AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 29,1990 OPINION One Boycott Deserves Another The animal rights’ group People for the Ethical Treatment of Ani mals (P.E.T.A.) has started an advertising campaign that attacks eat ing meat and promotes a vegetarian diet, which Julie Franklin, public relations director, Pennsylvania State Grange, believes serves no pur pose but to misinform the public. Appearing in an ad with a cow called “Meat Stinks”, Canadian country and western singer K.D. Lang says, “If you knew how meat was made, you’d probably lose your lunch. I know - I’m from cattle country. That’s why I became a vegetarian. Meat stinks and not just for animals but for human health and environment.” Believing one boycott deserves another, KRVN, in Lexington, Neb., will boycott Ling’s music in retaliation against her participa tion in an ad that discredits meat. The Pennsylvania State Grange, which represents about 40,000 farming and rural Pennsylvanians, hopes that many radio stations take her participation in such false hoods as extremely serious and boycott her productions. If Ms. Lang comes from “cattle country” she should know that this advertisement docs nothing but misinform the public about their food’s origin. Animal agriculture is as traditional as human history and has pro vided a significant source of food for centuries. No one takes better care of the environment and their animals than livestock farmers and ranchers. Animal agriculture is their life and livelihood. Every major health organization in the United States recognizes meat’s positive nutritional contribution when it is eaten in moderation as part of a balanced and varied diet. No federal government report or health organization’s set of dietary guidelines has ever recommended a vegetarian diet as being necessary to enjoy good health. P.E.T.A. is an animal rights activist organization that is seeking to attain controversial goals. They have not demonstrated to us qualifi cations to advise the American public on nutritional matters or any other health or environmental matters. Although P.E.T. A. has a guaranteed right to express its opinions, it also has a responsibility to speak honestly and accurately. The Grange thinks the American people deserve a factual, rational discussion of this issue and one that is not rhetoric. We understand that P.E.T.A. plans to approach the broadcast me dia about running this ad as “public service announcements” free of charge. If this does, in fact, happen, we challenge our friends in the urban and city media to take an equitable stance and also air the cat tlemen’s response to these ads as public service announcements. For more information on the cattlemen’s response contact the National Livestock and Meat Board, 444 Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. T - F _— Farm Calendar , 4^l Tri-Valley Community Fair, ' Hegins, thru Sept. 30. Ephrata Fair. Eastern National Livestock Show, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Penn Ag 1990 Convention, Tof trees Resort, State College, thru Oct. 2. Farm Forum Editor: This year promises to be an exciting year for Pennsylvania slate agriculture and the Pennsyl vania FFA Association. In June, 11 FFA members were selected to become the 1990-91 Pennsylvania Stau. FFA officers. Each state Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E Mam St Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc,, A Stemman Enterprise Robert G Campbell General Manager Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor Copyright INO by LaneaalM Farming Eastern National Livestock Show, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, thru Oct. 2. National Association of County Ag Agents annual meeting. Red Lion Sea Tac Hotel, Seattle, Washington, thru Oct. 4. Tri-Valley Community Fair, Hegins. (Turn to Page A3O) officer has the responsibility of representing the over 8,000 Pen nsylvania FFA members, conduct ing various leadership confer ences, visiting FFA chapters, and promoting the agricultural indus try and the FFA. During this year (Turn to Page A3l) THANKS . LADDER a THE NEXT BORROW NOW IS THE TIME By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agricultural Agent To Manage Horizontal Silos Most of our permanent silos are filled, but we do have some lives tock and dairy producers that need to store silage in temporary struc tures. In many cases this is a trench or bunker silo, mostly above ground. In these cases, it is very important to keep out excess water and air from the silage mass. This will require tightening down the plastic cover week by week as the silage settles. Also, surface water should be drained away from the silage area. There are cases where the black plastic is flapping in the wind during fall months. This usually results in a large amount of spoiled silage. Also available are the large plastic tubes that can be completely sealed. To Beware Of Spiny Pigweed In Pastures Redroot or redroot pigweed is a common, easily recognized annu al weed in gardens and cultivated fields. We are also seeing the first cousin of this weed spiny red root —appearing in many areas of the county. If you do not know what spiny redroot looks like, you can tell real quickly what it feels like by care fully rubbing your fingers along the stem. Two needleshape spines occur at the juncture of each leaf with the stem. These spines pre vent all grazing animals from eat ing these plants. Consequently we are seeing large numbers of these weeds appearing in many pas tures, along cow paths and in open spaces or loafing