Aio-Lincister Farming, Saturday, September 28, 1991 OPINION A Reassuring Presence In a country awash in fads and technological changes of every kind that frequently die before they ever are accepted, there is one constant and reassuring presence in our society. American agriculture is an industry as old as our country and one of the most productive in the world. This industry of 20 million piople is more than tradition. It is a key element of our economy and something we can never take fpr granted. Yet during these days of anti-farm campaigns, some of us have for gotten about the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. We’ve forgotten the average American farmer now produces food and fiber for 128 other people, both here and overseas. We’ve forgotten that American agriculture is one of the world’s largest commercial industries. And, we’ve forgotten that we spend less than 10 percent, on the average, of our dis posable income on food, compared with as much as 60 to 70 percent in some other countries. In short, our society has forgotten that U.S. agriculture is a gem of productivity, unparalleled for its quality, safety, abun dance and price. Sure, agriculture isn’t perfect, but it is working every day to improve its products and practices. It is continuing to research products that will provide an even more healthful, safer and affordable food supply. It is continuing to discover new, envir onmentally sound production practices. And, it will continue to feed a population that is growing dramatically every year. A picture of American agriculture today shows a productive and stable industry continuing to evolve. A picture of the indus try 20 years from now Shows agriculture much the same and better. Given its established and successful track record, should we have any doubts? Farm Calendar Woodlot Management Workshop For Forest Landowners, Pa. College of Technology, Earth Science Center, Montgomery, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Eastern National Livestock Show, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium. Md.. thru Oct. 1. ■'■ ■■II 111 rfc 111 i rm ti » t i Moiul.n. SipUmlur .Ml Lancaster Co. Farmers’ Associa tion annual banquet, Leola Family Restaurant, 6:45 p.m. Eastern Milk Producers Coopera tive Asssociation annual meet ing, Sheraton U. Inn, Syracuse, N.Y., 1 p.m.-4:30p.m.; banquet at Goldstein Auditorium, Syra cuse U. Student Center. Syra cuse. 6:30 p.m. No-till meeting, Sheraton Jetport, Allentown, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Lebanon Co. Extension annual meeting, Schaefferstown Fire Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Sleinrrmn Enterprise Robert G. Campbell General Manager Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor Copyright IMI by Lancia tor Farming —nr— ' Holland, thru Oct. S. No-till meeting. Harbor Inn, Phil ipsburg, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Susquehanna River Basin meet ing, Pa. Game Commission Headquarters, Elmerton Ave., Keystone International Livestock Show, Harrisburg, thru OcL 7. No-till meeting. Days Inn Confer ence Center, Butler, 9 a.m.-3:30 Keystone International Livestock Keystone International Livestock Show. Harrisburg, thru OcL 7 Herdir Dog Clasr'' Mifflin Cr Show, Harrisburg. Manheim Community Farm Show, Manheim, thru Oct 11. Hdlidaysburg Community Fair, BB CAREFUL- IhBRB UNCLE OTTS, SO YOU DON'T HIT YOUR- , Cc QC". To Learn About Constructed Wetlands On Tuesday, October 8, Dr. Donald Hammer of the Tennessee Valley Authority will be discuss- Western Pa., thru Oct 9. Pa. Holstein Association member- ship activities committee meet ing. State College, 10:30 a.m. Production concerns swine meet- ing, Country Table Restaurant Mount Joy, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. “Ways To Grow” Satellite Con ference, Red Schoolhouse, Honesdale, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Nursery Educational Bus Jour, Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserv ing Land Conference, Millers ville University, Gordinier Conference Centra - , 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Nursery Educational Bus Tour, Indiana Co, Tlmrsdin. Oclolht 10 National 4-11 Week Unionville Community Fair, Unionville, thru Oct 12. 1991 Annual Fall Conference for Bovine Practitioners, Holiday Inn, Frederick, Md., thru Oct 11. Pa. Council of Cooperatives annu al meeting, Days Inn Penn State, State College, thru Oct. 11. Pa. Holstein Association youth committee meeting. Pa. Hols tein Office, State College, 10:30 ajn. Hal F. Doran retirement recogni tion, Days Inn Penn State, State College, reception 5:30 p.m„ dinner 6:15 pjn. PEMA luncheon meeting, Olde Eastern Pa. 4-H Beef Lamb Show and Sale, Allentown Fair grounds, show 2:30 pan., sale Oct 12. 