AlO-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, September 7, 1991 OPINION A new report from Penn State’s College of Agriculture indicated that farm fatalities declined between 1985 and 1989, but emphasizes that farming remains a hazardous occupation. “Pennsylvania farm Fatalities During 1985-89” compares the num ber and type of fatalities during the last half of the 1980 s with those that occurred between 1980 and 1984. “The overall trend is fewer fatalities per number of farms,” says Dr. Dennis Murphy, professor of agricultural engineering, who compiled and wrote the report. “An average of 51 people died in farming acci dents each year during the first period, while an average of 39 died each year between 1985 and 1989.” Despite these findings, Murphy says the report indicates an urgent need for farm safety education programs - particularly for younger and older farm workers, who normally are not found in other hazard ous occupations. “Fifty percent of the total farm fatalities between 1985 and 1989 involve children under 14 and workers 65 and over,” he says. “That’s up almost nine percent from the 1980-84 period. “That these groups account for half the total fatalities dramatically underscores why agriculture remains a dangerous industry. Both age groups are extremely difficult to reach with traditional safety educa tion programs.” Two-thirds of the accidents to the 65 and older group are tractor related, with a large majority of those involving an overturn. “This strongly supports the notion that older workers lose their abilities to safely operate tractors,” Murphy says. The younger group were much more likely to be killed as extra rid ers on tractors. Also, a substantial number of young victims are run over while on the ground. “Most of these accidents happen to very young children - under five years old - who are playing around a tractor when the equipment is started and moved,” Murphy says. Tractors accounted for just over half of the 194 fatalities that occurred between 1985 and 1989. Sixty percent of the tractor deaths were due to rollovers, with the remaining fatalities involving extra riders, drivers falling or being thrown off the tractor and victims being run over on the ground. Machinery-related fatalities made up 14 percent of the total. “Com handling machine accidents were responsible for 34 percent of the machinery deaths,” Murphy says. “Silage handling, hay baling and manure handling machinery each had 11 percent of the fatalities.” Incidents involving animals were responsible for six percent of the total fatalities, while drownings accounted for 3.6 percent. The remaining 21 percent were caused by a variety of other accidents, including slips and falls, vehicle and tree accidents, suffocation, elec trocution and fires. Murphy compared the number and types of fatal accidents that occurred during the two five-year periods and found little difference in either type or incidence. “The types of accidents that kill farm workers have not changed much over the last decade,” Murphy says. “Agriculture remains an extremely hazardous industry.” Be careful. r^-— — Farm Calendar 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 p.m. Bucks Co. Farm and Conservation Tour. S.E. Pa. 4-H Horse Show, Berks 4-H District Dairy Show, Clear field, thru Sept. 9. 113th PennAg Convention, West ern William Penn, Pittsburgh, thru Sept. 10. Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E Mam St Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stemman Enletprme Robert G Campbell General Manager Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor Copyright IMI by Lancaster Farming Be Careful Green Township Fair, Commo dore, thru Sept. 14. Southwest 4-H Dairy Show, Clear field Co. Fairgrounds. Bellwood-Antis Farm Show, Bell wood, thru Sept. 12. Poultry Management and Health Seminar, Kreider’s Restaurant, Manheim, noon. Tiogo Co. Wool Pool, Lancaster Co. Bee Growers meet ing, Farm and Home Center, 7 p.m. Albion Area Fair, Albion, thru Sep. 14. UNCUE OTIS, I NEED TO USE THE PIPE EXTINGUISHER (Turn to Page A 39) Woe To Remember Safety I am seeing the results of too many farm accidents. Hospital stays, emergency room visits, and funerals as a result of an accident are all things we can do without To avoid accidents, you must constantly think safety and realize an accident can happen to you. Some areas to be especially con cerned about this fall season are; • Silo gases work in pairs and keep silos, feed rooms and stables well ventilated. • Big machinery —we are see ing bigger machinery with a lot of power. Respect it Keep guards in place, stop machinery before mak- Farm Forum Editor: According to the World Agri cultural Supply and Demand Board US milk production for 1991/92 is projected at 149.6 bil lion pounds. This estimate is mar ginally higher than the previous year’s production of 149 billion pounds. My question is how can milk prices drop so much in one year when the supply of milk moved only slightly up? How can 600 million pounds of milk, LESS than 114 days supply— drop prices so much? Not since the thirties have dairy farmers faced the collapse of prices and drought together. Besides investigating the price fixing of major dairy processors in school milk programs, (Pet, Inc. of St Louis agreed to plead guilty in SC Federal Court to rigging prices charged to schools, (2c per half pint or $3.63 cwt) according to Federal Prosecutors) maybe the Justice Department should inves tigate prices paid to farmers. (Piz za manufacturers announced yes terday that they were raising prices due to increased costs of cheese!!!) Just pause for a minute. On my last milk check, there was a 15c deduction for milk promotion, the 5c tax for Graham-Rudmann defi cit reduction (Think— is there any other group in this country helping to reduce the 368 billion dollar deficit besides dairy farmers?) Do (Turn lo Page A 23) . ( 9U££> IT'3 \ V IN THE.. • 7 eV ing repairs, adjustments, and before attempting to unplug a clogged machine. • Be aware of curious children take a few extra seconds and walk around and look underneath machinery before moving it. • Keep alert take rest breaks and switch operators. Remember, you are important to your family and friends! Composting Farm Mortality of Poultry The proper disposal of farm mortality of poultry is becoming an increasing concern among poul try producers. With the rapid expansion occur ring in the local broiler and turkey industries, farmers need to consid er a safe an economical way to dis pose of farm mortality. This is necessary to eliminate water pollu tion, reduce the spread of disease, and increase farm income. On-farm incineration is becom ing extremely costly and produces odors unacceptable to neighbors. Many rendering companies cannot accept the increase number of birds. Thus, composting becomes a very viable alternative. The concept, developed at the University of Maryland, has been tested by many universities and farmers. Composting produces a disease-free product, very little W w \ w^i rv.r" Hi IAvVHfNU W AITHOUM SBUSILS WHEN THE CHURCH NEEDS A BARNABAS September 8, 1991 Background Scripture Acts 9:26-30; 11:19-30; 12:25 Devotional Reading Acts 12:25 through 13:3. In my life I have known many churches named for St. Paul. In contrast, I can recall only one or two —if that—honoring St Barna bas. In the way the world reckons these things, that is probably appropriate, for no one would ever dispute that Paul's contribution to Christianity has been far, far more important and lasting. If these men were alive today, Paul would undoubtedly be a churchman on the level of the Pope or Billy Gra ham, while Barnabas would be a worker behind the scenes. Still, we know that God does not necessarily see and evaluate things as the world does. In the ministry of Jesus there are a num ber of people whom he notes appreciatively, even though they were regarded as "unimportant" by society: the good Samaritan, the widow who gave her mite, the lepers he healed, among others. TOO FEW, TOO LOW Wc need to keep this in mind when viewing our own disciple ship. Too often we discount that we can do for Christ because it v odor, and an environmental safe product at a very low cost. If you are planning on expand ing your poultry operation, build ing your first poultry bam, or replacing your current poultry dis posal system, I would encourage you to consider composting. Infor mation is available by contacting me at the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension Office, 1383 Arcadia Road Room 1, Lan caster, PA 17601. Crops Following Corn Robert Anderson, extension agronomy agent, reminds all far mers to read pesticide labels before planting crops following com, especially small grains. A primary concern is the possi bility of herbicide carryover. This year’s lack of rainfall will increase the possibility of herbicide injury. If your herbicide program con tained atrazine or simazine (Prin cep), there is a minimum restric tion of 10 months from the time of application and planting a small grain crop. So, before planting any crop fol lowing com this fall, review your herbicide program for that field and read the appropriate labels to make sure that crop may be planted. A few minutes reading the label could save you a lot of money by eliminating a crop failure. seems our endowments are too few and our place in the scheme of things too low. Without taking anything away from the Pope and Billy Graham whom I have picked because of their obvious status in Christendom), it may well be that what you and I do as Jesus's disci ples is no less important in God’s sight thlan what these two world celebrated Christians do. Barnabas is a case-in-point. When Paul was converted to Christ, Barnabas was accorded a certain amount of status in the church, enough so that, as the wri ter of Acts tells us, “But Barnabas took him (Paul) and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and had preached boldly in the name of Jesus” (9:27). Later, it is Barnabas who is sent to Antioch and, as a result of his efforts, a large number of people “turned to the Lord” (9:21). WITHOUT BARNABAS From there, Barnabas went to Tarsus “to look for Saul,” and having found him, he took him back to Antioch where the two ministered together for a whole year. Later, Saul became the suc cessful apostle and Barnabas slipped from notice. So today we revere Paul and barely remember Barnabas; but it is obvious from Acts that had there been no Barna bas, there might not have been a Paul. The church may not be aware of it —because it pretty much judges as the world docs —but often it needs you and me as much as it needs its Popes and Billy Grahams. g f
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers