STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) —The Pennsylvania Depart
ment of Agriculture’s Meat Ani
mal Evaluation Center has
announced the final results of the
22nd Annual Bull Performance
Testing Program.
The bulls finished the 112-day
testing program on Feb. 28. The
bulls have been scanned ultrasoni
cally to determine fat thickness
and to get an estimated loineye
measurement The bulls have been
measured for hip-height and have
undergone a very comprehensive
breeding soundness examination,
which included semen collection,
scrotal circumference, and pelvic
measurements.
The bulls will have health pap
ers to go anywhere. For anyone
concerned about the recent BVD
problems, these bulls would be the
safest bet available for adding out
standing genetics with the most
safeguards available. These bulls
were blood tested for BVD and
have had two BVD vaccinations
prior to arrival at the test station
and they were given another boos
ter after coming off test.
The breeders who have bulls
consigned to the testing program
are required to be involved with an
cm the farm performance testing
program, and consequently the
bulls have complete EPD’s
available.
The sale committee has met and
selected the bulls to be sold in the
Kingston (Luzerne Co.) Do
you take pride in maintaining your
dairy farm? Does your dairy farm
project an attractive, wholesome
image to consumers? If so, the
Dairy Of Distinction Program of
New York, New Jersey and Penn
sylvania will consider your farm
for the program’s annual recogni
tion-awards.
The Northeast Dairy Farm
Beautification Program was first
Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the
wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages
public support for the dairy industry. The award gives recognition
to the dairy farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead.
ELIGIBILITY
All Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are invited to
make application for the award. Dairies receiving the 10 highest
scores in each of the 91 districts will receive an 18” x 24” Dairy of
Distinction sign to be displayed in front of their farm.
Mailing Address
Cooperative or Handler (wh® >.« iiup your m.ik
(Your Handler will he contacted to approve your milk quality)
Location (driving directions forjudging team)
County (where your famt is located)
I hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Committee to
have my dairy scored in accordance with the rules of the program for the
purpose of obtaining a Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed on my
premises. (No producer will be charged for scoring or sign expense.)
Signature of Owner/Operalor
Return application by April 15. New York dairies send to Carol Weddle,
New York Holstein Association, 957 Mitchell Street, RO. Box 190, Ithaca,
NY 14851; Pennsylvania dairies send to Paul Nichols, ADADC, Tower
Business Building, 239 Schuyler Ave., Kingston, PA 18704; New Jersey
dairies send to August Knispel, R.D. 1, 80x.325, Pittstown, NJ 00867.
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Inc.
sale, which is scheduled for Fri
day, Match 31.
There will be 24 Polled Here
ford bulls offered in the sale. The
top-indexing Polled Hereford is
the G'JR. Fed Ex 500 z son from
Ralph Strouse of State College.
This bull posted the top average
daily gain of his breed with a 4.40
pounds per day gain and has very
good EPD’s. This growthy bull
also recorded the top Polled Here
ford EPD Index.
The second highest indexing
Polled Hereford is the FPP First
Priority 28U son consigned by
Bemie and Debbie Chubbuck of
Laceyville. This bull gained 4.13
pounds per day gain on test and
recorded an adjusted yearling
weight of 1,310, all with a low
birth weight EPD of +2.8 pounds.
There will be 19 Angus bulls
offered for sale. The two top
indexing Angus bulls are owned
by Darron Smith of Kempton. The
R & J Prospector 341 son that
indexed 119, recorded the fastest
average daily gain of all breeds
when he gained 4.99 pounds per
day through the 112 days 'on test
This high growth bull also
recorded the second lowest birth
weight EPD with a +2.8 pounds
birth weight and was the bull the
second best herd efficiency (3.90,
pounds of feed per pound of gain)
of the 73 bulls completing test this
year.
The T.C. Stockman son that
1995 Dairy Of Distinction Farms Sought
started in 1983 to recognize the
hard work and dedication of the
farmers who maintain attractive
farms. The purpose of the program
is to instill a greater sense of confi
dence in the wholesomeness of
dairy products, and increase their
sales.
Farms that apply are judged on
the roadside appearance of build
ings, grounds, and surroundings,
since this is what our dairy product
Application
PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
APPLICATION
Farm Name
Date
Bull Test Results Released
indexed second among the Angus
gained 4.80 pounds per day on test
This rapid growing bull had the
second largest pelvic measurement
and the second best feed efficiency
among the Angus.
There will be 11 Simmental
bulls made available in the sale.
The top-indexing Simmental bull
is the Grand Desire son consigned
by Bruce Laidig. The bull was the
fastest gaining Simmental and the
most efficient bull of all breeds on
test, posting a feed efficiency of
3.74 pounds of feed per pound of
gain. This E.T. bull posted a year
ling weight of 1,330 pounds and is
smooth polled.
The second highest indexing
Simmental is the Highwayman
33T son consigned by Messick
Farms of Middletown. This low
birth weight bull gained 4.51
pounds per day on test and was the
second most efficient Simmental
with a feed efficiency of 4.22
pounds of feed per pound of gain.
The two Charolais in the sale
were both consigned by Bratton
Charolais Farms, McVeytown.
Both Charolais are smooth polled
and have 14-inch plus loin eye
measurements.
There is a lone Limousin bull in
the sale. This attractive bull, own
ed by Slab Cabin Farms, State Col
lege. gained 3.42 pounds per day
on test and posted a yearling
weight of 1,156 pounds.
Finally, the evaluation center
consumers observe as they drive
by. The cleanliness of the barn
yard, feed areas and manure man
agement are other aspects of the
farm operation taken into consider
ation. Roadside judging is con
ducted during the month of May.
Former winners of past years are
also rejudged to ensure they con
tinue to meet the standards of
excellence.
To qualify for consideration,
you must be actively dairy fanning
and shipping milk. Applications
are available from your state secre
tary, Pennsylvania: Paul Nichols,
American Dairy Association and
Dairy Council, Inc., 239 Schuyler
Avenue, Box 5 , Kingston, Pa.
18704, (717) 283-2204, New
York: Carol Weddle, N.Y. Hol
stein Association, 957 Mitchell
Street, Ithaca N.Y. 14851, (607)
273-7591, or New Jersey: August
Knispel, R.D. 1, Box 325,
Pittstown, New Jersey 08867,
(201) 735-4989. All applications
muse be completed and returned
by April 15th, 1995.
The Dairy of Distinction pro
gram is financed in Pennsylvania
by Dairy Farmers through the
American Dairy Association Dairy
Council and Pennsylvania Dairy
Promotion Program, plus Agribusi
ness organizations. The Pennsyl
vania Dairy Of Distinction Pro
gram is conducted with advice and
help, by Penn State cooperative
extension.
Dairy
of ■
Distinction
OMry F»m BuulHlcalian frvgnm
has a Beefmaster bull. This low
biith weight and high pelvic area
bull was owned by John Lehr and
Buzz Upton and gained 3.50
pounds per day on lest
Following the bull sale, the Pen
nsylvania Cattlemen’s Associa
tion will hold their annual awards
banquet and membership meeting
starting at 6 p.m. at Toftrees
Resort.
Look At Seed Labels
ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Maryland
Secretary of Agriculture Lewis R.
Riley reminds farmers to look
closely at the labels on seed con
tainers and to know what the
labels mean.
“Many farmers think they've
purchased ‘certified seed’ when in
fact they may not have. There is a
real difference between an analys
is label, which shows purity, ger
mination and other information
required by law, and a certifica
tion label, which verifies that the
seed meets the standards of the
state certification agency whose
name appears on the label. Often,
the certification label also con
tains the information normally
shown on the analysis label,”
Riley said.
Certification labels are blue
with the words “Certified Seed”
appearing prominently. This
means that the seed has passed
field inspection and laboratory
HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED?
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program, Inc.
Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance and other
factors which can be controlled by the farmer. Attractive background
scenery should not be weighed heavily in judging. All judging obser
vations should be made from a vehicle at one or more points on an
adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the road, the nearest lane).
Judging should give equal consideration to old wood construction
and new construction of metal or concrete block.
The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or
promotion activities for dairy products or dairy farming. Farmers
who apply for awards agree that; if selected they will cooperate with
these activities and make all reasonable efforts to maintain both the
exterior and interior of their properties in an acceptable condition.
HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS
The owner or operator of the dairy farm should sign the applica
tion and send it to NEDFBP secretary by April 15.
HOW THE JUDGING WORKS
Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May. Farms
will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual basis.
Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be asked to
remove their sign. The Dairy of Distinction signs remain the proper
ty of the committee, not the property of the dairy farmer. All farms
must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent on their Dairy of
Distinction score card. Your cooperative or milk handler will be con
tacted to approve your milk quality.
RULES FOR THE DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD
The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Committee.
The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by the
dairy farmer. It is suggested that a wood post 4’ x4’ x 12’ or iron
pipe 2’ x 12’ be used. Posts or pipe should be installed and main
tained in true vertical position with 8’ above ground. Top of the
bracket shoe 1 i be lower than six inches from the top of the post.
Sign shall b. displayed in front of the dairy at roadside. An
attractive post and bracket, or other frame, shall be used to dis
play the sign. No more than three signs should be displayed from
the sign frame or post, and all shall be of a style, general size and
quality comparable to the Dairy of Distinction sign. Sign should
be secured on all sides to avoid wind damage.
Signs shall not be moved to other premises. New owners of a
Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign.
Replacement of damaged signs shall be the discretion of the
committee.
No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expense.
Judges’ decisions will be final.
Judging will take place between May Ist and May 31st.
Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign in previous years will
be judged between April Ist and April 30th. If they do not qual
ify, they will be rejudged between May Ist and May 31st so they
have the opportunity to keep the sign.
Farms that do not requalify will return the sign to their regional
Dairy of Distinction Committee.
The following morning, April 1,
will be the Cattlemen’s breakfast
starting at 7: IS a.m., followed by
an Educational Conference and
Production Workshop.
FOr more information on the
bulls, the bull sale, or the educa
tional conference, contact Glenn
Eberly, Director, Pennsylvania’s
Meat Animal Evaluation Center.
6SI Fox Hollow Rd. State College,
PA 16803, (814) 238-2527.
testing requirements set by that
state’s certification agency. The
Maryland Department of Agricul
ture’s Turf and Seed Section is
responsible for seed certification
in Maryland.
The primary purpose of seed
certification programs is to ensure
the genetic purity of the seed.
Most certification programs,
including those of Maryland and
surrounding states, also include
strict standards for purity, noxious
weed seed content and germina
tion rate.
“Farmers should look for the
blue certification label. It is their
assurance that the seed has been
inspected, tested, and approved by
an official seed certifying agen
cy,” said Riley.
For more information on seed
certification, contact the Maryland
Department of Agriculture, Turf
and Seed Section, SO Harry S.
Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD
21401, (410) 841-5960.