AlO-Lancastor Farming, Saturday, February 8, 1992 OPINION Old Fashioned Method To Solve Modern Problem For a long time poultrymen have wrestled with the problem of how to dispose of dead birds from their operations. If the losses come when the birds are small, the problem involves less vol ume. But large carcasses create more headaches. As Lancaster County Agent John Schwartz says. “Rendering is less of an option in recent times.” In addition, to bury the dead birds causes environmental prob lems that make this option illegal. And incineration causes odors and brings complaints from the neighbors. A report on page one of this issue tells of the old method of composting and how one poultryman has solved the problem. Floyd High, a Lancaster County farmer, uses this method successfully. In the composting process, not only do the bones and feathers disintegrate, but the heat that is generated is of high enough temperature to destroy all the viruses and diseases. A very low cost method, composting works in large or small operations. We believe composting of dead birds in poultry operations is a true case of an old-fashioned method that has great merits to solve a modem-day problem. T^—' Farm Calendar Pa. Junior Holstein Convention, Sheraton Inn, Warrendale, thru Feb. 9. Sustainable Ag Conference, Keller Conference Center, Penn State U. Cumberland Co. Holstein Associ ation annual meeting, Penn Township Fire Hall, Huntsdale, 10:45 a.m. Pa. Junior Holstein Convention, Poultry Management and Health Seminar, Kreider’s Dairy Farms Restaurant, Manheim, noon. Hay Auction, Westmoreland Co. Cooperative Extension, 11 a.m. PNA Nursery and Landscape Con ference, Hershey Convention Center, thru Feb. 13. Dairy Herd Reproductive Work shop, UNILEC Building, Dußois, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Atlantic Breeders Cooperative Distict 7 meeting, Penn Town ship Fire Hall, Huntsdale, 7:30 p.m. Pasture Management Workshop, Days In Airport, Harrisburg, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ABC District 2 meeting, Felton Fire Hall, 7 p.m. Agricultural Business Manage ment Series, Cony Higher Edu cation Council, 10:30 a.m.-3 Lancaster Co. Crops Day, Farm Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main Si Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stainrmn Bnhfjxk* Robert 6. Campbell General Manager Everett R. Newswanger Managing Editor Cfylght IMI hy Lunar hnUnt and Home Center, 8:30 a.m, Cecil Co. Dairy Day, Calvert Grange Hall, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Ag Chemical Safety Compliance Conference, Gettysburg Rama da Inn, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Swine producers meeting. Memor ial Lutheran Church, Shippens burg, 1 p.m. Pa. Frame Builders Conference. Friendship Fire Hall, Lebanon, thru Feb. 12. Part-Time Farming for Profit, UNILEC Building, Dußois, 7 p.m.-9p.m„ repeats Feb. 18 and March 3. Adams Co. Pork Producers meet- ing, Memorial Luterhan Church, Shippensburg, 1 p.m. Bradford Co. Forage Day, Wysox Fire Hall, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Poultry management meeting, dead bird composting, Ephrata H.S. Ag Dept, 7:45 p.m. Pa. Holstein Association Mifflin Co. annual meeting, Allensville Community Building, 7 p.m. ABC District 1 meeting, Ontelau nee Grange Hall, Leesport, noon. ABC District 2 meeting. West Fal lowficld Christian School, 7 p.m. ABC District 8 meeting, Connells burg Fire Hall, 10:30 a.m. ABC District 9 meeting. Central H.S., Martinsburg, 7 p.m. ABC District 14 meeting. The Barn Restaurant Smithville, 7:30 p.m. ABC District IS meeting, Vernon To Increase Poultry Biosecurity We are in the middle of a major Laryngotracheitis (LT) outbreak. This highly contagious viral dis ease reminds us of the importance of biosecurity. If at all possible, do not visit other poultry farms, backyard poultry flocks, auctions selling poultry, or poultry exhibits. If you must visit these places, wear coveralls, hat and boots. Disinfect your boots and place your clothing in a plastic bag. When you return home, wash your clothes using a disinfectant, show er, and change clothes before checking your own birds. Do not allow other people to walk through your poultry house. Also, look for ways to reduce bird stress (temperature, ammonia, moisture, etc.). By following good biosecurity and staying away from other birds, you will greatly reduce your chances of having a major disease outbreak. To Control Water Leaks Water leaks in poultry houses are one of the most serious produc tion problems we have. Water leaks cause wet manure which increase ammonia levels, odors, and flies. The only way to remove mois ture from a poultry house is through the ventilation system. By adding extra water to the house in the form of water leaks means you must move more air through the Central Hose Co., Meadville, 7:30 p.m. ABC District 15 meeting. Auction House Restaurant, Middlcfield, noon. ABC District 16 meeting, Asbury UM Church, Waterford, noon. Penn Jersey Bovine Reproductive School, Riverton Restaurant, thru Feb. 12. Veterinary Nutrition Forum, Days Inn, Lancaster, 6 p.m. Susquehanna and Wyoming coun ties Forage Day, Claverack Building, Montrose. Delmarva Com/Soybean Confer (Turn to Pago A3l) house. On cold days this is not very practical. In addition, salmonella could become a major problem. Bacteria needs moisture in order to grow. By keeping the poultry house dry you are reducing the opportunities for salmonella to grow. By taking care of water leaks right away, you are solving many problems. To Prepare For Dry Weather Historical weather data suggests that droughts appear in 25- to 30-year cycles. Based on this information, the 1990 s could be the next drought years (dust bowl of the 1930 s and the drought of mid-19605). We are seeing wells, springs, and streams at gery low levels for this time of year. In addition, the subsoil is very dry. We should be thinking about WHO IS #1? Background Scripture: Matthpw 20:17-28. Devotional Reading: John 13:12-17 We live in a world where being “number one” is extremely im portant. That is how success is measured. As we climb the ladder of our vocation or avocation, we become more successful at least as society reckons it. As Jesus reckons it, however, success may have nothing at all to do with society's measurements. As in al most everything else, the teach ings of Jesus about being “number one” arc radically different from what the world teaches us. Once again, we Christians are somewhat schizoid on this score. We embrace Jesus’ teachings on this matter, but we generally run our churches by the world’s stand ards. Who is successful in the church? The clergyman who pas tors the largest church or becomes bishop. The layman who wields the most influence and holds the highest positions of lay power. I have no aspirations of ever be ing a bishop. Nevertheless, if to morrow I were informed that I had just been elected bishop, I would certainly feel successful beyond my greatest expectations. The same would be true if I were offer ed “the largest pulpit in Method ism.” That would be success, wouldn’t it? LORDING IT OVER That standard of success has been with us a long time. It was this standard that led the mother of James and John of Zebcdcc to ask Jesus, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit,.one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21). What mother wouldn’t want that planning strategies in case we have another dry year. To compound the problem, we have more people liv ing in die area and using more water per person than we did in the 19605. Water rationing could become a reality. Some items to consider are reducing number of animals on farm (by using one less chicken per cage or by culling low producing or marginal cattle), looking for ways to reduce water waste and use, locating new water supplies, and storing water. Attention should be given to crop selection, planting times, and tillage methods. You might want to consider pur chasing crop insurance. By doing some planning now, you could reduce your loses if we experience another dry year. Feather Prof s Footnote: "Take time to laugh it is the music of the soul." for her sons? Jesus recognized (his human desire: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.” Having the power to “Lord it over” someone else has always been the world’s measure of success. Until Jesus came, saying: “It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whosoever would be first among you must be your slaves; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve ...” (20:26-28). Once again, Jesus re cognizes the human desire to be great or first. He docs not cmici/c James, John and their mother for wanting to be first in the kingdom of heaven next to Jesus. What he does do, howevei, is to give them a radically dillerent way of being the greatest; by being a servant to others. Once again, Jesus is looking to the long run, instead of the short run. In the short run, “lording it over" others seems to be the way to success. But, in the long run, that doesn’t work or count for real success. What works in the long run is the willingness to serve, ra ther than to be served. Only in serving others can we truly be “number one." WILLING TO SERVE Writing on this is a very uncom fortable experience for me, for I know how likely I am to judge success, not by the standards of Jesus, but by those of the secular world. I believe with all my mind that a Christian must be willing to serve others as Christ did, but I don’t very often live by those be liefs. If someone came to me to day, not to tell me that I had been elected bishop, but to inform me that God had chosen for me the servant’s role in a specific situa tion, could I feel that same degree of satisfaction? Could I view this as a superior means to becoming “number one.” Could you? (Based on copyrighted Outlines produced by the Committee on the Uniform Senes and used by permission. Released by Community A Suburban Prssp.)
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