BEAimFT PENNSYUNWIaS ROADSIDES. Right next to the road. That’s where you plant die corn hybrids you’re proud of. And that’s exactly where these Jacques* numbers will be showing up. Thke Jacques 7820. This hybrid has outperformed Pennsylvania’s best, including Pioneer* s a regetered trademark d Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc DesMomes, lowa USARoneersa brand name numbers identify varieties. BY LISA RISSER LITITZ (Lancaster) When you come right downto it, we live in a small world: our hopes, dreams, and problems are echoed by people in countries all over. For instance, two Zimbabwean cou ples saw this week that the eco nomic situation of Pennsylvania farmers is similar to their own. ‘There’s an economic squeeze in agriculture that’s world wide, really,” said Oliver Newton, a commercial farmer from eastern Zimbabwe. “We (as farmers) have rising costs and static returns on the products we offer.” Newton and his fellow travelers, which included his wife, Sarah, and Hammy and Mary Ann Hamil ton, noticed that some of the farm families they met in the United States are looking for enterprises outside of farming to support themselves. The Newtons and Hamiltons were in Pennsylvania for about two weeks, staying with farm fam ilies in Washington, Huntingdon, and Lancaster counties as part of a new exchange program coordi nated by Penn Slate and the Com mercial Farmers Union (CPU) in Zimbabwe. While in Lancaster, the Hamiltons stayed with Elvin and Marian Brcnneman of Mount Joy and the Newtons were hosted by Robert and Naomi Spahr of Lititz. The strongest memories the travelers will take home are of Pennsylvania’s trees and rolling countryside, according to Oliver. “Every farm looks beautiful: they aren’t dirty,” he said. “The family unit has really Zimbabwe Farmers Visit Lancaster County, struck us,” added Hammy Hamil ton, the recently retired provincial chairman for CPU’s Manicaland Province. He especially was inter ested in the 4-H and FFA programs and the concept of giving children farming responsibilites, such as raising a hog or sheep, at an early age. The primary purpose of the exchange program, in which Pen nsylvania farmers will go to Zim babwe, is to encourage discussions between people in different coun tries on the issues facing agricul ture in the future. The program also serves to promote goodwill between countries and extend knowledge of various cultures. “I think the concept of Africa in America and America in Africa is completely misrepresented in each country,” commented Oliver. “We think of Americans as ‘Dallas’, ‘Dynasty’, cowboys, and prairies. Americans tended to think of us a 5...” “Swinging from the trees,” interjected Sarah with a grin. She added that many people in our country think that Zimbabwe has South Amcrican-style jungles and big game animals roaming their lands. Restricted, or limited, news reporting in both countries probab ly contributes to the misconcep tions, according to Mary Ann. They see broadcasts of our racial skirmishes, while Americans see tapes on the political unrest in Zimbabwe. “We don’t see the positiveness of Americans,” she commented. “People are very positive in the United States; they’re looking forward.” t/" 'S'#/ i / fc/' Jacques 7900 and Pioneer* brand 3352 seed corn. Jacques 7770 gives growers the exceptional yield potential they’ve been looking for. And 8210 is one of the strongest hybrids Jacques has developed yet—with impressive performances in field trials Part - . an international exchange to promote good will and the discussion of world farming issues, two Zimbabwean farming couples visited Pennsylvania recently. From left, Marian Brenneman of Mount Joy; Mary Ann Hamilton; Hammy Hamilton; Oliver Newton; Sarah Newton; and Naomi Spahr of Lititz. Oliver reasoned that the posi tiveness that they have witnessed may be due to the age of our coun try, a concept to which Americans may not be accustomed. “You have had a long history in Pennsyl vania,” he explained. “We have a long history to live through: we are a new nation.” Hammy and Mary Ann own 1,500 acres on which they grow tobacco, com, peanuts, and a veg etable called blue-tick bean. Dur ing the 31/2 years Hammy served the CPU, Mary Ann managed the farm, a responsibility she is glad to across Pennsylvania. So you see, whether you live near Allentown or Zelienople, in Lancaster County or Lawrence, Jacques has a hybrid that’s right for you. And one that’ll improve your roadsides, too. hand back. The couple have entered the beef cattle business recently with 200 head of Angus- Sussex crossbreds. Hammy hopes to introduce some Brahmin blood eventually. Mary Ann runs a trad ing store on the farm that provides basic neccesities to the farm’s hired hands. Oliver and Sarah have a bigger operation that includes growing 1,300 to 1,500 acres of cotton, 400 acres of seed com, 400 to 600 acres of soybean, as well as many acres of winter wheat and seed beans. In addition, they have about 400 head of beef cattle, a Charolais- c 1988 Jacques Seed Company Africana crossbreed with some Brahmin blood, and Dorper sheep, which are similar to a Suffolk. Sar ah does the farm’s recordkeeping, tends a flock of 100 layers and numerous broilers, and manages the farm’s trading store, which provides goods to the laborers, a number that reaches 1,000 during cotton harvesting. The two couples began their vis it to Pennsylvania in Washington County, followed by two days at Ag Progress, and a stay in Hun tingdon County. On Thursday they departed for Washington, D.C. for their return to Zimbabwe.
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