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/OL. 33 No. 35
The way they used to do it is the way it’s still done on some Lancaster County farms.
Here the wheat shocks form a picturesque scene along Rt. 772 south of Brownstown.
Grain harvest and making the second cutting hay has been easy in the dry, hot weath
er. But corn, soybeans and tobacco show definite signs of drought stress as farmers
pray for rain.
Convention Sale Prices Down; Grade-Up Debate Begins
Top Bid At $50,000; Sale Average At $6,913
§y FAT PURCELL
SAN DIEGp, CA—The Holstein Convention Sale held in San Diego
may have lopped last year’s sale in lot numbers, but was nearly s2,ooobelow last year’s
sale average.
“I really believe it was the widespread concern over the drought and the concern over
feed prices that may have contributed to the drop in prices this year,” said Vice-President
of the National Board of Directors, Donald V. Seipt of Easton, PA.
This year’s top bid in California was $50,000 compared to the top bid in Indianapolis
last year 0f5140,000. Even 1987*s second highest top bid was $lOO,OOO. Sale entry num
bers were up a bit in 1988 to 130 lots from 126 lots in 1987, but more importantly the sale
average for 1988 was down to $6,913 from last year’s $8,872.
Taking the top bid in 1988’s National Holstein Convention Sale dubbed New Horizons
was Bos-Sellers Clete Jet Setter-ET which sold for $50,000 to New Horizons Bull Syndi
cate #2 of California. Jet Setter-ET sold with an open end A.I. lease available. Consignor
was Edmond E. Fellers, Jr. and Tony Bos of Mira Loma, CA.
BY LOU ANN GOOD
MAN HEIM (Lancaster) Pack
your suitcases, it’s vacation time.
Ask any farmer and he’ll tell
you that vacationing takes lots of
planning and trust in letting some
one else care for their dairy herds.
Said Manheim dairy farmer,
Dave Martin, “When it comes to
vacationing the biggest asset a far
mer can have is an extended fami
ly. Knowing you can rely upon
them makes you feel more com
fortable when vacationing.”
Joe and Beulah Snavely count
themselves fortunate to have a
friend who grew up a dairy farm.
When they vacation at the shore or
at a ski resort during the winter,
their friend takes charge of the
Snavely’s 55 dairy cows on their
100-acre Manheim farm. Beulah
said, “We don’t worry about a
thing when we go. We know we
have good reliable help.”
Not everyone is so fortunate.
Robert and Ruth Kulp did not take
even a one day vacation for 16
years. Today, things have
changed. Their three sons have
grown up and two sons are now
farming with them on their
105-acre Manheim farm. “But,”
(Turn to Page B 14)
Four Sections
(Turn to Pag* A3B)
Dairy Farmers Pack Their Bags For Summer Relief
Just back from vacationing at their hunting camp in Tioga
, County, the Martin clan is all smiles. Dan, the family pat
riarch, said to keep the dairy operation running smoothly,
the family often takes shifts by traveling four hours between
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 9, 1988
Price Cut May Be Cancelled
BY KARL BERGER
Special Correspondent
The widening, worsening
drought of 1988 could have one
favorable consequence for dairy
men. As much of the country, par
ticularly the Midwest Farm Belt,
continues to suffer from lack of
rain, talk of foregoing the 50-cent
milk support price cut tentatively
scheduled for January 1,1989, has
risen in the nation’s capital.
Wire service reports out of
Washington last week indicated
Secretary of Agriculture Richard
Lyng has told at least one Midwest
governor that he no longer favors a
price cut even if the size of the milk
surplus warrants it. There also are
reports that Congress will consider
legislation to that effect as well.
Delegate Interviews Reveal Concerns
LITITZ (Lancaster) Although the dust haa nnlgfringan Diego since the National
Holstein Association bid goodbye to the Pacific Coast, the dust may just be beginning to
stir throughout the country on the number one convention topic.
The national delegates have returned home to report to their members on the conven
tion proceedings and while stories and opinions may differ, one message comes across
loud and clear: the National Holstein Identification Program Proposal (NIP) is not a dead
issue. It is alive. Add it will reafits head again, as it has for the past decade, whereever and
whenever Holstein breeders gather.
The NIP would permit grade animals to gain entry into the herd book by following the
4-step grade-up program proposal. Although the proposal to change the association
bylaws for the grade-up program was defeated at the National Convention by a narrow
margin, 126 to 116, many members believe it will come before delegates again for the
vote.
-the cabin and their two adjoining Manhelm farms. Pictured
from left: Dan and his wife Grace, son David and children,
Joshua, Laura, Abigail, Carla, Robbln (Dave’s \vife) and
Melissa.
50t Per Copy
50-Cent Milk Support
BY PAT PURCELL
(Turn to Pag* AM)
$lO.OO Per Year
If accurate, the reports are the
first indication that the powers that
be in Washington are reconsider
ing the policy that, left unchanged,
would seem to lead to a repeat of
the January 1, 1988, price cut this
coming January.
However, lobbyists for the
National Milk Producers Federa
tion, a Washington-based trade
organization that represents most
of the nation’s dairy cooperatives,
are not celebrating yet. The federa
tion, which in May launched a
campaign to avert the cut, is
continuing its efforts, according to
a spokesman.
‘There’s a great deal of atten
tion being paid (to the possibility
of cancelling the support price cut)
(Turn to Pago A 26)