'OL 33 No. 15 Experts Optimistic On Future Of Pork Industry BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor CAMP HILL While we have more uncertainties in this election year, H. Louis Moore, Penn State’s Livestock Economist, told the Keystone Pork Congress here Tuesday that he expects 1988 to be a good year for pork producers. Especially better than was antici- State Corn Conference Set CARLISLE - More than 500 Pennsylvania and Maryland corn growers are expected to attend the Third Annual Pennsylvania Com Conference and Trade Show, according to Curt Rakestraw, pres ident of the Pennsylvania Master Com Growers’ Association, co sponsor of the event The day-long Show, to be held at the Quality Inn - Embers Restaurant near Carlisle, will get underway with registrations and the opening of the exhibits at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 1. Opening remarks will be made at 9:15 a.m. (Turn to Pafl* A 36) Earl and Helen Groff reminisce about the active years of Earl’s Involvement with the Holstein breed, which he pro moted through sales and shows. Reminiscing With Groff BY SALLY BAIR Lancaster Co. Correspondent STRASBURG When Earl L. Groff took a short course at Penn sylvania State College in 1923, he probably did not realize that it would start him on a lifetime of dedication to registered Holstein cows. His outstanding service to the breed was recognized when he was named to the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame m 1982. Though his father, Enos, had grade cattle, when Earl took over the farming with his new wife Helen in 1926, he sold off the grade cows and replaced them with pated just three months ago. Moore gave a major part of the credit for the better outlook to the expected three to five percent reduction in beef production. “We have the lowest number of cattle we’ve had since 1961,” Moore said. The hog futures market indi cates more optimism now than back in December when the Febru ary contract was in the 40’s. After the new year, prices increased until the February contract closed at 47.25 last Friday. “However, if we slide into a recession, the outlook could be vastly changed for pork products,” Moore said. About half of the eco nomists think this may happen. Because of this possibility, interest rates will be kept lower as more money is pumped into the economy. Moore listed factors in the gen eral economy that affect agricul ture. -KSiowth that started in November 1982 has run much lon ger than usual. And while there was concern about the agricultural economy after the October slock market crash, this hasn’t really affected agriculture adversely,” Moore said. purebreds. By the 1930 s all his herd was purebred, and he recalls that he made the decision “largely on their sale value.” He adds, “They naturally got belter and by knowing their ancestry, you could measure their producing ability.” Groff, now 86, and living his home farm close to Slrasburg, is a man who came to know a lot about the value of sale cattle, and certain ly gamed a reputation for knowing cattle through his long association with the Garden Spot sales. Groff says, “We started a little series of sales with the Lampeter (Turn to Pap* A3O) Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 20, 1988 “Since last April the agricultural economy has been helped by over seas grain sales and farmland val ues have turned upward. But the surplus grain problem hasn’t gone away. We’ve reduced it,” Moore said, “but it’s still there.” Moore thinks the days of really cheap feed arc probably over. Feed prices have risen some and are likely to stay rather strong. Farm income is on the rebound with a record $57 billion in 1987. With this income, some of it from gov ernment subsidies, farmers paid off debt. Income will likely be down in 1988; not because agricul- (Turn to Pag* A 34) RCMA Coordinator States Case BY HAROLD ELY PA RCMA Coordinator The Regional Cooperative Marketing Agency (RCMA) is continuing its battle against Farm land Dairies of Wallington, N.J. Farmland is virtually the only dairy processor in the Northeast which owes RCMA’s dairy far mers money - over $600,000 - but refuses to pay. In a recent letter to farmers. Farmland continued its misinformation campaign in an effort to break RCMA. FARMLAND CLAIMS: RCMA may take deductions from your milk check. THE FACT IS: When RCMA was organized in 1973, the by laws did allow for deducts. How ever, the by-laws were amended in 1987 to allow independent produc ers to join RCMA and to allow deductions up to 2 cents per hun dredweight only from the RCMA premiums. This amendment was pul in the by-laws to prevent any deductions from your milk check. The only money RCMA has access Robert E. and Ruth Kulp, Kutpdale Farm, Manhelm, were honored at the Atlantic Dairy District #7 dinner Thursday. The family includes: (L to R) David and Laraine, Dennis, Ruth and Robert. Andrew Marvin is the field representative. Five Sections At the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Banquet are (L to R) David Relnecker, President; Stephen Burkholder, 1988 Pork All American; and Clark Bruner Jr., 4-H Youth Award Winner. to is the over-order premium money which you would not receive anyway had it not been for RCMA. FARMLAND CLAIMS: RCMA deducts salaries for RCMA delegates from RCMA member milk checks. Beef Check-Off Administrator To Speak At Cattlemen’s Conference The National Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board’s check-off coordinator will speak at the 1988 Pennsylvania Cattle men’s Association Conference held this year at Pennsylvania Suite University on February 26 & 27. Gary J. Enright, of South Dako ta, was hired by the Beef Board to coordinate the first-ever national Si 00 per head cattle assessment and promotion program. He will discuss beef and veal promotion and the referendum which will be Fifty Year Members $8.50 Per Year THE FACT IS: RCMA by-laws do not provide for delegate salaries though they do allow for a per i*d|Hy|fedirectors. Most farmers 4HN|PPthat when a dairyman has to be away from his farm to attend an RCMA meeting, he (Turn to Pag* Al 9) held May 10th. Th 6 National Board, which con sists of 108 beef, dairy and veal producers as well as 5 importers, administers the check-off and promotion program. Pennsylvania has two representatives on the Board - J. Paul Espy, beef produc er from Tyrone, and John Cope, dairy producer from Grantham As Chief Executive Officer of the Beef Promotion & Research Board, Enright is responsible tor daily operations of that organi/a- (Turn to Pag* A 22)
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