AlO-Lancttttr Farming, Saturday, Sfpteniber 24,1983 OPINION Pennsylvania Secretary of Agri culture Boyd Wolff told the Penn Ag Convention this week that he believes important ag programs will be reinstated in the state budget through the supplemental budget bill in front of state law makers when they get back to work later this month. “We’ve had a bumper crop of politics surround ing the budget this year,” Wolff said. What that means is that earlier this year the state House controlled by the Democrats and the state Senate controlled by the Republi cans hammered out a state budget compromise and sent it to the administration (Democratic) for Govenor Casey’s signature. To keep the state government operat ing past the fiscal year deadline, the governor signed the budget into law but not until he had blue line vetoed a whole list of indivi dual ag and other appropriation items. At the time, administration spokespersons said the Republi cans had padded the budget requests. Almost immediately thereafter the governor reportedly returned most of the ag funding back into his supplemental budget bill and sent it back to the legislators. But he packaged it with “other priori ties” that the Republicans in the legislative body do not view favorably. When we reported this conflict the first week in July, one of our contacts predicted it would be a long hot summer in Harrisburg. But my goodness now. The tobac co is cut, the silage is stored. Com and beans are ready to harvest Farm Calendar Saturday, September 24 Slate Dairy Princess Pageant, Mar riott, Harrisburg. Sunday, September 25 Bloomsburg Fair, Bloomsburg, through October 1. Monday, September 26 Pennsylvania Junior Dairy Show, Farm Show Complex, Harris burg, 8:00 a.m. Atlantic Dairy Coop annual meet ing Juniata Local of District 18, 8 p.m., Zimmies Restaurant, Mifflintown. All American Dairy Show through September 30. Atlantic Dairy Co-op Meeting, Tri-Valley Local District 13, Warrior’s Mark Fire Hall, 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 27 Field Plot Tour, Brubaker Agro nomic Consulting Service; bus Lancaster Farming ' Established 1955 Published Every Saturday At Record-Express Office Building 22 E. Main Street Lititz. PA 17543 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A SMnmn ErMwpnke Robert Q Campbell General Manager Everett R. Newawanger Managing Editor CapyrlfM M ky Lancwbr And it’s still sizzling. Really the political budget hassle this year reminds us of an NBA basketball game. One big center pushes the other team’s big center. We can understand that a change from a Republican to a Democratic administration would bring about some change of priori ties. But we do not understand why some of these ag programs should be part of the political maneuver ings. For example, the fair fund that envelopes the funding for 4-H and FFA materials is part of this politi cal basketball game. This fair fund supports the effort to showcase agriculture in the local communi ties across the state. Only ag related projects are funded. So, the ag fairs that don’t have midways to generate income are hit the hard est. And in 4-H and FFA a $2-$3 budget per youth is not padded. Especially when you consider the multiple hours of volunteer adult leadership put into this program to compliment the state dollar input. Because the checks never go out from the state treasurery until later in the fall, one official said funding for these programs is not even late yet. But in other years, when local committees made expenditures, they did so knowing they would be reinbursed. And by what amount. This year, the heat has been on all summer. We can only suggest that with the fall planting well underway on the farm, it would be time for each team on the political court in Har risburg to give each other two foul points and get on with some other game. departs from Meadowbrook Farmers Market in Leola at 9:40 a.m. To return no later than 2:15 p.m. Atlantic Dairy Co-op Business Meeting, Trough Creek-Big Valley Local District 18, Far mers Hauling Co-op Garage, Belleville, 7:30 p.m. Adantic Dairy Co-op, Litllestown Local of District 24, Harney Fire Hall, 7:00 p.m. Morrison Cove Community Fair, Martinsburg, through Septem ber 30 Pennsylvania Association of Far mer Co-operatives annual meeting, Sheraton West, Harrisburg. Wednesday, September 28 Pennsylvania Poultry Fededration Conference, Holiday Inn, WHEW.' DIGGING POST HOLES IS HAI -YN u NOW IS THE TIME By Jay Irwin ‘Lancaster County Agriculture Agent Colder weather means frost. In fact this is good news to many of us who have had enough of hot humid weather this summer. Livestock producers who have fields of sudan-sorghum hybrids, should keep in mind that when frost hits these crops they could be toxic to livestock for seven to ten days fol lowing the freeze. After this per iod, and the plants are dead, they may be used safely. However, any growth coming from the plant after a killing frost might also be toxic. Another frost hazard would be to permit livestock to graze alfalfa or clover stands while the frost is still on the plants. This can cause severe bloating. Allow the frost to melt and the plants to dry before grazing. Good management is needed on various forage crops after a killing frost. To Be Careful During Silo Filling Two problems occur during silo filling time. One is overloading wagons causing broken spindles, twisted frames and bent axles. Com silage is heavy and over loaded wagons crossing ditches or ruts in Helds causes excessive strain on equipment. If your wagon Grantsville. West Lampeter Community Fair through September 30. New Holland Community Fair through October 1. World Ayrshire Conference meet Penta Hotel, New York City. Visit Pennsylvania through October 2. Continue to Mid- west through October 8. Thursday, September 29 All-American Sale, Farm Show Building, Harrisburg, 7:00 p.m. Atlantic Dairy Co-op Business Meeting, New Enterprise Local of District 21, in the band room at Northern Bedford High School, 8:00 p.m. Tri-Valley Community Fair, begins through October 2 Eastern National Holstein Show, Harrisburg, runs through Sep tember 30. Friday, September 30 World Ayrshire Convention, runs through October 2. Perry County Invitational Holstein Sale, King’s Auction Bam. Eastern National Livstock Show, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, Maryland Saturday, October 1 Maryland Beef Tour ’BB, contact (Turn to Page A3l) ••* f , I • Mr To Be Aware of Frosted Crops VOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANV OLD POSTMOUS TP AT r COULD BORROW? \t , > is full when only half way around the field, change wagons; the “down time” to make repairs is more costly than the lime to change wagons. The other problem is “silo gas”. I’ve discussed it before but it is important enough to review again. We are receiving calls concerning silo gas. These gases can develop from one day to 14 days after the silo is filled. Most of these gases have a chlorine-laundry bleach odor. Some are yellow and some arc colorless. Don’t take any chances never enter a partly filled silo without running the blower for at least 15 minutes. These gases are heavier than air and will come down the chute into the bam. Be careful around recen tly filled silos. To Consult Your Veterinarian Being on excellent terms with your local veterinarian is a real good thing. Most producers need veterinary assistance once in a while. Developing a health prog ram and sanitary practices for the farm operation is strongly sug gested. Veterinarians are trained in disease prevention and treatment with the most important part being disease prevention. When this is successful there is little need for high veterinary costs. THE LIMITS OF UNDERSTANDING September 25,1988 Background Scripture: Job 38:1-7; 40:1-9; 42, Devotional Reading: Job 40:6-14. People are always searching for answers to the biggest questions of life- “Why was I bom?” “What’s the purpose of life?” “What hap pens after we die?” “Does God have something for me to do or be?” And so forth. In one way or another, these questions are directed toward God. Just as it was acceptable for Job to question God, so it is no less appropriate for us to come to God with our questions and even our complaints. But we must never forget that this is a two-way street: if we arc justified in sending some tough questions to the Creator, so we need to be no less willing to lis ten when he responds to us with words that make our spirits tremble: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without know ledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me” (Job 38:2,3). WHERE WERE YOU? God doesn’t mind Job’s ques tions, but the real issue is whether Job could possibly comprehend God’s answers, if he gave them. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding?” (38:4) As God goes on from one stinging Wc suggest that producers regard their vetcrianarian as a val uable resource person for their farm operation; there may be times ■when it might be expensive; how ever, the prevention of infection and the saving of animals are things that must be done in order to make the most profit. Give your vet a chance to help. To Store Pesticides Safely Most producers are about fin ished with their spray materials for the year. Many of these can be held over until next year with good results. However, it is always best to buy only enough for one season at a lime. When storing spray materials, always keep them in their original containers and away from children, pets and livestock. It is best to have a separate room or building for pesticide storage. Wettablc powders are easy to store; however, emulsions and liq uids may be harmed by freezing weather. Producers are urged to follow the label and instructions in this respect. It may be necessary to keep some of them in a heated building. Be sure they are not near feed supplies because accidents can happen. Pesticides kept in a room or building under a lock is a good way to prevent costly mis takes and tragedies. question to another, it is apparent that Job, as a human being, does not have the capacity to understand these answers. Job has a finite mind and the answers are of infini ty. Ask all the questions you like, so long as you remember that you are not God and your understand ing, at best, is a very limited one. The story of Job is really one of misunderstanding. The people of Job’s day did not really understand the nature of God, because they assumed that adversity was the sign of God’s displeasure. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had arrogantly assumed that they knew God’s mind when, in fact, they did not. In the very last chapter of Job, God chastises these three friends of Job, saying to Eliphaz. “My wrath is 'kindled against you...for you have not spoken of me what is right” (42:7). THINGS TOO WONDERFUL But if Job’s three friends- and the rest of his society- failed to understand God, so did Job him self. He failed to understand that bad things happen to good people, that we do “good” out of love for God, not because we think it gives us a guarantee against suffering and adversity. At last. Job himself admits this: “Therefore I have uttered what 1 did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” (43:3). Still, in the midst of Job’s humility, there comes a belter understanding of God; “I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes sec thee” (43:5). In all of this suffering, Job had really come even closer to God. Our understanding is limited, but our faith need not be. (Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by the Committee on the Uniform Series and used by permission Released by Community & Suburban Press) NOPE, BUT T DO HAVE AN OLD WEIL YOU COULD CHOP'OP
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers