AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 29, 1994
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OPINION
Where Is the Milk Surplus?
Any dairy farmer with some longevity will always make the
following comment, “As long as I can remember someone has
always cried out that there is a big surplus of milk.” The same
farmer will usually say that he beard his father utter the same
words.
Is there really a surplus milk problem or are the surplus
words just rhetoric to be used as a weapon to maintain low
milk prices to area dairy farmers? Are these low milk prices
designed to drive even more dairy farmers out of business?
What is surplus milk? To me, the best way to analyze surplus
milk is to evaluate the amount of dairy products in storage by the
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
I further understand that certain milk handlers may have
additional problems on weekends or certain holidays, but by
and large the milk is processed under normal conditions.
Actually, dairy farmers should be standing up and demanding
a better prices for their milk. They should do this because for the
second straight year the CCC has NO uncommitted cheese in
storages. Actually the CCC is going out unto the open market and
purchasing cheese to fulfill their commitments.
In a little over a year the product everyone said we would
never get rid of has been reduced from 445 million lbs. in storage
to less than 100 million lbs. and is decreasing all the time. This
product of course is BUTTER. And, if certain people would get
on the butter-margarine case then the storage of butter could be
wiped out.
Powdered milk inventories have increased, but you proba
bly thank Class 111 A pricing and the California make
allowance for those inventories.
Now if there is no cheese uncommitted in this country, and
with butter sales increasing, then why aren’t dairy farmers
receiving fair prices?
As Peter Seman would say, “The dairy farmers must wake
up and support the real efforts to correct their inadequate milk
prices.”
Regardless of what anyone tells you the so-called self-help
program ia neither designed or intended to give dairy farmers a
fair price.
The only way dairy farmers will receive a fair price is the
day when dairy fanners collectively stand up and say “We have
had enough. ”
The average price paid to dairy farmers during 1993 in Fed
eral Order #2 was $12.61 per cwt. In 1981 the price was
$13.39. Are dairy farmers willing to accept lower prices today
than they received 12 years ago?
Why don’t you as a dairy farmer call the USDA at 202-219-
0803, ask them what the cost of producing milk was in 1981 and
what it is today, and then ask yourself why you just received
$ 12.44 per cwt for August milk.
There was a time when there was some real concern regard
ing the price paid to dairy farmers. However, that time is quick
ly vanishing. Today the philosophy of many milk companies,
dairy processing cooperatives and many government people has
changed and the only concern is the volume of milk. In their
eyes a satisfactory amount of milk at a cheap price equals pros
perity. This prosperity goes to everyone except dairy farmers.
A fellow dairy farmer has gone into the livestock business.
He said the following to me, “Arden, I know you said it was
bad on the farms, but I never would have believed that it was as
bad as it is until I visited several dairy farmers.” He said,
“You’re right. It’s a near disaster on so many farms and some
thing has to be done soon.”
My friend is right. Something has to be done and dairy farm
ers must stand up and demand changes now. Failing to do so will
only send thousands more of dairy farmers into oblivion.
Arden Tewksbury, Manager, ProAg
Farm Calendar
Md. Shorthorn Association Fall
Calf Sale, Frederick Fair
grounds, Frederick, Md., 7 p.m.
Backyard Composting Workshop
Series, Springettsbury Town
ship Municipal Building/
National Association of Extension
Estate Planning Seminars, Glatfel
ter Insurance, York, also Nov.
Ephrata Area Young Farmers
monthly meeting. Ephrata High
To Turn
Clocks Back
This weekend we go back to
standard lime. That means at 2
a.m. Sunday, we turn our clocks
back one hour.
This is a good' time to check
smoke detectors in our homes to
make sure they are working and
place new batteries in them.
Remember, it will take animals a
few days to adjust to the new time
change.
You may want to consider mak
ing gradual changes involving
chores with animals. Most poultry
operations always keep their time
clocks on standard time. This
weekend would be a good time to
check your clocks and make sure
they are set properly for feeding
times and length of daylight. '
Remember, you never want to
increase day length on growing
pullets or decrease day length on
laying hens.
So, do not forget to turn your
clocks back this weekend. Other
wise, you may be one hour early
for church.
To Manage
Fall Alfalfa
Fall is here and the annual con
cerns of managing alfalfa fields
during the fall are upon us.
The shorting day length and
cooler temperatures tell the winter
School, 7:30 p.m.
Solanco Young Farmer meeting,
Solanco High School Ag Class-
room, 7:30 p.m.
Lebanon Conservation District
Award Program, Ag Center,
12:45 p.m.
Ag Advisory Council (Penn State)
membership meeting, Penn
State Scanticon Hotel, 9:30
a.m.-4 p.m.
Plastic pesticide container pickup,
Henry Hoover Agway, Ephrata,
Bradford County Cooperative
Extension annual meeting,
Wysox Presbyterian Church
Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Berks County Farm-City Banquet,
Wayne County Holstein annual
meeting, Bellmont Comers Fire
Hall, Pleasant Mount, 7:45 p.m.
Plastic pesticide container pickup,
G&G Agway, Manheim, 9
a.m.-3 p.m.
Wyoming County Sheep and Wool
Producers Association Roast
Lamb Dinner and Program,
Centermoreland United
Methodist Church, 6 p.m.
Columbia County Extension annu
al meeting, Magee Center (near
Fairgrounds), 5:30 p.m.
(Turn to Pag* A3O)
hardy varieties of alfalfa to deve
lop cold resistance. .During this
hardening process, plants reduce
topgrowth and increase the amount
of carbohydrates they store in the
roots.
This carbohydrate storage is
important because in the spring
these stored carbohydrates are
responsible for the first six inches
of growth. After that initial
growth, photosynthesis in the new
growth will produce the needed
carbohydrates.
Some management considera
tions to help improve winter survi
val of alfalfa include maintaining
good soil fertility and pH and
planting the most disease-resistant
varieties available with high yield
potential. This will reduce stress
and increase winter survival.
It is important to encourage the
storage of carbohydrates and leav
ing enough plant growth or stubble
to protect the crown.
To Consider
Fall Cutting
Of Alfalfa
During September and early
f
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9Y tAWRENCE W ALEHOUSE ;
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WHAT GOD DOES WITH
FLAWED HELP
October 30,1994
Background Scripture;
I Samuel 13
Devotional Reading:
I Samuel 15:22-26
I Samuel 13 is often used to
illustrate the principle that disobe
dience to God causes dire conse
quences. But, although I believe
in that principle, I have my doubts
that this story is an example of it.
As it stands, the story is somewhat
confusing. Let’s take a look at it.
In one of his first acts as King
of Israel, Saul —the man who did
n’t want to be king— recruits an
army of 3,000 men, putting one
third of it under his son, Jonathan.
Saul’s force of 2,000 was kept at
Michmash, a town seven miles
northeast of Jerusalem. Jonathan
and his force of 1,000 men were
keep at GibeahflGiba. Up to this
point, war had not broken out
between the Israelites and the
Philistines.
Then, apparently without his
father’s advance knowledge, Jon
athan precipitates the revolt by
killing the local Philistine garri
son. In response, the Philistines
muster a force of 30,000 striking a
terrible fear into the hearts of the
Israelites. At Gilgal, Saul is wait
ing with his forces. For seven days
as he had been instructed by
Samuel. At the end of the seven
days, Samuel had not come as
and Saul’s army began
to desert. In desperation, Saul
decides to perform the ritual of
peace offerings.
A REASONABLE
RESPONSE?
No sooner had he done this
than Samuel arrives and begins to
berate Saul for having dared to
perform the priestly function for
which he, Samuel, was to have
performed. Saul’s response seems
reasonable: “When I saw that the
people were scattering from me,
and that you did not come within
the days appointed, and that the
Philistines had mustered at Mich
mash, I said, ‘...1 have not
entreated the favor of the Lord’;
October, weather conditions
remained favorable for alfalfa
growth.
Most fields are tall enough to
harvest. However, when it comes
time to harvest, it is important to
understand the benefits and the
risks to the crop if it is harvested.
According to Robert Anderson,
extension agronomy agent, one of
the key considerations is the
impact that fall harvest will have
on winter survival. If the alfalfa
field has come into bloom, it
should be harvested. Normally,
alfalfa will begin new growth after
reaching full bloom regardless of
being harvested or not
Newer stands are less suscepti
ble to winter injury following fall
harvest than are older stands.
Belief is that the length of time
since the previous harvest is more
important than the actual date of
the last harvest. If it has been at
least 43 days since the previous
harvest, further delay of harvest is
not necessary.
Feather Profs Footnote:
"Enthusiasm is like a ripple in the
water ... it spreads."
so I forced myself and offered the
burnt offering” (13:13).
Samuel’s retort seems harsh:
“You have done foolishly, you
have not kept the commitment of
the Lord your G0d...” For one
thing, we have no record of a
commandment from God forbid
ding Saul to perform a sacrifice.
There may have been one, but the
writer of I Samuel has not provid
ed it for us. Secondly, it is by no
means clear that it was forbidden
for anyone but Samuel to offer
sacrifices. In I Samuel 14:35 Saul
does it without reproach and in II
Samuel 24:25 King David does it
Third, if, as Samuel implies, his
delay was a test of Saul’s faith, it
would indicate only Saul’s lack of
faith in Samuel, not the Lord.
After all, Samuel did not come
when he said he would.
A HARSH RETORT?
There may be extenuating cir
cumstances, not included in the
text, that would justify Samuel’s
response. Otherwise, I suspect
that what we have here is a case of
professional jealousy. Ecclesiasti
cal officials—priests, rabbis, min
isters, bishops have often been
jealous of their special religious
prerogatives. Jesus ran afoul of
the Scribes and the Pharisees
because he sometimes failed to
keep their rules and regulations
and his ministry was dearly a
threat to their exclusive religious
authority. As a clergyman, I
would have to acknowledge that
Samuel’s indignant response to
Saul has a familiar ring to it.
The only saving grace I find
here is that, although Samuel pro
nounces a harsh judgment upon
Saul, God does not take Saul’s
kingdom from him at this time. He
continues to use Saul for his pur
poses and, instead of sulking
because he knows his dynasty will
not last, Saul goes back to work at
a job he didn’t want in the first
place. God could still use this
flawed man-and us.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Budding
1 E. Main St
Ephrata, PA 17522
by
Laneaeter Farming, I no.
* OTWvnwv crMprM
Robert Q. CampbM Qaoaral Manager
Ewm R. Maamangir Managing EdNor
CanrHghl IH4 by UnoMer Fuming