VOL 32 No. 15 Top growers in the Alfalfa Growers Program were grand champion J. Allen Baker of Bedford County and reserve '-hampion Richard Rohrer, repsaanliagOaul H. Rohrer and Sons, Lancaster County. , , Keystone Cornucopia Draws 500 To Convention Center EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor HERSHEY The Sixth Annual Cornucopia, sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Council Farm Organizations, brought together more than 500 national and state congressman, university per sonnel, farm organization and industry leaders and production farmers here in the convention center The keynote speaker. Lane Palmer, editor Emeritus, Farm Journal, said we need to renew agriculture. Using the illustration ' of falling corn prices, down to $1.42 per bushel, Palmer said there is no end to the depressed farm economy in sight While he listed cotton, cattle and hogs as bright spots right now, most of the agricultural economy is very bleak. And while government, according to Palmer’s per spective, is intent on regaining the export market, that market is Wolff Is Unanimously Confirmed HARRISBURG - Boyd Wolff, the dairy farmer from western Pennsylvania, was unanimously confirmed as the new agriculture secretary this week. Earlier committee approval and support by all major farm organizations pretty well insured his nomination. Wolff draws on his 33 years as a full-time farmer in New Alexan dria, Westmoreland County, as a farm leader to depict the needs of rural Pennsylvania. Wolff says our farmers and agribusiness don’t want favors or favor treatment. “They want, need and deserve the supportive state government, one that affords them maximum opportunities to achieve for themselves and get a good return on their efforts,” Wolff said. nonexistant as it was in the 19705. Palmer credited the OPEC Oil Cartel as the culprit in the geanng up to produce food in the ’7os. The extra oil money was made available to developing countries by the world banks. However, these developing countries bought food instead of building factories to improve their economy. That created a market for the American farmer When the oil cartel burst in the early 'Bos, the developing countries were left with no way to pay their loans, and of course no more mof jy to buy food. Often Countries who had been customers of American agricultural products developed their own food chain and became at times exporters through ad vanced technology. And since agriculture is embarrassed by the huge government subsidy programs, Palmer suggested we need to restructure agriculture by (Turn to PageA3B> Boyd Wolff Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 14,1987 Bedford Countian Tops Alfalfa Program BY JACK HUBLEY STATE COLLEGE - There were no 10-ton yields last year, but participants in the 1986 Penn sylvania Alfalfa Growers Program posted some impressive yields despite last summer’s dry con ditions. Alfalfa growers and in dustrymen gathered at the State College Elks Club on Monday to honor the state’s top alfalfa growers in a program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council and Penn State’s College of Agriculture. A familiar name returned to the winners circle when Penn State agronomist and program chair man Sid Bosworth announced that J. Allen Baker of Bedford had posted the year’s top yield. Baker, of Alienor Holstein Farms, har vested 9.65 tons of a variety called Big Ten. The harvest yielded 11,461 pounds of total digestible nutrients and 3,936 pounds of crude protein per acre. This was the third time since 1982 that Baker has taken grand champion honors. “I didn’t really think I’d win this At the Sixth Annual Keystone Cornucopia sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Council of Farm Organizations, are (left to right) Kathy Gill. Cornucopia coordinator; Lane Palmer, editor Emeritus Farm Journal and Don Schriver, master of ceremonies. Such support is warranted because the economic success of our in dustry of agriculture is eminently tied to the health of our state’s economy and to the prosperity of our largely rural Pennsylvania “Economic stability for thousands of rural communities is tightly intertwined with the economic fortunes of agricultural industry that encircles them Good times for agriculture are better times for the tiny towns called home by millions of our citizens. A flourishing agricultural industry stimulates new business and new job opportunities. With one of the largest rural populations in the nation, Pennsylvania can’t afford a stagnant or floundering agricultural industry,” Wolff said. year,” said the Bedford County dairyman, adding that the drought had reduced his harvest by one cutting. Although he had scheduled five cuttings, Baker said he was lucky to get his fourth cut this year and credited an October ram with enabling him to harvest his final cutting on the 16th of the month. Baker’s new spring seedings begin with a soil test during the fall before planting. Fields to be planted in alfalfa have typically been in corn for three to four years and have received about 60 tons of manure per acre per year during that ti ■ i ‘ That gives us a boost in potas 1 . m notes, adding that the buildup of organic material during the corn years helps the alfalfa weather dry periods. “One of the most important first steps I* keeping your pH up there,” he emphasizes. Baker applies his lime in September and October previous to seeding in April. Although he has tried no-till seedings, he prefers planting in a firm, fine seedbed. He credits (Turn to Page A 24) ‘Exemplary’ Vocational Programs Cited HARRISBURG Gov. Robert Casey this week presented four Pennsylvania schools with “exemplary” status, recognizing them for their outstanding vocational programs. The awards ceremony at the Capitol Wednesday was part of the state’s celebration of National Vocational Education Week, Feb. 9 through 13. Those honored with exemplary status were Solanco School District, Lancaster County, for its agriculture production program; Lehigh County Area Vocational- Technical School, for its vocational welding program; Wilkes-Barre Arg^VnpaHnnal-Toghnlrto^Crtl^#*i Five Sections Auction update The owner of Vintage Sales Stables, L Robert Frame, Sr., said this week that he will pay un collected beef-checkoff moneys out ot his own p if k< t before he will any of his farm customers hi- hut* by his actions Frame is attempting *o through the court system an; through legislative action to overturn the beet promotion checkoff program that requires a dollar per head to w deducted from the farmer J tin point ot sale These monos are ear marked toward an advertising campaign to promote beef and veal. Frame also said he will do whatever is necessary to keep the V mtage Sale going every week now and in the future In an open letter to Vintage customers and other cattle stup ors {elsewhere in this issue), the sale bain presents its current potion in the matter. tor its cooperative education and machine shop programs; and Williamsport Area Community College, for its forest technology program The four award recipients bring to 44 the total number of exem plary programs honored since June 1984. The Bureau of Vocational and Adult Education’s Exemplary Program Project “In Search of Excellence” is designed to identify outstanding vocational education programs in Pennsylvania schools and attempt to adopt or adapt the successful practices that make them exemplary $8.50 Per Year
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