AlO-Laneaster Farming, Saturday, Dacambar 30, 1995
OPINION
Prepare To Make
Your Thoughts Known
We come to the end of another year with the knowledge that we
are blessed in this country despite all the negatives that circulate
in the farm community. Maybe the most important thing we are
free to do is change the way government operates if we don’t like
what they are doing. They can’t do this in other countries.
Along these lines we compliment Gov. Tom Ridge for his
follow-through on a campaign promise to make DER more
friendly. This happened with the introduction of the Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP). At a recent Ag Issues For
um, Lynn Langer, chief of the nutrient management program,
said regulatory, educational, compliance assistance, and alternate
use aspects are included in the new department’s efforts. “DEP
looks at nutrient management as putting the nutrients in manure
back into production rather than in the groundwater or streams,”
Langer said. Of course, no farmer worthy of the name could dis
agree with this outlook.
Nevertheless, a whole new set of regulations are about to be
put on fanners in Pennsylvania. The state, under the Ridge admi
nistration, is playing down the penalties for this new program.
Officials say they want to put their effort into helping farmers
comply rather than to “carry a big stick.” That’s commendable.
But the new regulations will continue long after the Ridge admi
nistration is out of office. And a new administration may take a
different view because of public pressure.
Already, environmental groups have expressed displeasure
with this new attitude in Harrisburg. According to a recent release
from the Associated Press, the number of environmental fines
issued by the state has fallen quite noticeably. But the Sierra Club
says this reduction in fines is not a sign of progress but an invita
tion for polluters to come to Pennsylvania.
James Seif. DEP secretary, disagrees. He says the department
needs to be practical in its approach. Serious violators will be
punished, but the state also needs to look for ways to correct prob
lems without being heavy-handed and without spending too
much time or money in court. “I don’t think every non
compliance is an environmental insult to the planet or to the
neighbors,” Seif said. “We’ve got to recognize that.”
On the farm, we expect the financial institutions will bring
compliance with the new nutrient management laws by requiring
management plans in conjunction with loan approval. In addi
tion. disgruntled neighbors may want to count loads of manure
taken to fields on the faim and report their findings to the DEP.
No question about it. nutrient management laws will change
the way you faim, especially if you have a large number of lives
tock on a small number of acres. The blessing is that you will
have a chance to provide testimony to the writers of these regula
tions during the first several months of the new year. A list of the
times and places for these comments are included in a legal notice
and an article in this issue. Now is the time to become informed
about how these new regulations will affect you and prepare
yourself to comment on the aspects that are not in line with practi
cal farm operation.
Take advantage of your freedoms as a citizen of this country.
Prepare to make your thoughts known about -the new nutrient
management regulations at the appropriate time and place.
S.iiui d.i\, Dtumlui Ml
Sunil.n. Dticnilui ,'l
meeting,
Reproduction of the Future,
Solanco High School.
Computerized Farm Financial
Records Workshops, Centre
County Extension, Bellefonte,
10 a.m.-3 p.m„ also Jan. 4,9,
and 11.
£ t<, *>A ‘.% ' ■; '
h ♦ Farm Calendars
‘ v (¥■* *?.
' ♦> * ' *
’ ; •*
i
Lancaster County Tobacco Show,
Farm and Home Center, youth 9
a.m., adult 10 a.m.
4-H Tractor Safety Program,
Lebanon Valley Ag Center, 7
Berks County Dairy DayTexteir
sion office, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Dairy Managing For Success
Program, Hoss’s Steak and Sea
House, Gettysburg, also Jan.
17.
W
The 1995 Farmer’s Tax Guide
has arrived at your local coopera
tive extension office.
This Internal Revenue Service
publication is distributed free
through cooperative extension.
This complete guide contains
instructions on how to file you
1995 Income Tax Return.
Even if you do not file your own
taxes, you should pick up a copy of
the tax guide and read it. You may
learn of deductions or other tax
savings your accountant may miss.
Remember, you are the one
most familiar with your operation
So take time now to pick up your
1995 Farmer’s Tax Guide and read
it for valuable financial informa
tion and tax saving ideas.
This week officially marked the
beginning of winter. We have
already experienced cold weather
and will probably see a lot more
before spring.
In extremely cold weather. Dr.
Larry Kenney, Penn State associ
ate professor of applied physiolo
gy, says it is extremely important
to keep the head covered and to
cover the face and mouth with a
scarf to prevent heat loss from the
body.
It is important to remember that
the extremities of the body will
cod faster than the rest of the
body. Thus, they must be protected
with gloves, boots, and ear flaps to
prevent frostbite.
When you know you will be out
in the cold, always overdress. It is
easier to remove unneeded do-
Newton.
Chester County Dairy Day,
Oxford Fire Hall, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Dairy Managing For Success
Program, Olde Country Buffet.
RL 30, York, also Jan. 18.
Lancaster (Raleigh) DHIA record
meeting, Lancaster Farm and
Home Center. 12:30 n.m.
*'*t' * / * "
ay, -mly i. .age rw
ant, Franconia, 9:45 a.m.-2:4S
p.m.
Farm Records Made Easy Work
shops, beginning Jan. 5, York
extension office, 10 a.m.-3
p.m., also Jan. 24 or 26. Jan. 31
or Feb. 2, and Feb. 7 or Feb. 9.
Farm Show Complex, Harris
burg, thru Jan. 11.
Potter County Holstein annual
meeting. Community Building,
To Pick Up
Farmer’s Tax Guide
To Dress
For Winter
ing, Thompson’s Dairy Bar,
(Turn to Pago A 26)
thing than it is to get warm when
extra clothing is not available.
Wearing layers of clothing is
well suited to staying warm. Being
aware of the effect that wind has on
temperatures is very important
Blowing winds make the tempera
ture feel colder.
Thirty degrees will feel like
minus two degrees when the wind
is blowing at 30 miles per hour.
To Make
New Year’s
Resolutions
It will soon be 1996. Now is the
time of year to make our New
Year’s resolutions.
Some resolutions you might
consider are:
• Attend winter meetings in
1996 to learn something new to be
tried on your farm. Earn at least 6
pesticide credits so you will not be
trying to earn them all at the last
minute when your license expires.
• Attend at least one manage
ment seminar to learn more about
financial or labor management.
• Develop a nutrient manage-
—-ho
BY LAWRENCE W. ALTHOUSE
( @a@!LS
sn
RISE AND SHINE!
Decembers], 1995
RISE AND SHINE!
December 31, 199 S
Background Scripture:
Isaiah 60 through 61
Devotional Reading:
Romans 15:15-21
I don’t know how it is in your
community, but in ours the Christ
mas lights ate out, if not down by
December 31. In fact, many of
them disappear on the 26th. But,
not at our house: we keep them up
for the fulf Twelve Days of
Christmas!
Twelfth Night is one of the
most significant days in the
Christian calendar, Epiphany.
Although it is one of America’s
least known and observed holy
days, in some countries Epiphany,
January 6, is a legal holiday. Some
years ago we observed Epiphany
in Austria where it is called Drei
Koenige, The “Three Kings,” a
reference to the wise men who
came to Bethlehem to see the new
born “king of the Jews” (Matt
2:1-15). Children dressed as the
three kings went throughout the
town, including the hotels, to tell
the ancient story and spread the
message of Epiphany.
In ancient times the winter sol
stice (when the days begin to get
longer) occurred on January 6.
Early Christians celebrated
Christ’s birth on January 6. But
later, when the calendar was
adjusted, the winter solstice fell on
December 25. (A later adjustment
moved winter solstice to Decem
ber 21-22, where it is today, but
Christmas remained on December
25.) Although some eastern ortho
dox Christians still celebrate
Christmas on January 6, for most
of the rest of Christendom it is
observed as Epiphany, as Greek
word meaning “manifestation” or
“appearance” a celebration of
the visit of the wise men and
Christ’s manifestation to the
whole world.
YOUR LIGHT HAS COME
A scripture passage often asso
ciated with Epiphany is Isaiah 60.
Once apin, as in Isaiah 9, the pro
phet uses the symbol of light;
Arise, shine; for your light has
come, and the glory of the Lord
ment plan for your farm. Review
and up date your soil conservation
plan.
• Plan a family vacation. Spend
at least two hours per week with
each child.
• Clean up and organize one
woik area on the farm each month.
• Plant a wind break around
confinement animal housing
bams.
• Visit and get to know every
neighbor before spring planting.
• Spend 10 hours every week on
professional improvement (read
ing, attending meetings, visiting
other farms and businesses, etc.).
• Do not work more than 3,000
hours and volunteer for more than
500 hours in a year.
• Develop a hobby.
These are just a few ideas. Cre
ate your own list Remember, New
Year’s resolutions are designed to
help us identify ways to live better,
happier, and productive lives.
Feather Prof.'s Footnote: “The
first step toward creating an
improved future is developing the
ability to envision it."
has risen upon you. For behold,
darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon
you. And nations shall come to
your light, and kings to the bright
ness of your rising.
Isaiah 60:1-3
The reference to “kings” in 60:3
and to “gold and frankincense” in
60:6b are sometimes regarded as
prophetic predictions of the three
wise men and the gifts they
brought.
But most of a’l it is the symbol
of light that mrkes epiphany so
significant for tie Christian life
and mission. At Christmas we are
called to see the light of Christ that
shines in the darkness. But Epi
phany takes that one step further
and lays upon us the obligation to
be the light for the world around
us. Without epiphany the message
of Christmas is incomplete. Epi
phany challenges us to keep the
Light of Christmas lit in the world
long after the Christmas lights and
decorations have been taken
down.
NO DARKNESS
On the New Hebrides island of
Nguna there is a little church with
a picture of the missionary who
founded it. Peter Milne. Under the
picture is an inscription; “When
he came there wis no light; When
he died there was no darkness.”
Peter Milne’s mission is the
same one that Christ gives to each
of us: to let his light shine through
us and overcome the darkness.
Henry P. Van Dusen, the late Pres
ident of Union Theological Semi
nary in New York, wrote that the
Church, “with all its weakness and
its pettiness, its failures and its
follies and its infidelities, is the
bearer of the Light which cannot
be overcome because it is lit from
the Eternal Light of God himself
... That light, no man-made dark
ness can ever extinguish."
This little light of mine. I’m
going to let it shine! What about
you?
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955 ■
POblished Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
lE. Main St
Ephrata, PA 17522
—by—
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Sttinman Entarprisa
Robert 0. Campbell Oonoral Manager
Everett R. Nawawangar Managing Editor
Copyright 1995 by Lancaatar Farming