A3O-Lancwt»f Farming, Saturday, February 22, 1992
Small-Scale Pork Producers
(Continuad from Pogo A 1)
Also John Gadd. a private hog
production consultant from Eng
land, who is a regular columnist in
“National Hog Farmer” magazine,
discussed the “Secrets to Success
In The Hog Industry.”
Gadd began by comparing
European production to United
Slates production and generally
concluded that while the United
States is far more the economical
producer and larger producer, the
quality of the average American
hog is not as consistent as the
European hog.
He said a strict and widely prac
ticed genetic program has
increased the genetics of their hogs
to a point where the meat produc
tion averages are very high and the
meat is lean.
Problems associated with their
product, however, is that the meat
is bland tasting and demand has
gone down.
Also, because of the fast weight
gains, the European hogs are hav
ing leg and structure problems
the meat production is outpacing
the growth of the skeletal system.
According to Gadd, European
hogs are producing at a rate of 70
pounds in 9'A weeks.
“They grow fast, but the meat is
becoming very un-tasty. Our meat
is extremely lean, but the taste is
poor; therefore, meat consumption
is down,” he said.
He did offer some advice for the
American producer, he said. In
order for the smaller producer to
compete with the large profession
al producers, the small producer
has to imitate the large producer in
business attitudes and in
employment.
First, Gadd said, don’t econom
' secot time In a row, Lebanon County was first place at the Keystone Pork
Bowl, winning It easily 215-145 over Indiana County. Front row, from left, Jon Harnlsh,
Katie Lefever, Scott Molt, and Jason Krall. Back, from left, Brian Kreider, John Risser,
and Dan Atkins. Photo by Andy Andrews.
Junior winners In the public speaking contest are, from ages 12-15, left to right, Lisa
Zack, 12, United Elementary, first; Ann Yoachlm, 15, N.E. Bradford, second; Adrienne
Elkin, 14, Marlon Center, third; Amy Byerly, 15, Line Mountain, fourth; and Scott
Byers, 14, Greenwood, fifth.
ize on the choice of breeding stock.
He also said that producers need to
emphasize a genetics proving
program similar to theirs, similar
to what currently done with
American dairy cattle.
He also said producers need to
evaluate their herds and operations
for weaknesses and work to
improve them.
Also, he said, producers should
demand proof of herd health when
purchasing an animal before bring
ing it into the herd.
Gadd said one of the biggest
problems the European communi
ty faces with hog production is
attracting workers to the field.
Kenneth Kephart, Penn State
University hog specialist, said that
was also a problem here.
“I tell all my classes that 1 can
get them jobs within a week,”
Kephart said. He said that he fre
quently gets calls from agribu
sinesses which are seeking quali
fied people, but the supply of
trained and skilled people is very
low.
Gadd said that employee bene
fits and working conditions must
be improved in order to attract
more people to the industry. Also
the parents of potential workers
have to be recruited also.
Kephart said much the same
thing, although he talked more
about keeping employees and
creating attractive and competitive
employee positions. He said that
he stressed using a reasonable pay
scale, keeping down on the
repeated long-hour days, and
creating an incentive system that
provides frequent and justifiable
reward.
“If you’re going to compete
with the big pros, you have to be a
pro yourself,” Gadd said.
During the Pork Congress, other
programs were being held
concurrently.
For the second year in a row, the
Lebanon County team placed first
in the Keystone Pork Bowl, held
Wednesday afternoon. Lebanon
County won it easily over second
place Indiana County, 215-145. A
total of 12 teams competed.
Lebanon team members and
coaches were Jon Hamish, Katie
Lcfevcr, Scott Molt, Jason Krall,
Brian Kreider, John Risser, and
Dan Atkins.
Indiana County members were
Lisa Zack, Adrienne Elkin, Tonya
Anthony, Beth Elkin, and coach
Sue Glass.
Chester. County, which placed
second last year, dropped to third
place this year. Team members
included Matt McAllister, Christin
Senlorwlnners inthe Pennsylvania Pork Producers jncll Junior pubL
contest are, from ages 16-19, left to right, Jason Woodllng, Troxelvllle, first; Michael
Comman, Carlisle, second; Timothy S. Lehman, Mechanlcsburg, third; Jennifer Mill
er, fourth; and Ginger Kegg, Bedford, fifth. Photo by Andy Andrews.
Winners of the public speaking contest ages 8-11 are
Mark Parrish, 11 , right, first place and Charlie Glass, 11, sec
ond place.
Eyrich, Chris Gay, and Norm Gay. ic speaking, in which 18 members
with coaches Titus Beam and Net- participated,
son Beam. At the junior public speaking
Another youth contest was publ- (Turn to Pag* A 36)
Grange Upset
With Budget
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
—There are some glaring holes in
Gov. Casey’s agricultural appro
priations in his proposed budget,
according to Pennsylvania State
Grange Legislative Director Bren
da Shambaugh.
The most glaring holes are in
the governor’s appropriations to
the University of Pennsylvania
Veterinary School and the Pen
nsylvania Milk Marketing Board.
Both line items received nothing
in appropriations. Yet both are vit
al to the agricultural community.
Being the only veterinary
school in the state, the University
of Pennsylvania plays an impor
tant part in making sure the com
monwealth has an adequate supp
ly of veterinarians. A large num
ber of those who study at the
University end up staying in the
state which benefits our economy,
Shambaugh said.
Other cuts which the governor
has proposed are: a $770,000
decrease for agriculture research;
a $lOO,OOO decrease in agricultur-
al promotion; a $166,000 decrease
in agricultural research at Penn
State; and a $718,000 decrease for
ag extension.
“From the figures, one nodces
(hat most of the cuts are in the area
of agricultural research and educa
tion,” Shambaugh said. “We are
distressed that the governor has
decided to cut such a large propor
tion from our universities and
extension agencies which help
improve the number one industry
in the state - agriculture.
“Clearly we have our work cut
out for us. The Grange will be
working with the General
Assembly to restore funding for
those vital items for the agricultur
al community.”
The Pennsylvania State Grange
represents more than 35,000 rural
Pennsylvanians. Originally organ
ized as the first family fraternity,
the Grange today takes an interest
in all areas of rural living includ
ing health care, education, local
roads, farm preservation and other
agricultural issues. A