This national news summary is provided by ACRES, a copyrighted information service developed by the American Farm Bureau and available to Pennsylvania farmers on a daily basis through the Pennsylvania Farmers' Association Farm Management Services. For more information \ I-A call (717) 761-2740 CATTLE ON FEED UP 15 PERCENT—Cattlemen placed 150,000 more animals in feedlots in 'February than they did a year earlier. That represents a 15 percent increase in cattle placed on feed this February over last. Cattle being fed for slaughter March 1, however, were down 3 percent from a year ago and 10 percent below two years earlier in UNC Presenting the most Simplicity JA W W your money can buy. The new Sun- A# A I 111 Star 18 hp or 20 hp Garden Tractor. A##A 111 1^ ■ Powerful Kohler “Magnum” cast I .1 ll iron 18 hp or 20 hp twin-cylinder WA engine with solid state ignition. ■ Unique cooling system directs cool top-drawn air. Isolates engine and trans mission cooler from hot, dirty air. ■ 20 hp model has 2-speed transaxle with differential lock coupled to an auto matic transmission for infinite speed setting without clutching. ■ Axle-mounted mower pivots side to side and floats up and down on rollers at the rear for a smooth, even cut. 42" 48" or 60" width. ■ Large 4.25 gallon fuel tank for longer operation ■ 2-year limited warranty. Stop in and see the new Simplicity Sun Star. Then, put yourself in an un compromising position. Financing Available. For qualified buyers with ap proved credit, 15% down and easy monthly payments at competitive rates. Special deferred payment or low interest rate offers are avail able from time to time. Ask us for details. Price may vary toy dealer. Freight set-up & delivery may be extra. Limited time offer while supplies last. See Our Complete Line of Lawn & Garden Equipment At Your Simplicity Dealer MOUNTAIN TOP LAWNMOWERSHOP 234 Church Rd. Mountain Top, Pa. 18707 717-474-5338 NIEMEYER SERVICE L.H. BRUBAKER BOLLINGER’S WILLIAM CENTER 350 Strasburg Pike LAWN & GARDEN SCHRIBS & SONS HOBENSACK’S SONS 19 S. Newtown St. Rd. Lancaster, Pa. 17602 EQUIP. 6007 W. Mam Blvd. 1060 Greely Ave. Newtown Square, 717-397-5179 Ephrata7l7-738-1131 Bath, Pa. 18014 Ivyland, Pa. 18973 Pa. 19073 Hershey 717-533-4060 215-837-7681 215-675-1610 215-356-2672 Lancaster 717-656-2710 RLDWIDE TIONAL FARM WATCH the seven largest cattle feeding states, the USDA reported yesterday. lOWA STATE STUDY SAYS FARMERS SITTING TIGHT-A study conducted by lowa State Universitty revealed that fewer farmers are undergoing bankruptcy or foreclosure than the researchers expected. ISU ex tension sociologist Paul Lasley Sim, TUNIS BROTHERS CO. Cypress & Washington Sts. Kennett Square, Pa. 19348 215-444-5480 Itdii TRADE-IN DISCOUNT. Bring in your old tractor now and get a remarkable deal on a new Simplicity 18 hp or 20 hp Sun Star Garden Tractor. WEAVER’S POWER PETERMAN FARM WILLOW LAWN EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT FARMS Fleetwood Lyons Rd. 225 York Rd RD#l Fleetwood, Pa. 19533 Carlisle, Pa. 17013 Mt. Wolf, Pa. 17347 215-944-7589 717-249-5338 717-755-8158 said two-thirds of lowa’s farmers have moderate to low debt loads. “But still, people are not taking any risks.“ He said almost everyone has either been burned financially or knows someone who has in the farm recession. The study involving 1,817 farm operators began a year ago. It asked participants if they were going to expand their operations by buying or renting additional land or by making major equipment purchases. Most are neither ex panding nor reducing the size of their operations, the study showed. Lasley said the few who were planning to expand came from among the younger, better educated, larger scale operations who had more farm sales and larger debt loads. CATTLE BULL MARKET WON’T MATCH 1978-79 Observers are pointing out similarities between the current cattle market and the last major upswing in 1978-79, but most analysts and retailers do not ex pect top prices to reach levels that saw fed steer prices top at $79.25 in April of 1979, $l5 per cwt. higher ■ Exclusive engine mounting sys tem reduces vibration for maximum comfort. ■ Transmission and engine oil All, air cleaner and battery are easily accessed. than last Friday’s $64.27 closing price for April cattle. The difference, analysts say, is in the demand factor with people