AtMaocMtor TmaU§, Satuetoy, ««y 1,1M2
OPINION
Every year, the hog industry in the U.S. loses millions of dol
lars in decreased production from a single health
problem...mange.
According to the American Association of Swine Practition
ers, the effects of this insidious parasite are not as obvious as
death loss, but mange does affect profitability in many hog
herds.
If your pigs arc mange infested at weaning, they may have
lower weaning weights, and their rate of gain, feed efficiency
and mortality rate can be quite poor. And weaner pigs with
mange are especially susceptible to greasy pig disease, because
of open wounds caused by scratching themselves. With a com
bination of mange and greasy pig disease, mortality can run as
high as five to 10 percent if left unattended.
The most serious consequence of mange is reduced pig pro
ductivity and profits. Even low-level infestations can reduce
feed efficiency in grower and finisher pigs, the veterinarian
reports. In more severe cases, grower and finisher pigs infested
with mange can require 10 to 12 percent more feed to gain the
200 pounds from 40 to 240 pounds. That gets to be a very
expensive itch.
Mange can cause less obvious losses as well. A mange-free
sow is not constantly irritated by the biting, burrowing mite,
and will lay quietly for longer periods. This can result in less
crushing of pigs. Milk production can be better and feed con
version can be improved.
The American Association of Swine Practitioners says you
can reduce the obvious...and hidden...costs of mange. Take the
first step today and have your veterinarian test your herd. Then
take action against this costly parasite.
Farm Calendar
Berks County Dairy Princess
Pageant, Ag Center, Leesport, 7
p.m.
Franklin/Cumberland County
Dairy Awareness Day, Gro-
Larn Farm, Shippensburg,
Seminar, Days Inn, Shamokin
Dam, 6 p.m.
Pa. Association of Dairy Sanita
rians and Dairy Laboratory
Analysts Conference, J.O.
Keller Conference Center,
Penn State, thru May 13.
4-H Tractor Safety, Bradford
County Extension office, 7-9
Spring Homemakers’ Day, Rut
gers Cooperative Extension
Center, Remington, NJ., 9:30
Orchard meeting for fruit growers,
Adams Co. Extension Office,
6:30 p.m.
4-H Tractor Safety, Bradford
County Extension Office, 7-9
p.m.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
by
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Stmnman Enlerpns*
Robert G. Campbell General Manager
Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor
1»1 by Unesstor Fsrmlnf
Take Action
Thursday, Ma\ 14
Ag Issues Forum, Willow Valley,
7:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
Pesticide test, Schuylkill Co.
extension office, 9 a.m.-noon.
Estate Planning Workshop, North-
tor Company, East Troy, 9
a.m.-noon.
3edford County second annual
Sheep and Wool Field Day,
Bedford Fairgrounds, Bedford,
10 a.m.-S p.m.
Pa. Draft Horse and Mule Associa-
tion annual spring clinic, Man-
Clearfield Co. Horse Show, Clear
Hay Field Day, Joe Ferris Farm,
Wilmington Township, Mercer
Co., 2 p.m.
(Turn to Page A 22)
BEEF PRODUCTION
WORK. X DON'T U
STAVED IN IT ALL
* //
*53
S’ .
To Protect
Skin From
Pesticides
Now that we are in the spring
planting season, we need to
remember to handle pesticides
safely.
When pouring granular insecti
cides, stand sidewind instead of
downwind or upwind from the
insecticide. If you keep the wind at
your side, it will blow the dust
away from you.
Based on a University of Illinois
study, certain parts of your body
absorb pesticides faster than other
parts. Your scalp, forehead, and
groin have the fastest absorption
rate.
To avoid absorption, just cover
up. Wear gloves, goggles, long
sleeves, coveralls, or apron and a
nonabsorbent plastic hat.
To Reduce
Exposure From
Pesticides
The following are ways you
may reduce your exposure to
pesticides:
• Always read and follow label
Farm Forum
Editor:
Fanners Union recently held a
series of meetings in rural com
munities and asked people to list
their major concerns. Without
exception, health care was always
near the top of the list.
In urban and rural America,
people are calling for health care
reform. There are many reasons
Farmers Union has called for a
single payer national health care
plan.
The Government Accounting
Office estimates that $67 billion in
administrative costs could be
saved by switching to a single
payer plan. In this system, all citi
zens could receive quality health
care regardless of their medical
history or financial situation.
President Bush has suggested a
series of tax credits to address the
nation’s health care situation. The
Congressional Budget Office says
that such a system would only
help the people who already have
insurance. Why should we settle
for a band-aid, solution when a
plan that would reduce costs and
(Turn to Pag* A3l)
instructions.
• Keep application equipment
in good working order, especially
hoses and valves.
• Maintain good personal
hygiene. Wash with soap and
water after using pesticides and
before eating, smoking, or using
the toilet
• Routinely shower or bathe
after work. Remove clothing and
shower quickly if you get splashed
or sprayed with a pesticide.
• Wash clothing daily and do
not overfill the washing machine.
• Use about 25 per cent more
detergent for work clothes than for
a regular load.
• You may use chlorine bleach,
unless you have been applying
ammonia-based fertilizers or cer
tain other products. Check label
directions before washing.
To Prevent Ketosis
In Dairy Cows
Rapid loss of flesh by cows in
early lactations may lead to ketosis
.-
Bi IAWktNU W ALIHUUSt
sn
WANTED: A
CLEAR CONSCIENO
May 10, 1992
Background Scripture: I Peter
3:14 through 14:11.
Devotional Reading: Psalms
96:1-13
One of the main things that peo
ple get wrong about being a disci
ple of Jesus Christ is on this ques
tion of suffering. Some people
join the ranks of Christian disci
ples as a kind of insurance against
having to suffer either in the
short or long run. Some of these
people, then, are disillusioned
when they find that Christian dis
cipleship not only doesn’t neces
sarily protect us against some
types of suffering, but it may actu
ally insure that we will suffer.
Essentially, we have three
choices. First, we can try to avoid
suffering by betraying our faith.
That's what Peter did on the night
when Jesus was betrayed: by
denying that he even knew Jesus,
he escaped suffering. Two, we can
suffer deservedly for doing some
thing wrong. Break a law or act
unethically and there is usually a
price to be paid. Lastly, we can
hold fast to our faith, avoid
wrongdoing, and suffer only for
the sake of our faith. For Peter
assures us: "...even if you suffer
for righteousness' sake, you will
be blessed" (3:14).
THE PRICE
Peter goes on to say, "For it is
better to suffer for doing right, if
that should be God's will, than for
doing wrong” (3:17). Is he saying
that it might be God's will for us to
suffer? No, I think he is saying
that it is God's will that we remain
faithful even if it causes us suffer
ing. This is what bothers some
people the thought of "being
good" but still having to suffer.
But why should that so surprise
'•’X
and fatty liven.
Hilt carnet impaired kidney
function, which results in lowered
resistance to stress and disease,
more reproductive problems, and
lower milk production.
Glenn Shirk, extension dairy
agent, offers the following ideas to
help prevent these problems:
• Have cows on a good dry cow
program and in proper flesh before
calving.
• Have fresh feed and water
readily available at all times and
keep the mangers and waterers
clean.
• Maximize dry matter and
energy intake after calving. Do so
gradually to avoid throwing cows
off feed. Be sure they receive plen
ty of good quality forages.
• Keep the cow comfortable and
minimize stress.
Feather Profs Footnote: “The
future belongs to those who believe
in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt.
us? Isn't this the example we have
in Jesus, who suffered cruelly and
died, "the righteous for the
unrighteous." (3:18). Being the
most righteous man ever did not
save Jesus from suffering and
death. If we are righteous, our
righteousness will save us only
from suffering that is deserved.
Undeserved suffering, on the
other hand, may be part of the
price we have to pay to be faithful
to Jesus Christ
I have never believed that God
means for us to suffer or causes it
but I do believe that God can use
our suffering when it comes to us.
So if we are made to pay a price
for living as righteously as we can.
we can also look for an opportuni
ty to squeeze a blessing out of this
suffering. This is why Peter says,
"Always be prepared to make a
defense to any one who calls you
to account for the hope that is in
y0u..." (3:15b). Christians should
not seek to suffer or go looking for
it but when it comes, we can
make something worthwhile of it
by making it an occasion for
witness.
THE GENTLE WITNESS
Peter puts a very important lim
itation on our witness: "do it with
gentleness and reverence..."
(3:15c). When people are perse
cuted, maligned, abused, and
treated unfairly, they often
respond to the evil that is done to
them with evil that is equal to the
occasion. The Christian, however,
is called to respond with "gentle
ness and reverence." We may be
able to understand an innocent
victim's outrage, but we are not
likely to be positively influenced
by it. What made the death of
Jesus so exemplary was the way in
which he died, without bitterness,
without rancor.
Like Jesus, we may be treated
unfairly because of "the hope that
is in us. Like Jesus we can make a
"defense" of our faith. But there is
a great difference between making
a defense and making an attack.
Attacking those who hurt us is
understandably human. But it is
usually also ineffective in per
suading others. In fact, it usually
makes them defensive and distorts
their vision.