insuring that alternatives for the
action being considered are con
sidered. Without alternatives the
only decision required is whether
to farm or quit fanning. For exam
ple, if there is only one elevator
that purchases grain and soybeans
and only one source of supply for
farm inputs, you deal with the
source or you don’t farm.
New and improved technology
such as the new microcomputers
and video tape players provide
(Continued from Page E 8)
tools which permit farmers to have
the best of both worlds. They can
store large quantities of informa
tion, examine alternatives, yet they
can also select only those specific
areas about which they have ques
tions and review these without
having to go through all of the
information available. Undoubted
ly this will make those information
sources, other than friends and
neighbors, more available and
mote widely used.
BY REP. JOHN E. BARLEY
If Pennsylvania legislators have
one challenge in the formulation of
the 1988-89 state budget, it’s to
ensure that the final plan reflects
the importance of agriculture in the
Keystone stale.
Unfortunately, the budget prop
osed this week by Governor Casey
seems to lack that understanding.
A state which has agriculture as
its leading industry has a great
opportunity to encourage signific
ant economic development
through that industry. However,
based on my reading of the gover
nor’s budget proposal, he has fail
ed to seize that opportunity.
One good agricultural develop
ment proposal in the governor’s
budget is drastically underfunded.
An Agricultural Entrepreneur
Program to provide low-interest
loans to agribusiness promoting
new uses of farm products is a very
worthy legislative, but will accom
plish little on a statewide budget of
Why Thrifty Com Growers
Prefer Bicep.
Cost conscious growers are taking full advan
tage of the low cost of Bicep f
It’s less expensive than tank-mixing. Less ex
pensive than the pre-packs. Less expensive than
you’d expect from the best performing herbicide
on the market.
Bicep controls broadleaf
weeds and grasses better,
can be applied earlier, and
lasts longer than any other
herbicides you can buy.
Bicep from CIBA-GEIGY.
Savings you can bank on.
It Costs Less.
Legislators Have Budget
Task Cut Out For
$1 million.
With the exception of a $1 mil
lion increase for food banks, there
arc no major increases for existing
agricultural programs contained in
the budget proposal.
The vast potential for economic
development through agriculture
could - if adequately cultivated
produce thousands of jobs and mil
lions of dollars in revenues. And,
like any economic development, it
could provide significant returns
for the state in the form of tax
revenues.
The governor is missing an
important opportunity when he
fails to propose adequately funded
initiatives that encourage farmers
to expand their operations. Areas
of great potential for expansion
include on-farm processing, ener
gy generation and innovative
marketing.
Farm projects to turn animal
waste into energy could provide
great promise to not only farmers
jW
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 20, 1988-E9
Them
but all Pennsylvanians if adequate
ly encouraged by the state. Such
energy production would be envir
onmentally and economically
beneficial.
I believe the governor’s budget
also misses the boat in failing to
encourage significant expansion of
agricultural exports: a step which
would be beneficial to Pennsylva
nia farmers and Americans con
cerned about the (in)balance of
trade.
As a fiscal conservative, I don’t
advocate handouts for the agricul
tural community, just an opportun
ity to expand its existing potential.
If adequately funded, agricultural
development efforts will pay hand
some dividends, not just to Pen
nsylvania farmers, but all citizens
of the commonwealth.
What’s In Your
The Adams County Conserva
tion District has made arrange
ments through the Department of
Environmental Resource State
Bureau of Laboratories for
reduced rates for water testing.
The following group tests will be
offered. An order form is on the
other side of this paper. The
Adams County Conservation Dis
trict and the Adams County Exten
sion Service are planning a Water
Quality Information Fair this
spring.
GROUP:
1. Bacteria — $B.OO- The
analysis of water for bacteria of the
cohform group determines the
sanitary quality. Shallow wells and
springs are most commonly
affected. It is recommended that
springs or wells used for drinking
water be checked at least annually.
According to DER 60% of the
wells in PA are contaminated with
bacteria.
2. Nitrite Nitrogen, Nitrate
Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen,
and Chloride — $ll.OO- Nitrate
most commonly enters the ground
water in farming areas. In exces
sive amounts it can cause illness in
infants. Chloride is accumulated
through long term contamination
with septic effluent.
3. Iron, Manganese, Alumi
num, and Sodium —$11.00- Iron
and manganese can imparl an off
taste to the water. Sodium may be a
minor problem if one has high
blood pressure. Manganese can
also cause mechanical problems in
water lines m chicken houses.
4. pH, Alkalinity, and
Hardness— $6.00- Low pH indi
cates acid water which could dis
solve! metal plumbmg systems
thus adding harmful levels of met
al to water.
Well Water?
I'M NOT
L10N...
The Classified
Livestock
Section