement in coop direc
torships, cooperative training for
young couples and activities of that
nature that I was engaged in.
Q. We see DHI. We see DHIR.
We see DHIA. We see AM-PM.
Could you explain the difference
between the progiams, what they
are and the programs DHIA offers
dairymen?
I think one principal undergirds
them all and that is the maximum
amount of accuracy possible under
the circumstances. We’re quite
unwilling to sacrifice in any one of
them. Programs differeniate
really on the basis of the individual
preference of the dairy operator.
DHIR' for example, is actually a
breed sponsored program. People
with registered cattle who have a
Farm Babies In New Year
Four Sections
high degree of interest in pedigrees
and marketing and things of that
nature will select DHIR because it
brings them closer to the activities
of the respective breed
associations be it holstein, guern
sey, or jersey. There is no func
tional difference between the
testing that goes on in DHIR and
that which goes on in DHIA. There
(Turn to PageA24)
Farm Show Maps
And Schedules
Appear This Week
For your convenience this week,
the Farm Show schedules of events
and meetings are published on
Pages 823 to 826. In addition,
you’ll find expanded floor plan
maps of exhibitors' booths and
where to find the farm products,
home economics exhibits and the
livestock ~ - -
While'we plan to publish these
pages next week in our annual
special Farm Show issue, you may
want to pull these pages out now
and get them ready to take along
with you to the Farm Show.
Of course next week, we also
plan to present the FFA Keystone
Farmer resumes and other Farm
Show features. As you know, the
Farm Show dates are Sunday,
January 11 through Friday,
January 16.
$8.50 Per Year