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 • ~
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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.”