AKKJiwnter Farming, Saturday, Apr)
opinion
An Apple A Day Still
Keeps The Doctor Away
Television and other media in recent weeks has reported dangers
from chemical residues on food, particularly produce. However a
closer look at the situation Shows our supply of fruits and vegetables
to be safe for everyone, including children. These scare tactics make
good entertainment and sell advertising for television but distort the
facts and do far more harm than good to American children’s diets.
We have been told repeatedly how “dangerous” chemicals on fruits
and vegetables increase our risk of cancer (and more importantly, our
children’s risk). The main target of these attacks has been a plant
growth regulating chemical named daminozide sold under the trade
name Alar. Alar can be applied to apple trees during the growing sea
son to increase the color and firmness of the fruits, to keep apples
from falling off the tree prematurely, to improve storage life of the
fruits and to improve bloom on the tree the following season. It has
been used since 1962. Since the controversy over Alar use started in
1985, acreage treated has dropped dramatically to an estimated 5% of
1988 apple acreage treated with the chemical. Of this it can safely be
assumed that the vast majority of fruit either have no detectable
residue or residues which fall well within EPA tolerances for Alar.
Dr. John Wiesburger, Director Emeritus of the American Health
Foundation and former head of the Carcinogen Screening Section at
the National Cancer Institute, states the following about Alar and
apples: “Consumers should not be alarmed about any alleged toxic
effects of possible Alar residues.” “The public should not be misled
into thinking apples are endangering their health. Apples are as
healthy as ever. The trace amounts of Alar present on some apples are
lexicologically insignificant.”
The controversy over alar has been used to question pesticide use
and food safety in general. Pesticides are simply agents which are
used to kill pests, whether those pests are insects (insecticides), dis
eases (fungicides), weeds (herbicides), rodents (rodenticides), or
whatever. Alar is not strictly a pesticide, it is a plant growth regulator.
There is a misconception among the American public that natural
substances are safe and man made chemicals are dangerous. However
the facts do not support this perception. When Dr. Ames developed
his test for mutagenicity he was surprised to find that many common
natural substances proved to be potential carcinogens.
You cannot even assume that produce which has been grown with
out pesticides is safer than pesticide sprayed fruits and vegetables. Dr.
Ames notes that plants often generate large amounts of natural toxins
in response to attacks by insects or disease. For example, light acti
vated natural carcinogens in celery increase 100 fold when the plants
are damaged by fungus. So what is safe? This does not mean that you
should be afraid to get out of bed in the morning for fear of encounter
ing carcinogens everywhere you turn. They are a part of everyday life
and not a threat under normal circumstances. But it does point out that
the world is full of substances with much more ability to cause cancer
than minute amounts of chemical residues found on foods.
Pesticides are carefully screened and tested before they are labeled
for use on any crops, particularly food crops. As with any agency or
organization there is room for improvement but in general EPA and
FDA have done a remarkable job in seeing that Americans continue
to have the safest food supply in the world. If such substances as pea
nut butter, diet cola, coffee, tea and many others were subjected to the
same scrutiny and registered for use as agricultural chemicals are, it is
entirely possible that they would be banned. Of course these sub
stances are entirely safe in normal use in the American diet. This is
not to criticize the procedures used but to put dangers from residues
of agrichemicals in their proper light.
So let the EPA take a long, hard, honest look at Alar to determine
whether or not it should be used on food crops. Farmers do not want
to endanger the health of anyone and will accept an honest decision.
Certainly we should carefully scrutinize any substance to be used on
our food. But let us not make scientific decisions in the heat of media
hype and hysteria.
in the meantime the old adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away” is just as true today as it ever was. Americans in general and
children in particular will do far better to stick to fruits and vegetables
(, nd their products) than to turn to sweets and sugared (or diet)
b. verages.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St
Ephrata, PA 17522
by
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A S>otnrmn Enfrprk*
Robert Q. Campbell General Manager
Everett R. Nawtwanger Managing Editor
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NOW IS
THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
To Care For
Foaling Mares
Following the birth of a new
born foal, allow the mare and foal
to lay quietly with the umbilical
cord still intact; the cord should
break when the mare and/or foal
rises. If it becomes necessary to
sever the cord, tear it so as to leave
a short stump. Never cut the cord
with a sharp instrument. The cord
should never be tom until all pul
sations stop - apply a tincture of
iodine to the unbilical stump as
soon as the cord breaks. Some pre
fer to use a strong solution of
l-'A %, others prefer a more tame
tincture. In either case, a wide
mouth jar is best and in this way
the stump can be completely
dipped without spilling tincture of
iodine over the belly of the foal.
Consult with your veterinarian
concerning the administration of
tetanus anti-toxin and antibiotics.
Foals usually nurse shortly after
birth. If nursing is delayed beyond
an hour, seek someone with exper
ience for assistance. Note the
mare’s udder; full mammary
glands indicate that the foul is not
nursing. In addition watch the
mare for signs of colic-like pain,
heavy sweating, and pale mem
branes. First foal mares may resist
nursing due to sensitive udders.
To Prevent
Johne’s Disease
Johne’s Disease is an intestinal
infection of ruminant animals that
can cause severe diarrhea and
weight loss. The primary method
of transmission is by young ani
mals less than one year of age
ingesting fecal material from old
er, infected animals. Therefore it
is very important to provide cows
with a very sanitary maternity area
and to separate the newborn calf
from its dam immediately after
Farm Calendar
Saturday, April 8
Northeast Bison seminar, Nativity
Hall, Tunkhannock, 8:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m.
Swine artificial insemination
workshop, Central Maryland
Research & Education Center’s
Swine Research Facility, near
Clarksville, 8:30 a.m.
Pennsylvania Holstein Associa
tion Supreme Creations Calf
Sale, Ag Arena, State College,
9:00 a.m.
Learning Projects for Young
Children workshop, First
(Turn to Pago A 32)
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birth. House the calf in an indivi
dual pen away from older animals
and away from any fecal
contaminated run off. Also avoid
tracking manure from older ani
mals int& the heifer area. Do not
graze heifers with or after older
cattle. Do not feed heifers pasture
clipping!, hay top-dressed with
manure lor manger sweepings.
Cull infected cows.
To Remove
Bagworm Cases
Right now is a good time to
check evergreens and shrubs for
overwintering bagworm cases.
TheseV insects are especially
fond of arborvitae, junipers, and
cedars, but may be found on other
plants. Where only a few infested
plants are involved it may be prac
tical to remove and destroy the
bagwonp cases. Each case may
contain lip to 500 eggs; Young
caterpillars will hatch from these
eggs in late April if the cases have
not been destroyed.
If there are too many overwin
tering bagworm cases to remove
by hand, wait until after the eggs
have hatched and then use a spray.
Check for young caterpillars in
late April and early May. It is best
to control them when they are still
small.
STRONG ENOUGH
TO BE HUMBLE
April 9,1989
Background Scripture:
Philippians 1:27 through 2:30.
Devotional Reading:
Philippians 2:1-13.
Most people seem to> equate
humility with weakness. A
humble person, they assume, is
one who is not strong enough or
important enough to avoid
demeaning service to others. Of
course, that’s another popular
assumption; that serving others in
a humble capacity is demeaning to
the person doing the serving
the more menial the task, the more
demeaning the result.
When I was growing up, society
at least upheld humility as a virtue
in general, if not too specifically.
Today, however, it seems we no
longer even give live-service to
humility. Those who are most
greatly admired today, it appears,
are those with rather substantial
egos—people who are aggressive
enough to get what they want out
of life. Humility is what is left for
those who are considerably less
well-endowed.
EQUALITY WITH GOD
None of the views indicated
above are compatible with the
New Testament’s concept of
humility. Jesus performed many
humble acts, perhaps none more
indicative than his washing of the
disciples’ feet But his humility
was a badge of his strength, not
AND HERE'S )
THE BILL J
0
To Consider Forsythia
For Spring
Forsythia is one of the most
common spring shrubs. It’s inex
pensive and easy to grow from
cuttings. The forsythia is seldom,
if ever, bothered by disease or
insect pests so it’s not hard to care
for.
There are a number of varieties
to choose from. Some are more
upright than others and some are
trailing or have an arched effect.
The trailing forsythia,is excellent
for a woody ground cover on
slopes, banks or walls. It doesn’t
have as many flowers of a~s good
quality as other varieties. But it
spreads easily, is easily pruned
and helps prevent erosion.
Most varieties are similar -
they have yellow blooms which
appear in early spring. Some have
larger blooms and some have
more blooms. Some varieties are
more hardy than others and will
produce loads of beautiful flowers
even after a severe winter.
But no matter what variety of
forsythia you choose, it will add a
breath of spring to your landscape.
The Penn State Cooperative
Extension is an affirmative action,
equal opportunity educational
institution.
his weakness. He could have com
manded the disciples to wash his
feet and they probably would have
done it, for they acknowledged
him as the Master. Of all people,
Jesus was probably the most self
sufficient person who ever lived.
And in his letter to the Philippians,
Paul says of Jesus, “though he was
in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but emptied himself, tak
ing the form of a servant...”
(2:6.7).
So Jesus acted humbly from a
position of strength, not weakness.
In fact, that’s the only way we can
be humble regarding ourselves
not as “nothings,” but as “some
ones” loved and valued by God.
Humility can be practiced only by
someone who has something to
lose, or better, give. Jesus had
more to give than anyone and
that’s why his acts were often such
humble ones.
EMPTIED HIMSELF
Actually, humility is not some
thing that happens to us or is done
against us. Humility is our own
free choice to serve someone else
in their need. It is a highly willing
act, not one of necessity. Jesus
wasn’t humbled, as Paul puts it,
“he humbled himself’ (2:8), “he
emptied himself, taking the form
of a servant” (2:7). He wasn’t
forced reluctantly to the cross, but
“became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross” (2:8b).
Humbly serving other people,
therefore, never took anything
away from him; it only added to
his stature and Paul says, “There
fore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name...” (2:9).
Are you strong enough to be
humble?
(Btsed on copyrighted Outlines produced by
the Committee on the Uniform Series and used
by permission. Released by Community A Sub
urban Press.)
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