incaster
OPINION
Job Well Done
Labor Day is a celebration of the
value of work. Across the Com
monwealth and our nation, we take
a moment to reflect on the fruits of
our collective work and our com
mon well-being. Julius Uehlein,
president, Pennsylvania AFL
CIO, says for most people, work is
the source of basic necessities -
food, clothing and shelter.
“Through the years, we have come
to a common understanding that
human work is more than bare sur
vival, Uehlein said. “It provides a
basis for human dignity and esta
blishes in an important way the
foundation for our common good.
Work not only provides for family
needs, but is one of the most funda
mental expressions of the greater
vision of humankind.”
While persons on traditional 9 to
5 work schedules have looked to
Farm Calendar
Saturday, September 3
Maryland Holstein Futurity,
Timonium, 8:00 a.m.
Southwest District Dairy Show,
Bedford Fairgrounds, 9:00 a.m.
Northwest District Dairy Show,
Crawford County Fairgrounds,
9:15 a.m.
Mon Valley District Dairy Show,
Fayette County Fairgrounds,
9:30 a.m.
Juniata County Fairgrounds, Port
Royal, through September 10.
Sunday, September 4
Cambria County Fair, Ebensburg,
through September 10.
Spartansburg Community Fair,
Spartansburg, through Septem
ber 10.
Monday, September 5
Maryland Fair Open Holstein
Show, Timonium.
Kutztown Fair, Kutztown, through
September 10.
Ox-Hill Community Fair, Home.
Through September 10.
Waterford Comm. Fair, Water
ford, through September 10.
Tuesday, September 6
LAND Meeting, Greystone Farm,
Route 272, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 7
National Pork Checkoff Referen
dum, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.;
runs through September 8.
Small Grains/Pesticide Training
Meeting, Penn Slate Fruit
Research Lab, Biglerville.
Reading Fair Awards Banquet,
Fleetwood Grange Hall. Call
215/987-6160.
Luzerne County Fair, Dallas,
through September 11.
Thursday, September 8
Western Maryland Ag Field Day,
Lancaster Fanning
Established 1855
Published Every Saturday
At Record-Express Office Building
22 E. Main Street-
Lititz. PA 17543
by
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A 9Mnimn Bntupriu
Robert G. Campbell General Manager
Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor
Cspyrifhl IMi by LainSr Pinning
tturday, September 3, 1988
Labor Day as a day of vacation,
farmers often labor on Labor Day.
Filling silo. Preparing fall seeding
ground. Or harvesting tobacco.
Yet the labor of farmers provides
great economic and social value
often overlooked by city counter
parts. With an abundant, cheap
food supply produced on our
farms, the urban labor force can
use almost 75 percent of their pay
check for items other than food. In
addition, since one out of five jobs
in Pennsylvania relates dirccdy to
agriculture, farmers have a direct
impact on the total economy and
employment figures.
So, while this is the time to rec
ognize the value of human work
across America, we especially
want to express appreciation for
farmers who often work every day
(including holidays) to feed us.
They do a good job.
Research and Education Cen
ter, 8:30 a.m.
Pork Referendum Voting, 8:30
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Turn to Pago Al 9)
I FARM FORUM our readers write J
Editor;
It’s About Time! I just opened
our Lancaster Farmer; my first sec
tion is always B 1 the ladies
page. I was happy to find that Ag
Progress Days is indeed progres
sing. I have been hoping for years
that crafts would soon be an added
attraction.
I always felt a little cheated
coming home from Ag Progress
Days. While visions of New Com
bines - no till drills - com planters
etc. left the guys with something to
Editor:
I hope that you will find a place
in your paper for this letter which I
hope all my fellow pork producers
will take the time to read. It is very
important that all eligible pork pro
ducers get out and vote Wednes
day or Thursday, September 7 or 8,
in the pork referendum. All it will
take is a few minutes at the County
Extension Office to cast your vote
“yes” or “no.” Naturally, I hope
you will vote “yes” because it
means a lot to the future of our
industry.
By voting in favor of the check
off, we will be making a sound
investment in the future of our
industry. The pork checkoff makes
:>
*
NOW IS
THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
'Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
To Control
Johnsongrass
This sorghum-like grass is a
problem on many fields in this part
of the state. There are cases where
nothing is being done to control
this weed; for those I would
remind you that Johnsongrass is
listed as a noxious weed in Pen
nsylvania. In com there is little that
can be done at this time of year
except cut the seed-head off and
bum them. It’ll require treatment
at planting time.
However, in other fields such as
small grains, where the growth of
Johnsongrass reaches 2'A to 3
feet...in the boot stage...the plants
may be sprayed with Roundup.
These plants are very heavy seed
producers; a few plants allowed to
go to seed this fall will mean hun
dreds of plants next summer. John
songrass is fast growing and will
crowd out most farm crops. We
urge landowners to make every
effort to eliminate Johnsongrass
from their farm. The 1987-88
Agronomy guide lists control
information.
“dream about” for days and days.
I’ve always felt there could have
been some food for my dreams too.
A new wreath for my front door -
some new craft to try this winter by
the fireplace. The possibilities are
endless - more horticulture - land
scaping - crafts - crafts - crafts.
Pass it on to the Ag Progress
Committee keep it growing.
I’ 11 be the first one in the car next
year!
possible many programs that help
promote pork, therefore increasing
demand and putting more money
in our pockets. Some of these
programs include the “pork-the
other white meat” and “America’s
cut” campaigns. National pork
spokesperson Peggy Fleming, and
vital research which helps us pro
duce a better product, are also paid
for with checkoff dollars.
As pork producers, I hope you
realize that programs like the ones
mentioned are a must in order to
keep creating long-term opportun
ities in the pork industry. 1 hope
you realize the importance of vot
ing in favor of the pork checkoff on
Each year we receive a lot of
calls as to whether alfalfa should
be cut the first part of September or
not. According to crop authorities
it is not Just a simple yes or no
question. If you have left your cut
ting go to full bloom, then you do
not need to be concerned; howev
er, if you have not, it would be best
not to cut the first two weeks of
September. The reason for this is,
it’s the period when the plants are
storing food in developing rhi
zomes for next year’s growth. It is
important this year that a period of
45 days be allowed between the
4th and Sth cutting. It is also
important on stands that have been
established this year, that 45 days
be allowed between the 2nd and
3rd cuttings; this will add strength
to the plant and will give better
winter protection.
We are entering one of the
busiest and most hazardous times
of the year ... silo filling and com
picking time. Blend into that time
wheat and barley planting and cut
ting alfalfa. This means a lot of
farm machinery will be on our
highways during semi-dark or dark
hours.
Slow moving vehicles such as
Backround Scripture: Job 1:1
through 2:10.
Devotional Reading: 1 Corint
hians 10:1-13.
How often in my life someone
has said to me; ‘‘l’ve tried to live a
good life faithful in my church,
tithed my income, given liberally
to charities and helped people in
need, tried to be a good husband
and father, never broken the law
and been a good citizen how,
then, could God let something like
this happen to me?” (The “this,”
of course, was a devastating per
sonal loss, a terrible illness or inca
pacitating handicap.)
It is certainly a reasonable ques
tion, isn’t it? Who among us would
not be likely to say pretty much the
same thing? Actually, it is not so
much a question as it is a com
plaint. Few of us would be so bold
as to protest that “God is not
good! ”, but we might be moved to
exclaim, in one way or another,
“Life is not fair!”
GOOD FOR NAUGHT?
Linda Bush
According to the Book of Job,
even God regarded Job as the best
of Men. When God encounters
Satan, it seems that he brags a bit
about Job: “Have you considered
my servant Job, that there is none
like him on the earth, a blameless
To Mow or
Not To Mow
Alfalfa
To Be Safe
During This Busy
Season
IS LIFE FAIR?
September 4,1988
farm equipment traveling on high
ways presents a real traffic hazard.
The motorist must recognize that a
tractor traveling at 10 to 15 miles
per hour is almost standing still
compared to a 55 mph car. Most
highway drivers have never driven
a farm machine on the highway
and simply do not realize how slow
they do travel.
Proper identification and warn
ing is real important. Let’s keep
alert this busy fall season both on
the highway and in the fields.
To Appreciate
Lancaster County
While attending the National
County Agent’s meeting in Char
lotte, North Carolina in mid-
August, we had the opportunity to
visit farms in the beautiful Blue
Ridge Mountain area. Their main
crops arc tobacco, com, soybeans,
wood products, wheal and hay.
North Carolina is the number one
state in turkey production and one
of the top in broiler production
where Holly Farms largest broiler
processing plant handles over
400,000 birds per day.
The speakers were very infor
mative and inspirational but the
most important part for me is the
exchange of ideas and concerns
with agricultural agents from all
states in the U.S. It makes you real
ly appreciate the many good things
that we have at home.
and upright man, who fears God
and turns away from evil?” (Job
1:8). It is Satan who raises that
eternal question: ‘‘Does Job fear
God for naught?” (1:9). Is Job
‘‘good” out of reverence and love
for God, or is it because God has
been so good to him? ‘‘Thou has
blessed the work of his hands, and
his possessions have increased in
the land,” argues Satan (1:10).
The writer of Job has also testified:
‘This man was the greatest of all
the people of the east” (1:3).
Then, Satan challenged God to a
test: “But put forth thy hand now,
and touch all that he has, and he
will curse thee to thy face” (1:11).
In other words, if you take away all
your gifts to Job, he won’t remain
faithful and good. But Satan lost
the first test, for although Satan
took away all Job’s flocks and
killed his children, Job retained his
faith; “Naked I came from my
mother’s womb, and naked shall I
return; the Lord gave, and the Lord
has taken away; blessed be the
name of the Lord” (1:21).
WHY BE GOOD?
Undaunted, Satan suggested
another test: take away Job’s
health and then let’s see how
“good” he remains. Once again,
however, he loses, for when the
sorrowing, ailing Job is chided by
his wife to “Curse God and die,”
Job responds: “Shall we receive
good at the hand of God, and shall
we not receive evil?” (2:9,10). In
other words, our relationship with
God is not dependent upon the cir
cumstances of our lives. Our
covenant with God does not prom
ise freedom from sorrow, pain,
loss or sickness. If we are to be
“good,” it is out of faithfulness as
God is faithful.
Life is not fair, but God in his
mercy and love is more than fair.