A36-lanca*ttr Farming, Saturday, May 1, 1993
Disaster Program Allows More Funds, Less Time
VERNON ACHENBACH, JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Fanners whose com crop
quality and quantity was damaged
last year may be eligible for federal
money, but they have to act
quickly.
A broadened application of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
disaster relief program is being
offered under the Clinton Admi
nistration that takes into account
losses experienced by com grow
ers whose crops didn’t mature,
went bad, or had to be left in the
field.
Secretary of Agriculture Mike
Espy announced the new assis
tance program last week, accord
ing to a news release from the Har
risburg office of USDA’s Agricul
tural Stabilization and
Conservation Service (ASCS).
However, time is short
producers have only until May 7
to file a written disaster application
and should contact a local ASCS
office to determine eligibility.
The expansion of the federal
disaster program takes into
account the loss in value in com
which was unharvestable, and that
which was harvested but was
mold-damaged, low in feed value,
immature, etc.
“Espy said adjustments in pro
duction will be made for com pro
ducers who suffered losses from
reduced quality caused by damag
ing weather or related conditions,”
according to the Harrisburg
office’s news release.
“This adjusted production will
be used to determine whether these
com producers qualify for disaster
Chester County DHIA • April 1993
Cows producing over SflQ lbs. protein are:
Joseph & Sandra Lusby
Meg
Walmoore, Inc. #1
294
Ken & Marilyn Umble
# Pixie
Scotti
Robert & Sharon Nolan
Brita
Edwin & Gale Mast
635
Marilyn & Duane Hershey
Sugar
Satin
Duchess
Gillen
Merle J. King
Mandy
Dunwood Farm
Cheerio
Delight
Classy
Chris & dies Stoltzfus
Polly
Sun Ute
Jana
Tim & Phyllis Barlow
Glamour
Herman Stoltzfus
Cathy
Mark & Melody Stoltzfus
Boots
Melwood Farm
Jana
Trudy
Secret
Kathy
Pei-Valley Farm
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payments for the first time or for
additional payments as applic
able," Espy said.
For those who already filed their
losses and expected none or a cer
tain amount of disaster relief may
find that a recalculation of their
losses under the broadened allow
ance will increase the amount of
the relief.
“Com producers who (already)
filed a written disaster application
for the com crop may be entitled to
additional payments because of
quality production adjustments,”
Espy said.
Donald Unangst, state executive
director of ASCS, said that data
gathered so far shows that while
Pennsylvania com production was
the highest in five years, at 118.8
million bushels, cool summer
temperatures and an early frost
caused the majority of the crop to
contain excessive moisture and
low test weight, thus significantly
reduced quality.
Unangst said he expects about
2,000 new or revised applications
coming in to county ASCS offices
for requests for disaster relief to
cover losses from low quality com,
grading No. 4, No. S, or Sample.
Highly Erodible, Wetlands
Programs Explained
In other ASCS announcements,
facts sheets were recently made
available outlining ASCS sodbus
ter and swampbuster policy and
also detailing requirements for
some USDA loans.
The swampbuster and sodbuster
provisions are those described
under an April 1993-released
ASCS Farm Program Fact Sheet,
“Production of Crons on Highly
1047
26,991
4-10
24,638
2-09
26,881
24,922
4-03
3-06
26,358
4-07
22,563
3-00
1090
714
1125
933
30,588
28,036
31,868
26,727
5-04
3-05
5-09
2-09
1021
25,946
3-04
995
1062
918
26,550
23,102
23,958
9-03
3-02
1-10
838
1125
1032
26,235
28,043
29,138
6-03
5-07
3-05
25,650
6-00
27,341
4-02
24,602
4-11
103.8
1120
1007
963
25,912
27,975
30,599
26,829
3-05'
6-02
3-07
3-01
1060
1014
24,777
27,877
7-10
3-08
Erodible Land or Wetland.”
The other fact sheet was con
cerned with beneficial interest
requirements for loans and loan
deficiency payments (LDP).
The fact sheet concerning high
ly erodible land and wetlands
states that the protection of highly
erodible lands is authorized
through the 1990 amendment to
the Food Security Act of 1985.
According to the sheet, “... the
Food, Agriculture, Conservation
and Trade Act of 1990 discourages
the production of craps on highly
erodible cropland unless the land is
protected from erosion under an
approved conservation system.
“If crops are produced on such
fields without an approved conser
vation system, producers may lose
their eligibility for most U.S.
Department of Agriculture prog
ram benefits.”
As far as treatment of wetlands,
producers will lose USDA benefits
if the land being used for craps had
been converted from wetlands
after Dec. 23,1985, or, if wetlands
have beat converted to cropland
since Nov. 28, 1990.
Violating the sodbuster and
swampbuster provisions of the
Farm Bill can affect farmer
eligibility for a number of other
ASCS programs.
Those programs affected
include the acreage reduction
programs; price support loans;
multiple peril crop insurance: farm
related Farmers Home Admi
nistration loans; Commodity Cre
dit Corporation storage payments;
disaster assistance, including the
emergency conservation program
and livestock feed program; con
At Last •• A 4-H Center for Chester County
After 23 or 30 years of searching fbr land and facilities for a 4-H Center in
Chester County, the dream is about to be realized. The estate and heirs of Fiorre
A. Romano of West Brandywine Township have generously donated IS acres of
land along Route 322 between Guthriesville and Honeybrook. They have also
agreed to allow the 4-H Center an option to purchase an additional 5 acres which
creates a 20-acre site for activities. The center will be named the Romano 4-H
Center.
The 4-H program in Chester County has been very successful over the years,
and currently there are 2,577 members and 263 volunteer leaders. One of the
main problems, however, has been the lack of a facility to conduct shows, sales,
meetings and contests. Events have had to depend on outside facilities, even some
outside the county, to conduct programs. By scattering events throughout the
area and at different dates, there has been a loss of identity and, most
importantly, the interaction between 4-H members in different projects has been
non-existent.
Now that the land has been secured, the next step is to constructs facility that
can handle the wide range of activities that 4-H'encompasses. The plan is to
eventually build two pole building, two show rings, and a headquarters building.
This main building will have meeting and banquet space, kitchen, showers and
community facilities. There is also the possibility to include sp'.ce for
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agricultural related agencies. Community groups will be able to use the buildings
and grounds for a fee when there are no 4-H events scheduled.
The challenge now is to raise the funds needed to make the center a complete
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and worthwhile facility for not only 4-H, but for the entire Chester County
community. The goal is to raise $750,000 through contributions. The 4-H
Center is under the able leadership of Pat Taws, President of the Board of
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Directon, and Representative Art Hershey, General Campaign Chairman.
It is visualized that, by 1994, a county-wide 4-H Round-Up lasting several
days will be held at the site. The positive aspect of having 4-H members together
with projects as diverse as dairy cattle and ceramics, or horses and computers, is
very important to the development of the young people in Chester County.
Youth from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups participate in this
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county's 4-H cluba, and the development of their leadership, maturity, and
understanding of others is a key benefit of the 4-H program. So, if someone asks
you to help, please consider supporting this worthwhile project that will have a
positive effect on Chester County for years to come.
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servation reserve program pay
ments; and conservation cost
sharing payments.
According to the fact sheet, ‘To
retain eligibility for USDA bene
fits. it is important that before pro
ducers plant 1993 crops they
know” several aspects about their
operation.
Included are whether the Soil
Conservation Service of USDA
has made a highly erodible land
Dairy Expo
(CentlniMd toM Pifl, A3S} SUBwrt.COKfcoflb.Drt,
Scholarship Winners Products Judging Team, presented
Matthew Wanner, a senior in aclocktoclubmemberJodieEvcr
dairy and animal science, was ly as high individual for 1992.
named the winner of the Dairy The Dairy Cattle Judging Team
Shrine Student Award. The son of was recognized. The team con-
Alfred and Carolyn Wanner of sisted of Jeff Pirrung, Rebecca
Narvon, Matthew received a Sonncn, Tom Smallback. and
plaque and lifetime membership in Matthew Wanner. They were
the Dairy Shrine. coached by Dale Olver, They were
Seven dairy science students first in Guernseys at the Eastern
received high academic honors States Exposition, first in Ayr
during the program. Awards went shires and Jerseys at the Pennsyl
to seniors Brent Baker of Martins- vania All-American Contest, and
b ur B» Lynetter Goodling of Selins- first in Brown Swiss at the Nation
grove. Eugene Kreitzcr of Freder- a i Intercollegiate Contest,
icksburg, and Tom McCauley of lc .... c .„ . ,
Elizabethtown. Juniors receiving . f UdB
recognition were Roger Keith of ' ® *7*“
Martinsburg and Dave Wascak of on Mar ? h . so
Dunbar. Peter Mozcs, a sopho- jounced Iri the collegiate div.-
more from Greenville, was also s,on * /P? d . Sturgeon of Fombcll
recognized. ™X ndl ! l ua ° veral an J
Judging Contest Results ™ d B,d( sf of ? oa,sburg . placcd
The awards banquet serves as a
culmination of all the year’s events Bldd lf Brsl **“? TSI? d
for dairy science students at Penn Sturgeon finished second. The
ctot* ih. q n nnnnrt.miK, results of the hnearevaluation con
state. It is an opportunity to rccog- t j revealed. Dave Was
!,«rZ B ji C 0 S plac«l r w JalTc^r”
ear ‘ Woodbury finished second, Igd
Jayne Hess of Gettysburg was
third.
To Claim
(HEL) determination on the land;
whether crops and practices to be
applied on HEL are authorized
under an approved conservation
plan; whether all conservation
practices that are scheduled in the
conservation plan for 1993 are
applied on HEL; and whether any
of their land was a wet area which
was manipulated after Dec. 23,
1985.
Several 4-H and FFA dairy
catde judging teams were invited
to the banquet Their placings were
announced as well.
In the senior 4-H d&ision. the
team from Susquehhhna County
was high team overall and high
reasons team. The team members
were Josh Harvatine. David Har
vatine, Steven Pavelski, and
Andrea Gamer. High individual
overall was Donald Harwood of
Franklin County and high reasons
individual was David Fava of
Washington County.
The junior 4-H division was
won by Armstrong County. Team
members were Leland Claypool,
Roy Claypool, Travis Walker, and
Todd Walker. High individual
overall was Jessica Whiting of
Lawrence County. Jessica Whiling
tied with Adam Dean, also of
Lawrence County, for high rea
sons individual honors.
In the senior FFA division, high
team overall and high reasons team
was Tulpehocken chapter, with
team members Andy Bicksler,
Melissa Bicksler and Jennifer
Grimes. The high individual, for
both overall score and reasons,
was Andy Bicksler.
The junior FFA division was
won by the team from Centre
County. Team members were
Kenny Brown, Brandy Seme
strotc, Ryan Connelly, and Trish
Watson. High individual overall
was Brandy Semestrote of Centre
County while high reasons indivi
dual honors went to Jess Lawrence
of Lawrence County.
Brent Baker served as judging
contest chairman and Jeff HoStet
ter was his assistant. Official
judges for the contest were Robert
Barley, Gary Bicksler, John Burk
et, William Curley, Benjamin
Dum, Jr., William Lesher, Steve
Shaw. Matthew Wanner, and Peter
Witmer.