AKHjncwtef Famrtrig, Saturday, September 9,1989
OPINION
That safety pays is evident to managers of countless enter
prises. Aside from humane considerations, emphasizing
safety results in considerable savings, including lower insur
ance costs. Farmers are no exception...doing the job safely is
doing it well.
• Make accident prevention a management goal. Develop
a safety plan suited to your operation and your workers.
• Keep informed about safety. Read and follow instruc
tions in operator’s manuals, product labels, warning decals,
etc.
• Inspect all equipment and facilities for hazards. Correct
them, but also devise ways to avoid or live safely with fixed
hazards.
• Take needed precautions before starting the job, like
checking that equipment is in good working order, shields
are in place, and you are wearing appropriate personal pro
tective equipment (safety shoes, goggles, respirator, etc.) for
the job or conditions.
Train employees and family workers to work safely and
well.
• Be physically and mentally prepared to cope with each
day’s activities. Know and respect your limitations. Stay fit
and seek medical care for health problems.
• Be prepared for accident, medical, fire and weather
emergencies.
• Take special precautions to protect children, the elderly,
handicapped and farm visitors. For example, don’t let kids
ride on farm machinery.
Robert Leiby and David Dunbar of the Lehigh County
Extension office say, “Do It Right.” We agree!
Farm Calendar
Saturday, September 9
University of Maryland Swine
Field Day, Central Maryland
Research and Education Center
Swine Facility, Howard Coun
ty. 9:30 a.m.
Lancaster County Pomona Grange
71 auction, Fulton Grange 66
Hall, Oakryn, 10:00 a.m.
Schaefferstown Horse Plowing &
Harvesting Fair, Schaeffer
Farm Museum, Schaeffer
stown; runs through September
10.
Westmoreland Cattlemen’s tour to
Shenandoah Valley; runs
through September 10.
Sunday, September 10
11th PennAg Convention, Seven
Springs Resort, Champion;
runs through September 12.
Monday, September 11
Bellwood-Antis Farm Show, Bell
wood; runs through September
14.
Claysburg Farm Show, Claysburg;
runs through September 14.
Green Township Fair, Commo
dore; runs through September
16.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
by
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A SMnrmn Enttrprkt
Robert G. Campbell General Manager
Everett R. Newswanger Managing Editor
CtfiirifM IHi by Uneaafef Pwmln|
Do It Right
Tuesday, September 12
Senior Citizen’s Picnic, Hibernia
Park, Coatesville, 10:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m.
Albion Area Fair, Albion fair
grounds; runs through Septem-
ber 16.
Denver Community Fair, Denver;
runs through September 16.
Sinking Valley Community Fair,
Altoona; runs through Septem-
ber 16.
Beef and veal marketing seminar.
Valley Forge Convention Cen
ter, King of Prussia; runs
through September 13.
Wednesday, September 13
The Eastern States Exposition,
West Springfield, MA; runs
through September 24.
Berlin Brothers Valley Communi
ty Fair, Berlin; runs through
September 16.
Williamsburg Community Farm
Show, Williamsburg, Pa.; runs
through September 18.
Anne Arundel County Fair,
Crownsville, Md.; runs through
September 17.
(Turn to Pago A3l)
NOW IS
THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
'Lancaster County Agriculture Agent
To Observe National
Farm Safety Week
President Bush has proclaimed
September 17-23, 1989, as
National Farm Safety Week, the
46th annual observance.
This year’s theme, SAFEing
The Farm and Ranch, approach
es safety in a very positive man
ner. “SAFEing” means to pre-act
rather than re-act... to do the
necessary things ahead of time
that can reduce or even eliminate
risk of accidental injury, property
damage and work-related illness.
Put another way “Don’t wait until
the horse has gotten out to lock the
bam door.”
According to National Safety
Council estimates for 1988, work
related mishaps in agriuclture
accounted for about 1,500 deaths
and 140,000 disabling injuries.
Success in farming takes plan
ning, preparation, perspiration and
perseverance. But a farmer who
wants to stay in the “pink” physi
cally and in the “black” financial
ly should add another word begin
ning with “P”: PREVENTION...
prevention of accidents and
illnesses.
Let’s practice safe habits every
day.
To Ensile Corn At
The Proper Stage
Most of our com crop looks
good after a good growing season
and com silage is an important
part of the feeding program in
dairy and feeder cattle. Harvesting
com at the right time is very
important. I’d like to point out that
more feed nutrients will be
harvested if the ear can be allowed
to mature into the early dent stage.
Silage research reveals that com
made into silage in the silk stage
will yield only 63% feed nutrients
while com in the dent stage should
give silage with 69% feed
nutrients.
The important thing is to allow
the ear to develop properly before
ensiling, if at all possible. Com is
a valuable crop; let’s make every
effort to harvest the maximum
feed .nutrients.
To Be Aware Of The
Century Farm Program
The Century Farm Program is
aimed at recognizing the efforts of
Pennsylvania’s farm families
which have preserved the tradition
of the rural heritage of the pioneer
farm.
The program was started as part
of the Nation’s bicentennial obser
vance in 1976, but is being con
tinued for its value in promoting
the ideals of the family farm and
•the importance of farming to Pen
nsylvania’s economy.
To be eligible for Certification
as a Pennsylvania Century Farm, a
farm must have been owned by the
same family for the last 100 con
secutive years, and a family mem
ber must currently reside on the
land. In addition, the farm must
consist of ten or more acres of the
original holdings or gross at least
$l,OOO a year from the sale of
agriculture products.
We encourage you to partici
pate in this program that is admi
nistered by the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture.
Applications are available at the
County Extension Office.
To Mow Weedy Pastures
If you pasture is weedy, then
ON FEEDING
YOURSELVES
September 17,1989
Background Scripture: Ezekiel
18.
Devotional Reading: Matthew
5:1-12
Dr. Hans Selye, who was the
world’s foremost pioneer in stress
research, told of interviewing two
young men who were the sons of
the town drunk. One of these men
had followed in the footsteps of
his father and with the same tragic
consequences. The other, howev
er, was a successful, well
regarded member of the commun
ity. When Selye questioned them
separately as to the reasons for
their own personal success or lack
of it, both replied, in effect, “What
else would you expect with a
father like mine?"
In 34 years of pastoral counsel
ing I have frequently heard
troubled people say pretty much
the same thing, attributing their
present circumstances to the
actions, words, or influences of
some other person—most often a
parent or parents. “That’s why I
am the way that I am,” they
explain. This usually leaves them
with two conclusions; (1) they are
not to blame for their present situ
ation, and (2) they can’t do any
thing about it. In other words, they
are victims of someone else’s sins
or mistakes.
VICTIMS OF
OURSELVES
One way or another, I try to
help these people to realize that
they are simply copping-out by
blaming someone else for what
they did a long time ago. It is true
that the actions, words and atti
tudes of other people can have
harmful effects upon us, but if,
year after year, we continue to
play the “victim” to their sins of
omission or commission, we are
victims, not of someone else, but
>*. * mrr
MM
* *
get out the mower. There are two
good reasons for this; one it elimi
nates the production of weed
seeds and two, it removes mature
forage-which lets plants send out
new and tender growth. But,
before you mow, you should graze
the pasture heavily. With grazing
you can utilize all the available
feed. The animals eat some weeds,
but they also eat some of the tall
grasses that would be wasted by
mowing. Remember to mow
closely... 2 to 3 inches. And
instead of trashing the clippings,
save them. Many farmers recover
enough hay from pasture mowings
to winter their cattle.
The Penn State Cooperative
Extension is an affirmative action,
equal opportunity educational
institution.
of ourselves. No one can victimize
you for very long unless you per
mit them to do so. .
The 18 th chapter of Ezekiel is a
brilliant reminder of this. Appa
rently for the most part the Jewish
exiles in Babylon are second gen
eration captives. They have been
complaining that they are having
to suffer for the sins of their
fathers and they have used the old
proverb to voice their protest:
“The fathers have eaten sour
grapes, and the children’s teeth are
set on edge” (Ezekiel 18:2).
GOOD NEWS!
Through Ezekiel, God tells the
Jews that they and their proverb
are wrong: they are not suffering
for the sins of their father, but
their own sins. Yes, it was the sins
of their fathers that brought them
to Babylon, but, if they are conti
nuing to fare poorly in their new
situation, it is their own fault. “If a
man is righteous and does what is
lawful and right, he shall surely
live, says the Lord God” (18:9).
NO person will for
the sins of others. soul
that sins shall die” (18:4,20).
(“Live” and “die” are used figura
tively here, not literally.) If a
righteous man has an unrighteous
son, it is the son who is responsi
ble for his sins. If a righteous son
has an unrighteous father, he will
not have to be responsible for his
father’s sins. “The righteousness
shall be upon himself, and the
wickedness of the wicked shall be
upon himself’ (18:20).
That’s good news! But there’s
even better news: even an unright
eous person can know the favor of
God if he or she turns from
unrighteousness. Actually, it is the
present moment that counts: not
what we did do in the past, either
good or bad, but what is our
heart’s desire at this present
moment. No righteousness in the
past can free us from an unrepen
tant present heart, nor can any past
unrighteousness keep us from
God’s grace right now.
If we turn from our sin and to
ward God, we can live in his
grace—now!
(Based on copyrighted Outlines
produced by the Committee on the
Uniform Series and used by per
mission. Released by Community
& Suburban Press.)
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