AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 29, 1995 OPINION Beauty Is Contagious The Dairy of Distinction program to recognize dairy farms whose owners work to keep their farmsteads looking good has been completed for another successful year. In Pennsylvania, for example, 43 new farms have received the recognition. Each one is a good representation to consumers of where milk originates. Attractive dairy farms enhance consumer confidence in the dairy industry. Certainly, the winners of the Dairy of Distinction award do their part to increase this confidence. For many dairy farmers, the award symbolizes years of hard work, sprucing up the bams and fences. To others, it becomes a symbol of how they view their farm and gives employees and vis itors alike a sense of respect for the farmstead. With our special section in this issue, we also honor these far mers and say, “Thank you,” for promoting the dairy industry through beautiful farms. Beauty is contagious. Often, when one farm wins the award, neighboring farms also do the necessary work to win the award. This is the way it was planned to work. If you have a nice looking dairy farm, plan to apply for the Dairy of Distinction award next year. Southwest Pa. Holstein Champ ionship Show. Fayette County Fairgrounds, Uniontown, 9:30 a.m. Jackpot Steer Show, York Fairgrounds. Lebanon Area Fair, Lebanon, thru Aug. 5. West Central 4-H/FFA Dairy Show, Centre Hall Grange Fairgrounds. Pa. Ayrshire Field Day, Home stead Acres, Connoquenessing, Pa. Grange Junior Camp, Howard, thru Aug. S. Potter County Fair, Millport, thru Aug. 5. Union County West End Fair, Laurelton, thru Aug. 5. Mercer County Grange Fair, Mer cer, thru Aug. S. Hot Weather Cow Comfort, Craw ford and Venango Counties, 9 Morrison Cove Dairy Show, Mar tinsburg, thru Aug. 4. Goshen Country Fair, West Ches ter, thru Aug. 5. Clearfield County Fair, Clearfield, Fayette County Holstein Show, Fairgrounds, Uniontown, 9 a.m. Jacktown Fair, Wind Ridge, thru Aug. 5. Southwest FFA Dairy Show, Mor rison Cove Memorial Park, Martinsburg. Farm Field Day, Nutrient and Pes ticide Management, Meckley’s Limestone Products Farm, Mandata, 9 a.m.-noon. Central Susquehanna Valley graz ing meeting, Gordon and Terri Roup, Washingtonville, 7 p.m. Franklin County Holstein Club Field Day, Ricecrest Farms, Cattle Carcass Evaluation, New Holland Sales Stables, also Aug. 4. Lancaster County Beef Cattle Eva luation Workshop, New Hol land Sales Stables, 7 p.m. and Aug. 4 at Stoltzfus Meats, Inter- course, 7 p.m. Eastern Ohio Dairy Days, Tuesday at Shaland Holsteins, Carroll County, and Wednesday at Shipley Farms, Licking Coun ty, Aug. 2-3. Pa. Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program, Albright’s Mill, Kempton, 9 a.m.-ll;30 a.m. and Anthony’s Feed Mill, Strausstown, 12:30 p.m.-3p.m. Agricultural Field Day, farm of Dick and Eleanor Rice, Rte. 867, north of New Enterprise, Northern Tier Championship Show, Wyoming Fairgrounds, Meshoppen, 10:30 a.m. Sustainable Dairy Farm Crop Pro duction System Field Day, Weaver Homestead Farm, New Holland, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Lancaster County Holstein Field Day, Dale and Debbie Hershey, Kinzers, 10 a.m.-l p.m. South Central FFA Dairy Show, Shippensburg Fairgrounds. Farm Field Day, Pine Hurst Acres, Riverside, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Pa. Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program, Oley Val ley Feed, Oley, 9 a.m.-ll:30 a.m. and Moyer & Son, Read ing, 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Dairy Bam Meeting, Klein Farm, Easton. Ephrata Area Young Farmers Meeting, Hibshman Home stead (Schantz farm), Spring Lebanon County Holstein Show, Fairgrounds, Lebanon, 9 a.m. Morrison Cove Dairy Show, Memorial Park, Martinsburg, 9 a.m. Potter County Holstein Show, Fairgrounds, Millport, 10 a.m. Wayne County Fair, Honesdale, thru Aug. 12. To Improve Conception Rates Glenn Shirk, extension dairy agent, reminds us during periods of hot weather, conception rates in dairy cows may decline for a num ber of reasons. Cows are less active and harder to detect if in heat, dry matter intakes are less, cows may be in negative energy balance and ele vated body temperatures reduce conception rates in cows and con tribute to lower fertility levels in bulls. A number of things may be done to help reduce these problems. Observe cows for heat in the cooler hours of the day and night Maximize energy intakes by feed ing cows during die cooler hours of the day and night. Increase the energy density of the ration while also meeting the cows minimal forage and fiber needs. Provide cows with plenty of water and make feeding and water ing areas enticing to cows. Do not get cows overheated and agitated before breeding. Keep them as cool as possible for a day or two after breeding. If there is a risk of farm bulls becom ing temporarily sterile, rely heavi ly on artificial insemination. Semen in the tank is immune to hot weather. For improved heat detection, use heat detection aides such as pressure pads, crayons or activity markers. To Understand Yellow Jackets During mid-summer we can expect to see yellow jackets swarming around picnic tables, backyard barbecues, garbage cans and any place there is food outdoors. Yellow jackets normally feed on other insects. They capture flies, beetles, roaches, etc. to feed them selves and their young. However, the food we enjoy is also great food for yellow jackets. Among other things, they also like hamburgers, cheese, cookies, soda and beer. Yellow jackets are aggressive if someone comes near their nest. However, when they are foraging they will usually flee if someone waves a hand at them. If a person hits them with their hand, takes a bite of a hamburger or drinks some soda when a yellow jacket is doing the same, the per son is likely to be stung. Interesting, only the female yel- Wheat Threshing, Steam and Gas Engine Show, Eastern Shore Threshermen and Collectors Association, Federalsburg, Md., thru Aug. 6. Ohio State Fiar, Columbus, Ohio, thru Aug. 20. (Turn to Pago All) low jackets sting. The yellow jackets we have in the northeast are social insects. Queens and males are produced in the fall. These mate and the males die while the queens over-winter alone under rocks, bark or debris that offers some protection. In the spring,"each female starts a nest alone. She constructs a comb. lays eggs and collects insec ts that she feeds her young. After the first brood emerges they become foragers while the queen stays home to lay more eggs and protect the young. To Protect Yourself From Yellow Jackets How does one protect them selves against yellow jackets? There is no perfect answer. Picking up carefully after a picnic helps. If any bits of food are left on a table or on the ground, the yellow jackets will continue to [ BY lAWKENCE W ALI HOUSE sasns sn IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE! July 30,1995 IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE! July 30, 1995 Background Scripture: Micah 1 through 3 Devotional Reading: Micah 2:1-7 Do you remember when Com munism reigned throughout East ern Europe? After 40 long years I doubted that I would see the day when the yoke was lifted. But then, suddenly it was shattered and with it the Soviet Union and its satellites! These people were now free. I remember one com mentator exulting that this was the next best thing to the coming of the Kingdom of God. And so it seemed. In recent years we have had oc casion to visit behind what was once the Iron Curtain in Russia, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, East Germany, and die Czech Repub lic. And, often, what we discover ed was profoundly disturbing. Yes, these people were now free free to suffer the social ills of crime, drug abuse, economic exploitation, private and corporate greed. While for a few in Russia, economic and personal freedom has meant sudden prosperty and wealth, for most it has brought in stant poverty and a hopeless fu ture. As one cidzen of St. Peters burg told us, “Under Communism we had some money, but there was nothing in the shops to buy. Under capitalism we have lots to buy, but no money.” FREE AT LAST? Last year, we found that many car rental companies in Europe will not rent cars to be driven into Eastern Europe. The reason: the high incidence of car theft. We were also warned to be on our guard when walking the streets of these former Communist cities. In Wenceslas Square, the very heart of Prague, a group of young peo ple tried to rob us in broad day light with scores of people passing by. Most disturbing to us was the realization that all this burgeoning crime and corruption was intro duced by the demise of Commun ism and the rise of free market forage. Garbage cans should be tightly closed. Dressing properly helps. All stinging insects are much less inclined to sting through light col ored, smooth finished clothing. Covering the head with a light col ored hat or scarf gives protection. Light colored socks are better than dark ones. Stinging insects are irritated by rough materials such as wool, suede, leather and sweat On the other hand, using too much perfume may attract these insects because it makes people smell like flowers. Generally speaking, repellents that are effective against flies and other biting insects do not protect against stinging insects. Feather Prof.’s Footnote: "Excel lence can be yours if you offer respect as readily as you expect economy. Some people told us wistfully that they would prefer to see Communism return and bring order to their society once again. At this moment our own coun try is not exactly a shining beacon for either democracy or the free market. Our government seems paralyzed and those who exploit the free market are widening the abyss between the haves and the have-nots. We no longer trust our public officials, respect our legal system, or have compassion for the needy in our midst. Conflict seems to have become the national pastime. We are a nation glued to our television sets watching the tawdry trial of OJ. Simpson and ignoring the truly earth-shaking issues that should be the concern of free people. We have been se duced into becoming a nation of peeping-toms exulting over some one else’s dirty underwear. IDOLATRY’S NEW NAME Now, Communism is not the answer. But by themselves, neigh er are democracy and free enter prise without a strong moral undergirding. Otherwise demo cracy is dominated by dema gogues, free enterprise is used for greedy exploitation, and personal freedom becomes personal li cense. Yes, we need to strengthen both marriage and the family, teach values in the home and in the community. But none of us can be truly prosperous and fulfill ed so long as we are selfishly obli vious and unresponsive to “the least of these my brethren.” Although consumerism seems to underlie our free enterprise sys tem, it must be tempered with spiritual values lest sheer mater ialism corrupt us as much as So cialist materialism corrupted So viet society. As much as idolatry an old name for materialism corrupted the nations of Judah and Israel, prompting dire prophesies from Micah: “Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins ...” (3:12). Don’t worry, said the preachers. It can’t happen here, said the peo ple of Israel and Judah. But it did. Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 —by— Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stelnmen Enterprise Robert Q. Campbell Qomnl Manager Everett R. Nawawanger Managing Editor Copyright 1995 by Lenceater Farming
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers