AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 25, 1987
OPINION
Dispel Fears With Facts
A moderately-glossy folder of
information from the Animal
Health Institute came this week.
We had to admit, that to us. Animal
Health Institute was an unfamilar
name with a new logo. But the cov
er picture of a dairy cow on a
yellow-gridded background soon
had us reading the latest informa
tion on bovine somatotropin
(BST). It seems all the manufac
turers, or potential manufacturers,
of this new biotechnology product
have banded together in an unpre
cendented bit of cooperation
among primary competitors in a
race to develop commercial appli-
cations for this new technology.
The large pharmaceutical compa
nies like American Cyanamid,
Elanco Products, Monsanto and
Upjohn have all joined together
under the new Animal Health
Institute to provide information for
the public and for dairymen.
These companies make equal
contribution to the biotechnology
policy task force that is coordi
nated by the Animal Health Insti
tute. It draws upon the personnel
and resources of the companies but
does not get involved in individual
products or research.
The new institute has been
formed because, as with anything
this new and revolutionary, BST
has raised many concerns. From
the welfare of the cow to the con
tinued quality of the milk. And
dairymen are concerned about the
burden of overproduction and the
need for increased management
skills. So a lot of questions need to
be answered. And the Animal
Health Institute believes it can
answer these questions with facts.
For example, to determine how
Americans view biotechnology in
general and a particular product for
dairy cows, the Animal Health
Institute’s BSTPublic Information
Working Group commisssioned
an opinioned survey. The dairy
product involved in the survey is
bovine somatotropin. This hor
mone produced through biotech-
'£4 -
Farm Calendar
Saturday, July 25
York County 4-H Dairy Roundup,
10 a.m., York Fairgrounds.
District 111 Jersey Picnic, 11:30
a.m., Arrowstnith’s Farm,
Peach Bottom.
Pennsylvania Brown Swiss Asso
ciation Picnic, Ronnie
Daubert’s Farm, Pine Grove.
Columbia/Luzeme County Hols
tein Picnic.
7Hls> i 9 A PRETTY GOOD OV TRUCK )
rYOO HAVE HERE 0119
what kind ie> it?
nology aims to improve the effi
ciency of milk production by dairy
cows. The opinion survey sought
peoples’ initial impressions on
biotechnology and BST. A total of
1,315 adults nationwide were
surveyed by telephone in February
of 1987. Of those surveyed, 77 per
cent said that science has brought
more advances than problems.
Sixty-two percent said that
biotechnology will make our lives
better. Eighty-two percent think
biotechnology will increase the
world’s food supply. And 61 per
cent favor government regulation
of biotechnology.
This would seem to indicate the
public views the new science
favorably. However, BST is very
little known. Only three percent of
those surveyed had heard a great
deal about it. Nine percent had
heard some. Twenty-two percent
knew very little. And 66 percent
knew nothing about BST. Of those
who had heard about it, opinion
was evenly divided. One third
favored it One third opposed it.
And one third didn’t know.
At least so far consumers do not
have a solidified opinion of BST.
Of considerable interest to the
dairy industry is the fact that peo
ple who drink the most milk were
the most supportive of BST in
every question than people who
drink little or no milk.
Few people are consistantly
hostile to BST. Most consumers
lean toward arguments in favor of
BST when told the facts.
Certainly we know a lot more
about BST now than we did when
the first headlines hit the newspap
ers a few years ago. But we still
have alot to leant. And as the facts
become known through research, a
lot of fears will be dispelled if the
public is made aware of the facts.
At least that is the belief of the Ani
mal Health Institute. And the mod
erately glossy folder of informa
tion is the first attempt to dispel
fears with facts.
Bucks County Holstein Picnic.
Sunday, July 26
Cecil County Fair, Fair Hill, Md.;
continues through Aug. 1.
Pa. Angus Field Day, McKean
Brothers, Mercer.
Monday, July 27
Summer Tour, Pa. Vegetable
Growers Association, Erie
County.
York County Holstein Show, York
a*
NOW IS
THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
To Make Summer
Alfalfa Seeding
Early to mid August are good
times to seed alfalfa, particularly
in this part of the state. When
seeded during the period of good
soil moisture, the plants have time
to become established before
freezing weather arrives. With dry
conditions in some areas, it would
be wise to delay seeding until
moisture arrives.
Alfalfa is still one of our major
forage crops and deserves the very
best of planning and management.
Band seeding is the best method to
make this seeding.
Weed control is a “must” with a
straight seeding without a nurse
crop. Many stands are injured by
poor weed control during the first
year. Refer to the 1987-88 Agro
nomy Guide for assistance on
weed control practices. Be aware
that alfalfa should not be planted in
ground that has been treated for
com weed control during the past
year, especially fields sprayed
with atrazine. Alfalfa is an excel
lent forage crop; however, it dpes
Fairgrounds, 10 a.m.
Cecil County, Md., Fair, Fair Hill
Fairgrounds; continues through
Aug. 1.
Wyoming/Lackawanna Holstein
Summer Picnic.
Tuesday, July 28
Lancaster County Hog Show, Lan
caster Stockyards; continues
tomorrow.
PAFC Young Cooperative Lead
ers Conference, Sheraton-
Danville; continues through
July 30.
Summer Love Sundae Tuesday,
Main Capitol Steps,
Harrisburg.
Penn Allied Nursery Trade Show,
Valley Forge Convention
Center.
Dairy Tour sponsored by Wayne
and Crawford County Exten
sion Center; continues
tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 29
Sire Power Sale, Kutztown
Fairgrounds.
Hunterdon County Annual Far
mer’s Businessmen’s picnic;
Stonegate Standardbred Farms,
Hill Road, Gardner, 5 p.m
Tours begin at 7 p.m.
McKean/Cameron Extension
Executive Committee Picnic,
Sizerville Park, Emporium, 7
p.m.
(Turn to Page A3l)
I 0
require attention and good
management.
To Be Aware of
Lightning Danger
Hot summer temperatures often
bring severe thunder and lightning
storms: and we’ve had some in cer
tain areas this summer, and no
doubt there will be more to come.
We urge parents to warn their
youngsters of the danger of seek
ing shelter under a tree or swim
ming in a pond or creek before and
during a storm. Safety in a truck,
car or building should be encour
aged as the storm approaches, as
well as during the storm. Stay
away from electric fences and farm
equipment that is out in the open.
Buildings with lightning rods
should be checked to be sure the
rods are grounded in moist soil and
free of debris that would prevent
the cable from taking the charge
into the ground.
To Fertilize
Strawberry Plants
Most strawberry growers have
realized good returns from their
plants in recent years. The prices
are favorable and the market is
there. In order to realize the maxi
mum yield next spring, we suggest
the plants be well fertilized this
summer. An application of 20 to
30 pounds of actual nitrogen per
acre over the plants during July or
WAITING FOR
GOD’S SONS
July 26,1987
Background Scripture: Romans
8: 1-27.
Devotional Reading: Romans
8:18-25.
Samuel Beckett’s play, “Wait
ing For Godot,” seems to be a dra
ma about two men waiting for a
third person, Godot, who never
comes. Actually, it is a play about
waiting for God and Beckett is say
ing that waiting for God is just as
futile. The play was very popular
back in the 1960’s during that time
when many were certain that
“God is dead!”
WAITING FOR GOD
Although we no longer hear that
term “God is dead! ” there are still
many people who lose their faith
because it seems to them that God
is not going to come and do any of
the things he has promised. They
looked for peace at last and war
continues. They looked for
brotherhood and find that preju
dice is still a strong force in the
world. They looked for righteous
ness, but find that corruption still
reaches out powerful tentacles. So,
they grow tired and dispair of wait
ing any longer.
Maybe, however, we are wait
ing in vain because we are waiting
for the wrong person. Perhaps it is
not God who has failed to show up,
but someone else. Who? In
August should give strength to
new runners and increase fruit
yield. This application should be
made when the plants are dry to
avoid burning the leaves. In the
home strawberry patch use about
one-fourth pound of ammonium
nitrate per 100 square feet of bed
space. Good care of the strawberry
plants this summer will bring
about better yields next June.
To Check Pets
For Fleas
Warm weather favors the deve
lopment of fleas and you will find
them jumping right now. First of
all treat the dogs and cats with
commercial flea powders. Flea
collars appear to do a good job
against fleas but check the pet fre
quently because the skin of some
animals becomes irritated by the
material in the collar. For indoors,
treat infested areas with ant and
roach aerosols. Do not overlook
the bedding of pets or their sleep
ing quarters. Sevin does an effec
tive job in this area.
Because fleas often infest lawns
in the summer, treat the grass with,
sprays or dusts containing either
Sevin or Diazinon. Apply these
sprays according to the directions
on the container.
The Cooperative Extension Ser
vice is an affirmative action, equal
opportunity education institution.
Romans, Paul says, “For the crea
tion waits with eager longing for
the revealing of the sons of God.”
This, I believe is not a casual state
ment on Paul’s part, for he makes
several pointed references to the
“sons of God.” For example:
“For all who are led by the Spirit
of God are sons of God” and short
ly afterward he says, “but you
have received the spirit of son
ship.” And, using slightly diffe
rent terminology: “...it is the Spirit
himself bearing witness with out
spirit that we are children of God. ’ ’
SONS OF GOD
‘ Who are these “sons” of
“children” of God? Are these the
very same people who have cried
in contridon, “Who will deliver
me from this body of death?” Yes,
these are the very same people.
These are the people who realize
that there are two different ways to
respond to God’s mercy. One way
is to use it as an escape from the
consequences of our sins and fai
lure. Those who choose this way
are not really concerned with the
cost of their sin, so long as some
one else pays it for them. They are
also likely to spend their lives sin
ning and seeking forgiveness over
and over again.
The other way of responding to
God’s forgiveness, however, is to
use that grace as the power to
change our lives. Because God’s
mercy overcomes our guilt, out of
gratitude we devote ourselves to
doing the very best we can. We
become “sons” of God, not
because we never fail, but because
we have committed ourselves to
God’s service with a dedicadon
that sin and failure cannot shake.
By the power of God’s mercy, we
are empowered to live better lives:
“If the Spirit of him who raised
Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
he who raised Christ Jesus from
the dead will give life to your mor
tal bodies also through his Spirit
which dwells in you.”
Isn’t this, then what the world is
really wailing for not God, who
is already here, butlhc “sons” and
“children” of God, who, by the
power of his grace, can be the
channels through which God’s
ancient promises arc kept and his
eternal plan fulfilled?
(Based on copyrighted Outlines pro
duced by the Committee on the Uniform
Senes and used by permssion. Released by
Community & Suburban Press.)