more prone to switch to poultry and production on the increase in that industry. “If the demand for beef was as strong as it was in 1979, fed steer prices would be in the $BO range now,“ said Bill Lawless, president of Lawless Commodities. $50,000 PAYMENT GETS MIXED REVlEWS—Lawmakers are not jumping with enthusiasm over administration efforts to close loopholes on the $50,000 ceiling on farm program payments. House Agriculture Committee chairman Kika de la Garza (D-Tex.) said the proposal will be studied but he added, “those extra payments are, in effect, part of the process of making America more com petitive without bankrupting farmers. “ Some lawmakers fear too rigid enforcement of the ceiling would force some producers out of the program and cause them to increase their production, which in turn would expand the supply of agricultural goods forcing prices ED ® 1987 Simplicity Minufic(urin|, Inc LanoMttrfa rating, ****** March 21. IM7tC3 ~ down and damaging both farmers and taxpayers. FARM CREDIT’S SPECIAL LAND SALE A SUCCESS—The special terms on sales of farmland by Farm Credit Services of St. Paul has successfully served its purpose. The system sold nearly a quarter-of-a-million acres of land in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Michigan since the special sale began in January. Terms of interest as low as 4.9 percent and down payments as low as 10 percent brought thousands of calls and resulted in sales of all targeted land at prices averaging above appraised value. Most of the buyers were operating farmers and 25 percent of the sales have been for cash, reported Glen Callin, senior vice president of FCS of St. Paul. Maple Sugar Festival Except for a few demonstration trees, most of the sugar maples tapped for the “Hibernia syrup” were actually in another Chester County park, Springton Manor, not yet open to the public. The demonstration trees were popular with finger-licking children, as was the taste test of raw sap, commercial syrup and Hibernia syrup. After learning how to identify the sugar maple, a tree owner could buy taps at the festival and take home free instructions for collecting sap, boiling it down and canning the syrup that results after six hours of boiling. Festival goers could also pick up recipes that substitute maple syrup for sugar. For those who did not plan to make their own, pure Penn sylvania maple syrup was for sale, along with maple butter and maple sugar candy. Get Vegetables, Flowers FLEMINGTON, N.J. - Starting vegetables and flowers from seed indoors can be a gardener’s delight or disaster. There are several keys to success. If one is critical, it’s providing adequate light. Seedlings need a lot of light to develop into sturdy, vigorous plants that will thrive m the gar den. Even a sunny, south window is usually less than ideal. Of course, a greenhouse would be perfect, but a simpler and less costly solution is fluorescent light. A two-tube “shop lite” is an excellent plant growing fixture; they are often on sale and relatively inexpensive, too. There is no need to use special lights; cool-white fluorescent tubes are fine for raising seedlings. If the fixture is hung with chains; it can be easily adjusted for height of the plants. Adding an automatic timer to turn the lights on and off makes things really convenient. Gar deners who have been less than successful starting seeds in the past should try lights, 14 to 16 hours per day, 4 to 6 inches, above the plants. Temperature is important, too. Many seeds germinate best at temperatures in the 70’s, even 80’s, but most seedlings will grow best indoors at temperatures around 65 to 70°F, during the day and somewhat lower at night. Inadequate light and/or high temperatures produce the tall spindly seedlings that gardeners often end up with starting seeds indoors. Seeds should be started in sterile planting medium. Soil straight from the garden, may contain organisms that cause “damping off,” a deadly problem that can wipe out seedlings in no time. The easiest way to avoid the problem is to use a commercial soiless mix. These products also make it dif ficult to over-water plants, another hazard to avoid. Growing good transplants in doors is a challenge. The right light, temperature, and mix can (Continued from Page C 2) Off To A Good Start
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