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 ‘
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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
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♦ •
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