10 a.m. (Turn to Pag* Al 9) ing constructed wetlands as a method to dispose of animal wastes. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the Farm and Home Cen ter in Lancaster. Constructed wetlands are designed and built similar to natur al wetlands to treat wastewater. They consist of a shallow depress ion in the ground with a level bot tom. The flow is controlled in con structed wetlands so the water is spread evenly among the wetland plants. Controlling the flow allows natural processes to occur and clean the wastewater more effi ciently. Constructed wetlands may be an alternative for farmers with lagoons. Hammer is one of the world’s leading authorities on constructed wetlands. He has conducted a lot of research in this area and has written and lectured extensively on the subject. Plan now to attend this important meeting on a possible alternative for handling livestock wastewater. To Consider Hospital Pen Management Chester Hughes, extension livestock agent, reminds us the hospital area of your feedlot may be as important to cattle recovery as your diagnosis and treatment program. A good hospital facility should provide shelter and convenient Bt IAWKINU W All H HUM *SaiB!LS sn/ GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Background Scripture: Acts 15:1-35. Devotional Reading: Galatians 5:25-6:10. Because Paul fails to mention the Jerusalem conference in his epistles, there are those who ques tion if it ever occurred. That ques tion is beyond my competence, but I can say that if it took place along the lines Luke describes, this even could well serve as a model for handling conflicts in the church. There was a time when I thought that there should be no conflicts in the church. I have come to realize that that is unrea listic. As we reminded ourselves in our examination of Acts 14, we are all human beings, not gods, nor God. So long as we are human we will sin and there will be con flicts among us. HANDLING CONFLICTS The key, then, is not whether there will be conflicts in the church, but whether we are Christ ian enough to resolve those con flicts when they occur. Christians will stumble arid fall, but they will . * * * - access to feed and water. The pens should be uncrowed and easily access .c. from the treatment chute. Proper sanitation of treat ment equipment, pens, water troughs, feed bunks, and hay racks will prevent unnecessary infection and give your cattle a better chance of recovery. By penning according to disease problems and cleaning waterers daily, you reduce the likelihood of creating additional infection. Cattle in your hospital facility should receive good quality hay free choice and a nutrient and ener gy dense feed ration. To Keep Cows Bred One of the key areas of profita bility in livestock is having ani mals bred at the right time. Each month an animal is open is costing you income in the future. This is especially true for dairy cows. It is estimated each missed heat period will cost the dairy farmer about $lOO. You should be focus ing on getting cows bred. Feed cows properly to keep them in good flesh. Keep cows healthy and free of uterine infections. Maintain heat expectancy charts and observe heat diligently. Use proper inseminating tech niques and check cows for pre gnancy. Taking time each day to manage your breeding program will help you increase your income. also get up and walk again. Unfor tunately, in too many churches, people forget to get up after they have fallen. Although the conflict that con cerned Antioch is not something that would concern us today, we can understand why it was so trou bling to them. Did Gentile con verts first have to become Jews? There were Jewish Christians from Judea who woe coming to Antioch and telling the converts that this was essential. They could have had a real knock-down, drag-out battle over this, splitting the church between two groups who decide to go their own way. That's what happens so often today. A large church in our neighborhood recently lost 2,000 members over such a dispute. LISTENING CAREFULLY But note how the people of Antioch and the leaders in Jeru salem handled this. First, the church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to present the matter. The leadership listened carefully to these men: "The apos tles and the elders woe gathered together to consider this matter" (15:6). After prayerful considera tion, they worked out a comprom ise. Then they wrote a letter to be personally delivered to the Anti och church, saying "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things..." (15:28). When Christians can seek first the Holy Spirit and then com promise as they did, conflicts can be healed. I EVER MIND 1 •h )
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