EMancastw Fai inning, Saturday, Novambar 4, 1995 BREAKING MILK RECORDS! Lancaster Farming Carries DHIA Reports Each Month! Fall Olean-Li|^ 'ale! 16hp "Big Wheel" Tractor with 48" Mower! • Vanguard Engine • Hydraulic drive & Lift • 16* Rear Wheels • Lifetime Warranty • MSLS6699 Choice with tractor purchase ... A.L. HERR & BROTHER, INC Quarryville, PA 717-786-3521 CASHMAN’S TRUE VALUE HARDWARE East Berlin, PA 717-259-0922 C.H. WALTZ & SONS, INC Cogan Station, PA 17728 717-435-2921 H.P. STARR & SO Glade Mills Valenl 412-898-153 Ingersol ~JS, INC lia, PA Save... $9OO Sale... J.L. PEACHY & SONS Winfield, PA 17889 717-966-0465 LAWN CARE OF PA Martindale, PA 17549 717-445-4541 MEYERS IMPLEMENTS, INC Greencastle, PA 717-597-2176 PEOPLES SALES & SERVICE, INC Oakland Mills, PA 717-463-2735 R&W EQUIPMENT CO Carlisle, PA 17013 717-243-2686 *w/Approved credit from Sheffield Financial EQUIPMENT FOR FINANCIAL DECISIONS Roland P. Freand Farm Management Agent Penn Stale ‘ v* A -A* i'llj vJi? ROUTE SALES & SERVICE Spring Mills, PA 814-422-8805 SLIGO SERVICE STATION Sligo, PA 16255 814-745-2767 ZIMMERMAN FARM SERVICE Bethel, PA 19507 717-933-4114 STOUT’S MOWER & CHAIN SAW Martinsbi WV 25401 c " p - In • • * « • • * ♦ • lersoll There are more pressures bearing down upon our farmers today than this generation has for merly experienced. We seem to be getting clobbered by tow milk and livestock prices, high feed costs, shrinking credit availability, drought, and molding feed supplies all at once. Under these Conditions, many managers are experiencing difficulties trying to make deci sions on how to improve their circumstances. There are no easy answers, and every form has its own unique situation. Each manager has to do a tot of searching before he or she can make a decision. There is nothing new about this process, but we do have some tools that can help us make better manage ment decisions. Before any decision can be reached we have to examine all the factors which are causing the problem. Then we can address those that we can change. Unfortunately there are many things which any one manager or adviser cannot change. Factors We Cannot Control Political events have changed some of the landscape: • Conservative Congress and Senate • Balanced budget • Shrinking government • Trade agreements • Environmental concerns. The economic impact of these trends on the farm scene: • Drought and disaster payments gonel • Price supports are being phasing out • Federal farm program dollars, are being greatly reduced. • Prices will be more volatile. On the economic front we also see interest rates trending higher while our friendly local bank managers are disappearing in the shuffle of bank merger*. Federal regulators are also forcing bankers to be more conservative when making new loans. Hie long and short of it is that Uncle Sam and your banker will not manage your business in the future* Factors Over Which We Have Some Control Operating costs have to be controlled to achieve profits. Capital spending has to be con trolled if we are to have reasonable debt payments. Family living and labor expenses need to be adequate, but should never be met by not paying feed bills. Crop enterprise acreages and rotations and livestock production levels and scale can and should be adjusted to meet changing circum stances. In all of our enterprises we need to be searching for least cost inputs and cost controls. (Turn to Page E 3) Diesel Engine Service • New ■ Rebuilt Deed Engines and Power Unite • New John Deere Ind. Powerunlts 19-375 HP • Detroit Diesel - 53- 71-92 8.2 Series engines 48-500 HP • Sales & Service • New & Used Parts • PTO Clutches & Gear Reductions • Complete Rebuilding Power for Shops, Sawmills, Irrigation Pumps, Harvesters, Grinders, Generators, Any Power Need You May Have. 13 Pleasant Valley ltd. 717-733-3890 Ephrata, Pa. 17522 FAX 717-738-3146
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