(Continued from Pago A 1) ture,” Conklin said. Conklin reviewed some of the events that were important to agri culture 100 years ago. He found many of the same problems still exist today. In 1988, parents were concerned about the degrading reading material available and were wondering what it would do to their children. Today it’s TV and other things. A hundred years ago farmers were borrowing heavily to buy high priced land and equipment, and some were going broke. Duty free imports of agriculture pro ducts were pouring in from Canada- 5000 horses in 1887, 16,000 head of cattle, 14,000 sheep, and 14,000,000 dozen of eggs. And like the drought of 1988, the blizzard of 1888 cane close to wiping out nearly half of the far mers. And many farm boy were leaving agriculture and great con cern was expressed on the editorial pages of the time. Conklin believes the future of agriculture like the past will have problems. “A national food policy to ensure plenty of food all the time will result in too much food most of the time,” Conklin said. “And Ag Preservation Group (Continued from Page At) The group’s other priorities include, in order of importance: •affecting public policy toward farmland protection. Most of the organization’s attention would be focused on municipal planning and development •agricultural economic develop ment The group would influence public policy, help enhance market opportunities, and expand agricul tural diversity. •environmental quality issues such as historic preservation and protecting the natural environment. Lancaster Farmland Trust has expanded its Board of Directors to broaden the interests and skills of the Board. This will be helpful when establishing working committees. Funds for the group’s activities will come through participation in the state’s farmland preservation program and the American Farm land Trust in Washington, D.C., and establishment of a trust fund. Ag preservation bill In other farmland preservation news, the ag preservation bill is due to be before the Senate in Sep tember when the chamber recon venes. Earlier this summer the House and Senate approved sepa rate bills, and in the interest of lime, the Senate gutted the House bill and inserted Senate wording. The Senate approved this bill and returned it to the House where the representatives voted not to concur with the Senate ammendments. When the Senate returns to ses sion, it is expected to insist on its ammendment, at which time a con ference committee composed of three senators and three represena tives will be formed to work out the differences. “One of the major concerns is as to how money would be forthcom ing to finance the program,” stated Senator Noah Wenger (R-36). The House bill proposed issuing one $ 10-million bond per year for 10 years. On the other hand the Seriate suggested issuing a $25-million bond and when three-fourths waj committed, issuing-another bond and so on. “Our provision would keep' g Luncheon Group Has Optimistic View pesticide pressures will continue to work toward zero tolerance. This will have an effect on water qual ity. And biotechnology will shape the future development of agriculture.” But Conklin remains optimistic. “I believe we will continue the social, economic and political soc iety where we from time to time arrange the winners and losers,” Conklin said. “In our society, most of the laws we passed do not make everyone a winner. But we imme diately start to plan for future legis lation so that the next time around the losers will benefit. That makes a marvelous system because no one loses all the time. Revolutions are bom where one segment of society loses all the lime,” Conklin said. Since agriculture has survived many problems in the past Con klin believes it will continue to advance as far as we can see in the future. “I’m optimistic about agri culture’s future, despite what you sometimes hear and see in the national media,” Conklin said. Dr. Bryce Jordon, president, Penn State University, said the land grant university, individuals and industry groups and state gov- funds flowing as needed,” said Sen. Wenger. “With the House provision, the funds could be used up during the first part of the year, and there wouldn’t be any more money until the next year.” Other discrepancies include whether control would be primari ly at the state or county level and the inclusion of a 25-year contract options. Once the conference committee hammers out the bill’s differences, the members will report back to their respective chamber with their recommendations. At this point no ammendments can be made to the bill and the senators and represen tatives must hand in a straight “yes” or “no” vote. “1 don’t see that the differences are insurmountable,” commented Warren Lamm, chief of staff for Representative Samuel W. Morris (D-155). “I think we will have a bill signed by the Governor this fall.” Wenger concurred, adding “The state should have a program opera tive by 1989.” Lancaster County Potato Meeting Scheduled LANCASTER—Richard Cole, Penn State specialist in potato pro duction and management, will be the featured speaker at the Lancas ter County Potato Meeting on August 25. He will speak on; • Fall storage of potatoes; dis ease, temperature and humidity control, sprout inhibitors; • Research on current insecti cides to control Colorado Potato Beetle: M-One, Kryocidc, Trident, and others; • Fungicide research update; and • Potato nutrient and variety trials. Varieties being tested this year include: Norkotah (Wiscon sin stock), Norkotah (North Dako ta stock), Belßus, Norking, Katah din, Hampton, Langlade, Som merset, Yukon Gold, FL657, NYBI, Adantic. The meeting is at the Paul Mast Farm, in Morgantown from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Directions: From the eminent were the reasons educa tion, service and research are delivered to the industry called agriculture. “At Penn State we are grateful to everyone who supports the univer sity and the college of agriculture. PSU is the midst of a campaign to raise private funds to support our academic programs,” Jordon said. “I can look over this group at the luncheon and see major contribu tors. For example, one major food producer in the state recently made a $1 million commitment to the campaign.” “In addition, we can be grateful to the dedicated men and women who comprise the faculty and staff at the college of agriculture. We have the best professional staff in the world,” Jordon said. “And we are now seeing the results of the efforts of the General Assembly to provide new funding for the cooperative extension service. This event at Ag Progress Days brings all these groups together,” Jordon concluded. Dr. Lamartine Hood, dean who chaired the government luncheon, said we have a responsibility to tell the agriculture story outside the industry. “People who, for a lot of reasons, don’t understand what agriculture is all about must be told what our industry means to the 12 million citizens in Pennsylvania. That’s our educational challenge,” Hood said. The directors of the Farm Credit Bank of Baltimore were conclud ing their Pennsylvania farm tour at Ag Progress Days. Bank president Gene Swackhamer presented a check to Dean Hood to provide electricity in the Paste Museum. More than ISO historical and rare items donated by faculty, alumni and friends of the college are housed in the museum. On Tues day, the tenth anniversary of the museum was celebrated. Penn State Ag Progress Days provide one of the largest outdoor showcases of the university prog rams in agriculture technology in the East. Approximately 50,000 persons visited the event this year. intersection of Route 23 & Route 10 at Morgantown, travel south on Route 10 for one-quarter mile. Turn into the'second farm lane on your right (Conestoga Meadow Farms) before crossing the con crete bridge. We will meet at the second house on the lane. This meeting is primarily for commercial growers, but anyone interested in potatoes and their cul tivation is welcome to attend. Pesticide update credits will be issued based on Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture approval. For more information call 717/394-6851. gigantic SELECTION Lancaster Farming's CLASSIFIEDS Swackhamer, President, Farm Credit Bank of Baltimore, as a gift to supply electricity to the Pasto Museum. The presen tation was made during the Government Luncheon on noon Wednesday. y. are (Lto R): Dr. Bryce Jordon, Penn State University Presi dent; Gordon Conklin, Director, American Agriculturalist Foundation; and Dr. Lamartine Hood, Penn State University Dean. Hood presented a volume of the Penn State Universi ty History to Conklin. Friends from Dallastown, Justin McKensey and Travis Reid, perch high on a combine to see the Ag Progress Days view. Justin Is the son of Brad and Cindy McKensey, and Travis Is the son of Nina and Dan Reid.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers