PER COD I CALC DIVISION .
f fV S <-
Vol. 40 No. 25
Conservation A Way Of Life On Dauphin County Dairy Farm
Conservation pervades nearly all aspect of Bryncoed Jersey Farm—from the use
of extensive contour stripping, rotational grazing, and using shredded newspaper as
bedding and eventual soli amendment to the use of Inexpensive materials to conserve
on costs, labor, and time. From left, Tom’s parents Carolyn and Sam, Tom, Tiz, and
Sam Williams 111. Photo by Andy Andrew
58 Farms Apply For Distinction
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Leaden of the Dairy of
Distinction program met Tuesday
to review the program and prepare
for judging of the current group of
applicants. Pennsylvania State
Secretary Paul Nichols announced
that 58 new applications from
across the state have been
received.
District chairpersons were given
these applications to begin the task
of roadside inspection of each farm
by a local panel of judges. All
judging is to be completed in the
month of May. The state is divided
into 10 districts each with its own
local group that runs the local
judging and award events.
Pa.DHIA Board Of
Directors Reorganizes
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) The 1995 Pennsylvania
Dairy Herd Improvement Associa
tion (Pa.DHIA) Board of Directors
held a reorganizations! meeting
Wednesday at South Ridge Motor
Inn in State College.
604 For Copy
To date, more thansoobeautiful
farms have been given the Dairy of
Distinction designation in Pen
nsylvania. The program also is in
operation in New York and New
Jersey.
In the election of officers, all
present leaders were returned to
their posts. Dan Baker, president;
Russ Rooks, vice president; Donna
Gearhart, treasurer, Nichols, sec
retary; and Steve Spencer, advisor.
The group made plans to again
meet the first day of Ag Progress
Days in the events building. At that
time the winners will be invited to
get together for a social and to
view the portraits of each farm that
are presented by Lancaster
Farming.
Elected to serve as its president
was Lane Sollenberger, a member
from Franklin County.
Sollenberger was elected to the
state board of directors in April
1992 and has served on the
(Turn to Pag* A 22)
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 29, 1995
Winners of Atlantic Dairy Cooparatlva’a 1995 Young Cooparator contact ara seated from
laft: Jeffrey and Cindy Moora, outstanding young cooparators, and Shalla Schrodar and
Allan Kratzlng, aacond place. Standing. Kannath Kahr, third placa; Melissa and Stave
Snyder, fourth placa; and Bath and Robert Ranch, fifth place. Sea story on page A 33.
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
MIDDLETOWN (Dauphin
Co.) A conservation “philoso
phy* ’ pervades nearly every aspect
of Bryncoed Jersey Farm from
the use of extensive contour strip
ping, rotational grazing, and using
shredded newspaper as bedding
and soil amendment to the use of
inexpensive materials to conserve
on costs, labor, and time.
Tom Williams, Dauphin County
Conservation Fanner of the Year,
is concerned that, if 1995 proves to
be a drought year, he has the pre
sence of mind and the cultural
practices in place to ensure soil
retention and land productivity.
* ‘Every drop of rain that fills on
this farm, I want it to stay here,”
said Williams. “When it goes
down the stream, it’s taking my
fertility and my moisture that my
crops need.”
Govenor Appoints .
PDA Regional Directors
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) State Gov. Tom Ridge has
appointed three people to serve as
regional directors for the state
Department of Agriculture,
according to department news
releases mqde this week.
State Secretary of Agriculture
Charles Brosius stated that he is
pleased with the governor’s
appointments.
“I’m pleased (they) have agreed
to serve as one of Gov. Ridge’s
agriculture advocates,” Brosius
said. “(They) will join a team that
is working to promote Pennsylva
nia’s number one industry, which
Four Sections
For Williams, moisture is
money. His father, Sam, built a
farm pond 60 years ago. Forty
years ago, another farm pond was
constructed to retain as much
moisture as possible to help
'‘shore up” water .for crop
irrigation.
Indeed, much of the conserva
tion practices on the farm were in
place since the 19305, including
strips, diversions, and terraces.
Altogether, 8,100 feet of terraces,
2,300 feet of diversions, and two
acres of waterways have been
installed. Also, the Williamses
make use of a gravity-flow earthen
manure pit The manure is injected
into the com fields.
“My conservation technician
says we got most everything
done,” said Williams.
Together with his wife, Theresa
(Turn to Pago A 24)
produces an abundant food supply
for 12 million Pennsylvanians.
“We intend to meet the gover
nor’s goal of carrying agriculture
forward in profitability and
stature.”
In addition to its headquarters
building in Harrisburg, the PDA
has seven regional offices. The
three appointments are the first
among several expected to be
made within the department over
the next several weeks.
All three directors are to oversee ,
the work of PDA inspectors and
services in their respective
$25.00 Par Yaar
(Turn to P«o* A2B)