OPINION You May Want To Call Your Congressman About This While the sponsor of Veal Calf Protection Act of 1987 that has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives may have the welfare of animals in mind, the implications of this legislation are extremely serious. This bill would make it unlawful for any person who raises a calf for the production of veal to prevent the calf from having physical contact with other members of the same species. We would assume you cou!d a not just raise one veal calf. You would need at least two calves in the same pen. In addition, you must feed the calf solid food after it’s more than two weeks old. Farmers know that ruminating animals that receive hay or grain aren’t very good for veal anymore. So we really couldn’t keep our veal calves on milk replacer for more than two weeks. The fine for violating this act is $5,000 for each calf kept, fed, transported, sold or purchased. | FARM FORUM our readers write J Editor: The summer of 1987 has been extremely dry in small areas across the United States. Though these pockets of drought have been diminutive in total geographic size, the severity of the crop condi tions and economic impacts will be felt by many farmers. There is a group of fanners in Jackson Coun ty, Michigan that is trying to locate these pockets. Through their efforts we have found large areas . in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Mary land, Delaware, New Jersey, Vir ginia, West Virginia, North Caroli na, and others that have been affected by drought. The sad cir cumstances of this are that most of these areas were hit hard two of the last three years. The “Food Security Act of 1985” has made qualification for emergency loans or disaster assis tance unavailable to farmers, unless they are covered by the Fed eral Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). The USD A has been tell ing the farmer that he needs to r »■ Farm Calendar Sunday, December 6 Maryland Farm Bureau Conven- Faith & Fanning IV, Laurelville lion, through Dec. 9, Ocean Mennonite Church Center, ML City Pleasant, 12/6-8 OTIS, THIS IS AAR. LEJEN SKI... HE 'S VISITING OUR COUNTRY TO DO A STDDV ON AMERICAN FARM LIFE > Wow! What a large fine. But here is the real kick in the overalls. Any person may bring an action to com pel enforcement of this act. And any person who brings an action, which results in the imposition of a penalty, is entitled to half of that $5,000 per calf. Can’t you just see people who know nothing about farming and the difference between a veal and a herd replace ment sneaking around farms to report where calves are located in the hope that they might reap $2,500 for each calf the govern ment decides is in violation of this act. From there it would be easy to get the same kind of law enacted for swine and chickens and dairy cows. The prospect for harassment of farmers with this kind of act that lets an interment share in such a large potential fine is incredible. You may want to write your U.S. congressman about this. become more responsible for the crop he plants by using crop insur ance as a management tool in his operation. That would be fine if the yield base they use to calculate benefits on were realistic yields produced by today’s farming prac tices. As it is now, when a farmer buys crop insurance, he feels as though he is buying a dead horse. The “1986 Disaster Payments Program” was made possible by a special act of Congress. This gave eligible farmers for their 1986 crop losses “Commodity PIK Certifi cates” as a form of disaster assis tance. This gave those farms some relief, but with a drought again this year, the devastating economic ramifications without some assis tance are going to be mere than some farmers can withstand. What this committee has set as a goal is to organize enough support to get legislature to pass a special act of Congress, or amend the 1986 disaster payments program, to make PIK certificates available as (Turn to Page A3l) NOW IS THE TIME By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent To Obtain Farmer’s Tax Guide We don’t like to talk about taxes but it’s a way of life. The Farmer’s Tax Guide, for use in preparing your 1987 returns, are now avail able at the Extension Office. The Guide is extremely valuable when preparing your return. I realize that many farmers rely on an accoun tant or tax practitioner to file their return, so be sure to pick up a copy and give it to them. There are a number of changes in the tax reg ulations. It would be well to study them, so your records are accurate when you review your accounts with your preparer. A few important tax dates for farmers. You may elect to pay your 1987 estimated income tax with Form 1040-ES by January 15, 1988. You can then file your 1987 Federal Income Tax return, Form 1040 by April 15. If you do not pay with Form 1040-ES at this time, your return will be due March 1, 1988. To Protect Christmas Trees From Thieves Many Christmas tree growers become concerned at this time of year about the possible loss of val uable evergreens to Christmas tree “thieves.” There is a solution; Cor nell Plantations gardener, Gerardo a form of assistance to farmers in need of relief for 1987 crop losses. Also we are asking Congress or the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the crop insurance criteria for emergency loans until FCIC starts using realistic yields of today’s production as a yield base in calcu lating disasters payments. In order to accomplish this, we are asking for your support to help the farmers in need so they may regain some of their operating los ses. We ask you to call your legi slative leaders and give support in this goal. Those of you that are willing to work with us, we ask that you write us at, Cooperative Extension Service, 412 Erie Street, Jackson, Michigan 49202, or phone 517-788-4292 or 517-529-9032. We have a good start in Michi gan, and with help from other states, the accomplishment of this goal can be achieved. Can’t never did anything, but with hard work and determination we think we can. Hank Choate Committee for Crop Disaster Assistance WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE - SEEN VDO THIS AFTERNOON, OTIS WHY THIS £?, .g! PARTICULAR AFTERNOON? °e> O <J (S’ O * O <s ° B Scum, has developed an “ugly mix.” This casy-to-make concoc tion is designed to temporarily ren der treated trees unsightly. Here is the recipe; Pour 2 gallons of warm water into a large bowl. Mix sepa rately 20 ounces of hydrated lime with 4 ounces of Wilt-Proof® or another anti-dessicant until a uni form paste is produced. Slowly pour this mix into the warm water while stirring constantly. When the mix is an even, light milky col or, add 2 bottles of pink or brightly colored food coloring. Blend until the mixture is a uniform color. Then spray, brush or splatter the material on the trees you wish to protect. The weather should be mild and dry at the time of applica tion. Rains will gradually wash the “ugly mix” off. To Be Patient With People Farming in the best of times is a very stressful occupation. Than add to that reduced yields due to weather, low returns and high expenses. I point this out so that people working with our farmers under stand the needs and cares of others. We all need to be patient and understanding and look at the many good things we have to be thankful for... our families, free- COMING, READY OR NOT December 6,1987 Background Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12. Devotional Reading: Isaiah 40:3-11. This has not been a good year for American Christianity at least, not in terms of public image. This was the year of fallen idols in religious television and rampant scandal in local churches and denominational bodies alike. Christian groups have made the headlines, not with their good works, but their internal conflicts and external entanglements. A number of groups are tom between support for and condem nation of their fallen leaders. Lots of people have been trying to determine if these various person alities are innocent “good guys” or guilty “bad guys.” It would appear that the ranks of the “good guys” have been substantially thinned since January 1, 1987. COME BACK! It is appropriate, then, that we bring this year to a close with the invitation for renewal that Advent always brings us: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). Literally, “repent” means to return, to comeback to the covenant way of life to which we originally committed ourselves. Although some of us as 'CAUSE THIS IS ThIE AFTERNOON Ti-l/KT I WAS OUT SHOWING- . HIM SOME OF OUR OLD FARM RELICS a o dom and the ability to come back after being down. Take time to talk with your friends and neighbors and share the many good times you’ve had together. Let’s enjoy the holiday season and be thankful for all the good things in life. To Be Aware of Fertilizer Value of Manure The 1987-88 Agronomy Guide lists, on page 72, the real fertilizer value in our livestock and poultry manure. As fertilizer costs con tinue high, we need to make every effort to use and preserve these manure fertilizer elements. On the basis of the fertilizer content at current fertilizer prices, cattle manure has $3.80 worth of fertiliz er elements per ton, swine manure contains about $5.00 worth and poultry manure contains about $13.00 worth of fertilizer ele ments. This will vary depending on the moisture and bedding con tent. In addition, all types of man ure and organic matter to the soil which is needed on most farms. For best results manure should be either incorporated into the topsoil or stored in a water-tight pit until it can be spread and mixed with the topsoil. The Cooperative Extension Service is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educa tional institution Christians may have consigned these “fallen” Christian leaders to the trash heap, we need to remem ber that the invitation to “come back” is open to all who have sinned and fallen short of God’s plan and purpose. In other words, whether we are “fallen” or “still standing” in the Christian faith, the call to repentance comes to all of us. John the Baptist is pretty harden the Pharisees and Sadducees who came out into the wilderness to receive baptism from him: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matt. 3:7). But note that John does not tell them they came for baptism in vain. If they are truly repentant, they can be baptized. The key, of course, is repentance. And, if they are repentant, they shall show it: “Bear fruit that befits repentance” (3:8). Perhaps you’ve noticed that, of all the headliners who have gotten into trouble this year religious and secular figures alike almost none, if any, have said publicly that they were wrong and are sorry for it. For the most part, they have claimed to be misunderstood, the victims of lies and distortions, oral worst “mistaken.” Nobody has said “I was wrong and I am sorry for it” or “Yes, I lied and I regret it.” UNFRUITFUL TREES Yet, if we are to respond to the challenge of Advent, God’s annual “Coming, ready or not!”, we must all take seriously the call to repent, to come back to what all of us have in some way forsaken even we “good guys” who have not made the headlines and the nighdy TV news. With the coming of Advent, this challenge comes to each of us anew to “bear good fruit.” “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (3:10). This is the time of the year when we will hear over and over again that haunting question: “Are ypu ready for Christmas?” More to the point, we should be asking ourselves whether we’re ready for the coming of Christ. The first step in getting “ready” is to hear the call fo “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by the Committee on the Uniform Senes and used by permission Released by Community & Suburban Press) 0 Q
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers