AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 8,1990 OPINION Don’t Take With Silo We are into silo filling time, and many farmers are already harvesting the com crop to obtain the maximum feed nutrients they are able to obtain through this method of preserving feed for their animals over winter. But making silage can be hazardous to your health. With our large tower silos, the danger of poisonous gases becomes very important. ' We urge our farmers to discuss this hazard with their employees and all family members. These gases can develop from one day to 14 days after the silo is filled. Most of the gases have a chlorine laundry bleach odor and irritate the eyes and respiratory system. Some are yellow and some are colorless. Jay Irwin, Lancaster County agent says that with the good grow ing season this year, farmers need to be even more cautious. The extra moisture sometimes produces more gas. “Never work alone around the silo,” Irwin cautions. “And always run the blower at least 20 minutes before you enter the silo.” Irwin said gas can also come down the entry shoot and get into the bam and harm the animals. “Farmers know about this prob lem,” Irwin said, “But we all need to be reminded each year about the problem.” These gases are heavier than air and will come down to where you, your family, your employees and your animals live. Don’t take chances with silo gases. They are deadly. Farm Calendar ill | Saturday, September Central Maryland Swine Field Day, REC Swine Facility, Clarksville, Md. S.W. 4-H District Dairy Shows, Armstrong Co., Dayton Fairgrounds. Schaefferstown horse plowing contest, 10:00 a.m. Forage Field Day, Park and Paula Findlay Farm, Franklin, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Susquehanna Co. Field Day, Aga wam Farm, Elk Lake, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. West Alexander Fair, Greene Co. Thurmont and Emmitsburg Com munity Show, Catoctin High School, Rt. 550, Thurmont, Md., thru Sept. 9. Farm Forum Editor: You are to be commended for a fine editorial concerning the cur rent oil crisis and our involvement in the Persian Gulf. I find it dis graceful and despicable that our country’s greed and thirst for pet roleum will force our young men to shed their lifeblood not in defense of our country, but to keep our sickening economy from Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E Main St Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stemman Enterprise Robert G Campbell. General Manager Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor Chances Gases Juniata Co. Fair, Port Royal. Cambria Co. Fair, Ebensburg. Spartansburg Community Fair. Ox Hill Community Fair, Howe. Waterford Community Fair. West Alexander Fair. Jamestown Community Fair. York Inter-State Fair, York, thru Sept. 15. Luzerne Co. Fair, Dallas, thru Sept. 9 Clavsbur Farm Show. Schaefferstown horse pulling con test, 12:30 n.m. Thurmont and Emmitsburg Com munity Show, Catoctin High School, Rt. 550, Thurmont, Md. York Inter-State Fair, York, thru Sept. 15. (Turn to Pag* AST) dying. However, we as farmers can go further than just encourag ing of the ethanol industry. One example of alternative fuel usage ought to be readily apparent in Lancaster, that of draft horses. Much has been said about their pros and cons, so I won’t reiterate them. I know the commitment of (Turn to Pag* A 32) UNCLE OTIS, WERE YOU . A A GOOD STUDENT WHEN I YOU WENT TO THE J OLD COUNTRY SCHOOL ?/ NOW IS THE TIME By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agricultural Agent To Observe National Farm Safety Week President Bush has proclaimed the week of September 16-22, 1990, as National Farm Safety Week, the 47th annual observance. Every year thousands of far mers suffer from injuries and ill nesses. This high rate could be reduced if farmers would invest in safety, such as proper personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as goggles, hard hats, respirators, protective eyewear and safety shoes, has been avail able to fanners for a long time. Many farmers do use PPE when dealing with significant health hazards. However, far too many farmers seldom or never use PPE on farm jobs for which protection is needed. When using liquid chemicals, wear goggles designed to protect eyes from splashes and sprays. Respirators protect the lungs from many airborne health hazards on the farm, ranging from deadly silo and manure gases to longer term health threats from frequent exposure to dust, molds and chemicals. Let’s be “safety alert” and prac tice safe habits every day. To Be Aware Of Swollen Hocks Many times we associate swol len hock joints in cows with the type of stall beds they are lying upon, when in fact, the major cause may be foot problems which occurred several weeks or several months earlier, according to Glenn Shirk, Extension Dairy Agent. Laminitis can be a major factor contributing to swollen hocks. This foot problem can be caused by feeding heifers and dry cows too much grain too soon after calving. The transition from a high forage ration before calving to a high grain ration after calving should be done very gradually over a period of 3-4 weeks. Hoof care is also important. Heifers and cows that suffer from hoof injuries, overgrown toes.and concrete stress are more apt to get X SORE WAS), AS A MATTER OF FACT I WAS THE TOP STUDENT IN THE SI'KJH GRADE CLASS. laminitis and swollen hocks. 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 GOD DIDN'T ASK FOR A HOUSE September 9,1990 Background Scripture: 2 Samuel 7. Devotional Reading; Psalms 132:1-12. When I was a boy of 12, in those days just before the attack on Pearl Harbor, my uncle was in the U.S. Army stationed in Hawaii. One day about a month before Christmas, I saw in a department store window a box of individually-wrapped cheeses, crackers and so forth, made up especially to send to “our boys overseas.” I decided that 1 would have to find some way to earn enough money to buy that pack age and send it to my Unde John. For days I hounded my parents for chores, a loan, anything. I was absolutely committed to that pro ject It never dawned on me to ask someone if my uncle really liked cheese or if that was what he needed most. It was my idea and I wasn’t going to let anything stand in my way! One of the most consistent trou bles God has with us is our ten dency to become very zealous to do for God something he really doesn’t want done. It would seem that we take up these projects for the best of reasons - like the Cru sades, the Inquisitions, the burn ing of “witches,” and so forth. Pre sumably, this is for God’s sake, but we often make the mistake of failing to .ask him what he wants. A GOOD IDEA? So it was with King David. Sec ure and happy in his elegant new house in Jerusalem, he feels per haps a little guilty that, in compar 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 Pennsylvania’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. ison, God still has nothing more impressive than the tent of the tabernacle. “See now,” he tells the prophet Nathan, “I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent” (7:2). Who could fault David for an idea like that? It was something he was going to do for God. Think of the promotional possibilities: “Let’s all get together and build God a house!” Even Nathan thought it was a good idea: “Go, do all that is in your heart; for the Lord is with you” (7:3). It must have come as a shock to Nathan when, that same night, he received a revelation in which God told him very plainly that he did not need or want a house -- at least, not at that time. Many years ago, when I first read this story, I felt God was being just a bit tacky. If David wanted to build him a temple, why turn him down? His heart was in the right place, wasn’t it? GOD’S REASONS Since then, however, I’ve real ized that God had his reasons for saying no to David’s building pro ject. As a mere mortal, I can only guess at those reasons. For one thing, nHybe God saw David’s offer coming from a guilty consci ence over the opulence of his own dwelling. Or maybe it was because God didn’t want David and the kingdom to think that he was dependent upon them, but rather the other way around. David’s plan was perhaps rather patronizing. Maybe God simply wanted to emphasize to David that what he really wanted from David was something quite different and building a temple would have only distracted David from God’s true desire. Our projects, no matter how well-motivated, often get in the way of God’s plans. So, next time you set out to do something for God, why not ask him first what he wants? (Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by the Committee on the Uniform Series and used by permission Released by Community