AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 3 1993 OPINION The Goal Of Every Farmer As food safety continues to be a public issue, farmers need to do everything possible to prevent medicine contamination of the milk and meat. Jeremy Rifkin, who heads such anti-animal groups as the Foundation of Economic Trends and the Green house Crisis Foundation, is quoted as saying agriculture is second only to nuclear weapons in the threat that they pose to mankind. From this statement, you would think we would all be dead by now. Instead, our life expectancy increases by several months each year. Some of this chance for growing older must come from eating good food supplied by the American farmer. But that’s another story. The fact is that the public deserves a safe food supply, and anti biotic residues are contaminants and should not be in the milk or meat that goes on the public dinner table. With this in mind, a quote from Keith E. Sterner, DVM, is in order. Sterner was one of the featured speakers at the NDPC-FDA Regional Joint Milk Conference held recently in Syracuse. “. ..the best single treatment for any disease is the one that never occurred in the first place,” said Sterner. ‘This is especially true for mastitis. Given the demands placed on today’s dairy farmer, very heavy emphasis must be placed on facilities and manage ment practices which prevent disease and diminish performance associated with it. “My philosophy is a simple one. Place a cow in a clean, dry environment, feed her properly and keep the ‘bugs’ on the outside from becoming ‘bugs’ on the inside. By paying careful attention to the nutrition of the dairy cow, we not only affect her ability to live up to her genetic milk production potential, but also her intrinsic ability to resist infection. By placing emphasis on facili ties that keep her comfortable, clean, and dry, we reduce the chal lenge from microbial pathogens. And by propping and milking with properly designed, installed and maintained milking equip ment and hygienic procedures, we help to ensure that the need for treatment is a minimal one, because the incidence of disease is reduced.” Of course, sickness in animals will sometimes occur. When this happens, use medicines and practices that are right for the situation. But by taking care of the day-to-day “little preventative things,” the need for treatments will be reduced. This should be the goal of every farmer. Farm Calendar Schuylkill Co. Fair Spring Con signment Auction. 1993 Orchid Show, Ag Arena, Penn State, thru April 4. Forest Stewardship Landowners Workshop, rescheduled from March 13, Grant Science Cen ter, Mansfield U., 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. rkO 4-H Fairgrounds, Mullica Hill, N.J.. 8:30 a.m. Monchn, April 5 Mercer Co. Sheep Shearing School, Carl Gadsby Farm, Grove City, thru April 6. Farm Rescue and Safety, Lebanon Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.-noon and 7 ipper p.m.-8:30 p.m. Pa. Poultry Sales and Service Con ference, Nittany Lion Inn, Penn State, thru April 7. Keystone Farm Credit meeting. Days Inn and Conference Cen ter, Allentown, 7 p.m. Pa. Dairy Princess promotion meeting, southeast. Holiday Inn, Denver, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mercer Co. Sheep Shearing School, Whiting Farm, Pulaski, thru April 8. Keystone Farm Credit meeting. Willow Valley Conference Ag Issues Forum, Kreider’s Restaurant, Manheim, 7:30 4-H ;k D; Editor: Herds of deer find protection in state and county parks and in large tracts of land where hunting is not permitted. These same deer feed off of farmers crops doing immea surable damage. They strip bark from trees and destroy expensive plants during snow storms. Motor ists traveling the highways, some times at high speeds, are often unaware of them and are unable to avoid hitting them when they appear as if from no where. Almost always there is severe damage to the vehicle and often there are personal injuries. Last year at least ninty deer were killed by cars in northern Chester Coun ty, one hundred were killed in the Valley Forge area and many were hit in southern Berks County. Who is responsible for the dam- Farm animals need proper care and management, but remember that many domestic animals are physically stronger than humans. Accidents may hurt both people and animals, and cut into profits. Protect yourself by being care ful each time you work with ani mals. Wear protective clothes, footwear, gloves, and headgear as necessary. Keep floors and ramps clean and clutter free to ensure good footing. Make sure handling and restraining facilities are up to the task. Be extra careful with animals that are frightened, hurt, sick or young. Handle males, especially a.m.-9 a.m. Delaware-Chester Farmers Asso ciation annual spring banquet. Oxford, 6:45 p.m. Dairy tour to Carroll Co. from Adams Co. Keystone Farm Credit meeting, The Inn at Reading, 7 p.m. Tillage and Residue Management Field Dr Seiler Fr West- School, McMullen Farm, Sugar Pa. Holstein Showcase Sale, Ag Arena, State College, 10:30 Penn West Farm Credit meeting, Edinboro Inn, Edinboro, 7 p.m. Farm Forum age done by these deer? Since they are game, to be hunted under the jurisdiction of the state game com mission, it can be said that they belong to the commonwealth. Now, if a motorist is injured because of a missing guardrail, warning sign, pot hole or low shoulder, he can sue the state for negligence. Using the same logic, why cannot a farmer or a motorist whose property is damaged by the deer sue the commonwealth? Of course motorists can collect from their insurance for automo bile damage done by deer. If a far mer’s cows get out and damage a neighbor’s property, the farmer’s insurance will pay for the damage the first time but not after that. If the deer belong to the state, isn’t the state responsible for the To Handle Farm Animals With Care West Failowfield School, (Turn to Pag# A 313) bulls, with respect. Always leave yourself an “out” in case an animal becomes uncontrollable. Know your escape route before entering the pen. Be prepared to go over or under a fence or up a wall. When caring for sick or birthing animals, wear gloves and other protective garb. Do not smoke, eat ,or drink until you have washed and changed clothing after working with animals. Keep children out of animal bams, feedlots, and other hazard ous areas. To Prevent Poisonings Children under the age of S are the most frequent victims of poi sonings. Infants and toddlers are at a higher risk. Common household items such as medicines, makeup, cleaners, and plants account for most home poisonings. On a farm, where children have a risk of finding pes ticides, other chemicals, fertilizers and industrial cleaners, including milk sanitizers, preventing poison ings is even more important Many accidental poisoning may be treated safely at home, bu get medical advice first. Find the number of your local poison con- HIHHHHH IK)' I Br LAWBtNCt W AIIHOUSt "toils sn IS THIS ANY WAY TO BE HAPPY? April 4,1993 Background Scripture: John 13:1-20. Devotional Reading: John 13:31-36. Time and again in the John’s Gospel someone whom Jesus en counters seems to misunderstand what he is saying and doing. In John 3, when Jesus said, “. . . unless one is bom anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” Nicodemus asks, “How can a man be bom when he is old?” (John 3:3,4). Nicodemus’ misunderstanding gives Jesus the opportunity to em phasize the point he is making. In John 13 it is Peter who miss es the point. When Jesus comes to wash Peter’s feet, he protests, “You shall never wash my feet!” In Peter’s mind it is demeaning for Jesus the Teacher to stoop to wash their feet, performing a task meant for servants. We can understand why Peter reacted as he did it seemed all wrong for Jesus to humble himself so. And, in light of the values which prevail in our world today, it would still be “all wrong”, What Peter did not understand then and what we often do not realize today is that humble ser vice is not degrading when love is our motive. Love is the key. John says of Jesus, “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (13:1b). Having said this, John goes on to tell us that he “poured water into a basin and began to wash the dis ciples’ feet...” (13:5). In this act of humble service he did not tell them of his love, he showed them. PETER JUMPED So, when Peter tries to dissuade him, Jesus says: “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me” (13:8). To reject this service, says Jesus, is to reject his love. So, Peter, always impulsively jump ing to conclusions, jumps to a has ty one: “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head”! And once again Peter has misunder- trol center and keep it near your phone. It is also a good idea to keep Syr up of Ipecac in your home. Because it causes vomiting. Ipecac is a treatment for some types of poisonings. Most drug stores sell it for under $3. Never give a child Ipecac or anything else without first receiv ing medical advice. To Know How To Handle Poisonings If you suspect a poisoning, stay calm and keep the person calm. Look in the person’s mouth and remove any pills, pieces of plant, or other physical objects. Take the person and the poison or pesticide to a phone and call the poison control center. Be prepared to tell the person’s age, weight, the type of poison, and the amount swallowed. Follow their directions. Never give a person anything without first calling the poison control cen ter or a doctor. In a poisoning, the best inten tions may cause more harm than good. Feather Profs Footnote: "You become successful by helping others become successful." stood: this is not about getting one’s feet washed, but about ac cepting the love that is being of fered. The washing of the feet is only a sign. Once again Jesus has to explain: “He who has bathed does not need to wash; but he is clean all over” (13:10). When Christ gives his love to us, we don’t have to measure it or ask to double the dose. The benefit is not in how much of the body Jesus washes; this is a qualitative act, not a quantitative one. Perhaps hardest to understand for Peter is that he expected them to do it too. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet”. Let’s not misun derstand, Jesus is not saying that footwashing is to become norma tive for his disciples, but humble service is. The foot washing was just the outward example. The love is the inner reality. TRY IT! This is what is expected among his disciples. “For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you”. Jesus overturns our human ideas and values, which are based upon “getting”, not “giving”. Jesus goes on to say something even more surprising: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (13:17). If we humbly serve others, we will be happy. “Blessed” means “happy” or “fortunate”. We think these things will degrade us, but Jesus assures us that they will uplift us. We are not demeaned by perform ing humbling tasks, but blessed. According to the world’s values, being served makes us happy. Ac cording to Jesus, serving is what brings us happiness. He not only said that, but he demonstrated it. Rendering humble service to others: is that any way to be hap py? Why not try it and find out for yourself? Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Slnnmafl £m*prit» Robert C. Campbell General Manager Everet R. Newiwanger Managing Editor Copyright teas by Laneaalar Farming
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