■ r - , ■■ _ VOL. 34 No. 1 Farmers To Benefit From Tax Reform BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor HARRISBURG —Farmers may benefit as much as anyone from the proposed tax reform bill now in conference committee in the state legislature. The adminstration’s proposals will give counties in the Commonwealth the option to shift property taxes partly to income and sales taxes. But there’s a big catch. If the pending legisla tion is not passed by the end of the month, it may never be passed. The new legislature elected this week may not be willing to make Lancaster County Holstein Breeders Elect Officers The Lancaster County Holstein Breeders held their 38th annual banquet this week at the Good ’N Plenty Restaurant. At the meeting they elected new board directors and officers. The association’s officials are, from left, back row: Don Rlsser, treasurer; Lowell Brubaker, president; John Brubaker, vice president; Rick Hess, director; Phil Crouse, director. Front row: Nate Stoltzfus, state director; Jere Sklles, director; Steve Hershey, director; Nelson Wenger, secretary. Good News Greets Farm Credit Stockholders BY PAT PURCELL HERSHEY (Dauphin) Lancas ter Farm Credit Service stockhol ders gathered on Wednesday for lunch at the Hersey Lodge to hear some good news from Chief Executive Officer Scott Owens and from the keynote speaker, Dr. John F. Marten, staff economist for the Farm Journal. “We are the strongest and most progressive Farm Credit branch,” said Owens, “But Farm Credit will be challenged to meet the needs of the future. We will be seeing some changes to meet the changing needs of our farmers. And we are ready for that.” Those farmers who previously were not required to pay taxes are feeling the affects of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and having to pay, according to Owens and Farm Credit offers their services to help the farmers ease this financial demand. "We are doing a lot of work helping fanners with risk manage- i H'.RAKV uf . K 9i\V N STATE W$| h -W " <1 PENNS^W FAKK r* Four Sections the effort to get the reform passed. In addition, a few key senators and representatives who have worked for tax reform for many years retire at the end of this session. Earl F. Gohl, Jr., deputy secret ary, state department of communi ty affairs, said this week that the pending legislation could be expected to reduce property taxes by 30 percent in areas that opted to use its provisions. Nuisance taxes such as per capita taxes, occupa tional priviledge and occupational assessment taxes could also be eli minated. Gohl called these the most unfair taxes in the world. ment and we may be doing a lot more of that in the future. Our mis sion at Farm Credit is to improve the income and the well-being of our stockholders and helping them manage risk is one way we can do Holiday Deadlines The Lancaster Farming office will be closed Thursday, November 24, in observance of Thanksgiving. Deadlines for the November 26 issue are as follows: •Mailbox Market Ads — Noon, Monday •Public Sale Ads—s:oo p.m., Monday •General News—Noon, Wednesday •Classified Section B Ads—s:oo p.m., Tuesday •All Other Classified Ads—9:oo a.m., Wednesday Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 12,1988 “You’re assessed a number and you get a bill,” Gobi said. In counties like Lancaster or Berks with the tourist industry and shopping malls, sums of money come into the area from people who use the local services but con tribute nothing to the tax base. Police protection costs and water and sewage bills increase because of the influx of people. But prop erty owners, including farmers, foot the bill. In these areas, the adminstration thinks a sales tax would help distribute the tax burden. that,” explained Owens, Owens told stockholders that Lancaster Farm Credit is solid because the people it serves are solid. Farm Credit makes changes to meet demands of a changing economy Owens said and hopes the changes do not disrupt the operations of their stockholders. “You’ve asked us to reduce turnover so we have modified sala ries and made some other changes so that you will sec the same loan officer on your farm, the same loan processor and the same secretary when you come into our office,” said Owens. Dr. John F. Marten, staff eco nomist with the Farm Journal for 11 years presented his case for what he believes to be healthy farm economy for many. With agricul tural debt down by 30 percent from just 3 years ago, the farm commun ity is in pretty good shape. But although the farm economy may seem somewhat solid and stable (Turn to Pag* A2B) And John Stauffer (R-19), Chester County’s strong propo nent of tax reform who had earlier said he was totally opposed to a sales tax, said Friday moring that he would go along with an optional sales tax in the spirit of comprom ise. “Obviously, before I retire, I Animal Rights Referendum Defeated Massachusetts Voters Just Said No BY LISA RISSER vague question: Are you in favor EPHRATA (Lancaster) —An of the humane treatment of farm overwhelming 71 percent of Mas- animals? sachusetts voters struck down the The question was the result of animal rights petition that action by Coalition to End Animal appeared on their ballot as the (Turn to Pag* A 23) Chester DHIA Elects Directors, Honors Producers BY PAT PURCELL GUTHRBESVILLE (Chester) Chester County DHIA mem bers elected two new directors and re-elected three directors at their 30th annual meeting held Thurs day evening at the East Brandy wine Fire Company. Ardrossan Honored for farmland preservation at the Lancaster Farmland Trust annual meeting are: (I to r) seated: Mary M. Schantz, Ephrata Twp. and Elizabeth Groff Miller. Standing: Daniel Herr, president and Charles Miller and John Charles Miller. The Miller family farm In East Earl Twp. Lancaster Farmland Trust Moves To Preserve Farm; BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor BIRD-IN-HAND (Lancaster) With a new name and an anonymous foundation grant of $lOO,OOO to secure operations for the next year, the Lancaster Farm land Trust moves ahead to a more vigorous effort to save Lancaster County farmland. President Daniel Herr, outlined three major goals 500 Per Copy would like to successfully accom plish the tax reform I have worked on for over a quarter of a centery,” Stauffer said. “But I want true tax reform. Reform with no major tax revenue increases. “A lot of people with many dif (Turn to Pago At 9) Farms and H. & R. Mason Farms were also honored with production awards. Barry Hostetler, vice-president was re-elected for another three year term and Tim Barlow and Steve Mason are the newest mem (Turn to Page A3O) for the Lancaster Farmland Trust at their annual meeting here Thurs day evening. They include the fol lowing: increase membership to 1,000; establish a revolving trust fund and continue more vigorously to save farmland. The Lancaster Farmland Trust Revolving Fund wdl be used as a major tool m farmland preserva tion. “When we find a farm we $lO.OO Per Year (Turn to Page W
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