A34-Unc&9Wr'Firfinifltf, Saturday, March 27, 1993
Board Forms To Help Clean Up Scrapie
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
A nine-member scrapie flock
certification board has been
formed and will meet for the sec
ond time here on Tuesday.
The committee has begun plans
to form a program to begin, on a
statewide level, the national volun
tary scrapie flock certification
program enacted in October of last
year. The intent of the program,
according to board member Dr.
Ulysses J. Lane, area veterinarian
in charge, state veterinary services
(VS), is to give recognition to
sheep flocks that are free of the dis
ease and provide technical assi
gnee to infected flocks, he wrote
in a letter to producers and other
agencies on March 12.
The letter was sent to producers
of flocks known to have had sheep
infected with scrapie or blood line
connections to known infected ani
mals. Lane told Lancaster Farm
ing that a subcommittee is working
to disseminate information about
the program to newspapers and
other media.
“What we’re trying to do is to
develop a system to identify and
evaluate scrapie and scrapie-free
flocks,” he said. Lane said he
hopes more producers can become
involved in the program to help
certify their flocks arc scrapie-free
and to take management steps
necessary to ensure they remain
so.
The Tuesday meeting will lay
down important steps to help
organise schedules and plans to
notify producers and to distribute
information regarding scrapie,
PNPA To Honor Andrews
Control Drug Residues
(Continued from Page ACO)
8) Use drug residue screening
tests. This includes cows or heifers
recently purchased, treated cows
to be culled, calves to be sold that
have been feed treated milk, and
any animals treated. Use commer
cially available tests to check milk
from individual cows, not just the
bulk tank. Discard milk that tests
positive. (Don’t add it to the bulk
tank, hoping that it will be diluted
to concentrations below the toler
ance level, according to the book).
Match your testing methodology
to that of your milk buyer.
9) Implement employee/family
awareness of proper drug use to
avoid marketing adulterated pro
ducts. Let everyone know how to
manage drug residues on your
farm.
through extension offices and
other means.
Until recently, according to the
March 12 letter, scrapie was
regarded as a minor disease of
sheep and goats. It is a fatal,
degenerative disease affecting the
central nervous system of sheep
and goats. What causes scrapie is
still unknown—the agent, accord
ing to an Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) Fact
Sheet, is smaller than the smallest
known virus and has not been iden
tified. However, a gene that con
trols the length of incubation of
clinical scrapie has been identified
in one breed of sheep.
According to the fact sheet,
scrapie signs vary widely among
individual animals and develop
very slowly. Early signs include
subtle changes in behavior or
temperament, which may be fol
lowed by scratching and rubbing
against fixed objects, apparently to
relieve itching. Other signs are loss
of coordination, weight loss
despite retention of appetite, biting
of feet and limbs, lip smacking,
and gait abnormalities includ
ing high-stepping of the forelegs,
bunny hop movement of rear legs,
and swaying of back end.
An infected animal may appear
normal if left undisturbed at rest.
When stimulated by a sudden
noise, excessive movement, or the
stress of handling, the animal may
tremble or fall down in a
convulsive-like state.
The disease can be transmitted
to other animals, and some dis
eases related to scrapie can infect
other species. In the laboratory,
scrapie has been transmitted to
(Continued from Page A 1)
appeared Dec. 5, 1992 and con
cluded on December 19.
The water quality scries focused
on nitrate problems in ground
water, how to properly construct
and manage wells, and the ways
farmers can implement a water
quality management plan.
Winners in the competition will
be honored at the annual Keystone
Press Awards banquet on Satur
day, May 22 at the Nittany Lion
Inn in Slate College.
The contest is open only to staff
members of PNPA, of which Lan
caster Farming is a member.
Andrews competed against more
than 33 other newspapers in the
division.
10) Complete the milk and
dairy beef residue prevention pro
tocal annually. It’s a “written
snapshot” of how you manage
your operation, said Trumbaurcr.
The book, available from veterina
rians, should be reviewed regular
ly. After completion, have your
self, the veterinarian, and the field
representative of cooperative or
proprietary dairy sign the certifi
cate and post it in the milkhouse.
“When you complete this prog
ram,” said Trumbaurer, “you’re
not only increasing your aware
ness and the things you can do, but
you’re also convincing the public
that you are concerned about it.
“What we in the industry need
to do is everything in our power to
keep this from becoming a more
severely perceived problem,” he
said.
tlr * *
hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, mink,
and some species of monkeys. Of
particular concern, particularly to
Lane, is bovine spongiform ence
phalopathy (BSE), caused by a
scrapie-like agent, which affects
cattle.
According to the letter, evi
dence suggests that a BSE out
break in Great Britain may have
resulted from including rendered
scrapie-infected sheep carcasses
into bovine rations. “Scrapie has
become a disease of economic
impact,” according to Lane.
Although BSE is not known to
exist in the U.S., meat packers and
Cumberland Valley Crop Officers Elected
SHIPPENSBURG, (Franklin
Co.) More than 300 farmers
and their guests attended the Cum
berland Valley Cooperative Asso
ciation Annual Meeting at the
Lighthouse Restaurant, North of
Chambersburg last week.
New directors elected were
CHAMBERSBURG AREA
C. Eugene Wingert 722
Loudon Road, St. Thomas.
Eugene and son Jere operate a 500
acre farm that has been in his fam
ily since 1919. The Wingerts rent
an additional 300 acres. On the
farm is a 200 sow farrow to finish
facility. The Wingerts also feed
170 brood cows, finishing all the
calves. Eugene has been a
member/patron of CV since 1952.
Eugene helped organize the Penn
sylvania Pork Council and served
as its first president. He has also
served on the executive committee
of the National Pork Producers’
Council, and served on the board
of the Pennsylvania Farmers’
Association.
Lester E. Martin 3926
Guilford Springs Road, Cham
bersburg. The Marlin farming
operation consists of a 200-head
purebred Jersey milking herd with
another 200 dry cows and heifers.
Cropping acreage is about 800
acres. Lester’s son Doug, is a part
ner in the operation. Lester is cur
rendy a Director of C V Co-op and
is Chairman of the Branch/
Customer Relations Committee
and Ist Vice-President of the
Board. Lester was recently elected
Chairman of the York Farm Credit
ACA Board of Directors.
Herman Wirth 7587 Rowe
Run Road, Chambersburg. The
Wirth farming operation includes
an 18-head Sow/Farrow-to-Finish
operation. Herman is a graduate of
Rutgers University College of
Agriculture, and is retired from
the U.S. Army with 27 years ser
vice. He is a member and past
Secretary of the Franklin County
Fanners Association, has served
on the Advisory Committee of
Adams Electric Cooperative, and
is a member and past Chairman of
his church’s parish council. He
currently serves on the Executive
Committee of C.V. Co-op as
Secretary.
SHIPPENSBURG AREA
Paul Hoch Route 1, Box
922, Shippensburg. Paul and his
brother Harry are involved in a
dairy operation of 200 milk cows.
They grow 325 acres of com, 80
acres of small grains and 250 acres
of hay and forages. He is a direc
tor at this time and is a chairman
and the Property Committee.
NEWVILE AREA
Robert Jamison 2249 Ncw
ville Road, Carlisle. Robert has
been fanning for 40 years, moving
to Carlisle in 1974 from Bucks
County. He and his wife Janet
farm 70 acres, growing com, oats.
. 1.) vl
renderers have taken steps to divert
the use of sheep offal in ruminant
rations.
The letter estimated that the
effects of this “have cost produc
ers an average of $5 per head.”
Members of the Pennsylvania
certification board are John Cona
way, Pennsylvania Suffolk Sheep
Association; Dr. Tom Drake, Pen
nsylvania State University Exten
sion and Pennsylvania Veterinary
Medical Association: Ronald
Miller, Pennsylvania Sheep and
Wool Growers Association; June
Reed, flock owner; Dr. C.S. Card,
wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa to
feed a herd of 25 milk cows and
15 heifers. Robert is currently
Treasurer of the Cumberland
County Farmers’ Association.
Carl Kelso, Jr. 550 Ridge
Road, Shippensburg. Carl and son
Woody own and rent about 400
acres, raising com and alfalfa for
their 60 milk cows and 60 heifers.
Carl has been a member of the Co
op for about 40 years. Carl is also
Honors Century Farms
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
Eighteen Pennsylvania farm
families have been honored by the
State Department of Agriculture
as official Pennsylvania Century
Farms. This brings to 1,622 the
number of farm owners in Pen
nsylvania who have been recog
nized under the program.
“Our century farm families
demonstrate a durability and love
of the land that is the heritage of
Pennsylvania,” said Secretary of
Agriculture Body E. Wolff. “Agri
culture continues as Pennsylvani
a’s leading industry and job crea
tor because of the turd work, dedi
cation, and innovation of rural
families like these.”
The Century Farm Program
honors families whose farms have
been in the same family for more
than 100 consecutive years, con
tain at least 10 of the original
acres, and gross more than $l,OOO
annually from the sale of farm
products.
The following farm owners
received certificates from the
department:
• Adams County Nancy J.
Shelly and Charlotte R. Slay
baugh. Willow Road, Gettysburg,
farm purchased in 1812 by their
great-great-great grandfather Ale
xander Young.
• Armstrong County Wilbur
M. and Isabel Beckett, Scenic
Drive, Sarver, farm purchased in
1852 by his great grandfather Wil
liam Beckett.
• Berks County Myers D.
and Mabel Adams, Pine View
Road, Shoemakersville, farm pur
chased in 1888 by his grandfather
Alfred Adam and Uncle Jacob
Adam.
Lester M. and Linda J, Lutz,
Route 2, Kempton, farm pur
chased in 1858 by his great-great
grandparents Isaac and Sybilla
Lutz.
• Cambria County Ralph
and Eva Howell, RD 1, Portage,
farm purchased in 1892 by his
great-great uncle Thomas Roberts.
• Centre County Harry and
Vivian Glossner, North Liberty
Street, Blanchard, farm purchased
in 1892 by his grandfather Harry
Glossner.
Pennsylvania Animal Health and
Diagnostic Commisssion; Dr.
Maher Rizk, USDA, APHIS, VS,
and scrapie program coordinator,
Ronald Trostle, Pennsylvania
Livestock Association; Dr. Max
Van Buskirk, Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture; and
Dr. Ulysses J. Lane, USDA,
APHIS, and VS.
For more information about the
program, or to obtain fact sheets
about scrapie, contact Dr. Ulysses
J. Lane at APHIS, 2301 N. Came
ron Sl, Room 412, Harrisburg, PA
17110, (717) 782-3442.
a member of the Pennsylvania
Farmers’ Association.
In the business meeting, the
association reported $6,841,842
sales with $1,689,582 gross mar
gins and $214,200 net margins.
Heidi Negley, Cumberland
County Dairy Princess, brought
greetings from the Promotion
Program and Wayne Craig, pre
sided at the meeting.
• Clarion County David and
Ruth Delp, RD 3, New Beth
lehem, farm purchased in 1840 by
his great grandfather John Hamm,
• Clearfield County The
Robert Wringlesworlh Family,
Grampian, farm purchased in
1864 by Robert’s great-great
grandparents Thomas and Susan
na Hoover.
• Cumberland County Den
ny High McCullough, Centerville
Road, Newville, farm purchased
in 1870 by his great-great-great
uncle James McCullough Sr.
• Green County Harold and
Gertrude VanDruff and (daughter)
Shari and John Curry, RD 2, Way
nesburg, original purchase in 1881
by Shari’s great grandfather Wil
liam VanDruff.
• Indiana County William G,
Reeger, RD 3, Shelocla, farm pur
chased in 1884 by his great-great
uncle Robert Lowry.
Norman & Dorothy Strong, RD
2, Strongstown, farm purchased in
1803 by his great-great-great
grandfather James Strong.
• Lancaster County Clair
and Arlene Landis, Fairvicw
Road, Ronks, farm purchased in
1853 by his great-great grandpa
rents Jacob and Susan Ranck.
• Lawrence County Chester
and Irene Gardner, RD 1, Wam
pum, farm purchased in 1893 by
his grandfather James Gardner.
• Mercer County Robert and
Mary Reimold, Mercer Road, Frc
donia, farm purchased in 1884 by
his grandfather John Reimold.
• Montgomery County L.
Merrill and Martha Heany Yoder,
Cowpath Road, Telford, farm pur
chased in 1832 by her great-great
aunt and uncle John and Rachael
Heany.
• Northampton County
Anne Seyfried Abrams, Franklin
Hill Road, Bangor, farm pur
chased in 1853 by her great-great
great-great grandparents Jacob
and Catherine Bitz.
• Washington County Randy
Lee Brown, Brown’s Orchard,
McDonald, farm purchased in
1847 by his great-great-great
grandfather David Brown and
uncle William Brown.