\ F A R MANAGEMENT SELECTING A FARMING ALTERNATIVE Duane L. Stevenson, Jr. Farm Management Northampton, Lehigh Schuylkill, And Part Of Berks Counties This is Part II on the topic of selecting a Harming alternative. The fust article in the series leak mainly with personal and family considerations. This article will deal primarily with identify ing alternatives. Identifying Alternatives You may have already decided IF YOUR COWS DON’T LIKE THEIR TOP DRESS.... GIVE US A CALL! ULTIMATE Ext Excellent Palatability Highest Energy Level Available Increased Milk Production Increased Milk Component Yield Improved Body Condition Improved Reproduction Give Use A CALL TODAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EXCELLENT PRODUCT 6 S. Vintage Rd. Paradise, PA 17562 (717) 442-4183 (800) 635-3592 ™ Trademark ot Purina Mill* on an enterprise and may be eager to move on to the market potential, production, profitability, and financial feasibility segments of this column. First read this article prior to making a rash decision. Resource Inventory. Your resource base needs to be eva luated before settling on a specific enterprise. The purpose of con ducting a resource inventory is to show the limitations as well as the opportunities presented by your current situation. As a general rule, the route to success avoids enterprises which require resources that are lacking, and lakes advantage of resources that are underutilized. Also an accurate inventory will assist you in completing market and produc tion evaluations. A complete farm inventory Offers You: KSSMIIiS HUH* I PURINA CHOWS | Rt. 82 Unionville, PA 18375 (215)347-2377 * Registered trademark of Ralston Purina Company includes inventories on: (1) physi c«l resources, (2) marketing resources, (3) management and labor resources. (4) by-product resources, and (3) financial resour ces. One should prepare a map showing the layout of buildings, woodlots, fields, water resources, soil types, and other resources. If you have completed a farm inventory in the past, all you need to do is update the inventory. If this is your first resource inventory, much time will be involved in completing this task and accuracy is very important You may have tor take soil samples, measure fields, and visit your local Soil Conserva tion Office , ASCS, and other offices to complete reliable inven tory information. The next step in identifying alternatives is to list several possi ble new enterprises by mixing and matching identified resources with potential markets. If your ideas are not flowing, try one of the follow ing suggestions: • Look over the resource inven tory information that you have compiled. Mark in red: underutil ized physical, labor, and manage ment resources: all potential mark ets; and all potential uses for by products. • Summarize inventory infor mation and show to farm and non farm friends for their feedback. Some people that you may want to involve may include cooperative extension agents and specialists, lenders, co-workers, and others for additional input. ■ Talk to current buyers. Do they have any unfulfilled demands? • Ask your farm and nonfarm neighbors what kinds of services they currently use and which they would like to see available. • Read agricultural magazines, food magazines, and trade jour Schuylkill To Hold Spring Consignment Auction SUMMIT STATION (SCHUY LKILL CO.) —Schuylkill County Fair will hold its annual spring consignment auction on April 3, at the Schuylkill Fair Grounds, Sum mit Station, starting at 9 a.m. Items to be auctioned include lawn equipment, tools, antiques, nursery stock, household goods, and new building supplies. Starting at 6 p.m. more than 200 Farm Toy and Winross trucks, Ertyl Banks, and matchbox toys will be auctioned. Fay Diesel Specialists Parts & Service *4**. M • Diesel Fuel Injection Pumps & Injectors • Drive-In Service • Turbo Chargers * WE GUARANTEE ALL OUR WORK Farm Equipment • Industrial Equipment • Trucks • Cars 808 E. Main St., New Holland, PA 17557 • (717) 354-2016 LEOLA TIRE SERVICE. INC. 717-656-2574 Lancaster Faming, Saturday, February 27,1M3-A37 nals, and become a regular reader of the daily newspaper. These are ways to determine what people are buying and why. • Talk to other farmers. Ask them about what other farmers are doing that you could do. • If you travel, keep your eyes and ears open for new ideas that you can take home. Remember, a good idea doesn’t have to be a new idea; it just has to fit your needs, work on your land, pay the bills, and generate a profit. 1 will discuss the marketing aspect of an enterprise in a future article. During the day. a Chinese Auc tion benefitting the 4-H Exchange Club will also be conducted. Plenty of good food made by the Fair Association will be sold. Flea market tables are available. The Fair committee is looking for quality consignment articles to benefit the fair. Consignments will be accepted on Thursday, April 1, and Fri, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Cun Luckenbill (717) 739-4554. 258 W. MAIN ST.. LEOLA, PA lderJ nß^ TechnoW
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers