AlO-La*caster Faming, Saturday, January 3,1987
OPINION
Let The Public Know
Where Good Food Comes From
One of the major farm
production situations that face us
American fanners in the new year
revolves around exports and
imports. At the recent 1967
Agricultural Outlook Conference in
Washington, speaker after speaker
postulated on the shrinking export
market. We were told that coun
tries that can afford to buy our
farm products have developed the
technology to produce their own
foods and feed stuffs. Many
examples can be given where this
technology was copied from U.S.
farmers and agribusiness en
terprises. Part of this has come
about because foreigners who
attend our farm trade shows and
informational seminars stay
awake and take notes.
Dr. Dave Kohl, professor of
agricultural finance and economist
at Virginia Polytech, told the
Lancaster Farm Credit press
briefing participants recently that
he held a seminar where all the
foreigners in the class were wide
awake and taking notes and all the
U.S. farmers were falling asleep.
He stopped his lecture and told
these American farmers that they
were a perfect example of why
foreigners have gained much
ground in agricultural technology
in recent years. Needless to say,
the farmers stayed awake after
that.
But while it seems bad enough
that we have at least in part given
our production secrets to the
competion, there is more salt in the
wound. Our own American food
processors and fast food services
have gone to foreign sources for
products.
In a recent issue of the Journal of
Commerce the president of a
major vegetable processor was
quoted as saying that during their
last fiscal year, they had imported
261.6 million pounds of food or food
products. Ten years ago that figure
was 63 million pounds. And while
FARM FORUM
OUR READERS WRITE
Dear Editor:
Rabies Rabies Rabies
Who is to blame for the Game
Commission trappers’ license?
Those who trapped and caught
anything, stray dogs, cats, skunks,
just anything. And the majority
was disposed of.
What does the Commission
one. do vou sometiaa es )
WISH TWAT WE WERE /
STILL L.MN& BACK IN ]
7WE GOOD OLD DAYS ? J
this company has the image of
being as all-American as apple pie,
yet that “soup that’s good food”
may not necessarily have come
from tomotoes grown in New
Jersey, Pennsylvania or
Maryland. The home-grown
winter-warming plate of high
nutrition may very well have its
roots in Mexico where tomatoes
cost $2O to $4O a ton less than our
own UJS. product. Of course, the
all-American hamburger at any of
the local fast-food eateries may
have come from Argentia, too. And
the fries were likely done in
Malaysian palm oil rather than the
more expensive vegie oil from
Illinois.
The National Food Processors
Association in Washington calls
this phenomenon world-sourcing of
commodities. They say it must be
done because U.S. land and labor
costs are high. Of course no one
will say if the imported farm
products have the same high
quality as the U.S. produce and
meats. In fact most food
processors don’t want to talk about
buying food overseas. And while it
makes good business sense to them
to buy abroad, they don’t want to
lose their all-American image. And
they don’t want a fight with U.S.
farmers. They wantto trade on the
good reputation of American
fanners to produce succulate,
high-quality foods while sub
stituting products that come from
countries with lower standards and
longer shipping times from farm to
table.
We think ore of our major New
Year’s resolutions should be to get
the message out to the American
consumer. Let’s let them know
that really good food comes from
the American farmer and all the
agribusiness firms who get the
food from the farm to the
American table quickly and in
excellent style.
want? More money to buy up more
land for which they are tax
exempt-every acre, farm or
mountain.
Our tax goes up to feed the
overfed Game Commission.
Sincerely,
Joseph Borkoski
Doras ife
WMEN X START
TPAT WAV, ALL J HAVE TO
DO 13 TAKE A LOOK AT AN
OLD OUTHOUSE ON A COLD
WINTER DAY..,
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NOW IS
THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
To Attend Farm
Show Events
Time has a way of creeping up on
us, and here it is ...nearly Farm
Show time. The Farm Show will
open again this year on Sunday,
Jan. 11 and close on Friday, Jan.
16. The theme for the exhibition is
“Pennsylvania Agriculture
Progress Through Technology”.
Well, we are proud of our
agriculture because of the hard
work of our family-operated
farms. And here is an opportunity
for our farmers to show the con
suming public the high quality
products raised on our farms
today.
Active farmers should recognize
the many educational meetings
and banquets that are held during
the week. Many of these are state-
Farm
Calendar
Monday, January 5
Hunterdon County Sheep
Breeder’s Association monthly
meeting, Extension Center, 8
p.m.
Tuesday,January 6
Ephrata Area Young Farmer’s
officers banquet meeting,
Ephrata Jr. High School
Conference Room, 7:30 p.m.
Franklin County Dairy Day,
Kauffman Community Center,
9:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Eastern Regional Nurserymen’s
Association trade show,
Monticello, N.Y.
Wednesday, January 7
Hunterdon County board of ag
monthly meeting, Extension
Center, 8 p.m.
Bucks County Federal Income Tax
Meeting, Meyers Restaurant,
Rt. 309 Quakertown, 9 a.m. to 4
p.m.
Schuylkill County Dairy Day, 9
a.m. to 3 p.m., Penn State
Schuylkill Campus, Schuylkill
Haven. Contact J. Allen
Shoener, extension agent, 717-
385-3431.
Franklin County Dairy Day,
Kauffman Center.
Thursday, January 8
Christmas Tree Pest Management
Short Course, Buckhout Lab,
Penn State University; con
tinues tomorrow.
York County Commercial Dairy
Day, 4-H Center, 10 a.m. to 2:30
p.m.
Income Tax Meeting, Lancaster
Farm and Home Center, 9:30
O* ° c O
w V v **
wide organizations and should
have economic benefits to the
producer.
The addition of a new animal to
the herd or flock, is a common
practice. However, there is always
the chance of bringing new in
fections into the herd. Too many
diseases and problems have been
brought onto the farm by the
owner. At this time of year and in
this part of the state, the Pa. Farm
Show provides an opportunity for
showing and purchasing new ones.
To those who are exhibiting
animals, and to those who might
buy a bred gilt, or other animals,
I’d say be sure to separate these
animals from the rest of the herd
or flock for at least 30 days. The
other alternative is to treat all
animals in the herd or flock for the
same infections as the new animal
has received. Sanitation and
separation are very important
items in good health programs.
To Be a
Better Manager
As we look ahead to 1987, it is
difficult to realize just what major
problems will confront the average
farmer. It remains to be seen what
affect the Farm Bill and tax
changes will have on agriculture.
However, it is evident that profits
will be difficult to realize and some
very good management will be
needed to come out in the black.
Today’s farmer must be a better
businessman than his forefathers.
A farmer must be able to handle
a.m.to4p.m. Bar (Lackawanna County).
Farrowing Short Course, Penn Phone 963-6842 for information.
State University, 9 a.m. to 5 Adams County Extension Banquet.
p.m. Mercer County Dairy Nutrition
Regional Tomato Growers _ . „
Meeting, Thompson’s Dairy (Turn to Page A 36)
Background Scripture: Matthew
5:17-20; 6:1-18.
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 58:1-7.
Most religions and especially
Christianity make an appeal to
altruism unselfish concern for
or devotion to the welfare of
others. Nevertheless, Jesus began
his teachings at a level where all of
us can respond: the common ex
pectation of getting something in
return for what we give.
Do you want to be first? Well,
then you can do so by being last. Do
you want to save your life? Then
you must be willing to give it up.
Do you want to be on the receiving
end? Ah, then you must be ready to
start on the giving end. Shall we
not feel “good” about helping
someone who is in need? Shall we
feel no sense of victory in having
overcome temptation? Even
Jesus, dying on a cross, felt a sense
of satisfaction in doing God’s will.
He felt “good,” not about dying,
but about obeying.
SOUND NO TRUMPET
If we give alms, fast or practice
AND BELIEVE ME.'
I'M GLAD ITS TUB
/980'S
oc
To Separate
New Animals
WHO’S
LOOKING?
January 4,1987
labor, money, equip; nt and keep
up-to-date on all regulations and
cultural practices. A farmer must
be able to plan ahead to be
organized with all the respon
sibilities. A farmer should practice
good public relations with
neighbors and respect the rights of
others. Good management is just
as important in fanning as it is in'
any other industry or business.
Work at it and it will pay
dividends.
To Be Sore
Ice is Safe
For Skating
Farm ponds make great ice
skating rinks...that's as long as the
ice is strong enough. The general
rule on thickness is that two inches
will support one person and three
inches will support a line of people.
Thickness is not always the most
accurate guide though. Other
factors include color and age. New
ice is stronger than old ice. And
clear blue ice is stronger than
slush ice. Be especially cautious
with ponds that are either fed by a
spring or have a fast moving
current. The thickness of these
ponds will vary considerably.
The most important thing is to
have rescue equipment at the pond
site. It is wise to have a straight
ladder, rope and inner tube
nearby...it could save a life. I
would urge owners of farm ponds
to use caution in permitting
skating unless the ice is thick
enough.
The Cooperative Extension Service is an at
firmative action equal opportunity educational
institution
our piety, Jesus promises us a
reward: “your Father ... will
reward you” (Matt. 6:4,6,18). But
the reward we shall seek in doing
these things is not acclaim and
recognition from others. So Jesus
warns us, “Beware of practicing
your piety before men in order to
be seen by them” and “when you
give alms, sound no trumpet
before you” (Matt. 6:1a,2a). “And
when you fast, do not look dismal,
like the hypocrites, for they
disfigure their faces that their
fasting may be seen by men. Truly,
I say to you, they have their
reward” (6:16).
Jesus does not ask us to respond
to his teachings without looking for
some kind of reward. Instead, he
makes sure that we seek the very
highest reward of all to please
God, not other people. This is the
reward we must seek and, if we are
satisfied with the mere praise of
people along the way, Jesus warns
us that “you will have no reward
from your Father who is in
heaven” (6:1).
The reward which God gives us
is a prize that is earned and given
in secret “so that your alms may
be in secret; and your Father who
sees in secret will reward you”
(6:4). Similarly, we are to “pray to
your Father who is in secret; and
your Father who sees in secret will
reward you” (6:6).
YOUR AUDIENCE
It is not a question of whether we
play to an audience, but that we
play to the right audience. The
Pharisees were criticized because
they played to the wrong audience.
They wanted the praise of men and
they got it. And in doing so, they
missed the highest prize of all
the approval of God and the
satisfaction in knowing that our
deeds have been witnessed by the
only one who really counts.
Nothing is more fleeting than
human acclaim and nothing is
more satisfying and lasting than
Divine approval.
There is always someone looking
when we are obedient to God. Let
us make sure that it is God who is
watching and it is him whom we
are pleasing.
(Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by the
Committee on the Uniform Series and used by
permission Released by Community and
Suburban Press)