Ussmsi OPINION The Rural Health Care Reform We Need While all Americans have a stake in the health care reforms that are being proposed on the national level, rural and agricul tural communities and individuals face special challenges. More than 95 percent of fanners and ranchers are self-employed and pay the cost of insurance coverage right out of their pockets and are not able to pass on health care expenses as part of the price of their products. Many other businesses do pass these costs on to the consumers*of their products. We believe Congress should provide “tax fairness” that would provide 100 percent deductibility of health insurance costs for self-employed people. Employees of companies with proper programs can have health insurance costs deducted from their wages before employment taxes are figured. Why shouldn’t farmers be able to deduct their health insurance costs before paying income taxes too? In addition, farmers and other rural Americans should have the option to keep their current coverage, choose from voluntary competing alliances, or form their own alliances if they wish. Under many current proposals, farmers wouldn’t be able to keep the plan they now have, even if it costs them less and they like it more. Rural Americans can and should be one of the winners in health care reform. But when the tough decisions are made, we can’t be forgotten or lumped into a group whose needs arc not the same as the unique needs of agriculture. As Communicat ing for Agriculture, Inc. has said in an open letter to Congress: “The health care reform we get should be the health care reform we need.” Farm Calendar Saturday, .) 11 1> 2 Kutztown Folk Festival, Folk Fes tival Grounds, thru July 10. Berks County Wool Pool, Lees port Farmers’ Market, Lees port, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Delaware Valley Milk Goat Asso ciation Annual Dairy Goat Show, Allentown Fairgrounds, 8:30 a.m. National Holstein Convention, Forage Quality Management pre sentation, Fulper Farms, Lam bertville, N.J. Meeting on biosecurity, BVD situ ation, Central High School auditorium, Martinsburg, 8 p.m. Lancaster County 4-H Fashion Revue, Farm and Home Center, Lancaster County pesticide con tainer recycling, Gideon King, Kinzers, also Aug. 5 and Sept 6. Forage Quality Management pre sentation, Gibbsquest Dairies, Allamuchy, N.J. SRBC Public Hearings on Water Use, Perryville High School Auditorium, Perryville. Md., 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Young Cooperator’s Leaders’ Conference, Ramada Inn, Day, Landisville, 9 a.m.-noon. Rockspring Research Farm Tour and Barbecue, Penn State Ag Progress Days site. Rockspring, 3:30-dark. Forage Quality Management pre- sentation, Klein’s Farm, Easton. Feedlot Management Forum, Yod er’s Family Restaurant, New Weed Science Field Day, Penn State Rockspring, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Keystone Stud Ram and Ewe Show and Sale, State College Ag Arena, thru July 9. Fawn Grove Fair, Fawn Grove, thru July 10. Berks County Summer Field Trip, bus leaves Berks County Ag Center to farms in Chester County and Unionville area, 7 a.m. S;lllll(l;n, ,|til\ <J Farm Forum Contrary to the “trend of annual cuts to agriculture” mentioned in your paper’s budget story last week, state funding for agriculture has increased year after year under the Casey Administration. Like other state agencies, the Depart ment of Agriculture tightened its belt when doing so was in the best interest of the citizens, but the facts clearly show that state funding for the Department under the Casey Administration has increased from $31.4 million in fiscal year 1986-87 to $43.8 million for fiscal year 1994-95. This is an increase of 39.5 percent. Once again, Governor Casey has demonstrated his support for Pen nsylvania’s producers and con sumers. By signing the new state budget, the Governor has given Pennsylvania’s animal agriculture the funding source needed to move toward completion of the tripartite diagnostic system. The New 80l- Now Is rrrf nrt • The Time By John Schwartz Lancaster County Agricultural Agent To Attend Animal Housing Expo The Annual Animal Housing Expo will be held July 12-13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Lebanon Fairgrounds in Lebanon. The design and construction of animal housing facilities has a long-term effect on the health and productivity of animals and the profitability of the farm. The Ani mal Housing Expo affords lives tock, dairy and poultry producers an opportunity to receive new ideas and assistance in the design and construction of animal hous ing and handling facilities. There will be commercial exhi bitors and educational speakers including Dr. David Kohl, Viigini a Tech, on financial planning; Dr. Doug Reineman, University of Wisconsin, on milking system management; and Dr. Howard Per son, Michigan State, on building design for rodent and bird control. This year will also feature an evening tour and cookouL The tour will feature a new dairy freestall and milking parlor. Reservations are required for the tour. For more information, contact your local extension office or the Lancaster County Coopera- Ephrata Area Young Farmers Association annual family picnic, Ephrata Community Derry Township Fair, Derry, thru July 16. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Fair, Pocono Downs, thru July 16. Mason-Dixon Red and White (Tilm to Pag# A3l) ton Center will receive $580,000 through the Animal Health Com mission to help refurbish its toxi cology unit The Governor has also commit ted to support nutrient manage ment efforts; help dairy farmers comply with new federal rules; and purchase more lab supplies to increase testing for Avian Influen za, SE, Johnes and pseudorabies. I am very proud of Governor Casey’s support for Pennsylvani a’s leading industry. Anyone who has visited the Farm Show in recent years has seen tangible proof of that interest. Moreover, all of us who appreciate the Animal Health Commission, the planned animal health laboratory, Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation effort and new producer-controlled commod ity marketing programs know whose leadership made it possible. Boyd E. Wolff, PA Ag Secretary live Extension Office at (717) 394-6851. To Explore Teen Tax Credit The July issue of Money maga zine had a short statement on an under-used tax credit. If you are self-employed, you might be able to take advantage of this targeted jobs tax credit You can claim a 40 percent tax credit for up to $3,000 in wages paid to 16- and 17-year-olds who work for you between May 1 and September 1. That is $1,200 off your tax bill. The youth must be a member of an economically disadvantaged family. For more information, contact your accountant or call the IRS at 800-Tax-Form and ask for your free copy of IRS Publication 907. To Adjust Swine Rations Heat affects swine production, f BY LAWRENCE W ALEHOUSE 'IHf _ SUSILg A DAY'S PORTION July 3,1994 A DAY'S PORTION July 3. 1994 Background Scripture: Exodus 16 Devotional Reading: Exodus 17:1-13 I marvel when I think that the Exodus actually took place several thousand years ago, for there are elements in this story that are as contemporary as today’s newspa per. For one thing, the complaint to Moses and Aaron by the people of Israel: “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (16:3). That sounds like something that could have been voiced in the Ad ministrative Board of our church. Not those words, of course, but something quite similar. Think of the context of these complaints; after years of slavery in Egypt, through Moses God has led the people of Israel out of their bond agae and enabled them to escape the wrath of the Egyptians. Fur thermore, God has promised to lead them to a prosperous Prom ised Land that will be their inheri tance. What a spot to be in! But the Israelites didn’t see it that way. Yes, it was good not to be slaves anymore. Yes, the mira culous escape from Egypt had been thrilling. And, yes, they were happy to be going to Canaan. But now they were hungry and that was all they could think about What good are a great past and the promise of an even greater future, if in the present moment we have empty bellies? LATELY? Their complaint reminds me of the story of the man who ap proached his friend and said, “Sam, I know that when I needed help to build my house, you pitch ed in. And when I was down on my luck, you loaned me enough to get me through. When I was in need of a job, you steered me in according to Chester Hughes, extension livestock agent Hogs are more sensitive to heat the heavier they get Heat-stressed pigs eat less, which means their growth rate takes a turn for the worse. As a hog surpasses 200 pounds, daily feed intake may drop to near zero when temperatures exceed 90 degrees F. With summer weather upon us, it is a good idea to re evaluate the nutrient density of your finishing ration. Start with the amino acids, the most limiting nutrient for growing and finishing pigs. Up the lysine during hot weather by 10 to IS per cent Adding energy dense fat to the diet (fat has about 2.25 times more energy than carbohydrates or protein) helps maintain pigs’ calorie intake. Because it is more easily digested than fiber, fat helps keep body temperatures down. Feather Prof s Footnote: "Seek to understand before you seek to be understood .” the right direction. And when my wife walked out on me, you talked her into giving me another chance. But, Sam, things aren’t going too good for me right now. So what have you done for me lately?” (Sam and God seem to have the same “friends.”) Someone has said, “Be careful what you pray for; God just might give it to you.” The people of Is rael had prayed long and hard, asking God to lift from them the yoke of Egyptian slavery. If only they could be free! So now they were free, but that did not satisfy them. Now they longed to return to that slavery in Egypt so that they would have enough to eat. (“... died by the hand of the Lord” means to die by natural causes.) Are we not like that, too? Often we would rather have ma terial security than freedom. Free dom doesn’t look as good on an empty stomach. DAILY BREAD Once again, God responds to their prayers (like many of us to day, their prayers were mainly complaints). “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion, that I may prove them” (16:4). God was going to test their faith by giving them just enough food for one day at a time. Perhaps this verse inspired the pe tition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” There were some 1994-style people in that Israelite band. Al though told to gather only enough for their daily need, some clever souls decided to gather more and stockpile it (Maybe the first black market!) Others, told not to leave any manna until morning, did just that These people demonstrated their lack of faith. They were not willing to live by God’s promise alone. Sometimes it seems difficult to trust God's providence. But that's what he asks of us. to live one day at a time, to be satisfied with one day’s portion and to trust him for the rest. Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A SMhmn Emttprim Robert Q. Campbell General Manager Event R. Nawtwangar Managing Editor Copyright iaa4 by Unoatlar Farming
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers