A4O-Lancaster hrmtng. Satuiday, toirch
VERNON ACHENBACH JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Spring.
On the day of the year the nation has officially set
aside to recognize the importance of agriculture, Char
les Brosius, of West Grove, was confirmed in the state
Senate as the Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture.
Brosius, who with his wife Jane and three sons, has
continued a mushroom growing business started by his
grandfather cm their dairy farm in 1915, was nominated
by Gov. Tom Ridge earlier this month to head the
department.
Support for the nomination has been strong from all
agricultural organizations representing agriculture.
One of the first official acts as fully confirmed sec
retary was to greet participants to the Penn’s Agri-
Women Ag Day luncheon, held in the state Capitol. In
fact, he was confirmed by the Senate about the same
time as the luncheon.
Last week, Brosius was before the Senate Agricul
tural and Rural Affairs Committee for a confirmation
hearing. The committee is a body that can lead the rest
of the Senate into favoring or disfavoring a nominee as
agriculture secretary.
Brosius was fully supported.
In his presentation in the hearing, Brosius said that
his meetings with legislators following the announce
ment of his nomination “... demonstrated that all of you
have a strong interest in Pennsylvania agriculture, so
we have an important interest in common.”
Brosius briefly reviewed his family business that is
run by his sons and employs 39 full-time, and 18 part
time people.
The business ships a tractor trailer load of
mushrooms five nights per week to markets in New
York City, as well as serving markets in Lancaster and
Harrisburg.
“In my meetings with Governor Ridge, we discussed
many things, but I think he was most interested in the
economic aspects of farming and in doing what we can
do to help our 51,000 farm families operate profitable
businesses, businesses that all of our customers rely on
to provide safe, high quality food products.
“I think that when we evaluate our farm policies, we
should look at helping the farmer to make a profit, and
not try to measure our efforts by looking at how much <
money the commonwealth has spent, or how many
people or programs we authorize to Solve their
problems.
“Agricultural profitability is not some new concept
Twice in the last two years, the leaders of most of the
Pennsylvania agricultural organizations met here in
Harrisburg to identify issues of common concern.
“During both of those so-called ‘Ag-Agenda* meet
ings, the delegates agreed the top priority should be to
ensure the viability of Pennsylvania’s farms and
agribusinesses.
“If farmers have the opportunity to operate profit
able businesses, they will supply the products that
please and satisfy our citizens our customers
providing the nutrition needed for good health, while
strengthening the economy of the rural communities of
Pennsylvania.
“As the commonwealth works to protect farmers and
consumers, our regulatory philosophy should also be
results-driven.
“When a food inspector goes out to look at a process
ing plant, his or her goal should be to solve the
problems to improve food safety as fast as that can
be accomplished.
“We think that an inspector who finds problems
should have suggestions and advice.
“Yes, of course, some people have to be dragged into
compliance, but in agribusiness, most farmers sincere
ly want to produce and deliver the best possible pro
ducts to die consumer.
“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has very little
interest in punishing farmers or food processors for
violations of regulations. Our interest is in safe food
and a clean environment. And on those issues, farmers
are even more concerned than consumers or environ
mental activists.
“They (farmers) rely on a clean environment for
crop production and for animal health. In addition, they
all know from experience what happens to the
best marketing efforts if one person gets sick from a
food-home organism, or if an outbreak of animal dis
ease occurs.
“Pennsylvania’s farmers and processors are looking
for ways to improve their operations and sell more pro
ducts. Efforts to help them achieve those goals will pre
serve farms and businesses, help create new activity,
and vitalize our economy.”
Brosius also said that the state needs to take a lead
role in helping to expand the markets for Pennsylvania
produced products, both domestically and inter-
Senate Confirms Brosius
As Ag Secretary
“Our department (PDA) does intend to get into the
marketing business. We plan to act as facilitator to
open the doors of opportunity. USDA forcasts a record
breaking year for U.S. agricultural exports, and we
intend to help Pennsylvania’s farmers find and tap into
that success,” he said.
Brosius discussed the favorable location of the state
to transporting products to all markets, because of rela
tively close proximity to international ports.
“Governor Ridge’s vision for Pennsylvania includes
job creation though the Keystone Export Strategy,” he
said. “The Department of Agriculture will team up to
work with the Department of Commerce to implement
that strategy. It’s expected to create 100,000 new jobs
while raising the commonwealth’s export potential to
$S billion over four years.
“The governor has pledged hands-on involvement
with that strategy, which will be good for the state’s
companies and workers. We intend to make agriculture
an important part of the export expansion.”
Brosius detailed examples of what kinds of coopera
tive effort within state government he expects will help
attain that growth. Further he called for less of a tax
burden for farmers.
“I think that Pennsylvania’s efforts toward farmer
friendly regulation and market expansion should be
accompanied by major improvements in the tax cli
mate for agriculture. Every farm and agricultural pro
cessor in Pennsylvania can realize a better bottom line
when the tax burden is reduced and those earnings
can be realized without increasing consumer food
prices.
“Processing plants create jobs, and because they buy
the crops and livestock that our farms produce, they
also create new markets for our growers.
“So, when Pennsylvania makes its tax climate more
attractive than competing states and processors
decide to come here those new or relocations will
expand markets for farm products,” he said.
He also said that while state government helps all of
this come about, at the same time, “We need to help
them defend their farms from modem pressures that
threaten their operations.
‘urn to P«fl« A4l)
LIQUID
MANURE SPREADER
WITH FLOTATION TIRES TO MINIMIZE SOIL COMPACTION
Available with complete line of spreading tool bars and
precise flow control to spread manure the ecological way
eliminating spray drift and reducing odors. Our tool bars
are designed to apply hog or dairy manure on growing
fields, between rows of corn or on harvested fields.
SPREADERS WITH SINGLE AXLE OR fiESTT
TANDEM-2350 TO 6000 US GAL. 'l*=^
• “V” ship* bottom for mom • Standard axtarior finlah;
complata claan out. a poxy prlmar and urathana paint
• Low profila tank for maximum visibility and stability.
Rent the NEW
Steering Axle Spreader
fitev Cedar Crest Equipment
Kfll Two Convenient Locations
i* vnvww Wen. 1*
KI®M
mm
608 Evergreen Rd.
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717)270-6600
1-800-646-6601
SHORT NOTICE PUBLIC SALE
TUES., APRIL 4, 1995
Located 7 miles South of Quarryvllle. West of Route 472 from
Kirkwood, East of Little Brittan Road from Fairmount, along
Noble Road. Little Brittan Twp. Lancaster Co. Pa. Watch for
Sale Signs.
Livestock
I Pair 4 coming 5 yr. old Soircl Molly Mules
I Pair Red Sorrel, smooth mouth geldings
1 Offside Soncl, smooth mouth work horse
One Sorrel 5 yr. old Morgan Marc, green broke
One 3 yr. old Chestnut marc, halter broke
31 Holstein Dairy Cows several recently ficsh or close springers, balance
in all stages of production, 50 lb. approx, per day avc. 4.0 butterfat lest
15 Holstein Heifers - 2 Bred, 3 Breeding Age, 10 Front Calves to I Yr.
Old.
New Holland 311 Baler with engine; Pci|uca inannie spieadei; John
Decie KBA 24 disc hanow, disc like new; McD com bmdei with loadei
and Honda 8 HP engine.
New Holland 255 7’ glass mower, Wisconsin 4 cyl. VE4 powci unit
with >. -cliie stall, 8 volt slailci, and (eduction gear clutch; New Idea
ciimpel; New Holland 55 hay lake; thicc flatbed steel wheel wagons on
Farm Bill gears; McD 2-svay plow; l&J cultivator, 3 yrs. old; McD riding
cultivator; 6’ & 9’ spring haiiows; 9’ steel roller; 10’ single cultipackci.
New Holland 14” ensilage cullci with 4 knives; 50’ ol 6" silo pipe; New
Idea tobacco plantci with 100 gallon lank; Black Rock one oi two hoi sc
sprayer, 8 row booms and 100+ gallon tank; two aulo-luin foiccails, one a
Little Brittan; Bailvillc 6’ scrapci, with foiccarl mount; 28” saw and saw
buck. Farmhand 5-whccl hay lake; JD 3 pi. hitch mower lor pails; foie
truck and wagon gear for parts; spring wagon, hyd. brakes, like new;
power hacksaw; 7”x6o’ endless belt; 12V Gandy applicator, like new; steel
wheels for New Idea manure sprcadci 10 HP Wisconsin engine with
clutch.
Six sets of harness; bridles; collars; cheek lines; 2,3, 4 & 6 hoi sc
hitches; 11,700 tobacco lath; 3-scetion tobacco baling box; 2-lobaceo
presses; tobacco shears & spears; I roll 14000 ft. hi tensile wnc; Stihl
chain saw with Skill saw attachment; hand tools; large vise; an latchct;
stripping room stove.
Dairying Equipment
Quincy 5 hp icbmlt air compressor vacuum pump; 3 Nu-Puisc milking
units; one 60 lb. pail; 6' poilable hay lack metal; poilable 24' metal hay
tack Cooling Pump; Bcndci washer stainless twin tubs; stainless
straincis; cat lying pails; Par-Mak & Hot-Line electric fcnccis; ensilage and
Iced carts; 1/2 lon Barn Dry; blooms; folks; shovels; etc.
Sale at 9:30 A.M.
Diffenbachs Auct. 225 L
AGI-POMPE
32’ and 42’ for Lagoons
1-Highly articulated nozzle deaigned 2-24" dia. mixing propeller providing
to slice and break the top crust full time agitation up to 21,500 US
from above the manure level as the G.P.M. even when loading a
propeller homogenises the liquid spreader.
with the remaining floating chunks. ._ .. . . . .
3 4-Rotative directional valve designed
3- Hydraulic controls can be operated to be operated at low R.P.M. without
from tractor seat. stopping the P.T.O.
Gear box oil bath protected by a greasable
3 seals mechanism on each shaft.
MAM&&LM warn mLmpmipmiE ®mm m
Mm mm mi® m§ m> f@ w miEip.
IKMaIILBI Spreaders &
Pumps In Stock for
Immediate Delivery
9:30 A.M.
Farm Equipment
John K. King, Owner
Lunch Available
RD 2 Box 271
East Earl, PA 17519
(717)354-0584
TRAIL