KA &ger »t ■'9lrtwo»n .nrirrmß iptrsvc i A2B-Lancaatef Farmlnfl, Saturday, Dectmbar 31, 1994 Chamber Committee Works To Unify Ag’s Voice ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff REFTON (Lancaster Co.) Reassessment. Farm finances. Animal welfare. Nutrient management. Those are the issues that fanners face every day in the ’9os. Many are confused about the issues. What can they do? Newly elected Lancaster Cham ber of Commerce board member Ken Meek, a diversified livestock farmer in Refton, knows how important representation is to achieving results. Meek has been working for the past several years to “unify” the voice of agriculture in Lancaster County so farm orga nization leaders can “get together to discuss possible solutions rather than sending out dissenting mess sages,” he said during a recent interview at his farm. Meek, who maintains a 30,000-bird pullet house and finishes out 200 head of beef cattle and 1,200 head ofhogs each year at his farm, said the agriculture com mittee at the chamber is planning an array of programs to help far mers understand the issues and work to solve them. The chamber is working closely with the Lancaster County Farm Bureau to help promote a series of meetings in various county loca tions scheduled for January and February on the countywide reas sessment, set to begin in July. “One of the things we want to encourage is farmer participation in the reassessment meetings,’’ said Meek. Many farmers will be affected in a big way with reassess ment in the county and need to know what’s involved. “We want to get in touch with these farmers so that they can understand what's coming.” Also, the chamber has worked to expand the annual agrifinance seminar, scheduled Jan. 26 at the Farm and Home Center in Lancas ter. The first seminar held last year, which provided “very positive feedback,” said Meek, was limited to 40 farmers. This year, the semi nar is limited to SO farmers, who may be sponsored by their ag len der. Those interested should con tact Roger Rohrer at 291-3707. At the seminar, the topic is “Managing Success As a Family Farm,” featuring Dr. Donald J. Jonovic, farm management expert. Founder of Cleveland’s. Family Business Management Services and president of Jamieson Press, Jonovic has authored six books about family business and business management. Also featured at the seminar will be Dr. David Kohl, professor of ag economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He will be speaking about managing farm finances. Meek, who grows 2SO acres of crops for all three aspects of his business, has been recently elected to a three-year term at die cham ber. Meek said the chamber’s ag committee is looking for more diverse representation of farming in the county, including dairy, beef, poultry, hogs, and sheep. They have recently announced a position is open for somebody in production agriculture, specifical ly vegetable and fruit growers in the county. In recent years, the chamber has also provided information at the annual Ag Expo, held in Lancaster Square, and has served as a spon sor at the annual Kteider’s Farm Open House in the summer. Meek indicated that the cham ber’s work extends into educating farmers about the concerns that a lot of producers face in the county, state, and nationwide. One concern on die front burner is animal welfare. The ag committee is working, according to Meek, to “see that the message gets out that fanners are concerned about the welfare of their animals and their livestock,” he said. “If they aren’t, economi cally, they aren’t going to survive.” Another major concern is the prices for livestock, particularly hogs and beef. One concern is the lack of long-term committment some processors are showing to the smaller farmer. “I think the processor has to be a little more aggressive in trying to establish a rapport with not just the large operators, but also the small operators,’ ’ he said. ‘ T think at this time that processors are probably looking at the large complexes and making agreements with them and they really don’t have too much set up for the small producer. They certainly aren’t giving (the small producer) much economic stability.” Also, nutrient management, in terms of controlling feedlot runoff, has to be a concern for producers. Meek praised the small produc ers for the “tradition” that is Lan caster County agriculture, but encouraged more representation in helping the chamber achieve one of its goals: communicate farming to nonfarming members of the community, and the concerns far mers face. Mifflin (Continuad from Pag* A 1) agriculture. “As development occurs, we need to plan the agricultural out come for our