OPINION Crisis Not There For the past several years, a group of farmers have gathered at the Laurelville Camp Center in western Pennsylvania to discuss the farm crisis. They discuss how the church should relate to people who suffer financial and emotional difficulties when displaced from their farm roots. Often times peo ple are helped by finding other people who share their same prob lems. This kind of interchange is provided at this seminar each year by the Mennonite church. Levi Miller, program director for the Mount Pleasant center, said this year the situation has improve d. “The spirit of crisis that was pre sent four years isn’t here now,” Miller said. “But other problems were present. How do you relate to | FARM FORUM our readers write J Editor: I was so pleased to read the arti cle that appeared on the editorial page recently about Dr. Michael Deßakey. Dr. Deßakey was awarded the prestigious “Veritas” (Truth) Award at the convention of American Agri-Women in McAl len, Texas, in November. Gail McPherson, New Park, (York County), had the honor of making the presentation to Dr. Deßakey for his stand for the use of animals in biomedical research that has saved so many human lives. The articles that he wrote have appeared in “The Wall Street Jour t Farm Calendar Monday, December 14 Swine Seminar, Univ. of Dela ware, Research and Education Center, 6:30 p.m., Georgetown, Delaware, Chesapeake Bay Agreement Semi nar and Signing Ceremony, Through Dec. 15, Baltimore Convention Center. Wednesday, December 16 Mid Atlantic No-Till Conference, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium Adams County DHIA Banquet, York Springs Fireball Dairy Nutrition School, Gap Fire Hall, 9:45 a.m. Futures Trading, 8 a.m., Leola Family Restaurant Thursday, December 17 Grain Sorghum Meeting, Univer- WELL OT\<b, WHAT DO YOU TR/NIK OF THOSE NEW COMFORT STALLS. XVE IN THE BARN? V a government that is represented by people who are unfamiliar with farm concerns. A Canadian farmer noted a difference from the situa tion noth of the border. In Canada a farmer may see his government representative out seeding wheat In addition, a farm couple share d their struggles of selling a farm they loved to developers. “They offered us a ridiculous price, and we were ridiculous enough to take it” they said. No question about it Us farmers just have it bred in us to care for the animals and to care for the land. But when we can no longer do this for any reason, we don’t feel good. The church tries to help. That’s appreciated. nal” and “The Washington Post.” His remarks were also reprinted in a subsequent column by Ann Landers because of her support of his work. Dr. Deßakey was very pleased to receive this award and express ed his deep concern over the activi ties of the animal rightists. He is a very dedicated man who is very concerned about the future of med ical research in this country. Carol Ann Gregg Ist Vice President American Agri-Women sity of Delaware Research and Education Center, 1 p.m., George, Delaware. Grain Sorghum Meeting, 6 p.m., Milford, Delaware Friday, December 18 PA Seedmans Annual Meeting, 10 a.m., Treadway Resort Inn. Tuesday, December 22 Farrowing Short Course, PSU University Park, Rm. 111, Hen ning Bldg. 11 a.m., through the 23rd. PSU Farrowing Short Course, 111 Henning Bldg., University Park, through the 23rd. Wednesday, December 23 Farrowing Short Course, PSU, Rm. 111, Henning Bldg., Uni versity Park, 11 a.m. m-ssw —* « j The seller of the business, i. Robert G. Campbell, will continue to manage them with the new title of general manager. In addition, Campbell will become general manager of the Ephrata Review, which Lancaster Newspapers acquired in August ar/s oris? ) 9 ) / J P * * A, J * » • 9 • ~ ‘^MPi (9 MM THE TIME By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent To Exercise Breeding Animals Many farm animals are kept in close quarters during the winter months. This is fine for animals fattened for market, but may not be suitable for breeding animals. The flock of breeding ewes should have access to an exercise lot dai ly; there will be less trouble with paralysis in the ewe flock and stronger lamb form if ewes are exercised daily. When the ground becomes fro zen, or snow-covered, some she pherds will feed hay on the ground or in the exercise lot, in order to force the ewes to exercise. Dairy cows need outside exercise to maintain good feet and legs, and to provide opportunity for heat detec tion. Brood mares need the same Lancaster Farming Sold (Continued from Pag* A 1) mercial printing company, and the 22 East Main Street, Lititz, office building. A purchase price was not disclosed. In making the announcement, Buckwalter said the business’s SO full-time and part-time employees will be retained. “No major changes are expected in the busi ness operation,” Buckwalter said. Lancaster Farming started publication in 1955. Campbell was general manager for three years and then bought the farming publi cation in 1958. From the first issue of a modest 16 pages within Lan caster County, Lancaster Farming has grown into a substantial reg ional publication with 45,000 cir culation and an average of 180 pages per issue. Ij is circulated all across Pennsylvania, plus in Mary land, Virginia, New York, Dela ware and New Jersey. daily exercise, if they are to remain in die best of health. To Sort Tobacco Tobacco stripping is underway in this part of the state and many hours will be spent removing the leaves from the stalk. The days of special handling and sizing seems to be over; however, it is still very important that growers sort the injured and ground leaves from the good tobacco. This will be required if the crop is being sold on grade. With some “pull off’ crops this is less important On the other hand growers should be fair enough to sort out the undesirable leaves. If this is not done, the buyer will be unhappy and look else where for their tobacco supplies. Some sorting is necessary with every crop regardless of the method of selling. To Use A Real Tree For Christmas This is the time of year that most people are considering the type of Christmas tree to buy. And I hear objections to using real trees as being wasteful. So let’s take a look at this situation. Actually, the Christmas tree far mer is raising trees as a crop, and a source of income. This is much the same as the farmer who raises wheat, com or soybeans to sell or use on his own farm. Christmas trees are raised on land not suited for other crops -- not even pasture ANAME FOR THE CHILD! December 13,1987 Background Scripture: Matthew Devotional Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7. At Christmas time we often emphasize that the birth of Jesus in a manger is indicative of God’s love made manifest in the most humble of circumstances. Jesus was bon, not to royalty or wealth, but of humble parents from an unimportant town. But there is also another indicator of the depth of God’s love: Jesus was conceived by an unwed mother. The whole story of Jesus might have begun in scandal, instead of the awe and wonder with which we regard it today. When, before they were married, “Mary ... was found to be with child.. .’’.Joseph would have been justified in caus ing a furor in the town of Nazareth. Even in this age of sexual license in which we live, such an event would still be regarded as scandalous. But Joseph had a dream in which an angel spoke to him, say ing; .. do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is con ceived in her is of the Holy Spirit She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will land. It’s mostly rolling land and highly acid. Also, remember that these Christmas tree farmers are putting this land to good use; by conserv ing the soil and providing an excel lent water shed. Keep in mind that Christmas tree farmers have a very clow turnover in their capital - from the time they plant the tree till it’s ready for your living room can be from 5 to 6 years for small trees and 10 to IS years on the larger trees. Another fact to consider is there is nothing like the fresh aro ma of a real tree in your home dur ing the Christmas season. To Take Inventory An area of our operation that is very important at this time of year is inventory. With the close of the year most of our farmers close out their records for the year. This means that if you are going to have a Farm Analysis made you should take inventory of all your supplies. You’ll need this to do any kind of farm analysis, because the amount of grain, hay and other supplies that are in storage will vary from year to year, and unless this is taken into consideration, you can not have an accurate analysis of your year’s operation. So, as accu rately as possible, record the amount of hay, grain, feed, seeds and fertilizer that are on hand. This is the first step in an accurate farm anaylsis. save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20,21). Christians venerate Maty for her humble response to God’s pur pose, but I think we need also to honor Joseph. He played a very important part with his response to the dn-'iin. He might have disre garded the dream and acted according to his wounded pride. Instead, Matthew tells us, “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (1:24). Joseph put away his pride, his doubts, and his preju dices, taking the pregnant Mary to be his wife despite the public embarrassment. Furthermore, Joseph also gave the newborn child the name given to him by the angel: “he called his name Jesus” (1:25b). “Jesus” (Yeshua) was a fairly common name in those days—actually, the same name as the great Patriarch Joshua. As everyone knew, it means “God saves.” This is what the angel was referring to when he said to Joseph, “for he will save his people from their sins.” In those days, the name given to the child was very important, for it indicated something distinctive in his or her calling or personality. Several thousand Jewish child ren may have been named Yeshua (“Jesus” is the Greek form of the name), but for the child to be bom of Mary and Joseph no name could have been more appropriate. Other JevTish leaders Moses, Joshua, David had been sent by God to “save” or “rescue” his people. But Jesus, above all others, would incarnate the saving, rescuing love of God in their midst. Matthew realized that the com ing of Jesus to Mary and Joseph was nothing less than a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (1:23). So, Christians sing of the coming of Christ as “Jesus, our Emmanuel.” The meaning of Emmanuel, Matthew tells us parenthetically, is “God .with us.” Thus, the very essence of Christ’s advent is caught up in these two names: Jesus “God saves” and Emmanuel “God with us.”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers