AlO-Lancastcr Farming, Saturday, April 7,1990
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OPINION
Fight Growing Tractor
Theft Problem
Theft of agricultural and construction equipment is estimated to be
a nearly $1 billion annual nightmare. And the ramifications on indivi
dual farmers and contractors can be devastating - putting some out of
business permanently or severely affecting their bottom line as they
try to recoup the loss without all of the tools of their trade.
A concerted effort among law enforcement officials, industry asso
ciations, manufacturers, equipment dealers, contractors and farmers
is critical to stemming this debilitating crime wave.
With theft prevention a front burner issue, we can collectively
communicate and demonstrate to thieves that heavy equipment theft
is not a safe business for them. This requires every person and organi
zation affected by equipment theft to proactively take measures to
discourage these crimes.
A main deterrent to equipment theft is the certainty of apprehen
sion. If thieves know they are likely to get caught, they are less likely
to attempt the crime. And there are a number of proactive measures
that can be taken by individuals and organizations to ensure that
equipment theft is perceived as an increasingly risky business.
All the major farm equipment manufacturers now have hot lines to
help farmer’s and dealers with the problem. But the farmer must be
prepared before the on farm theft occurres. Here are some ways to
stop theft of farm equipment:
Use security devices offered by equipment manufacturers and
after-market distributors to help prevent theft. Ignition looks, stabiliz
er arm locks and fuel shut-off valves can be effective and are small
investments compared to the sizeable investment they protect.
Record your equipment’s Product Identification Number (PIN) and
all component and attachment serial numbers on a document, and
keep the document in a safe and accessible place.
Take pictures of your equipment, making sure to photograph fea
tures that are unique to your machine, like dents, scratches and decals.
They can help identify your equipment if it is stolen.
Put decals on your machine that offer rewards for stolen equipment
or indicate that there are hidden or recorded identification numbers. If
they make just one thief think twice, they may save your business.
Avoid leaving equipment in remote of unlit areas that are away
from public view easy targets for thieves.
Take frequent inventories of your equipment. Know the location of
your machines at all times.
Take extra precautions on weekends. Studies show that 90% of all
equipment thefts take place between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m.
Monday.
Never leave keys in equipment even if it’s parked next to a
police station! Not only do you make it easy for a thief to take the
machine in which he finds the keys, but you can also put an entire
fleet in jeopardy since keys will often fit similar pieces of equipment.
And don’t forget the obvious lock your machine up whenever
it’s idle!
Farm Calendar
Saturday April 7
Win Blu Stables Young Show
Horse Training Clinic, Win Blu
Stables, Peach Bottom, contact
Vicki Greer, (717) 548-3884,
1:00 p.m. rain or shine.
Adams Co. Beef Ball, McSherrys
town Fire Hall, McSherrys
town, 6:00 p.m.
Pa. Holstein Association Supreme
Creations and Showcase Sale,
Ag Arena, State College.
1990 Pa. 4-H Leaders Forum,
Atherton Hilton, State College,
8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Cecil Co. Sheep Update, Cecil Co.
1 Lancaster Farming
Established 195 S
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St
Ephrata, PA 17522
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Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Sftnrmn Entt.pri—
Robert G. Campbell General Manager
Everett R. Newiwanger Managing Editor
ins w unuatr nmia
Library, Elkton, Md., 9:00 a.m.
Farm Machinery Consignment
Sale, Gratz Fairgrounds, 9:00
a.m.
Md. Sheep Shearing School,
Ridgely Thompson farm, Lin
wood, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Frederick Coounty, Maryland
Holstein meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Pa. Holstein Calf, Bred Heifer, and
Young Cow Sale, Ag Arena,
Allegheny Co. Ag Security Area
Program meeting, Allegheny
Co. Cooperative Extension
(Turn to Page A 39)
NOW IS
THE TIME
By Jay Irwin
Lancaster County
Agricultural Agent
To Check Pastures
Before turning cattle or other
livestock out onto pastures each
spring, a little time should be
taken to check the condition of the
pasture. Winter storms and the
activities of man can be hard on
pasture fences. A complete check
of the fence line will reveal those
broken or missing sections of
wire, trees across the fence which
would allow livestock to simply
walk out of the pasture, and other
problems associated with the
fence. If a single or double strand
of electric fence is used to confine
livestock, a close look for objects
which would short the system is
also necessary.
Those sections of the pasture
which are located along property
lines or roads should also be
checked carefully for foreign
objects which could be hazardous
to livestock. Look for glass, metal,
and plastic objects which have
been discarded by passing motor
ists. Another category of objects
to be on the lookout for is shrub
bery trimmings and tree branches.
Many of the plant parts are toxic
to cattle and sheep. Your city
neighbors may think they are
helping you feed your livestock,
but in reality, they may be killing
them.
To Control Weeds
In Pastures
A variety of weeds will grow in
pastures, some may even provide
Farm Forum
Editor,
I am expressing my support of
the opinion presented by Ron Fre
derick in your last issue of the
Lancaster Farming. As a teacher
of Vocational Agriculture for 20
years in Pennsylvania, I have seen
many changes. Most of these
occurring when Agriculture was
securing a firm grip on being Pen
nsylvanias number one industry
and employer.
I have had the opportunity to
spearhead many meetings with
Bureau of Vocational Education
Directors, Secretaries of Educa
tion and Legislators in Pennsylva
nia about the diminishing impor
tance of Agriculture Education to
(Turn to Pag* A 43)
some nutrition to livestock. One
weed which is a problem for dairy
cows on pasture is wild garlic or
onion because of the flavor it
gives milk. That flavor is a less
than desirable flavor for many
people. Both can be controlled
along with many other broad leaf
weeds by the use of Banvel or
2.4- or a combination of these
materials. Treatment should be
done in advance of the pasture
season with careful consideration
for the number of days between
the application of the herbicide
and the start of pasturing. Accord
ing to the Pennsylvania “Agro
nomy Guide, 1989-1990” the fol
lowing restrictions apply: 2,4-D
Amine, 7 days for dairy cows;
2.4- Ester, 7 days for all lives
tock; and Banvel, 7 days if less
than 1 pint per acre is used; up to
60 days if over 4 pints is used for
lactating dairy animals. Always
read and follow all label directions
when applying pesticides.
To Sign-up For
1990 Acreage
Reduction Program
Lancaster County farmers have
LEARNING
TO DIE
April 8, 1990
Background Scripture: John 19:
17-42
Devotional Reading: Isaiah
52:13 through 53:12.
Leonard da Vinci is reported to
have said shortly before his death,
“All these years I thought I was
learning to live, but instead I have
been learning to die.” Actually, a
Christian must leant to do both.
That may seem somewhat ironic,
because it is obvious that we die,
ready or not. But the question has
never been if we die. but how.
That is what makes the death of
Jesus so different and instructive
for us. Here was a man who knew
both how to live in a way that was
different and to die in a manner
that was unique. As Jesus refused
to play by the world's rules in his
ife, so he also refused to play by
the world's rules in death.
Although he was condemned to
die, he died, not as a victim, but as
a victor.
STILL IN CHARGE
Look at his last moments on
earth. Although he hangs nailed to
a cross, it seems to me that he is
still in charge - if not of others, at
least himself and the situation.
Crucifixion was an extremely
painful way to die. Nevertheless,
in the midst of the pain, Jesus was
enough in control of himself to
take care of his mother and the
beloved disciple: “Woman,
behold your son!” Then he said to
the desciple, “Behold your
mother!” (John 19: 26,26). Jesus
had every reason to focus solely
on his own needs in this terrible
''V
until April 13 to sign-up in the
1990 ASCS Acreage Reduction
Program. In order to receive bene
fits, producers must reduce their
com and barley plantings by 10%
of their crop acreage base. The
limitation for wheat and oat
acreage is 5% of those crops
acreage base. Farmers participat
ing in the program are eligible for
benefits to include crop loans and
the purchase and payments for the
1990 crop.
Participants in the acreage
reduction program must devote
eligible cropland to Conservation
Reserve. The acreage must be pro
tected from wind and water ero
sion throughout the year. Crops
cannot be harvested from diverted
acreage.
Producers may request an
advance portion of the projected
deficiency payment at sign-up
which is payable in cash. The
advance will be made on the basis
of 40% of the projected total defi
ciency payment. Additional prog
ram details are available at the
ASCS Office.
experience, but his love was grea
ter than his pain and concern for
others overcame everything else.
His last two statements from the
cross, according to the fourth gos
pel, are simple and to the point; “I
thirst,” and “When Jesus had
received the vinegar, he said, ‘lt is
finished;’ and he bowed his head
and gave up his spirit.” His tor
mentors probably felt cheated.
Jesus had not railed or cursed
against his enemies, he had not
made ominous prophecies against
them, or whined about the unfair
ness and injustice of it all. Jesus
was a victor even, perhaps espe
cially, in his death.
L.P. Jacks, the British theolo
gian, once wrote: “Most of us die
of something; of disease, accident,
old age. But occasionally there
appears in our midst a man who
resolves to die for something...”
That is a good description of the
death of Jesus: he died, not of
something, but for something.
And more than something, he died
for someone - you and me and all
humankind.
A DEATH-
CONQUEROR
That is something to which we
too are called. That is why we
must, as a part of our Christian liv
ing, learn to die. We need to leam
to die for something and be a
death-conqucrer as Jesus was.
Jacks says: “Christianity... came
into the world as a death
conquering religion. It centered in
the figure of a death-conqueror...”
We will all die; the only question
is how? Will we be the conqueror
or the conquerors?
Jacks also said: “No religion is
worth its name unless it can prove
itself more than a match for
death." That is why Christians
make so much of the death of
Jesus. As I see it, by the-time Jesus
was resurrected from the tomb, he
had already conquered death - for
him and for us.
(Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by
the Committee on the Uniform Series and
used by permission. Released by Communi
ty & Suburban Press.)