f n H -, f 4f**s, ♦ 'k\!|'«n ►*filr**' ,r ' 3 *'r> J '*r ( AKFLancaster Panning, Saturday, November 3, 1990 OPINION More Pills To Swallow The Army Corps of Engineers last week notified its field offices that most cropland will not be subject to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This will free thousands of acres of agricultural land in most slates from the restrictive wetlands permit process. That’s a step in the right direction. The ruling applies to acres that are now in agricultural crop produc tion, most notably “prior converted cropland,” and states that the crop ping activity is the “normal circumstances” of those areas. The clarifi cation of “normal circumstances” was addressed in a regulatory gui dance letter issued to Corps field offices. It said the agency should now focus its efforts toward regulation of aquatic resources. “This ruling by the Corps of Engineers represents a significant vic tory for Farm Bureau and farmers and ranchers nationwide whose lands have been unfairly burdened with federal restrictions,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Dean Klechner. We agree. But since Section 404 is only part of the wetlands prob lem that hangs over the agriculture community, more legislative and adminstrative solutions must be forged. Top pirority must be given to address the definition of wetlands. President Bush has pledged to carry out a “no net loss” wetlands policy and has set up a task force to deter mine what constitutes a wet land. Hopefully, the needs of farmers and the food production industry will be considered by this task force. Meanwhile, we are deeply concerned about reports that farmers have been put in jail and have been assessed large fines for cleaning up their farms. And since wetlands are controlled by at least four different government agencies, ail with different agendas, the farmer can never really know if a law has been broken or not. So to have cropland freed from the Clean Water Act is a big relief. But fanners have a lot more pills to swallow before the wetlands issue is resolved. Farm Calendar National Association of Extension 4-H Agents annual conference, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Pa. Standardbred Horse Show, Farm Show Building, Harris burg, thru Nov. 9. National Association of Extension 4-H Agents annual conference, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur McKean Co. DHIA annual meet ing, Robbin’s Nest, Port Alle gany, 7:45 p.m. Chester Co. DHIA banquet. West Fallowfield Christian School, 7:00 p.m. ' National Association of Extension 4-H Agents annual conference, The Greenbrier, While Sulphur Springs, W. Va., thru Nov. 7. Pa. Standardbred Horse Show, Farm Show Building, Harris burg, thru Nov. 9. Greene Co. pesticide license exam, tit Farm, Holbrook, 8:00 p.m. National Association of Extension 4-H Agents annual conference, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E Mam St Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Steinman Enterprise Robert G Campbell General Manager Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor Copyright IWO by Laneaalac Farming Springs, W. Va., thru Nov. 7. Pa. Standardbred Horse Show, Farm Show Building, Harris- National Association of Extension 4-H Agents annual conference, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. Pa. Standardbred Horse Show, Farm Show Building, Harris burg, thru Nov. 9. Western Pa. Agronomy Ag- Service Schools, Days Inn, Meadville, 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Swine producers meeting, Gratz Fire Company Hall, Gratz, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Montgomery Co. Ag Center annu al meeting, Ag Center, 8:00 Pa. Standardbred Horse Show, Farm Show Building, Harris burg, thru Nov. 9. 63d National FFA Convention, Convention Hall, Kansas City, Mo., thru Nov. 10. Seventh annual Farm-City Ban quet, Riveredge Restaurant, Reading, 7:00 p.m. Cumberland Co. DHIA banquet, Penn Township Fire Hall, Huntsdale, 6:30 p.m. Erie Co. Co-Op Ext. annual meet ONCLE one. LAST rk NOW IS THE TIME By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agricultural Agent To Exercise Dairy Cows I know that many of our dairy farmers keep their milking cows confined to die stall bams much of the time. This is easy to do when you are short of labor during the winter months. In order to have a healthy herd, the cows should be allowed outside to exercise daily unless severe weather conditions exist. The exercise will not only keep their feet and legs in better ing and banquet, Mercyhurst Prep School, Erie, 7:30 p.m. Susquehanna Co. Extension annu al dinner, Montrose Methodist Church, 7:30 p.m. Western Pa. Agronomy Ag- Service Schools, Holiday Inn, Dußois, 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Bradford Co. Extension annual meeteing, Wysox Presbyterian Church, 7:45 p.m. Lancaster Farmland Trust sixth annual dinner meeting, Plain and Fancy Restaurant, Bird-In- Hand, 6:30 p.m. PFU annual state convention, Days Inn, Brookville (Jefferson Co.), thru Nov. 10. Sullivan Co. Dairy Day, St Fran- cis Hall. Mildred, 10:00 Lebanon Co. Farm-City Week, thru Nov. 15. PFU annual state convention. Days Inn, Btookville (Jefferson Co.), thru Nov. 10. Pa. Standardbred Horse Show, Farm Show Building, Harrisburg. 63d National FFA Convention, Convention Hall, Kansas City, Mo., thru Nov. 10. Berks Co. Holstein annual meeting. Berks Co, Conservation District/ ASCS fall conservation tour, Berks Ag Center, Leesport, 9:00 a.m. Susquehanna Co. DHIA annual dinner, Dreyer Hall, Montrose, 8:00 p.m. Western Pa. Agronomy Ag- Service Schools, Arena Restaurant, Bedford, 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Cambria Co. Cooperative Exten sion annual dinner meeting, (Turn to Page A 39) YDP X DID. BUT condition, bat'Will permit the bams and other buildings are cows in heat to be detected; this is filled to capacity with hay, straw, often a problem when cows are grain, tobacco and machinery. We kept coqfined too mujr oLthe-want (o .make certain that fire. timV. * ** extinguishers are mourned in each If the herd is turned out for 15 to 30 minutes each day, the time involved will be very worthwhile. You’ll find very few days when the weather will interfere. To Manage Feeding Programs Fall is a time of year when many changes are apt to be made to feeding programs. According to Glenn Shirk, Extension Dairy Agent, these changes could con sist of: (1) Feeding new forages produced during this year’s grow ing season. (2) Feeding silages that have undergone incomplete or abnormal fermentations. (3) Using recently harvested feeds that are temporarily higher in moisture content, and (4) switching from a grazing program to a bam feeding program. These changes can have adverse effects on catde. To help avoid costly herd problems, anti cipate changes in feeds and feed quality. Have forages analyzed, and formulate rations accordingly. Make changes in feeding prog rams gradually and give cattle ample time to adjust To Check Fire Extinguishers This is the time of year that our LOST OPPORTUNITY November 4,1990 Background Scripture: 2 Kings 22. Devotional Reading: Psalms 119. Years ago one Sunday morning I was explaining to a church school class that when it comes to the grace of God, it is never too late to repent and receive God’s forgiveness. One man in the class said, “If that’s so, I think I know how to beat the system!” He was jesting, of course, but at the same time be was pointing to what seemed to be a flaw in the system. “Why don’t I wait until I’m dying and then repent? That way I can live the way I want to until then and still be assured of salvation!” How would you have answered him? Was he right? Is there a “flaw in the system”? What I said to him was that the flaw was more apparent than real, for part of the value of receiving God’s grace is, not only that it brings us eternal life after death, but that it makes real life possible before death. The power of God’s grace not only affects our lives in the hereafter, but also in the here and-now. The person who waits until they are on their deathbed will receive God’s grace if their building, including your home. The first step is to have the extinguisher; the second step is to be sure they are in good working condition; the third step is to be sure that all members of the work force and family know where they are and how to operate them. In many cases a good fire exting uisher can help control a fire until the fire company arrives. And finally, be sure they are checked and filled with the proper chemical. To Be Aware Of Lawn Problems A number of people have called about small holes all over their lawns. The holes are 3-5 inches deep and 2-3 inches wide and are found scattered throughout the lawn. These holes are the work of a skunk looking for grubs in the soil. Skunks do most of their feed ing at night so you rarely see what is causing the damage. There is little you can do now, except fill in the holes with loose soil and sift a little grass seed on it. As the weather continues to get colder the grubs will move deep into the soil and insecticides will have no effect. Mark your calendar to do something about it next spring. repentance is sincere, but they will have already lost out on the pri vilege of living by that grace right now. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN Somewhere I read the testi mony of a British literary figure who became a Christian as he lay dying. “Damnation!” he is recorded as having exclaimed, “to think I could have had all this years and years ago!” His soul was saved for eternity, but he had lost some grand opportunities during his earthly life. That’s what happened to King Josiah and the people of Judah when the scroll of the law was rediscovered in the temple by Hilkiah the high priest. When the scroll was brought to King Josiah and he read the ancient laws of Israel, he felt a profound sorrow for all the years that his people had lived in ignorance of it. Now that he could read the law, he was sud denly aware of how evil that life had been. So he expressed his sor row and repentance in the tradi tional way: “he rent his clothes.” Tearing off one’s garments was an ancient expression of shame and sorrow. INQUIRE OF THE LORD Josiah, because of his sincere contribution and dedication to the Lord was exempted from the ruin to follow. But not that nation. Although God accepted their repentance, their sinful ways of so many years brought consequences which forgiveness would not erase. Under Josiah the future of Judah might be secure, but it was the past that they had lost. (Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by the Committee on the Uniform Senes and used by permission Released by Community & Sub* urban Press)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers