A24-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 9, 1991
Wendall Landis Is Shepherd of the Year
ANDY ANDREWS the Livestock Judging Team this urprised and kind of *
Lancaster Farming Staff year. He also won several awards, embarrassed” when her name was |
MOUNT JOY (Lancaster including champion breeding ewe announced, but has really enjoyed |
Co.) A “really surprised” at Elizabethtown, champion showing at several area fairs, ?
Wendall Landis, 15, Manheim was breeding sheep at Manheim, and including Elizabethtown »-■’ *
honored with the prestigious 1990 placed second and third place in heim. In
Shepherd of the Year Award at the the Hampshire ewe lamb division
Lancaster'Co. 4-H livestock ban- at the Harrisburg Farm Show.
quet Thursday night. Kcra Allen, 9, Mastcrsonville,
Wendall, who raises about 40 won the Novice Shepherd Award,
sheep and is a member of the Lan- Kera raises about eight sheep (one
caster Woolies Club, is a 6-year Dorset, three Cheviots, and four
member of 4-H. A freshman at Suffolks) and several horses, and
Lancaster Mcnnonite High has been showing since she was 3
School, Wendall participated on years old. She was “completely
Wendall Landis, 15, Manhelm was honored with the pre
stigious 1990 Shepherd of the Year Award at the Lancaster
Co. 4-H livestock banquet Thursday night.
Proposed State Ag Budget Receives Critical Revi
VERNON ACHENBACH, JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) The state agriculture
budget is a “mixed bag" at best,
according to reviews from the
chairs of the General Assembly’s
agriculture and rural affairs
committees.
However, according to state
agriculture department Press Sec
retary Gene Schenck, “We can
maintain our programs with what
we are getting.
“We’re convinced we can con
tinue to maintain. We think we are
doing a good job for the farmers
and consumers of Pennsylvania,”
Schenck said.
“We also realize that every
department has to make some sac
rifices and that no area can be over
looked when it comes to impro
ving efficiencies, if Pennsylvania
if going to deal with a very serious
national economic situation.”
On Wednesday, Gov. Robert
Casey unvieled a $24,663 billion
state budget proposal, which
includes income generated from a
proposed $13.12 billion general
fund budget.
General funds are those raised
primarily through taxes. In order to
create $13.12 billion in general
funds, taxes need to be increased
by about $1,695 billion.
Other portions of the total state
budget are to come from $5,381
billion in federal funds, $1,577 bil
lion in motor license funds and
about $4.6 billion in other funds.
The general fund increase is to
come in the form of increased tax
es, called “proposed revenue
changes” from several sources, but
not from income taxes.
Specifically, the increases are to
come from a 2 percent increase in
corporate net income tax; a 1 mil
increase in capital stock and
franchise taxes; a gross receipts
tax; public utility realty Tax, and
bank shares tax; a sales tax on
cable television and interstate tele
phone calls and on restaurant sales
of liquor; a large cigarette tax; a
variety of fee increases and
increased tax enforcenment and
collection.
The total proposed budget for
the state department of agriculture,
including federal funding and
hauling fees, is $69,128 million.
According to his analysis of the
budget, Steve Crawford, executive
director of the House Agriculture
and Rural Affairs Committee and
spokesman for Rep. Kenneth Cole,
called the governor’s proposal, “a
mixed bag.”
Overall, however, Crawford
said, “It’s a start, and every budget
proposal is just that, it’s a start.
And now it’s up to the legislature
to put its fingerprints on the
budget.”
He predicted, “It’s going to be
an interesting spring and it might
be a long, hot summer.”
Crawford listed a number of
problems with the budget, ranging
from funding of the Milk Market
ing Board to agriculture research at
universities and New Bolton
Center.
Shelia Miller, executive director
for the Senate Agriculture and
Rural Affairs committee and
spokesperson for Sen. Edward
Helfrick, said that she agrees witl
the problems Crawford cites, but
that there a couple of other prob
lems within the budget.
Crawford, however, who was
state deputy secretary of agricul
ture until January, said he sees
both good and bad in the budget
proposal.
“There are some positive signs
in the budget particularly given
the atmosphere under which we’re
operating these days and some
things that cause some concern,”
Crawford said.
“On the positive side, I was glad
to see that under the general opera
tions budget of the department of
agriculture, they actually received
an increase. The governor pointed
out in his speech that under his
administration, the general fund
surprised and kind of
embarrassed” when her name was
announced, but has really enjoyed
showing at several area fairs,
including Elizabethtown and Man
heim. In addition, Sean Kopp was
honored with the Red Rose 4-H
Award.
Chet Hughes, Lancaster 4-H
adviser and a coach of the Lives
tock Judging and Meats Judging
teams, spoke to more than 200 who
attended the event.
“Our Lancaster County 4-H
Program is successful because of
the over 500 dedicated leaders who
work with and encourage over
4,000 members of strong, active
families and very supportive
parents,” he said.
Hughes thanked those who sup
ported 4-H with purchases of lives
tock projects, those who sponsored
awards, and those who contributed
by opening “your farms, homes,
and businesses to host our meet
ings, educate our members, and
train our judging teams.”
The county 4-H program
involves 25 leaders, 165 club
members, and more than 800 head
of livestock. At the 1991 Pennsyl
vania Farm Show, said Hughes, 48
of the members (one-third of the
total) “competed in junior lives
tock shows and did very well!”
Without the champions, the
steers at this year’s Farm Show
averaged $.96, a record, according
to Hughes. “This was our first
attempt at selling 4-H steers at our
local fairs and we appreciate the
appropriations to agriculture have
increased 25 percent.”
Among the other “positive side”
aspects of the proposal, Crawford
said, “There was no change in the
appropriation for ag research. That
remains at $2.5 million. So that
was protected. That line item does
end up at Penn State, Rodale, and
Delaware University,” he said.
“The funding for the animal
health commission was $1,624
million and it is (again) this year.
“The PennAg fund appropria
tion is maintained at $1 million.
PennAg is a program that provides
low interest loans to small agribu
sinesses that process Pennsylvania
products,” Crawford said.
Penn State University’s budget
for its extension services remains
at $19,729,000.
But there is a down side, accord
ing to the spokesman for the
Democrat-ruled House committee.
“On the negative side, the pay
ments to Pennsylvania fairs was
reduced from $3.75 million to
$2.95 million.
“The difference there is, money
for capital construction grants. If a
fair wants to put up a pole bam,
they could apply to the deparment
for capital construction reimburse
ment,” Crawfgrd said. “There had
been quite a backlog of those
(requests) dating back to 1987, and
the department was able, because
of increased appropriations over
the last few years, to eliminate that
backlog.”
Other negative aspects, accord
ing to Crawford, include, “The
funding for agriculture promotion.
The proposal would reduce that ”
from $495,000 to $300,000. That
one concerns me.
“What they would probably
do in the event it would stay
where it is would be to reduce
the domestic promotion programs
they have, but continue the export
programsr they have because it is a
critical program that is working
very well.”
According to Miller, The
Kera Allen, 9, Mastersonvllle, won the Novice Shepherd
Award at the Lancaster Co. 4-H livestock banquet.
support from our buyers.”
Others honored at the banquet
include:
BEEF AWARDS
County 4-H 800 l Roundup
Grand Champ. Steer (J C Snavely &
Sons, Inc), Kristin Chupp, Reserve Champ
ion Steer Casey High, Champion Showman
Brad Linton, Reserve Champion Showman
Dwam Livengood
Pennsylvania Farm Show (1991)
Reserve Grand Champion Steer Kristin
Chupp, Lightweight Champion Vicki Hess,
Reserve Lightweight Champion Heidi Quan
beck, Champion Angus Heifer. Casey High,
Reserve Champion Angus Heifer- Kristin
Chupp, Best Beef Record Book Dwam
Livengood: Red Rose 4-H Award. Sean
Kopp, Jason L. Weaver Memorial Leader
ship Award- Anita Meek; 4-H Beef & Sheep
Club's Appreciation Award. Darvm Boyd
ew From Assembly
$195,000 cut from agriculture
promotion really hurts, because,
“He eliminated, on a line item,
promotion funds for one of Pen
nsylvania’s top commodities
mushrooms. He’s totally elimi
nated the funding of $lOO,OOO
from promoting Pennsylvania
mushrooms.”
Also getting a “mixed bag”
review from Crawford, “There had
been $225,000 for the swine
psuedo rabies program. That
money has not been continued, but
it is important tp note that the
department has received authority
to continue last year’s appropria
tion, which is real important
because they still have that money.
It’s carryover.”
Getting away from the agricul
ture department’s outlook, the
state Milk Marketing Board is
again to be cut by $600,000, under
the proposal.
Because the state’s current
budget is failing, Casey’s admi
nistration created a “hit list” to kill
spending and attempt to negate the
anticipated deficit of up to $1
billion.
The Milk Marketing Board,
which regulates the state’s dairy
industry was put on the “hit list,”
and some have projected that the
agency would not be able to func
tion past spring.
“On the Milk Marketing Board
side, they reduced it by about
$600,000 again,” Crawford said.
“(Casey) said the $600,000
reduced support is- due'to the
increased milk marketing fund
revenues, with the objective of
sclf-sufficieny for that agency.”
(Editor The “increased milk
marketing fund revenues” were
created by self-imposed fee
increases the dairy industry
requested and got when they were
seeking to increase state support
from $900,000 to more than $1
million. Since then, Casey elimi
nated that state support. In effect,
under Casey’s plan, the MMB
would become an agency similar
SHEEP AWARDS
County 4-H Shoop Roundup
Champion Market Lamb' Jodte Weaver,
Reserve Champion Market Lamb Lyndon
Reiff, Supreme Champion Ewe Mark Tracy,
Champion Bred & Owned Mark Tracy,
Champion Novice Showman Jessica Hill,
Champion Showman: Jodie Weaver.
Reserve Champion Showman Wendall
Landis: Jr Ladies Lead Line Karl Harmsh,
Sr Ladies Lead Line Arlisa Snavely
Pennsylvania Stats Farm Show • 1991
Reserve Champion Market Lamb Lisa
Reiff; Champion Lightweight Market Lamb
Ryan Tracy
Other Awards
Woolies Club President Award Arlisa
Snavely: best Wollies Club Record Book
Jerry Bollinger; Novice Shepherd Award
Kera Allen, 1989 Shepherd of the Year
Diane Musser, 1990 Shepherd of the Year
Wendall Landis; Woolies Club Scholarship.
Arlisa Snavely.
to the state’s game commission or
fish commission, which always
have been autonomously
supported.)
“While that’s a worthy goaf,”
Crawford said, “I would be con
cerned about how they are attempt
ing to do that, and the sudden way
in which they are do
it.”
However, Crawford said that in
respect to fanners being Citizens
and taxpayers too, “There is good
news ... the governor said he is
not going to raise personal income
tax, he is not going to raise sales
taxes and perhaps more important
ly, he is not going to raise the gas
tax.”
However, Crawford did note
possible significant cuts to the
New Bolton Research Center:
• The School of Veterinary
Medicine is to go from $3,924 mil
lion to $1,502 million.
• Food and animal clinics are to
be reduced from $2.113 million to
$809,000.
• The Center for animal health
and productivity went from $1.29
million to $494,000.
Miller said the Senate, “Started
dialogue with the veterinary
school immediately on
Wednesday.”
According to Miller, the reac
tion is that with the school getting
54 percent of what it got last year,
“Basically it is going to force peo
ple to go to southern schools for
veterinary medicine, by taking
away funds (from what is recog
nized as one of the best vet schools
in the nation.
“We rely on the school for good
veterinarians, but we also rely on
the center to send very sick ani
mals there, knowing that they have
the best technology. These are
high-priced cattle in Pennsylvania
and most local veterinarians can
not afford the same types of
facilities.
(Turn to Pag* A3O)