areas. Some have been found in alfalfa fields...a bad situation. These weeds now have mostly red stems and can easily be spotted. The plants should be cut before head ing out and going to seed. For control, use Banvel or any of the 2,4-D type herbicides. You can spot spray the plants now but the best time \vould be just about the time in May when com plant ing time is over. The important thing is to remove the cattle and spray the pasture. A second appli cation to kill late appearing weed seedlings would likely be needed. Always follow label instructions when applying any pesticide. To Sow A Fall Cover Crop Our concern for soil conserva tion should include a cover crop following com, tobacco, or other row crops. This is an excellent practice and we encourage all far mers to keep their land covered with some vegetation during the winter months. The cover crop could be any winter grain crop or domestic ryegrass and field bromegrass. Then next spring the growth can be pastured early and then plowed down or used in a no till grain operation. Cover crops not only add organic matter but help to hold the topsoil during the winter months. They are well worth the investment You need to be aware that some herbicides such as atrazine and simazine applied at the higher rates, will affect germination, but if used at one pound of actual material per acre, it should be safe. A LYING SPIRIT September 30,1990 Background Scripture: 1 Kings 22: 1-40. Devotional Reading: Psalms 26. A few days ago I read a column on the editorial page of our local paper. The columnist was very much disturbed because he con cluded that the well-intentioned lie, not truth, had become the stan dard for our public and private life. If a public figure makes a mistake, we do not expect that he will ever really admit it. I get the impression that the general public does not expect that public offi cials will tell the truth. We evefi to honor people who lie on a higher level; in congress, in the counsels of government, in the courts, in city hall and in the market place. Now, don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean large numbers of people would vote for “lying,” per se. What they would probably vote for is terminology that makes lying seem like something else; promotion, advertising, propagan da, sales pitch, campaign oratory, and so forth. Teddy Roosevelt’s son used to say, “Dad’s all for peace—so long as it doesn’t get in the way of the fighting.” Lots of people are for the truth in much the same* way. Why Not “Go Along”? The way to “get along” today is to tell people what they want to hear. That was the objection which King Ahab had against the Prophet Micaiah. “I hate him,” he told King Jehoshaphat, “for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil” (22:8). If, like all the other prophets of the time, Micaiah had prophesied good to King Ahab, there would have been \/V To Watch For Unwanted Guests Now that the weather is getting cooler you may find some unwanted guests in your bam and home. You won’t see them too often perhaps, but they’re there. These guests will destroy more food and property than they eat. The guests in question are rats and mice. As the weather gets colder, they migrate from outdoors to indoors. Are you aware that one rat can cost you $2B a year, and that rats cause an estimated 25% of all farm fires, and that rats destroy about 20% of all crops planted each year. Rats have a litter every 30 days...multiplying so rapidly a pair could have 15,000 descen dants in a year’s life span. They kill small animals and chickens and also carry diseases to people and animals. Reasons enough to start a good rat control program. no enmity between them. Why couldn’t Micaiah “go along” and say at least something that Ahab wanted to hear? Maybe Micaiah would have liked to do that, but something inside him wouldn’t let him sell his soul so cheaply for the approval of others. That “some thing inside” was his relationship with God. So, when we lie or by whatever other name we call it— we are violating our relation ship with God. Recently, I was at a seminar in which University of Pennsylvania Professor Martin Seligman reported on an extensive study that found that over the past sever al decades the American people have repeatedly elected as Presi dent those candidates who spoke primarily in positive terms about the country and its concerns, despite the fact that there are times when we need to be critical of where we are and where we are going as a nation. In other words, we vote for those who tell us what we want to hear. Political life is certainly an area in which it appears we do not value truth. Valuing Truth Micaiah played a kind of joke on King Ahab, for when he was brought before the king, he mimicked the message that Ahab had received from all the other prophets. But, Ahab knew his leg was being pulled: “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” (22:16). So, Micaiah speaks again and this time he tells the truth as God has given it to him. Now, Ahab is upset again. Turning to Jehosha phat, he says: “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” Micaiah is joking no longer when he says: “the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets” (22:23). Neither is the lying spirit that also pervades our society a laughing matter! (Based on copyrighted Outlines pro duced by the Committee on the Uniform Series and used by permission. Released by Community & Suburban Press.) i m NOT OS/M6- IT/ = # gmrl w F-flf- £3
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers