AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 8, 1995
OPINION
Need Sound Food Policy
“Maintaining a sound food and agricultural policy is vital not
only for producers and consumers alike, but also the economic
well-being of the U. 5.,” said Wayne Boutwell, president of the
National Council of Fanner Cooperatives, testifying before the
Senate Agriculture Committee recently.
Boutwell was speaking on behalf of the Alliance for Sound
Food and Agricultural Policy, whose members include a broad
cross-section of organizations representing farmers, ranchers,
cooperatives, the Farm Credit System, and the state depart
ments of agriculture.
“In the U.S., food accounts for only about eight percent of
total consumer expenditures, the lowest of any country in the
world—even adding in the cost of farm programs,” Boutwell
said. “In Europe, where government spending on agriculture is
three times higher than the U.S., consumer expenditures on
food range from 11 to 20 percent. Japanese consumers spend
19 percent.
Over the past 20 years, U.S. retail food prices increased on
average about 4.5 percent annually, compared with an average
of six percent of the non-food sector. Had retail food prices
increased at the same rate as other sectors of the economy,
American consumers would have spent on average $6O billion
more annually for the same food purchases. This would have
been felt by every American household, but especially those at
the lower end of the income scale.
All of this has been achieved at a cost less than one percent
of the entire federal budget, Boutwell noted. Agriculture
spending, he pointed out, has declined sharply in recent years
as a result of the 1990 Farm Bill and related legislation.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, spending will
continue to decline by approximately 20 percent over the next 5
years to an average of $8 billion annually under current
policies.
It has not been the increasing cost of farm programs that has
contributed to the federal budget deficit.
The European Union, which over the past five years outspent
the U.S. by six to one in terms of export subsidies, will be able
to more than maintain its historical advantage under GATT.
Along with other foreign competitors, it can be expected to
continue to aggressively seek to maintain and expand its share
of the world market.
‘This is the real world of competition,” Boutwell empha
sized. “Without a similar commitment, U.S. agriculture will be
at a significant disadvantage. To the extent that agriculture
spending is unfairly singled out for reductions that go beyond
our commitments under GATT,” he said, “would be tanta
mount to unilateral disarmament.”
The impact, he pointed out, would be felt throughout the
economy. This is because U.S. agriculture is the nation’s
largest single industry, accounting for nearly one in s ; x jobs.
Nearly one million jobs, he said, arc dependent on U.S. agricul
tural exports alone. Such exports currently amount to approxi
mately $43 billion, generate nearly $lOO billion in related eco
nomic activity, and contribute to a positive trade balance of
nearly $2O billion.
In concluding his remarks, Boutwell said,,“Mr. Chairman,
you have set the stage for this hearing by asking the question—
‘Farm Programs: Are Americans Getting What They Pay For?’
On behalf of the Alliance, we believe the answer is a resound
ing ‘YES.’”
77th Little International Livestock.
Expo, Penn State Ag Arena-.
Maryland Holstein 25th annual
State Spring Show, Timonium.
Southwest Pa. Equine Sympo
sium, David Lawrence Con
vention Center, Pittsburgh.
Income Opportunities For Rural
Areas Workshop, Garrett Com
munity College, McHenry, Md.
6th Annual Forest Stewardship
Landowners’ Woikshop, Man
sfield U., 9:30 a.m.
-f ‘
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♦Farm Calendars
t M A*'
j MoikLix. \pril 10
Pasture Management Program,
Frederick County CES, Freder
ick, Md., also April 19 and 26.
No-Till Field Day, Leroy and Scott
Aldrich Farm, Eastern Bridge
water Township, 1 p.m.
(Turn to Pago A3l)
Lancaster County is entering the
final stages of the court-ordered
reassessment. The new tax notices
should be mailed by May 1.
With the lastreassessment being
done in 1962, property values will
be a lot higher. Based on United
States agricultural census data, the
average farm value in Lancaster
County has increased from
$33,660 in 1959 to $427,332 in
1992—about 11.7 times. The esti
mated total real estate value
increase in the county will be 5.5
times.
Just because the assessed value
of your property has increased
does not mean your taxes will
increase. Since everyone’s values
are increased, some people will
find their taxes going down, some
staying the same, and others will
increase.
Reassessment reestablishes a
fair playing field. Thus, everyone
will be paying their fair share of
taxes based on current market val
ues. If the value of your property
increases more than 5.5 times,
there is a good chance your taxes
will increase. This means your
property was underassessed and
has been receiving a tax break.
Since many farms will have
reassessed values greater than S.S
times their previous assessment,
there will be increased taxes due in
1996.
However, farmers may take
advantage of Act 319 or Clean and
Green to reduce their taxes.
Act 319 or Clean and Green was
enacted to help protect farmland. It
allows agricultural land to be
assessed based on its income
producing ability instead of its fair
market value.
In Lancaster County the fair
market value of agricultural land
will be around $3,500 per acre.
Clean and Green values will prob
ably be between $5O and $1,300
per acre. These values are based on
the soil’s ability to produce com.
Act 319 recognizes that a lot of
farmers own land primarily to pro
duce crops and animals. These far
mers are also interested in passing
the farm to the next generation
instead of owning land as a invest
ment like stocks. Thus, the land is
being valued for its use—farming
rather than for investment.
If use changes from farming to
some other use, then the person
who changes the use must pay
seven years of back taxes and
interest There are provisions for
selling a small portion of the land
for a residence and various rules
concerning the rollback taxes.
To take advantage of the
reduced taxes in 1996, applica
tions for Clean and Green must be
To Prepare For
Tax Reassessment
To Learn About
Act 319
filed by June 1.1995 in the County
Assessors office. Applications
must be notarized and filling fees
must accompany the application.
For many farmers. Clean and
Green will represent at least $4O
per acre in tax savings. With the
average size farm in the county
being 85 acres, this is a savings of
$3,400.
For more information on Clean
and Green, contact the County
Assessors office or Lancaster
County Cooperative Extension at
717-394-6851.
Remember, you will only have a
short time to file for Clean and
Green. Do not wait until the last
minute.
To Stand Up
For Agriculture
With the rapid urbanization of
farmland in southeast Pennsylva
nia, farmers need to decide how
serious they are about keeping
their farms in agriculture.
If we want to maintain land in
farms, farmers need to be more
\~r
BY LAWRENCE W ALEHOUSE
\THi
' SUSILB
TOO GOOD NOT TO BE
TRUE
April 16,1995
TOO GOOD NOT TO BE
TRUE
April 16, 1995
Background Scripture:
Luke 24:1-11; I Corinthians 15
Devotional Reading:
Philippians 2:1-11
Some years ago I was at a local
church conducting a seminar on
what the Bible teaches about life
after death. After the sessions, one
of the staff ministers took me
aside and said, “I wish I could
believe all that, but I can’t.”
“What do you believe?” I asked.
“When we die, that’s it,” he said,
“the end.” He paused a moment
and then said, “Life after death,
that’s too good to be true.”
I wondered how he could con
tinue in the ministry if he felt that
way. There may be some options
for Christians of various
persuasions—how to pray, the
manner of taking communion, and
so forth—but I have always
believed that Christ’s and my
resurrection are at the heart of the
“Good News” of Jesus Christ.
Otherwise, the gospel is bad news.
Paul acknowledges this in I
Corinthians 15. “For I delivered
unto you as of first impor
tance...that Christ died for our
sins...was buried...raised...and that
he appeared to Cephas, to the
twelve...to more than five
hundred...to James, then to all the
apostles... (and) “Last of a11...he
appeared also to me” (I Cor.
15:1-8).
FIRST IMPORTANCE
This is of “first importance” for,
if Christ was not raised, then
“your faith is in vain” (15:14). The
“Good Nejvs” of Jesus Christ is
founded on the bedrock of his
resurrection. Why? Because if
Christ was not raised, how can we
hope to conquer death? Our survi
val is dependent upon his. And if
he did not survive then we do not,
and life would be futile and vain.
If for this life only we have
hoped in Christ, we are of all men
most to be pitied” (15:19). The
teachings of Jesus Christ are
founded upon the presumption
that there is something for us be-
active in local planning commis
sion meetings and take an active
participation in public policy
debate.
Farmers should have the say on
how land is used in agricultural
security areas and land-zoned agri
culture. Farms in these areas
should be allowed to farm and
expand livestock and poultry oper
ations without urban neighbor
interference as long as the farms
meet current laws and ordinances.
Farmers also need to oppose
development in agricultural areas
for the same reason agriculture,
industrial, and retail development
is opposed in urban areas. These
include increased traffic, which
impedes your farm operation and
safety, increased trash to be col
lected from fields, crop and animal
damage, and increased taxes.
If we are to preserve farms, we
must start now to insure enough
land stays in farms and farmers ate
allowed to adapt new technology
and expand in order to stay compe-
yond the grave.
I know there are those who dis
agree, who say to me that this life
on earth is enough. But not for me.
It is the promise of a life beyond
that empowers the teachings of
Jesus. Otherwise, as Paul sug
gests, “If the dead are not raised,
‘Let us eat and drink, for tomor
row we die’” (15:33). What we
believe about our eternal
destiny—life with God or the
silence of the grave—has a direct
bearing upon how and why I live
here and now.
s«
Then Paul goes on to raise the
eternal question; “But...‘How are
the dead raised?’” (15:35),. Note
that Paul has switched over from
Christ being raised to our being
raised. Eternity hinges not just on
whether Jesus was Victorious over
the grave, but whether we will be
too. Bat the question we all want
answered is: what does being
“raised” mean?
BODY/SPIRIT
Tough question, for when we
look to the gospels for help, we’re
left with answers that lead to more
questions. Some suggest that
Jesus is raised as a physical body;
others as a spirit; and still others a
combination of both. Paul cannot
answer except to assure us that
Jesus was not raised with a physi
cal body. When we speak of the
resurrection of the dead, we are
not expecting to get these old
bodies back, nor even new physi
cal bodies. Paul uses the term
“spiritual body,” a contradiction
in terms. It is difficult for us to
envision a form that is not physi
cal. The best we can conclude is
that we will be raised, not with a
physical body, but in a form that
permits us to have recognizable
individuality.
Ultimately, how we are raised is
not important. What is? Paul says:
‘Therefore my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the
Lord, knowing that in the Lord
your labor is not in vain” (15:58).
That is good news that is too good
not to be true!
Lancaster Farming
. Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
—by—
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Steinman Enterprise
Robert Q. Campbell General Manager
Everett R. Newewangar Managing Editor
Copyright 1995 by Lancaster Fanning
(Turn to Pag* A3l)