EPHRATA (Lancaster) In just nine more days, on March 20, spring will be here. As everyone celebrates the advent of another growing season. President George Bush, Congress, and Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey are encouraging Americans to salute agriculture. March 20, National Agriculture Day, is the kick-off to a week-long national celebration of the fanning industry and related agri businesses. In his proclamation Casey writes, “Agriculture remains the Commonwealth’s number-one industry. Across Pennsylvania, the family farm continues to be at the core of our economic and social heritage... Our farmers continue to make Pennsylvania a Common wealth that works.”, Pennsylvanians can take pride in the efforts of turners within their state. Pennsylvania is among the top five states in production of NewDKI2SWithMPR Rises Above The Rest If you want a multiple pest resistant growing condtUons (MPR) alfalfa, and yields that’ll reach What’s more, DKI2S offers for the rafters, plant new DK 125 excellent wmterhardmess So ask from DeKalb-Pfizer . your DeKalb-Pfizer seed-dealer DK 125 was bred specific about new DK 125 It’s one top ally for high-yield perform- yielding MPR alfalfa that ance over a wide vanety of., pses to the occasion New DK 125 Earning our way on moieof your acres Americans To Celebrate Agriculture On March 20 many agricultural products. Listed below are some of Pennsylvania’s agricultural accomplishments. •Lancaster County is the num ber one agricultural county east of the Mississippi, ranking 11th nationally. Chester County ranks 46th nationally in farm production. •Pennsylvania ranks number one in production of mushrooms, potato chips, pretzels, and milk chocolate; second in production of ice cream and total frozen dairy products; third in production of milk sherbet, veal, eggs, and com for silage; fourth in production of laying chickens, peaches, whole sale floriculture crops, Italian cheese, grapes, and ice milk; and fifth in cut flowers, apples, butter, milk cow, milk production, export of dairy products, creamed cottage cheese, and fresh tomatoes. •The average value per acre of Pennsylvania farmland, with buildings included, was $1,819 as of February 1,1988, eighth highest in the country. families annually produce $3.2 bil- civilian per capita consumption of •Farms create employment for lion in crops and livestock, thereby major food commodities in 1986 nearly 20 percent of Pennsylvani- stimulating $35 billion in related was 140.3 pounds of meat; 14.7 a’s 5.4 million workforce. The per- economic activity (based on 1987 pounds of fish; 103.8 pounds of centage includes producers, grow- data). poultry and eggs; 272.3 pounds of ers and processors, as well as those "Poultry farmers produced 4.85 dairy products; 156 pounds of providing the machinery, supplies, billion eggs valued at $173.9 mil- fresh and processed fruits; 157.9 and services essential to farm Ikm/and commercial turkey grow- pounds of vegetables; 155.5 production. ers raised 8 million birds in 1987. pounds of grains; and 127.9 •Pennsylvania’s 56,500 farm A national fact: The national pounds of fats and oils. Atlantic District 26 Locals To Meet SOUTHAMPTON (Bucks) During the meeting, Quality Chambcrsburg; Mabel and Ray- The Chambcrsburg and Mercers- Milk Awards will be presented to mond Brickcr, Chambcrsburg; burg Locals of Atlantic Dairy Raymond E. and Leah F. Rodes, Martin, Elva and Myron Burkhol- Cooperativc District 26 will hold Waynesboro, and Richard E. and der. Pleasant Hall; Wayne and their annual dinner meeting March Helen Hoffeditz, Mercersburg. Carolyn Martin. Shippensburg; 10 at 7 p.m. at the Kauffman’s Both members qualified for Allan- " Michael I. and V. Myers Metcalfe, Runtan Building. tic’s quality premium for all 12 Mercersburg; and Fred and Lois Robert B. McSpanan, a Peach months during the 1987-1988 fis- Meyers, Leon and i>»ng Meyers Bottom dairy farmer and president cal year. Chambeisburg; 50 years -- Char of Atlantic, will be the guest Membership awards will also les W. and Edna M. Knoll, speaker. McSpanan will report on be presented to the following; 25 Chambeisburg. cooperative business and dairy years ~ Antrim Spring Farms, issues. Harold, Rodney and Roger Crider,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers