At-Home Schooling Helps Chester Dairy Farmers Thrive (Continued from Pago A 26) more to replace it, according to Jesse. Urban pressure But tornadoes are the least of the worries for fanners living in a county that is constantly feeling the pressure brought on by urban development Houses are taking the place of what was once lush farmland. Where mice the county had hundreds of dairies, now there is only a handful. Taxes keep rising. The property value for development keeps increasing. More farmers are quit ing the dairy business to go into what many refer to as “house' farming.” putar fMdar systtm on tha farm, which alao uaaa a mlxar for aoma grain, haylaga, and com illaga. FOR DOUBLE-CROP SOYBEANS THERE'S ONLY ONE LEADER OF THE PACK. PURSUIT* herbicide is today’s best tool for double-crop beans. It not only delivers the highest degree of overall weed control, it’s also the only postemergence product that combines contact and residual activity to give you superior control of more than 40 tough-to-control grasses and broadleaf weeds. Including velvet leaf, foxtails, cocklebur, pig weeds, nightshades, common ragweed, giant ragweed, sun flower, shattercane and seedling Johnsongrass. Without causing crop injury. And because of its ;i\' '■. ■• fij i ' ''' *{ j f „ But the Lairs see a recent change in the community that may hold some hope for fanning. . More and more Amish fanners are starting to farm the Chester County acreage. According to Martha, younger, plain farmers arc beginning to see die possibilities of caring for the good agriculture land in the county. Image changing The image of farming is chang ing as the population changes. The farm families have to deal with more urban people (who know little if anything about farming) as they move in. “A lot of people think that far mers are nothing but ignorant hicks,” said Martha. ‘‘They’re not” “It’s getting harder and harder to have a dairy farm.” said Jesse. Equipment is expensive, and expenses keep increasing. Jesse has employed many mod em methods on the farm to help educate the public that formas are responsible for the land and can make a positive contribution to the community. Conservation practices Through the Chesapeake Bay program, in 1992 Jesse installed a 12-foot deep by 60-foot wide con crete manure storage structure. Through die years, Jesse has installed a wide range of conserva tion practices that have helped benefit the land apd increase its overall productivity. Now Available in 10A Eco Pak’s ' ' • ■ ’ ’' I i! 1 1 i ( 1 !j j i j' i|h i T,’ i i According to district records, since sighing up with the program, the Lairs have installed 2,712 feet of diversions, 3,150 feet of storage terrace, 1,320 feet of under ground outlet, 900 feet of grassed waterway, and 96 acres of contour farming. Jesse, left, and David Lair Inspect a chisel plow. According to district records, back into strips a few years ago, since signing up with the program, according to Jesse. In addition, the Lain have installed 2,712 feet more diversions were installed of diversions, 3, ISO feet of storage according to plan, terrace, 1,320 feet of underground ' In 1988, he installed waterways oudet, 900 feet of grassed water way, and 96 acres of contour farm ing. Also, the Lairs installed a stream crossing for dairy cows. They follow a nutrient manage ment plan and make use of cover crops. Some grassland was placed I i-f UV' ■ ■ , nttll Vnur i‘ I j'iJl‘,l, > ii if 1 f ' i iliS'W 1 i ,il' 1 f 1 |if I ' t’ • \s/ "v advanced chemistry and low rates of application, PURSUIT offers a responsible choice for the environment. That’s die kind of leadership everyone can respect. And reason enough to try PURSUIT. See us soon. AgriCenter/^ dwlw Prafaaalmallam • Sarvlea • lavlranmantal Hatpaaiihlllty Alwiyt itad and follow libel diiactianc cmfblly. ™Tredimerir. Amerioan Cymmid Corapeny® 1994 with underground pipe {using restrictors to ensure controlled drainage). National Certifies Mid-East DHIC Labs HAGERSTOWN, certified the field and laboratory Md. National Dairy Herd operations of Mid-East DHIC for Improvement Association recently the next 12 months, according to a recent news release. According to the release, “All standards for the field services were met as they are required for this year. The lab scored 98 points out of 100. Mid-East DHIC serves members in Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and in Lancaster and Crawford counties in Pennsylva nia, with some other herds in Franklin County. More than 60 supcrvisors/tcchnicians arc employeed to serve the membership. The Mid-East DHIA Lab, located in Hager stown, Md., currently analyses more than 110,000 milk samples per month for fat and proticn content, and for somatic cells. The milk samples average '/: -day in the laboratory until the results arc transmitted to the dairy record pro ccssmg centers (DRPC’s). According to General Manager George Gra nting, “This is about as fast as we can operate while maintaining the strict standards for qual ity mandated by Nation al DHIA.” Steve Bank, laborat ory manager, oversees six lab employees, while Kelly Fisher, office manager, heads up data entry, assisted by two employees, one working part time. Bob Hope Jr., is director of field services and works with the DHI supervisors. >M' ' ' ' j f * # ! tl , ’ . >1 ‘i.W / |, ti 1 l!i ■ i ! i !| '■( if "I ■i, V '.'i,' Wi'ii Iwcmir Farming, Saturday, Juna 4.19M-A27 Jesse said that he is honored by receiving the award, although he said that many other farmers deserve it as much as he does, con sidering all the hard work they have done to promote conservation.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers