A32-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 13 1994
DIXIE BURRIS
Laboratory Manager
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) The Pennsylvania Dairy
Herd Improvement Association
laboratory has had changes.
It scored a 100 percent for qual
ity certification and is one of the
largest milk sample testing labs on
the East Coast. It has also achieved
the rare distinction of having 100
percent compliance on the quality
control blind sample program.
The Pa.DHIA lab has four sta
tions of testing equipment that
have error-handling systems built
into them. If, for some reason, the
wrong information is obtained
from a milk sample, the machine
shuts itself down, and the compu
ter tells the operator where to look
for the problem.
This state-of-art equipment
exceeds old equipment in perfor
mance, especially in keeping the
number of incorrect readings to a
minimum because of reduced
human error.
The machines test for fat and
protein, and have the added capa
bility to test for solids-not-fat A
somatic cell counter is also
installed at each station.
Calibrations are constantly
monitored and a strict preventative
COME GROW WITH US
CHEMGRO
SERVOS SEEDS HAS BEEN MERGED
INTO CHEMGRO SEEDS
RESULTING IN A SUPERIOR SELECTION
OF FARM SEEDS NOW AND
INTO THE FUTURE
SEE US AT AG PROGRESS DAYS
— 11 P.0.80x 218
nhpmiyrrt East Petersburg, PA 17520
VIICI ■ IS* w (7*17) 569-3296
- pi (800) 346-4769
maintenance program has kept
errors and down-equipment time
to a minimum.
One thing that I consistently
emphasize is quality. We do 3.3
million samples each year, and we
have a very efficient operation.
One of our most recent changes
was with personnel. We replaced
all of our union employees with
Pa.DHIA employees, and this
changover has gone extremely
well.
The Pa.DHIA employees are a
group of people with a lot of exper
tise and many have had some
experience working on farms.
Cathy Haughout is one of our
workers with a degree in biology.
She had worked as a senior
research aide at the Center for
Mastitis Research, in the Depart
ment of Veterinary Science, at
Penn State University.
Haughout currently monitors
the quality control program in our
laboratory here in State College,
and is under my direction.
The Pa.DHIA lab is also lice
nesed to do outside work for pri
vate companies or milk coopera
tives. We currently work with
Galikers Dairy and also do some
work with MMI.
With new equipment and excel-
lent quality control, dairymen can
be assured that their test results are
authentic, and that the information
derived from those results is
reliable.
I have assumed the laboratory
manager position March 23 and
feel extremely proud to woik .with
such an excellent staff. Our group
of new employees have been in
place since April 1 and have man
aged to bring their efficiency up
within the first month, with practi
cally no noticeable difference in
turnaround time.
Visit Us
Come to the 1994 Ag Progress
Days August 16. 17. and 18 at
Rockspring, and visit the Pa.DHIA
booth.
We can get your awareness up
and increase your profits, come see
us in the Penn State University
Agricultural Science Tent The
booth is located, inside the
entrance and to the left
We will have staff available to
answer questions on all aspects of
Pa.DHIA. We also have some
exciting news about our Heifer
Management Program to share
with you.
On-farm computer systems also
seem to a highlight of many dairy
farms these days. We can help
answer some questions.
Some of our computer people,
along with field, lab, and member
ship staff will be at the tent Stop
with any question, or call anytime
at 1-800-344-8378.
Meeting Set
The annual meeting of the Pen
nsylvania Dairy Herd Improve
ment Association (Pa.DHIA) has
been set for March 10, 1995.
Stevens Feed Mill
STEVENS ALSO HANDLES PURINA PRODUCTS
FOR SPECIALTY ANIMAL NEEDS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stevens Feed Mill STEVENS, PA
According to a news release,
further details are to be announced
later and will appear here and in
members ’ month report envelopes,
along with information about dis
trict meetings.
Also, county annual banquets
are also in the planning stages.
Check with the local committees
and get involved. Make this year
the best.
Average Farm Feed
Costs For Handy
Reference
To help farmers across the state
to have handy reference of com
modity input costs in their feeding
operations for DHIA record sheets
or to develop livestock feed cost
data, here’s this week’s average
Seven Nominations Sought For PDPP Board
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
The Pennsylvania Dairy Prom
otion Program is seeking nomina
tions for its Commodity Market
ing Board.
The purpose of the program is
to promote the consumption of
milk and other dairy products and
to facilitate appropriate research.
The Commodity Marketing Board
has the authority and responsibili
ty to manage the program and dis
burse marketing funds. Currently,
21 members serve on the board,
and the terms of seven members
are scheduled to expire on Sept
30.
Board members will be selected
by State Agriculture Secretary
Boyd E. Wolff from nominations
made by producers and dairy
related organizations, associa
tions, and cooperatives represent
ing dairy farmers throughout
Pennsylvania.
IS NOW PROVIDING
A FULL LINE OF:
costs of various ingredients as
compiled from regional reports
across the state of Pennsylvania.
Remember these are averages so
you will need to adjust your figures
up or down according to-your loca
tion and the quality of your crop.
Com, No. 2y - 2.67 bu. 4.78 cwL
Wheat, No. 2 - 3.00 bu. 5.01
CWL
Barley. No. 3 - 1.73 bu. 3.70
cwt
Oats, No. 2-1.41 bu. 4.40 cwL
Soybeans. No. 1 - 5.80 bu. 9.69
CwL
Ear Com 66.81 ton 3.34 cwL
Alfalfa Hay • 105.00 ton 5.25
cwL
Mixed Hay - 103.13 ton 5.16
CwL
Timothy Hay - 104,88 ton 5.24
cwL
New appointees to the board
will serve three-year terms. Board
members are expected to attend
regular board meetings and parti
cipate in other dairy-related
functions.
Nominees must be active in the
production of milk, including, but
not limited to, representatives of
milk cooperatives and farming
associations, producer-handlers of
milk or an independent dairy farm.
In addition, the appointees are
expected to contribute their dairy
promotion assessment to the Pen
nsylvania Dairy Promotion
Program.
The deadline for submitting
nominations is August 26. 1994.
Nominees’ names and addresses
should be submitted to the Pen
nsylvania Department of Agricul
ture, Bureau of Market Develop
ment, 2301 N. Cameron St, Har
risburg. PA 17110-9408.