CB-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, June 5, 1993 LINDA WILLIAMS Bedford Co. Correspondent BREEZEWOOD (Bedford Co.) “My great-grandfather bought part of this farm about 1850,” said Loren Woy as he glances out the window at the breathtaking, pic turesque hills of Bedford County’s eastern farmlands. “And, Woys just kept buying more farms until we have what we have here now, what is left of four or five farms put together. Altogether, we lease and farm more than 800 acres.” “We” includes Loren, his wife, Joan, their sons, Barry and Brian, and daughter Beth. Another daughter, Brandy, is still in high school. Barry, Brian, and Beth are all married and their spouses work elsewhere. They milk more than 175 Hols teins which produce about 10,000 pounds of milk per day. Herd physicals are held monthly. “We actually started with Guernseys,” Loren said. “But our local market closed down, and with no other premium markets at that time, we slowly converted to Holsteins. We still keep a few red and whites, just for the color.” Loren says he has never known any other way of life except farm ing, but it is not something he tried to force on his sons. ‘They just seemed to want to do it," he said. “Barry did leave for awhile and try some other things, but he came back. Brian never left.” The two, according to dad, get along well with each having talents in different areas. Barry mixes and feeds, Brian is in charge of the milking, and Beth and Joan take turns with the calves. Joan also does all of the bookwork. Barry and Brian divide the fieldwork, but one is better with machinery, the other with animals. Brian is in charge of breed man agement and Barry handles crops. “We also have a full time hired man,” Loren said. “So, all in all, we are supporting four families off of the farm. “I have always loved a farm life,” said Loren. “But I think the farmers of the future will experi ence problems I’ve never had. I do NEW *RK, Del. A national poll conducted by The Gallup Organization for Sandoz Agro Inc., an agricultural products com pany, reveals farmers’ attitudes and concerns related to farming and the environment According to information released by Sandoz, the poll found that: • Three out of five farmers are more concerned about environ mental issues today than five years ago. Water quality tops their list of concerns. • Most farmers have made some changes in the way they farm and expect to make more: 92 percent are likely to use safer pes ticides in the future and 71 percent are likely to use fewer pesticides. • Farmers support efforts to eli minate pesticide misapplication. Two-thirds favor tougher enforce ment of penalties for misapplica tion and 41 percent favor mandat ory education and certification for those who apply pesticides. Gallup said they found no sta tistically significant differences in regions of the country or age of farmers. Frank Webb, University of Delaware Cooperative Exten- Woys Have Always Loved Farm Life think that agriculture in Bedford County has a bright future if young farmers are willing to accept the changes that will happen. “Farmers here are just begin ning to experience the problems that farms have been having furth er east in the state. Outsiders are taking a look at this land. They sell their farms down east for a big sum of money, then they are will ing to pay higher and higher prices for the land here. “Some of it doesn’t make sense. It would be mighty hard to recoup some of the money being spent for land in these parts. But, it’s being done. “Environmentally, we must keep a good PR relationship between the people. There are more people and, as the area gets more populated, we have to take things into consideration such as how we spread our manure. “We’re trying to do our part with a paper shredder which pro duces our own bedding. We’ve worked with local schools and restaurants on community paper drives to get old newspapers for recycling. School kids like to come for tours and see what we are doing. ‘There are a lot of changes, but, I hope my boys will both experi ence at least some of the joys I have had on the farm.” One of the highlights of the Woys farming career came in 1961 when they received the “Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year” award and went on to place second in the state. Loren’s passion for farming has extended over into his social life. He’s a long-time member of the Bedford County Farmers Associa tion, Bedford County Extension, and the Bedford County Grange. He is also active with the Planning Commission, on the ASCS Com mittee, and is one of the most active members of the Deer Dam age Committee established in Bedford County about two years ago. “We are attempting to commu nicate with the Pennsylvania Game Commission on what can be done about the thousands and Poll: Environment Top Concern sion weed specialist said similar results would be found in a poll of Delaware farmers. “I suspect our growers in Delmarva are probably more aware and conscientious of water quality problems,” said Webb. “Environmental projects includ ing the Inland Bays Project and the Chesapeake Bay Initiative in Maryland have focused on reduc ing nutrient and pesticide conta mination of the water. Our fanners are also concerned about nutrient loading from poultry manure here.” Webb said that at county and regional agricultural meetings, he has observed a growing interest in using agricultural management practices that are in the best inter est of families, community and the environment. “Farmers are responsible indi viduals they have to be,” he said. “If water is contaminated, the farmer drinks it first. There is no lack of concern in the agricul tural community.” Webb notes that attention to safety involving use of pesticides has caused an increased use of cab tractors with charcoal filters and thousands of dollars of damage being done to county farmer’s crops each year,” Loren said. “If we could harvest the deer without going through so many channels, it would make it a lot easier. Right now, a lot of harvest ing is done undercover and the meat goes to waste. If there were a better system, farmers could save their crops and a lot of hungry people could be provided with good meat “We (the Woys) have come up with a partial solution,” Loren said. “We don’t farm all of our com in one place. If we plant two or three acres here and there, we divert them somewhat We also plant some field com around the outside parameters of other crops in an attempt to divert their hunger in another direction. “Keeping hunters, farmers, and the Game Commission all happy with the deer situation takes a lot of good communication. There are no quick answers,” Loren said. The Woys pose the front yard of their picturesque Bedford County farm. They are, left to right, seated, Loren holding granddaughter, Kylelgh and Joan Holding Brittney Pennington. Standing are Brandy, Chuck and Beth Pennington, Wanda and Barry, and Amy and Brian Way. protective clothing, including gloves and goggles. In addition, new label restrictions on agricul tural chemicals and required record keeping are causing far mers to change the way they do business. There is an increased cost of Agway Offers Improved SYRACUSE. N.Y. A unique new on-farm mixing-system and three new concentrated teat dips make it easier for dairy farmers to control mastitis in their milking herds. Agway dairy route salespeople, Service Centers, and stores offer a new E-Z Mix concentrate teat dip system developed by Klenzade to provide dairy producers with con venient, economical, and effective mastitis control. The closed sys tem produces quality teat dips with precise germicide levels and a stable shelf life of one year. The system consists of a water Linda Williams has been Bed ford County’s correspondent to Lancaster Farming for the past four years. She resides near Bedford and works as an insurance agent and a free-lance writer. Writing agri cultural, women’s, childrens, and personality features, she has been published in many local, regional, and national publications. Her favorite diversions from work are enjoying her grandson, gardening, biking, walking, and sightseeing. Linda is active in numerous community organiza tions, including the Heart Asso ciation, Cancer Society, and St. John’s United Church of Christ. operating under these new regula tions. Additional record keeping takes time, as does training farm workers to handle restricted pesti cides. The additional costs are borne by the farmer. However, according to the poll, only one in five farmers said that public opin- Teat Dip System metering gun that assures accurate mixing, the E-Z one gallon “bag in-a-box” concentrate, and a reus able 15-gallon plastic drum. Dairy fanners can place the lightweight E-Z mix bow in a wall-mounted or drum-top dispensing rack, attach a quick connect hose to the box and another to the gun, and then squeeze the water metering gun’s trigger to make IS gallons of teat dip for use during milking operations. The system is completely water-driven and requires no electricity. It eliminates the mess, waste, and spills often associated LINDA WILLIAMS Bedford Co. Correspondent ion was affecting his or her job because of excessive regulation and restriction. Copies of the 1993 Sandoz National Ag Poll are available from Sandoz Agro Inc., 1300 East Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018. with mixing teat dips in the milk ing parlor. The plastic lined boxes are much easier to dispose of than the conventional drums. To further assure the quality of the farm-mixed teat dip, Klenzade provides free quality analysis of dairy farmers’ water supplies. The Agway officials credit Klenzade with more than 50 years of experi ence in producing effective deter gents, sanitizers, and udder health products tested at the Agway Farm Research Center near Tully. i N.Y., and offered to dairy farmers \ throughout the Northeast Linda Williams
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