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-
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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