children and grand children. It takes leadership. When the bulldozers arrive, it’s too late. “There is hope,” Cole said. “There are farms outside urban areas that are surviving. It takes place because of leadership and planning and the role of impor tance of agriculture. It takes com munity and local government sup port to make it work.” Cole said one way farmers are making it is through direct market ing. “There are only two ways to make a profit—to lower the cost of production or raise the price of the product. More farms are going to increase the price of their product through direct marketing.” Farm ers must also fight to retain that right to direct market. Cole also said the size of farm ing and the concentration of farm ing in the U.S. is changing. “By 1995, 70 percent of our chicken will be produced by five farms. By 1995, 60 percent of the hogs will be processed by four to five companies. “There are shifts in agriculture, towards climate and to where ' water is. The dairy cows are leav ing California and moving to Idaho. Because of irrigation in Idaho, potato and fruit growers experience few foliage diseases. And there’s no manure manage ment in Wyoming.” Cole attends seven or eight extension annual meetings each year and said it restores his faith in humanity because he see; a group of people who give of themselves for the betterment of humanity. Newly elected Lancaster Chamber of Commerce board member Ken Meek, a diver sified livestock farmer In Refton, knows how Important representation Is to achieving results. Meek has been working for the past several years to “unify” the voice of agri culture In Lancaster County so farm organization leaders can “get together to discuss possible solutions rather than sending out dissenting messsages,” he said during a recent interview at his farm. “Personally, I think it’s good to have farmers share their County Speaking to more than 70 friends of and leaders in extension, Dr. Herbert Cole of Penn State talks about sustaining agriculture for the future through leadership. Earlier in the evening during the meeting, John Czerni akowski welcomed guests, Nancy Massa motioned for acceptance of the 1093 minutes, and Helen Kirk gave the treasurer’s report. County Extension Director Dave Filson distributed the annual report and highlighted its purpose and contents. Of extension, the volunteers, and leaders ip general, Filson concluded that “a lot of peo ple’s lives have been changed because of our efforts.” \ Regional Director Dr. Harold viewpoints with those that work with the fanners and the nonfaim Elected for leadership on the Mifflin County Extension Committee are, from left, Joyce Uhland, treasurer; J. Loren Yoder, vice president; and Nancy Massa, secretary. Ott thanked attending legislators and commissioners for their finan cial support. - J. Robert Stauffer conducted the election of directors and offi cers. Elected to serve on the board for five year terms were Beth Portrait Of Dean Unveiled At University NEWARK, Del.—A portrait of Dr. Ddfiaki F. Crossan, former dean of the College of Agricultural Sci ences, was unveiled Nov. 19 at the University of Delaware. The portrait, which was painted by local artist Russell Finley, hangs in the lobby of Townsend Hall next to the portrait of former dean George Worrilow. The unveiling ceremony to honor Crossan’s lifelong career at the col lege was held during the Agricultural Alumni Association’s annual tailgate patty. More than 100 people were in attendance at the ceremony. ‘T like die idea that my portrait is hanging next to George Womlow’s,” Crossan said. George hired me, he was my mentor and he had a great public, because of the impact that agriculture has on their lives.” Knepp, Dr. Christopher Custer, J. Lester Yoder, and Terry Clemens. The 1995 officers will be Presi- dent Alan Laughlin, Vice Presi dent J. Loren Yoder, Secretary Nancy Massa, and Treasurer Joyce Uhland. influence on my career as dean. He was dedicated to service for the farm sector. George set the stage and I fol lowed in his footsteps.” Dr. John C. Nye, current dean of the College of Apiculture] Sciences, said that the portrait will serve as a reminder of how much Crossan achieved at the college—as a teacher, as an. administrator, and as an advo cate for agriculture in Delaware. Crossan was dean from 1977 to 1991. Under his leadership, the col lege’s classroom and laboratory space more than doubled with the completion of Wotrilow Hall and the Fischer Greenhouse Laboratory. He was instrumental in substantially increasing total student enrollment as well as the percentage of women on the faculty.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers