AUMjnwnr Rn*i|, Sahmfcy, January 11, 1988 OPINION Targeted Farm Program Payments There seems to be a growing concern among Americans that the fanners who most need help don’t receive most of the benefits pro vided under federal farm pro grams. This year something just might be done to solve this prob lem, says Gerald F. Vaughn, Uni versity of Delaware Extension spe cialist in resource economics and policy. “Congressional attention could well be focused on revising the formula for making direct pay ments, so that a larger share of program benefits goes to farmers truly in need.” Limiting or capping the pay ments that can be received by large producers often is mistaken for targeting, Vaughn says. But while capping may remove the appear ance of excessive payments to individual producers, it encour ages farmers to reorganize their businesses to avoid the cap. As a result, program benefits are not redistributed as intended to farm ers who are more in need. “Proposals for targeting seek to base flam, program payments on a farmer’s financial need,’’ Vaughn says. “They generally urge that aid should be greatest to family farms of moderate size, which at this time need an income boost more than part-time or large commercial farms do.” Such targeting proposals usual ly call for higher payments to fami ly farms of moderate size and progressively smaller payments to other farms, Vaughn says. Some proposals would require that pay ments go only to farm operators, not landlords. ‘Targeting makes sense in rela tion to supplementing farmers’ incomes, but it may be at cross pur II - rnmmmm — Ir Farm Calendar Monday, January 18 Rental Rates For Farmland, Cum berland Co. Ext Office, 7:30 p.m. Carlisle. Octorara YFA at Octorara High School, Ag. Dept. Speakers Noah Wenger and Art Hershey on Land Preservation, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 19 NIR Van, Forage Testing and Dairyßation developing, Ship pcnsburg Fairgrounds, Ship pensburg, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Cumberland-Franklin Beef Pro- LANCASTER FARMING Established 1955 Published Every Saturday at Record-Express Office Building 22 E. Main St. Lititz, PA 17543 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Steinman Enterprise Robert G. Campbell General Manager Everett R. Newswanger Managing Editor Copyright 1988 by Lancaster Fanning poses with other farm policy objectives,” the economist cau tions. Direct payments compen sate farm operations of all size and ownership status for taking land out of production. Direct payments also made possible the 1985 Food Security Act’s lower commodity loan rates, which are aimed at stimulating increased sales of farm products in domestic and world markets. “Even so,” Vaughn says, “Con gress may well consider some revi-* sion of the direct payments formu la this year in favor of the family farm of moderate size.” Other than this possible legisla tion, Vaughn says he “can’t remember a time when farm pro gram proposals have shown so little clear movement in any direc tion. The proposals that have been offered all seem to cancel each other out.” With the Food Security Act of 1985 not due to expire until 1990, Vaughn says Congress has little inclination to tackle complex farm program issues now. “What legi slative action does occur,” he says, “is likely to focus on the issue of targeting farm program payments. That’s the only place where I see sufficient concern that may lead to prompt action.” • So, farmers need to be thinking about how program targeting would affect them. Depending on the size of the change and how it relates to their particular farm operation, some producers would receive lower benefits. The gener al shift should be away from very large, commercial farm businesses toward more moderate-sized fami ly farms. ducers, Vo-Ag Room, Ship pensburg Jr. High, 7:30 p.m. Adams Co. Swine Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Ext Office, Gettysburg. Crawford Co. Income Tax Meet- ing, Edinboro Holiday, 8:45 a.m. Sire Power Annual Meeting, 10 a.m., Sheraton Harrisburg West Delaware Extension Beef Meet- ing, 7:30 p.m., Research Farm, West of Middleton. Delaware Horticulture Expo,through Jan. 20. Sheraton Inn, Dover, Del. Atlantic Dairy Coop, Dist. #3, NOW IS THE TIME By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent To Be Aware of Child Labor Laws If you have boys or girls between the ages of 14 and 16 that plan to operate a farm tractor or machinery on a farm, other than your own farm, be sure they have the proper certificate. Under the child labor regulations, the law requires that those boys or girls between 14 and 16 years of age, be certified and carry a certification card before they are permitted to operate hazardous equipment. Some equipment listed under the law as hazardous are: a tractor with over 20 PTO horsepower, com picker, hay baler, feed grinder, fork lift and many more. Again, on your own farm, your children can operate any equipment that you feel is safe for them. The Certification process in most areas is through the Voca tional Agricultural Department in the schools or through (he 4-H Tractor Clubs. Contact either for more information. To Attend Winter Meetings This is the time of year that a lot* of educational meetings are held and they’re held during this season of year for a good reason you have more time to attend meetings. During the spring, the summer and into the fall, there’s just too much field work that must be done. Take the time to become acquainted with the meetings of interest to you and your operation. Some meet ings are designed to reach certain production groups such as Dairy Days, Livestock Day, Crops and Soils Day and Poultry Day, but others are programmed to reach all agri-business people like the Financial Management, Estate Planning and Farm Transfer Arrangement meetings. Also, many agri-business and Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, 11:45 a.m. Northeast Winter Dairy Mgmt., Clean, NY, Castle Inn and Restaurant, through Jan. 20, For info, call 607-255-2196. Berks Co. Dairy Day, 9 a.m., Milk and donuts. Berks Co. Ag. Center. PA Lime, Fertilizer, Pesticide Conference, Sheraton State College. Through Jan. 21. Call John Rowejil, 757-9657. Wednesday, January 20 Upper Eastern Shore Agronomy Day, Chestertown, Md. International Poultry Educational (Turn to Pag* A 37) lending institutions conduct meet ings to keep you abreast of die changes in their organizations. We urge you to mark your calendar as these meetings are announced and attend as many as possible. To Preserve The Topsoil The spring of the year is an excellent time to develop some soil conservation practices on the land. Contour strips, slit tillage, terraces and diversion ditches can all be established before the 1988 crops are planted. These various methods of controlling water will not only prevent soil losses but will help hold more water on the higher slopes and fields. Good topsoil is a precious natural resource, and every land owner should make an effort to keep it from eroding. Far mers that are growing continuous com should be very careful to keep their soil from washing away. In these cases terraces and contour strips can be established to help slow down the loss of both water CORRECTIVE LENS January 17,1988 Background Scripture: Matthew 7. Devotional Reading: James 1:22-27. My records at the optometrist’s office say I am nearsighted and must wear corrective lens. Actual ly, I think I’m spiritually far sighted, because sometimes I simply can’t see the “logs” in my own eyes, but have no trouble at all seeing the “specks” in the eyes of others. In fact, it’s amazing how easily I can see those “specks” even at great distances. Further more, there’s the problem of per spective - those “specks” in the eyes of others look so big. On the other hand, the “logs” in my own eyes appear so microscopic that I’d swear there’s nothing there. What I need, I suppose, is some kind of corrective lens that will help me to see “specks” and “logs” in a true perspective. Actually, that’s what the Bible does for me sometimes. For example, I read “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matt. 7:1), and I can suddenly “see” that I have been doing just that: judging others. Understand, I don’t come right out and say to someone, “You, sir, are not telling the truth!” There are ways of get ting that idea across without being so obviously judgmental. THE REASON WHY Furthermore, in these rare moments of insight, I realize not only that I have been judging others, but also understand why I have been doing it By judging others, I have been attempting to minimize my own failings. If I concentrate upon your “specks,” I and soil. Addition of extra organic crop residues ■ and green cover crop will help keep the soil loose with a higher water holding capacity. To Use The Farmers Tax Guide I have to mention it, yes it is Income Tax reporting time again. For farmers this becomes quite complicated with the many changes in the regulations. The Fanners Tax Guide is pub lished by the Internal Revenue Ser vice and is a real help to farmers and others who file for agricultural concerns. We have a supply in our office, as do other Extension Offices. They are also available from the Internal Revenue Service. Most farmers have their taxes filed by a tax practitioner, but ydu will find the tax guide very helpful in preparing your materials fix' the tax person. The filing date of March 1 for farmers rolls around rather quickly. can manage to put out of my mind the “logs” in my own life. In fact, I very often find that what I am judg ing others for is something about which I am vulnerable, too>There fore, I am critical of “pushy” peo ple. The reason: I like to get my own way and “pushy’ 1 people get in the way. Neither do I like self important people - they detract from my own sense -of self importance. Recently there was a great com motion in the media about a pres idential candidate who, it was dis covered, quoted people in his speeches without acknowledging it, and also was not entirely truth ful about his academic record. Like just about everyone else, I was dismayed and thought the man was quite correct in withdrawing his candidacy. Then I got to thinking about the charges against him. Suddenly It dawned upon me that I Was not entirely blameless in either regard. I have often used other people’s ideas and occasionally even their words without attribution. In fact, there are all kinds of books,written to help preachers do just that - Bible commentaries, books of ser mons, sermon-starters, and so forth. I know there have been limes when I’ve gotten credit for saying or writing something that was not original with me. NOT BLAMELESS As to leading people to think more highly of me than is justified, I can remember writing some resumes or applications that might be said to be technically mislead ing. In fact, there have been many times when the reality has been a lot less exciting and impressive than as I’ve presented it.' Thus, this political figure’s dif ficulty with the media led me to examine my own life through cor rective lens an I realized that I couldn’t afford to judge others on these matters, lest I be judged with the same standards. And how your insight? (Based on copyrighted outlines produced by the Committee on the Uniform Series and used by permission Released by Community and Suburban Press) ... WHEN/ IT COMES> TO V GETTING THESE Tf-UNGS )a OUT TO US Jo O O
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