AlO-LancMtcr Farming, Saturday, June 13,1987
OPINION
This Should Be Said
Because the number of fanners
in relation to population totals is
small, we need to find ways to
bridge the gap between those who
imow about us and those who do
not. The Lancaster County Dairy
Promotion Committee tried to do
this in a humorous way last Sunday
when they held a Farmer’s Day
Marathon at Willow Valley in
conjunction with the June Dairy
Month promotion.
Racing from sleepmg bags to
cow milking, wheel barrow rides to
human calf feeding and on to
plowing with toy tractors, it was a
lot of fun. And demonstrated what
we’ve known all along. Whenever
farmers themselves participate in
promotional activities, a certm
empathy is created that doesn’t
happen in any other way. High
priced stars and models with their
accompanying $9O per hour ad
vertising agencies just don’t have
the same affect. Cows in a ball
park, calves in a shopping mall,
Dairy of Distinction signs along the
roadway, teaching materials and
farm animals in the classroom.
For many children and adults
alike, these exposures to the farm
provide the first time in their lives
.-—.—-I
| . FARM FORUM our readers write j
Editor:
I love your paper! It is the best
farm paper we can get. Now how
can you improve your paper to
make it a better farm paper? I can
tell you how.
By adding the commodity
futures for the full 13 months they
are traded. Lancaster Farming
can’t carry every day of trading,
but at least you could publish
Wednesday or Thursday trades,
listing the day’s open, high, low
and close. Also listing the lifetime
contract high and low for each
month.
We farmers don’t need coffee,
Editor:
I see in the newpaper the Judge
has voted against Robert Frame
and Vintage Sales. Robert Frame
is not the only loser, every farmer
dairy or beef-for the check-off or
oppossed to the check-off, was a
loser. We were denied the right to
self determination by the use of a
referendum. We point fingers at
Marcose and say how he robbed
the people of the Philippines of
their democracy. Is this any dif
ferent’
Where were our Farm
Organizations and their lobbyist
who are supposed to look out for
the farmers they represent who
are home busy at work? Why
haven’t they called for an im
mediate referendum’ Each
organization has a policy in favor
of Beef Promotion. How many
would have a policy if the voting
delegates thought a check-off
'lll
i: jl!
they have experienced anything
related to production agriculture.
Regardless if anyone else
agrees, we still know that
agriculture is the backbone of the
nation. And the state. And the
community. And these grassroots
activities help bring information to
the public about the importance of
agriculture in today’s economy. In
addition, these people who have
been exposed to the farm activities
feel more comfortable with the
problems farmers face every day.
Certainly to hold a farmer
marathon didn’t cost a lot of
money. But it did a good job of
communicating farm experience
to those who watched.
Of course, it should be said that
those young men who bolted out of
their sleeping bags to race to the
milking moved a lot faster than
what we have observed in a real
life 4 a.m. appointment with four
teats on the bottom of an udder. In
fact, we know of a few young men
who have fallen asleep on the milk
stool after a long Saturday night
with you know who. Yes. Aha. If we
want to be honest this should be
said.
suger, silver and gold futures, but
a farm paper should at least carry
a full listing of cattle and hogs. If
someone wants a full listing now,
we have to buy a Wall Street
Journal, a New York Times or a
Saturday copy of the Lancaster
daily paper. See below this copy
from the Wall Street Journal.
Ned Huber
Mt. Pleasant Mills
Editor’s Note: We are in the
process right now of deciding what
additional commodity futures
market information would be
useful to our readers. Your
suggestions are very welcome.
would be put in place without the
benefit of a referendum? Would
they support the taking of $1 on
every animal regardless of its
value-$lO or $1000? Would they
support the taking of $1 every tune
an animal changes hands? Some
calves and dairy cows will change
hands five to six times before going
to slaughter. Had they ever
suspected the taking of $1 every
time a dairy farmer sells a milk
cow to another dairy farmer to go
into his milking barn. Many far
mers were shocked to leam they
must send $1 to the Beef Promotion
Board when they send an animal
overseas. If there is to be a
referendum within 22 months-let it
be now.
I don’t oppose the idea of ad
vertising, but let’s collect the fee
once; at the slaughter house. The
amount should be based on a
percentage of the value of each
Ml? Me COY, TM HELPING
THE DAIRY FOLKS WITH
A Survey — 'how lono
HAVE YOU BEEN A ,
DAIRY PRODUCER ?
NOW IS
THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
To Keep
Pesticide Records
Today’s battle with insects,
fungus, rodents and weeds
requires the use of many different
chemicals. It is important to keep
an accurate record of any
chemical used. This would include
the date, name of material, ap
plication rate, field number and
even the direction the wind is
blowing. This might save a lot of
trouble and loss of income in case
there is some question.
Farm 2s§j
r
Calendar
Saturday, June 13
39th Delmarva Chicken Festival,
Milford Senior High School;
New Enterprise.
Lebanon County Dairy Princess
Contest, Annville Elementary
School, 7:30 p.m.
Adams County Dairy Princess
Pageant, Biglerville High
School, 8 p.m.
Franklin County Dairy Princess
Pageant, Kauffman Com
munity Center, Chambersburg.
Bradford County 4-H County
Council, Extension Office.
Berwick Vegetable Growers Co-op
Annual Meeting, Maria Assunta
Society Hall, Berwick.
Sunday, June 14
Pa. Food Merchants Association
Annual Convention, Valley
Forge Convention Center.
Monday, June 15
Pa. Beef Cook-off, Holy Trinity
High School, Shiremanstown.
Tuesday, June 16
FFA Annual Convention, Penn
State University; continues
through June 18.
Wednesday, June 17
Wayne County Wool Pool, Frank
Machek Barn, junction of
Routes 247 and 371 near
Pleasant Mount.
Penn State Southeastern Field
Research Lab Tour, Lan
disville, 1 to 4 p.m.
(Turn to Page A3l)
individual animal and the pur
chaser should match the amount
paid by the farmer. Unless we can
have a reasonable assessment that
is fair to everyone, let’s vote the
check-off out.
Albert Bartels, Jr.
West Grove
MECX.oriS.
MUXIN6- C
OVER FIFTY
|fnr
Many food items are being
checked by Food and Drug
representatives for pesticide
residues. It is possible to find
residues even where the producer
followed regulations and every
recommended practice. Your
records would be very important in
these cases. In any event, always
follow label instructions.
To Deal With
Volunteer Corn
I’ve had a number of inquiries
concerning volunteer com growing
in many fields. This is corn that
has been left in the field smce last
fall and is really a weed that will
hurt our yields the same as any
other weed. (The definition of a
weed is a misplaced plant). The
big problem is how to get rid of it.
There is no herbicide that can be
used without killing all the corn.
On tilled or minimum tilled, the
cultivator can be used to kill the
plants between the rows. On no-till,
there is no meawns of eradication
except the hand hoe. The larger the
corn becomes the less you'll want
to cultivate because of root
pruning. We are again back to
using the hoe.
All this volunteer corn growing is
a reminder that part of our 1986
A BAD EXCHANGE
June 14,1987
Background Scripture:
Romans 1:1-17; 15:14 through
Devotional Reading:
Galatians 3:10-14,
As I write this, the newspapers
and television are full of reports
and stones about several big-time
TV evangelists and personalities.
More than enough has already
been written on the alleged details
of their escapades an intrigues and
I’ll not join the chorus of critics
and debunkers.
But an issue has been raised
that, quite apart from the per
sonalities involved, ought to be
pursued. Some people are asking,
“If we cannot trust people such as
these, to whom do we turn for our
religious and spiritual authority?”
As one man was quoted in the
newspaper, “I thought these men
spoke for God!”
So, who does speak for God’ The
television evangelist? The pastor
of my church? Certain “gifted”
people who seem closer to the Lord
than most of the rest of us? People
who are properly certified by an
ecclesiastical organization?
Seminary theologians? The pope?
Any person with a Bible in his
hand? And what about those
religious authorities with whom I
don’t agree?
THE TRUTH FOR A LIE
The answer is that any or all of
the above can speak for God, or to
put it in words that are closer to
mark; God can speak to us-and
probably does-through any and all
of these. But, by the same token,
none of the above are infallible or
perfect, either. The problem is that
too often we turn to someone like
WELLT-lEN TP WAVE
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crop was left in the field.
We use a lot of gasoline and
diesel fuels on our farms and when
they are not handled properly, they
can be a source of a serious fire.
Gasoline should be stored in an
underground tank. When it is
necessary to store it above ground,
then the tank should be located at
least 40 feet away from any
building. Small amounts can be
stored in approved safety cans. Be
sure to label all cans plainly so
there is no danger of mix-up.
Diesel fuel and gasoline must be
kept away from flame of heat.
Strictly enforce “No Smoking"
rules. Always refuel outdoors
where vapors can not accumulate.
If you spill some fuel, wipe it up
before starting an engine.
Storing any fuels in glass jugs or
bottles is inviting trouble. It is also
dangerous to use them to start
burning trash, leaves, barbecue
pits or stoves. Gasoline should not
be used as a cleaning or
degreasing agent. Durmg this busy
season, take time to be safe.
16:27.
To Handle Gasoline
and Diesel Fuel
With Respect
(Turn to Page All)
one of these for spiritual truth and,
because they are able to be of help
to us, we make the assumption that
just about everything they say and
do comes from God.
As an ordained clergyman for
the past 32 years, I realize all too
well the temptation of the preacher
to get carried away with his own
authority. I keep a file of all my
sermons and occasionally I go
back and read some of those I
preached several decades ago.
Often I’m taken aback at the
smugness and even arrogance of
some of the things I said. I’m more
certain than ever of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, but some of the
details I thought I had nailed down
could have been advanced with a
lot more humility.
Look at the humility with which
Paul approaches the church at
Rome. He sends them his letter,
not as the “big shot” who’s going to
straighten them out, but says: “I
long to see you that I may impart
to you some spiritual gift to
strengthen you, that is, that we
may be mutually encouraged by
each other’s faith...” (Romans
1:12). Paul has something to give
them, but he also believes they
have something to give him, too.
CREATURE OR
CREATOR
Some people, says Paul, made a
bad exchange: “Claiming to be
wise, they became fools, and ex
changed the glory of the immortal
God for images resembling mortal
man or birds or animals or rep
tiles” (1:22,23). This may sound
like a stupid exchange, but it is a
trap mto which people have been
falling from the beginning ot
inhabited tune. Catching a genuine
glimpse of God, people assume
that everything their minds per
ceive is therefore the gospel truth.
God-inspired revelation too
quickly is transformed into man
made theology.
I’m afraid in my own personal
experience, there were too many
times when it was not God I
glorified, but me. It was not the
gospel alone that I brought on
those Sunday mornings, but the
gospel according to me. There’s
nothing wrong with that-m fact,
that’s how it has to be-so long as
we acknowledge it and it makes us
humble, not proud. Thus Paul
says; “...they exchanged the truth
about God for a he and worshipped
and served the creature rather
than the Creator, who is blessed for
ever!” (1:25).
That’s always tne danger, isn’t
it? That we will worship and serve
the creature rather than the
Creator. That we will give to the
preacher, the prophet, or the pope
the veneration and authority that
belongs to God * alone. That’s
always a bad exchange.
(Based on copvnphted Outlines produced by th<
Committee on the Uniform Series and used hy
permission Released by Community & Suburban
Press )