A3O-L»ncasttr Fanning, Saturday, May 16, 1992
Polish
(Continued from Pago A 1)
where 91,000 fanners own about
six to eight acres. Although there
are several farms with 5,000 to
30,000 layers, these farms are
cooperatives owned by the
government.
The egg packers used in Poland
are similar to those used by Esben
shade, but Wilczak said, “We
employ many more people on the
cooperative farms because we
need administrators and workers
for each job.” In addition, workers
on the cooperatives are provided
housing on the grounds.
The Polish guests were impress-
Esbenshade, right, discusses egg production with Polish visitor Jozef
Flags, center, and Jay Irwin, who spent six months in Poland with the Extension ser
vice, which assists the former communist-ruled country in making the transition to a
free market economy.
PARTICIPATING
IMCATJCR
TRIPLE H EQUIPMENT
Peach Bottom, PA
For More Information Contact
Jim Huber at
717-848-3775
717-548-2094
Agricultural Advisors
ed that the Esbenshades manage
their operation with only one full
time and one part-time employee.
The Polish government would
like to privatize the cooperative
farms because that would be so
much more cost effective, but the
method to make this transition is
difficult because individual far
mers do not have the funds to
purchase these farms and the
equipment needed.
Irwin sees western cooperatives
as the solution and has taught
extensively on how to create and
run a cooperative with farmers
buying shares.
HAY XW
Wednesday, May 27th
Model TS63I
Rain Date, May 28th
- Distributed By
J.S. Woodhouse
Company Inc.
The western cooperative con
cept also is attractive to both Wilc
zak and Flaga, who are taking a
close look at how cooperatives
operate in Pennsylvania. The pair
toured Bedford Farm Bureau to
learn how to to set up a board of
directors, sell shares of stock, and
other management needed.
“The problem is that the Polish
people are skeptical of coopera
tives. They are familiar with the
unpleasant aspects of eastern
cooperatives where the govern
ment owns and runs everything,”
Wilczak said. “It is difficult for the
people to grasp the difference
between Eastern and Western
cooperatives."
Another problem with farmer
owned cooperatives is the lack of
finances available to farmers.
Irwin said, “But American far
mers did not have money to invest
either when co-ops were being
established in the 19S0s. It was
hard to get a farmer to buy a $lO
share, but they supported die idea
and the concept worked.”
Irwin, Wilczak, and Flaga are
optimistic that cooperatives will be
set up in Poland.
“It’s only a matter of time,”
Irwin said. “It will be easier for
them to set them up because they
can profit from all our mistakes.”
The Polish people are extremely
receptive to American ideas.
“We welcome Americans with
open arms. We trust American
people and respect what we see
they have done.” Wilczak said.
She was especially impressed
with the extensive record-keeping
that American farmers keep.
While here, she has learned how to
set up record-keeping and is eager
LANCASTER (Lancaster
Co.) Jim Steinhauer, head of
the Pennsylvania Bee Inspection
Program, is to speak on the new
problems of internal and external
mites recently introduced into the
Americas, during a meeting of the
Lancaster County Honey Produc
ers, 6:30 p.m.. May 21, at the home
of Norman Landis, 1500 Cole
brook Rd.
Steinhauer’s talk is to start at
Model TH44O 14 Ft. & THS2O 17 Ft. Pull Type Tedder
Lancaster
To
SITE
Robert H. Kreider Farm
1229 Lancaser Pike
Quarryvllle, PA
DIRECTIONS; one mile south
of Buck on Rt. 272
TIME 9:30 to 12:00
to teach these skills to Polish
fanners.
“It will be very beneficial for
them to keep a record of weather,
spraying, buying, and selling. i|
will help them plan for the follow
ing year,” she said.
Poland’s weather is conducive
to good potato and other vegetable
growing. Because Poland grows a
large crop of potatoes, they see a
joint venture with a potato chip
company as an opportunity.
“We like potato chips, but need
to have companies to produce
them,” Wilczak said.
Poland desires that joint venture
arrangements be set up by Ameri
can businesses. The Polish Ameri
can Enterprise Fund lends money
to Poland farmers for 8 to 14 per
cent interest compared to the 60
percent interest charged by Polish
banks.
The Extension work under way
in Poland is described by Polish
officials as being one of the most
successful efforts of any country in
the world that is trying to help the
country become a free market
economy.
Bee Keepers
Meet
7:30 p.m. He is also to field other
questions about threats to domestic
bee strains, such as the African, or
Killer, Bees, which are now in
southern Texas, and the effects of
the dangerous bee species.
In addition, starting 6:30 p.m.,
an open hive inspection of honey
bees at work is scheduled.
For more information, call (717)
284-4812, or (215) 267-5860.