A2B- Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, February 25, 1985 HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) The Pennsylvania Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Pro gram polled Pennsylvania sheep producers’ perceptions of the Vol untary Scrapie Flock Certification Program The poll, one of the first of its kind in the nation, sought feed back from producers to enable the board to be more responsive in addressing the concerns of Penn sylvania shepherds. The board is made up of representatives from producer groups, allied industry, and state and federal regulatory personnel. Questionnaires were sent to more than 1,300 sheep producers in the state of Pennsylvania last summer. Of the 12 percent responding, 48 percent of the active producers indicated will ingness to participate in the pro gram. Of the respondents, 68 per cent reported having received information on the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Pro gram from the extension service. Sixty percent received informa tion from magazines, 53 percent from private veterinarians, 39 per cent from meetings, 25 percent from the mail, 22 percent from the state and nine percent from the federal government A full 82 percent of producers responding considered the scrapie program to be worthwhile, with 48 A LESSON WELL LEARNED... LANCASTER FARMING'S CLASSIFIED ADS GET RESULTS! Results From Scrapie Program Poll percent of producers willing to participate in the voluntary pro gram. A little half of the producers (51 percent) thought problems existed in the program. However, 74 percent of this same group thought the program was worthy just the same. Addressing produc er perceptions, roughly one third felt one problem area was regula tory involvement and almost half of the producers viewed funding for the program as a problem. Half of the producers who per ceived problems with the volun tary program viewed animal ID as a concern. Approximately one third of the sheep producers felt lack of adequate manpower to be a concern —this same number, about a third, felt oversight of the program to be a problem. Ten per cent of the producers were con cerned about program delivery. The success of the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Pro gram is dependent on producer participation. Producers who see problems in the program are less likely to see the program as worth while. The results of the Pennsyl vania poll showed no specific type of problem predominating. Since the extension service and maga zines were cited most frequently as providing producers with informa tion, these avenues should be uti lized effectively for transfer of information to producers, rather See our beautiful new Wood & Gas Stoves. at 2533 Old Phila Pike, Rt 340, Smoketown, PA 3 miles east of Lancaster Tue., Thurs., & Fri. 10-8; Wed. & Sat. 10-5 * See the New “STRATFORD CLASSIC” Coal Stoves (717)397-7539 PAUL B. BOiOODIiEr'OuOiIGO INC. \\ S GROOMING CHUTeE Powder than relying on state and federal agencies to disseminate informa tion. Reasons cited by producers for not participating in the program reflected lack of familiarity with the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certi fication Program and lack of understanding of scrapie as a dis ease process itself. It is not a dis ease of “black-face sheep” any more, but is found in white-face sheep as well. One area for the board to serve the state’s produc ers would seem to be in the sup plying of basic educational materi als on the program and the disease itself. This information is current ly available in the form of fact sheets, and is available, free of charge, by contacting Dr. Max Van Buskirk, Pa. Dept, of Agricul ture, Harrisburg, (717) 783-5301. Producers were helpful in sup plying feedback to the board in terms of suggestions made. Among the suggestions, two gen eral themes emerged: one, for a stronger leadership role for gov ernment (the government should make participation mandatory and government should pay for all costs to the producer participating in the program because document ing healthy sheep is not enough of an incentive). The second theme which evolved was the perceived need for more information on the program itself—what the proto- cols are for showing sheep, lost eartags, dead sheep, and more nuts-and-bolts information per taining to the daily incidents that will occur while participating in the voluntary scrapie program. The board members will spend the next few months designing strategies to best serve Pennsylva nia shepherds, based on impres sions and information gathered as Adams Starts Membership Drive GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.) A membership campaign kick-off meeting of the Adams County Farm Bureau was held recently at Boss’s Steak and Sea House in Gettysburg. Louis Sallie, admins trative sec retary of the state Farm Bureau, was guest speaker. Sallie has saved as secretary since 1992 and previously was with the American Farm Bureau as director of field service for the northeast region. He said, “The importance of staying organized as a farm bureau and active in local legislation are two of the main functions of being members in the Adams County Farm Bureau. “It is critical to maintain contact with our legislators, since less than 1.6 percent of the population is within the fanning industry,” he said. “We need to remain a strong voice to be heard.” Sallie, who holds a bachelor’s A single scratch can cause bushels Reduces yield p< Lowers toleram heat and drouth Stunts growth. Affects stand uniformity. NC+ seed corn is handled with care from the field right into the bag—to prevent harmful scratches. This process enables NC+ Hybrids to achieve 95% germination or better. And, it assures you the NC+ seed you plant will live up to its full potential. America’s down to earth seed company CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER DalmacS. Homan 814-349-8054 Dannia McConnall ....412-248-9785 Wayna S. Fraaman 717-582-2397 Bachtal Farms......' 717-896-8314 David G. Rica 610-756-8574 Wayna R. Utzanbargar. 810-847-5563 Jaffray (.. Borgar 610-381-3785 , Laon B. Waaanar 610-285-6246 Clarsnca B. Mull 717-865-2037 Urla C. Yodar 717-524-7739 Elvln M. Hurah 717-733-3538 Arthur 8. Aukar.... 717-865-8627 David B. Sanar 717-538-8103 ....Samual E. Knouaa.... 717-443-2845 ...Donald Emal. 809-769-1877 ...Rogar L. Sanar 717-638-8307 ,R. Todd Lalalar ..4104484828 Aaronaburg, PA Blairavllla, PA Etllotaburg, PA Halifax, PA Kampton, PA Klntnaravllla, PA Kunklatown, PA Kutztown, PA Labanon, PA Lawlaburg, PA Lltltz, PA Manhaim, PA Mlffllntown, PA Rlehllatd, PA Salam.NJ Thompaontown, P^....—....... Waatminatar, MD a result of this survey. For more information on the survey, or information on the Pennsylvania Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program, con tact Dr. van Buskirk at the Pa. Dept, of Agriculture in Harrisburg (717) 783-5301, or Dr. Ulysses J Lance. VS, ASPHIS, USDA, Har risburg, (717) 782-3442. degree in social science from West Virginia’s Bluefield State College, began his career working with the New York Farm Bureau for 10 years before joining the national organization. Joel Waybright, committee chairperson, said, “Membership is the lifeblood of the organization, the membership of the organiza tion is responsible for the develop ment of local policies which are presented as resolutions to the state association to be used for the lob bying effort on the state and national levels for the farming community’s benefit” The Adams Count Farm Bureau has a membership listing of 900 farm family members. While the local bureau began a membership drive in September with a mad campaign, it launched a farmcr-to farmer program with the goal of reaching each eligible person foi membership. ' lows emergence, Weakens standability. icreases susceptibility ) pests and disease. Prevents germination. 6% CASH DISCOUNT UNTIL MARCH 18