AlO-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, August 31, 1991 OPINION This Must Not Happen We have been made aware of an important issue which has the potential of negatively affecting our 4-H and FFA youth programs across all states. The issue is the use of unapproved or illegal drugs administered to 4-H/FFA project animals. The illegal use of unap proved and potentially dangerous drugs poses potential health hazards, sets poor examples for youth involved in the exhibition of livestock, reduces public confidence in the livestock industry, and places the participants in violation of show regulations and state and federal law. The veterinary newsletter from the University of Maryland reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ask the university to pay particular attention to the possible use of a drug called clenbuterol in beef, sheep and swine. Clenbuterol is one of a group of drugs called “beta agonists” and acts to increase muscle deposition at the expense of fat in animals. This drug is not allowed in the United Suites and has no approved use in food producing animals. Clenbuterol is an extremely dangerous drug in that humans consum ing meat from an animal which has received clenbuterol can be sub jected to a severe and life-threatening reaction. The food safety issue is of particular importance because it is agri culture’s responsibility to help insure the production of safe and wholesome food products for the consumer. The clenbuterol issue goes beyond that of food safety in light of the fact that we are dealing with an illegal drug substance. FDA has stated their intention to use the full authority and resources available to them to investigate and prosecute individuals who illegally import, distribute, sell or use clenbuterol. In addition to clenbuterol, other drugs have been mentioned as finding misuse in 4-H/FFA project animals. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, diuretics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Most of these drugs are not approved for use in food-producing animals. The others are restricted by law to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. A new code of 4-H/FFA ethics was developed and implemented in Maryland this year. This code addresses the issue of illegal drug use in show animals. Only the highest of ethical standards across all youth programs should be used in every state. If this is happening in ag youth program, you should be reminded of the responsibility to producing safe and wholesome food products. The indiscriminate use of animal drugs by a few exhibitors has the potential of jeopardizing the credibility and image of the entire live stock industry. This must not happen. Farm Calendar Susquehanna Co. Holstein Club Sale, Harford Fairgrounds, noon. Juniata Co. Fair, Port Royal, thru Sept. 7. Northwest 4-H Dairy Show, Craw Spartanburg Community Fair, Spartanburg, thru Sept. 7. Cambn^Co^air^hn^eotJ. Waterford Community Fair, Waterford, thru Sept 7. Ox Hill Community Fair, Home, thru Sept. 7. West Alexander Fair, West Ale Jamestown Community Fair, Jamestown, thru Sept. 7. Claysburg Farm Show, Claysburg, Luzerne Co. Fair, Dallas, thru Sept. 8. Beekeeper meeting, Penn State Myers Analytical Lab Open House, Littlestown, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Twilight meeting, John M. Pflee gor Farm, Turbotville, 7 p.m.-9 Pa. Holstein Fall Championship Show, Ag Arena, Penn State, 9:30 a.m. York Inter-State Fair, York, thru Sept. 14. Vegetable growers meeting, Snyd er Co. Produce Building, Port ’DevOTton^S^Djm-^on. Mon Valley 4-H Dairy Show, Westmoreland Co. Fairgrounds. Penn Jersey Crop Management Field Days, Rutgers U. Snyder Farm, Pittstown, N.J., 9 a.m.-3 (Turn to Pag* A3l) To Plan On Attending Northeast Poultry Conference The first Northeast Poultry and Egg Trade Show and Conference will be held September 25 and 26 at the Lancaster Host Resort. This is a joint effort of the Pen nsylvania Poultry Federation and the Northeast United Egg Produc ers. An excellent two-day educa tional program has been planned. There will be separate sessions for broiler, egg and turkey produc tion. Topics to be covered include shutde programs for coccidiosis, ventilation, composting, bronchi tis control, a panel on Salmonella enteritidis, nutrition, and the grow ing poultry and turkey health prob lems. There is a registration fee for Farm Forum Editor: I have just read P.F.A. Dairy Specialist Mel Eckhaus’ remarks on my letter of Aug. 3, 1991 in Lancaster Fanning. He says he must clarify a misunderstanding. There is no misunderstanding. He states that in 1988 P.F.A. peti tioned the PMMB for a $1.05 over-order premium. Why? It was because P.F.A., Farm Bureau and some others had backed a $l.OO per hundred raise in the Federal support that would have raised many more dollars to Pa dairymen than the $1.05 did. Secondly, he says that on May 9,1991 the reason P.F.A. testified to remove the 300 so-called oil premium was because oil prices had dropped to pre-war level. He has to be confused on this as our oil prices have not dropped near that amount And the 50 added on for milk hauling for increased fuel cost is still not taken off. He also adds P.F.A. supplied substantive statistical data to show cost of production had exceeded the farm price of milk, yet P.F.A. helped reduce the milk price by 300 per hundred. Mr. Eckhaus says that increasing production was driving prices down, yet according to ag statistic’s, cow numbers and production is drop ping compared to 1990. When comparing 1990 months to 1991. And yet we must remember (Turn to Page A 22) the educational sessions. In addition, there will be a free trade show (no addmission charge) from noon to 5 p.m. each day fea turing exhibits from companies serving the poultry industry. This is an excellent conference, and every commercial poultry pro ducer should plan on attending. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania Poultry Federation at (717) 652-7530. To Consider Using Soybeans As Forage Drought-stricken soybean plants may be used as a forage crop. Allow plants to mature as much as possible before harvesting. Some pod or bean development will enhance the feeding value when harvested as either hay or sil age. Soybean forages are high in calcium (about 1.3 percent on a DM basis). For this reason, it should be avoided as the major for age for dry cows. If ensiling, it is important to ensile before plant moisture drops below 60-65 percent If possible, mix soybeans with other forages, preferably during ensiling, to enhance palatability. If plants are high in moisture and lack pod or bean development, add 100-200 pounds of ground grain per ton when direct cutting rather than wilting to 60-65 per cent moisture. Stems are not very palatable, and if animals have the opportuni ty, they will sort them out Chop- Hi lAWktNtl W ALIHOUSt *!3!I!BSLS sn WHO IS CHOSEN? September 1, 1991 Background Scripture: Acts 7:54 through 8:3, 9:1-22 Devotional Reading: 22:3-6 This is a story about God's call to a person and his response. The person called is Saul of Tarsus, soon to be Paul the Apostle. The purpose of the writer of Luke-Acts is to help us understand how Saul the persecutor became Paul the Apostle. All of us probably know well this story; Saul, intent on per secuting the Christians in Damas cus, has a paranormal experience with God on the road, is struck blind, is subsequently healed of his blindness in Damascus, and takes up God's challenge to become an apostle. TO CARRY MY NAME Paul, of course, is the star of the story. God wants him, not only to cease persecuting the followers of Christ, but, even more important, to do something for him. As God tells Ananias, "...he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. . . " (Acts 9:15). ping hay and feeding it in a total mixed ration (TMR) will help pre vent sorting and stretch forage supplies. If soybean forage contains sub stantial amounts of developed beans, reduce the amounts of other fats and oils in the ration or the ration may be too laxative. Soy beans may also be pastured. If cows are removed before all stems are eaten, there may be regrowth. Pricing Corn Silage Glenn Shirk, extension dairy agent, offers the following method of pricing corn silage. This method involves looking at the value of other feeds you could use instead of com silage. Two such feeds might be ear com and grass hay. One ton of com silage dry matter has about the same feed value as a half ton of ear com plus a half ton of grass hay. If a half ton of ear com is worth $4O a and a half ton of grass hay is worth $4O, then their combined value is $BO. That would be the value of one ton of com silage dry matter. Since one ton of 70 percent moist com silage contains only 30 percent dry mat ter, the value of this com silage is only 30 percent of the ear com and grass hay or $24. This is a base value to be pricing from. In addition to moisture, this price needs to be adjusted for 1) Silage quality (grain content, length of chop, mold, nitrate levels, etc.); 2) transportation costs; and 3) harvesting costs, if you are buying standing com. As I've already indicated, God called and Saul responded to that call, but there was more to it than that. In order to make his call to Saul, God needed to use some other people, too. One person whom God used who obvious ly did not know he was being used was the High Priest who acceded to Saul's request for let ters to the Damascus synagogues permitting Saul to take them into custody. His response to Saul helped to send him on the road to Damascus and ultimately his encounter with the Lord. Acts More apparent is Annanias, whom God chose to heal Saul of his blindness. Here is a man who reacted to God's call in much the way we would have reacted: "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done. .." (22:13). I'd like to help, Lord, but surely you don't mean for me to get involved with this man!? ANOTHER JUDAS Another person who played a role in Saul's conversion is Judas (not Iscariot), Saul's host in Jeru salem. And finally "for several days he was with the disciples at Damascus" (19b). I'm sure they were very nervous about the newly-converted Saul, but their obedience to God was stronger than their anxiety. Who was chosen in this inci dent? Every one of these people was chosen to play a role. That leaves just one more person who is chosen by God: You!
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