AlO-Lancastor Farming, Saturday, July 25, 1992
OP
Effort Is Worthwhile
As more people move to rural areas, the need increases for
cooperation and understanding among neighbors. Often new
arrivals are unfamiliar with agricultural practices, animals and
machines as well as the traditions of a particular rural commun
ity. At the same time, established farmers and other long-time
residents may be unaware of the perceptions and expectations
of newcomers. Many move to the country for space (privacy),
quiet, clean air and to be closer to nature. Some may be sur
prised, and even disappointed, when they first encounter the
odors, noises and dusts associated with farming operations.
They may not anticipate the destruction of vegetable gardens
and ornamental plantings by insects, plant diseases and wild
animals.
Because farms usually have been in-place and operating
long before most rural residential development occurs, and
because agricultural production is so important to our total eco
nomy, state law helps to protect the right of farmers to continue
most farming practices (i.e., spreading manure, drying grain),
even when new neighbors might be offended or disturbed. Of
course, such legislation doesn’t necessarily help to build good
relationships among rural neighbors. Those good relationships
depend more on thoughtful and well-motivated efforts by
country residents on both sides of the fence.
The old saying “Good fences make good neighbors” certain
ly applies in areas where animals are grazed. It benefits both
animal owners and their immediate neighbors to have well
built fences, well-maintained and respected. Good fences pre
vent accidents on roadways which can injure or kill people and
animals and damage vehicles. Stray animals can damage both
farm crops and residential plantings. Animals that wander onto
other farms increase their own exposure to disease.
Since many plants commonly found in home landscapes
(i.e., iris, holly, yew, oak) are poisonous to people and animals,
avoid discarding trimmings and yard waste into pastures.
Remember that small metal objects thrown into pastures and
hay fields can be eaten by animals, especially cattle, and cause
“hardware disease” which can be fatal. Metal, wood and plastic
trash can also damage farm equipment and reduce the quality
and market value of grain crops.
Robert Leiby and David Dunbar with the Lehigh Co. Exten
sion office say farmers enhance country life by using the fol
lowing thoughtful practices: they avoid spreading manure just
before weekends and holidays; they incorporate manure as
soon as possible after spreading; they apply pesticides when
there is little or no wind; they make sure manure spreaders,
farm wagons and trucks do not spill contents on public roads;
they avoid “tracking” mud on public roads with truck, tractor
and implement tires.
Be cautious when traveling on rural roads. The red and
orange triangular slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblems plus a
pair of amber flashing warning lamps are mounted on agricul
tural equipment which travel at speeds of less than 25 miles per
hour.
Passenger vehicle drivers need to be especially alert for
slow-moving vehicles in agricultural areas. Operators of farm
tractors and equipment often will pull to the side, where appro
priate, to allow faster vehicles to pass. Proceed cautiously when
overtaking a large piece of agricultural equipment.
Operators of recreational vehicles can help their farm neigh
bors greatly by talking special care to avoid driving on farm
fields. Causing crop damage by driving through a field is the
same as stealing money from the producer of that crop. Be sure
to ask permission before taking a recreational vehicle on a
farm.
Much of the effort required to be a good neighbor in a rural
community is related to courtesy, safety and good stewardship.
We believe the effort is worthwhile.
Farm Calendar /^/
Lebanon Co. Fair, thru July 31.
Berks Co. Holstein Club Field Day
and picnic.
Ice Cream Contest, Lebanon
Clarion Co. Fair, New Bethlehem,
thru Aug. 1.
Mercer Co. Grange Fair, Mercer,
thru Aug. 1.
56th Annual International Associ
ation of Milk Central Agency
Meeting, Hilton Hotel, Harris
i^^^^
Cecil County Fair, thru Aug. 1.
Dairy Night at the Dinner Theatre,
Keynote Dinner Theatre, Wil
low Tree Plaza, Frederick, 6
p.m.
Goshen Country Fair, West Ches-
NOW IS
THE TIME
By John Schwartz
Lancaster County
Agricultural Agent
To Read About
Hot Weather Tips
For Poultry
We are in the heat of summer.
Here are some hot weather tips for
poultry you may want to consider:
• Make sure fan louvers are
clean and wide open. Partially
open louvers will reduce fan air
movement by 10 to SO percent.
• Check air inlets on both sides
of the house. Make sure they are
clean and no trees, bird nests, etc.
are not reducing air intake.
• Make sure your generator and
alarm system are working. Test
once a week under full load.
• Make sure attic fans are work
ing and removing hot air from the
attic.
• Check water system frequent
ly to make sure birds are receiving
water.
• Walk through your birds sev
eral times from early afternoon
into early evening. In extreme hot
weather, the birds sit, trap heat
underneath their body, and pant a
lotof carbon dioxide (deadly gas to
chickens). By walking through the
birds, you allow some of the body
heat to escape while giving them
fresh air. Remember, most mortal
ity occurs between S p.m. and 7
p.m.
To Consider
Merits Of
Silage Preservatives
The merits of silage preserva
tives have been debated for many
years. More has been learned and
improvements have been made in
recent years.
Because of these improvements,
results have been more positive
compared to previous years. Once
a crop is ensiled, many things may
happen that are beyond the control
of the farmer.
His goals are to harvest and pre
serve the best quality feed possi
ble, minimize the risk of abnormal
fermentations, and reduce costs
associated with storage losses and
losses associated with feeding
poor quality forages.
ter, thru Aug. 1.
Potter County Fair, Millport, thru
Aug. 1.
Troy Fair, Troy, thru Aug. 1.
Lehigh Valley Horse Council
(Handicapped Riding Prog-
ram), Pleasant Hollow Farms,
Coopersbuig, 7:30 p.m.
FFA Show, Butler County
Valley Foige Convention Cen
ter, thru July 30.
Jacktown Fair, Wind Ridge, thru
Aug. 1.
New Stanton Farm and Home Fair,
New Stanton, thru Aug. 1.
Maryland Dairy Princess Pageant,
Holiday Inn, FSK Mall, Freder
ick, Md., 8 p.m.
(Turn to Pago A3l)
Proper use of silage preserva-
tives may help minimize these
risks. Lactic acid-producing bac
teria generally have been the most
effective, especially with alfalfa
and grasses.
Enzymes are mere expensive
and have shown their best results
when used with grass type silages.
The use- of preservatives should
I help you to obtain similar results
every time instead of erratic
I results.
To Do
Estate Planning
Estate planning involves many
once-in-a-lifetime decisions, not
just writing a will. It involves
many complex issues, feelings,
and emotions.
Now is an excellent time to
bring your family together and dis
cuss your estate plan. The last task
of being a top-notch manager is
having the next generation receiv
ing the business intact
You need to review your current
plan at least every three years. If
you do not have an estate plan, you
MY FAITH’S BETTER
THAN YOURS!
July 26,1992
Background Scripture:
1 Timothy 1.
Devotional Reading:
James 3: 1-5.
This letter, 1 Timothy, has
sometimes been used as a proof
text to support an emphasis upon
doctrinal correctness. Actually, it
is just the opposite. The writer is
concerned, not with how people
articulate their ideas about Christ,
but how they live their lives as a
result of what they believe.
There have been too many
times in my life when someone
has attacked me because I do not
formulate the expression of my
beliefs in just the same way he or
she does. Many years ago, when I
was an adult advisor to an ecu
menical Christian state youth
council, another advisor
squelched our plans for celebrat
ing Holy Communion together
because he was certain that we did
not believe about Holy Commun
ion what he did. Unless we believe
the same thing, he said, we could
not kneel together at the Lord’s
Table.
“0.K.,” I said, “why don’t you
tell me what you believe and I’ll
see whether that’s really different
from what I believe.” So, he
explained rather concisely what
his denomination taught concern
ing the Lord’s Supper. When he
was finished, I said, “Well, that’s
what I believe, too.” “Oh no you
don’t,” he insisted. No matter
what I said, I could do nothing to
shake his conviction that he could
not commune with me because we
believed differently.
PROMOTING
SPECULATIONS
Isn’t this what the writer of 1
Timothy is referring to when he
criticizes those who “occupy
themselves with myths and end
less genealogies which promote
speculations rather than the divine
training that is in faith” (11:4).
The heart of Christian discipleship
is not speculation no matter
how much holy fun some people
may find it but conduct. Think
about many of the people whom ,
need to develop one now. If you do
not have a will, the state has one for
you. Their asset distribution will
probably not be the same as yours.
You should name the guardian
for your children and one or more
executor of your estate. If your
estate is worth more than
$600,000, you will need a will to
set up a trust that could save your
estate thousands of dollars in
taxes.
There arc many options avail
able to you in transferring the man
agement, business, and assets to
the next generation. These include
partnerships, joint ventures, corpo
rations, rental agreements, install
ment sales, living trusts, etc.
There are many professionals
available to help you in beginning
your estate plan. These include
cooperative extension agents,
bankers, attorneys, accountants,
and financial planners.
Do not delay. Start your estate
planning now.
Feather Profs Footnote: “Our
aspirations are our possibilities.”
Jesus healed during his ministry.
Not many of these people would
have scored well in correct doctri
nal beliefs just the opposite
but all of them who were healed
because they trusted in this man
Jesus, not in ideas about him.
I’m not saying that theological
or doctrinal beliefs are of no
importance; but that they are not
the most important factor in our
Christian life. If they produce
Christian living in us, wonderful!
But unless we can translate each
of those beliefs into some kind of
effort in faith, it matters little. I’ve
known people who knew all the
right doctrinal words and phrases,
but their discipleship seldom went
beyond the confines of their brains
and voices.
A GOSPEL OF GRACE
How can you tell if doctrine is
correct? The writer of 1 Timothy
bids us look at the results of that
doctrine: “...the aim of our charge
is love that issues from a pure
heart and a good conscience and
sincere faith” (1:5). This was the
writer’s own experience. Though
the writer had been “the foremost
of sinners,” it was not doctrines
that won him to the gospel of
Jesus Christ, but the grace of God:
“...the grace of our Lord over
flowed for me with the faith and
love that are in Christ Jesus”
(1:14).
Similarly, when the writer
speaks of sinners condemned, he
does not speak of those who
believed incorrectly, but who per
formed sinfully: “...murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers, immoral persons,
sodomites, kidnappers, liars, per
jurors and whatever else is con
trary to sound doctrine” (1:9,10).
Some of these may have been
quite confident that they had the
“right doctrine.” But concentrat
ing on our ideas about faith can
get in the way of living that faith
especially when our belief sys
tems feed our pride and the arrog
ant assumption that ours is the cor
rect one.
Lancaster Farming
Established 195 S
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St
Ephrata. PA 17522
by
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A SMnnrnn BiAmprka *
Robsrt G. Campbell General Manager
Everett R. Nawewanger Manning Editor
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