DiO-Lancaster Farming Saturday, March 24,1990 WETLANDS According to Ralph Heimlich of the USDA’s Economic Research Service, the 1990’s may be the “Decade of the Wetland”. Changes in U.S. land-use and con servation policies are aiming at preserving and restoring wetlands. If you don’t have a wedand in your backyard, there’s probably one nearby. There’s one in every county in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Wetlands are mostly semi aquatic lands. They are either con stantly or periodically covered or saturated with water. The pre sence of water makes them hydric, or capable of supporting specially adapted plants like bulrushes, cat tails, and cypress. There is a large variety of wet lands swamps, bogs and mar shes. Most are always wet, but some, like the prairie potholes in the Midwest, are dry much of the year. There are two broad catego ries, coastal and inland. Coastal wetlands are linked to estuaries where sea and fresh water mix. Many shallow coastal areas are unvegetated mud or sand flats. Marshes are abundant along the Adantic and Gulf coasts. Man grove swamps are common in Hawaii and in southern Florida. Inland wetlands are most com mon on floodplains beside rivers and streams. They are also found along the margins of lakes and ponds and in isolated depressions surrounded by dry land. Inland wedands include marshes and wet meadows, shrub swamps, and wooded swamps. Some regional examples are the pocosins in North Carolina, prairie potholes in Minnesota and the Dakotas, and the tropical rain forests of Hawaii. Historically, wetlands were viewed as pest-ridden wastes to be reclaimed for useful purposes. For many years no one noticed their environmental benefits or their rapid disappearance. In 1763, George Washington formed a company to drain for agriculture the Great Dismal Swamp on the border of Virginia and North Carolina. While his project failed, his attitude toward wetlands foreshadowed policy for nearly two centuries. The swamp in question has now been made a preserve. Wetlands in the public domain were given to states to administer under the Swamp Lands Acts of 1849, 1850 and 1860. Florida, for example, sold the Everglades and Okefenokee wetlands for less than 50 cents an acre. Today, lowa has lost about 95 percent of its natural marshes, and California more than 90 percent of its wetlands. Other states, including Connecticut, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota' and North Dakota, have lost about 50 percent of their wetlands, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Ecologists and biologists were the first to recognize the environ mental value of wetlands as some of the world’s richest ecological stews. They nourish such diverse wildlife as alligators in the Florida Everglades, whooping cranes in Texas, muskrats in lowa and ducks in the prairie potholes in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Wetlands are coveted by envir onmentalists and hunters alike. They not only provide a habitat for wildlife but also help maintain groundwater supplies and water quality, protect shorelines from erosion, store floodwater, and trap sediments. 1990’5: Decade Of The F ARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION GUARANTEED LOANS The Farmers Home Admi nistration (FmHA), may guarantee loans made by eligible agricultural lenders to family farmers for farm ownership, improvements- and operating purposes. Guaranteed loans are those loans made by banks and other commercial lenders, such as Fed eral Land Bank and Production Credit Associations, where FmHA agrees to guarantee a certain per centage to the lender in case of loss. Guaranteed farm ownership loans can be used to buy, improve or enlarge farms. Guaranteed operating loan purposes include purchases for farm operations, such as livestock, equipment and chemicals. Guaranteed soil and water loans can be used to deve lop, conserve and make proper use of land and water resources. when you trade up to SURGE Electronic Pulsation Surge Electronic Pulsation provides day-to-day dependability with a minimum of maintenance. You get consistent, accurate pulsation for a more efficient milking job. The Surge Solid State Pulsation Control works with Surge Direct-Acting pulsators to deliver a positive and uniform pulsation over a wide range of op erating conditions. It provides either 50 or 60 pulses per minute and 50/50,55/45, or 60/40 milk/rest ratios. Choose either Alternating or Single-action Pulsators Surge Single-Action Pulsator is compact and easy to handle. It utilizes a single coil and plunger assembly to milk all fourquarterssimultaneously. It has no diaphragm and is easy to inspect and service. Interest rates on guaranteed loans are negotiated between the lender and borrower. Terms for repayment vary according to loan purpose and nature of operating loan. You can receive more informa tion on guaranteed loans at the Farmers Home Administration Office located at the Lehigh County Agricultural Center, Suite 107 , 4184 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA 18104. Phone (215) 395-2052. The County Supervisor is Thomas A. Welling ton, 111. Farmers may apply direct ly to private lenders or by contact ing FmHA. All applications for FmHA guaranteed loans are treated with equal consideration, without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, handicap, national origin or marital status. TWENTY WAYS TO REDUCE RISK OF INJURY TO FARM KIDS See These Dealers For Details... BRANDT’S FARM SUPPLY 601 E. High St. Ellzabathtown, Pa. Ph; (717) 367-1221 LONGACRE SHARTLESVILLE FARM ELECTRICAL SERVICE SVC. INC. Bally, Pa. Ph: (215) 645-2261 *• * Surge Alternating Pulsator has twin coils and plunger as semblies to allow front and rear quarters to be milked at alter nate times. Both types of pulsa tors are available in either moveable or stationary mount ing models, for use in milking parlors or stanchion bams. PEN W. HOSTETTER RD 2, Annvllla, Pa. Ph: (717) 867-2896 Wetland 1. No seat - no rider. Do not allow children to be extra riders, even if they are helping out with chores or other work. 2. Idle machinery are not farm toys. Keep children from playing on, in or under machinery and equipment. 3. Leave electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulically operated equip ment in the down or closed position 4. Place gear selections in Park, or set brakes, and remove ignition keys from tractors and self propelled machinery. 5. Keep PTO in neutral when not using. 6. Know where the kids are when starting machinery and farm vehicles. 7. Keep shields and guards in place and in working order. 8. Train and supervise youth operating farm machinery and equipment. 9. Fence farm ponds and man- Participating Surge dealers are offering a special trade-in al lowance for any type or brand of pulsator and/or stall cock, when exchanged for new Surge Direct-Acting Pulsators and/or automatic stall cocks. This offer ends July 31,1990. So act now, and call your Surge dealer to update with a new Surge pulsation system. PULSATOR TRADE-IN VALUE $25 EACH STALL COCK TRADE-IN VALUE $5 EACH JIM’S SURGE SALES & SERVICE 215 Oak Bottom Rd. Quarryvltla, Pa. Ph: (717) 786-1533 Dala Wangar RD 1, Hamburg, Pa. Ph: (215) 488-1025 ure pits. 10. Keep ladders out of the reach of children. 11. Lock up electrical power sources. 12. Lock up chemicals. 13. Use warning decals and signs. Replace old warnings when they fade or become unreadable. 14. Keep workable lights and reflectors on all mobile agricultur al machinery. 15. Keep small children from large animals, particularly animals that have recently given birth. 16. Do not let children under 12 operate an ATV. 17. Close grain and hay drop openings in barns. 18. Keep children from playing on or in silos and grain bins. 19. Keep children away from freshly-filled silos. 20. Have monthly family farm safety reviews. SURGE
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