Technology, Politics Continue American Ag Metamorphism (Contlnutd from Pag* A 24) State Conservation Commission (which oversees conservation dis tricts and is integral to carrying out the state’s Nutrient Management Act) went from being a DEP staffed organization chaired by the secretary of DEP, to one situated in the Department of Agriculture building with an independent staff and a rotating chair between the secretaries of DEP and PDA. An important legislative miles tone was the passage of laws to facilitate the reuse of industrial sites without having to detoxifiy the sites to pre-industrial condi tions. Under a government industry partnership, an acceptable comprise is to be worked out in containing onsite contaminations and to allow industry to again use what are for the most part aban doned areas blighting many of the state’s cities and towns. The first legislation for local tax reform just recently was passed and, according to a Senate anan lysis of Senate Bill 2, “is to allow local governments the option of reducing property taxes by simp lifying their local tax system (through the elimination of nui sance taxes), by collecting an income tax. “With voter approval, counties would have the option of imposing a sales tax. Voters would also have the option of becoming a Home Rule school district (for tax struc ture puiposes only). “Voter approval would be needed before a local government could collect the new taxes. Once B&B SPRAY PAINTING SANDBLASTING SPRAY - ROLL - BRUSH Specializing In Buildings, Feed Mills - Roofs - Tanks - Etc., Aerial Ladder Equip. Stone - Barn - Restoration 574 Gibbon’s Rd., Bird-In-Hand, Pa. Aniwcring Service (717) 354-5561 property taxes are. reduced, future property tax increases would require voter approval.” A court-ordered county wide tax reassessment for Lancaster has caused a lot of headaches for far mers and landowners here. Whether or not local tax reform becomes effective enough to pre vent people from leaving their farms is uncertain, but because of problems with the reassessments, implementation has been postponed. Dairy promotion in Pennsylva nia was completely revised as a new merger and cooperative agreements were established. A longstanding dispute between rival entities working to secure sol id promotion programs and dependable flows of funding was finally resovled this July. On July 1, the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program merged with the Mid-East UDIA to form Mid East ADADC. It gets a little complicated, but the Middle Atlantic Milk Market ing Association (MAMMA) had been operating in the southeast part of the state, overlapping some areas hit by the PDPP and by the New Yoik ADADC Inc. What has happened is that now the PDPP board of directors remains intact and oversees the marketing programming for 33 counties in central and western Pennsylvania, while MAMMA has 20 in the southcentral and southeast, and ADADC Inc. has the northeast quarter’s 14 counties. The divisions were made 3 NEED YOUR * FARM BUILDINGS PAINTED? Let us give' you a price! Write: Daniel’s Painting 637-A Georgetown Rd. Ronks, PA 17572 (or leave message) ■■ (717) 687-8262 ■— Spray on and Brush p in Painting a according to population areas and media areas, as well as reflecting the location of certain dairy farmer promotion funds. The result is an end to the dis putes over funding and better effi ciency in getting the most dairy promotion for the least amount of dollar.h The PDPP effort is now part of the effort to promote dairy pro ducts on behalf of dairy producers in Ohio, West Virginia, nothem Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The state Farm Link Program saw its first success this year. The Farm-Link Program is a part of the Center For Rural Pennsylvania, a legislative organization. Farm Link has a mission of helping to bring older and younger genera tion people together to attempt to work out a person-to-person agree ment on transferring the farm. It’s an attempt to stem the loss of family farms. The National Holstein Conven tion was held in Pennsylvania this • past year, only the sixth time in the organization’s 110-history. The National Grange also held its convention in the Keystone State, marking a significant honor for the Pennsylvania State Grange. The Chesapeake Bay Executive Council approved a local initiative program while Gov. Ridge in remarks said that farmers appa rently are not as much to blame for the high nitrogen levels in the Sus quehanna River and that more work needed to be done with wastewater treatment plant dis charge nitrogen releases. Count on these DEKALB varieties for strong emergence, great stands and high-yield potential. fDK 560 CX 411 • Exceptional yield potential 'V • Early Group IV • Very good gram quality • Great yields • Widely adapted • Multi-race Phytophthora • Responsive to irrigation and Root Rot resistance high fertility • Excellent Seedling A • 106-day RM emergence, vigor and kSml?' standability U; DK 122 '• Superior yields • Exceptional winterhardiness • Resistance to Phytophthora Root Rot; Bacterial, Verticillium and Fusarium Wilt; Anthracnose and Pea Aphid For more information on these and other quality -DEKALB products, see your local DEKALB dealer Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 30, 1995-A25 The Game Commission approved deer permits to farmers to give out for an off-season hunt ing season. After years of request ing a useful and safe program with farmer control, the commission finally gave it so that crop damaging deer can be shot and harvested during the early spring and late summer. The commission requires that a f»nn be enrolled in the commis sion’s Hot Spot program for sever al years, and allow public access during regular season. Other highlights of the yean • Lancaster Dairy Herd Improvement Association became Cooperative Councils Selected State Winners WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Planning Committee for October Cooperative Month is pleased to announce that the Cooperative Council of North Carolina and the Kansas Coopera tive Council will be honored for outstanding cooperative service on behalf of the cooperative community. Each year, the committee rec ognizes a state cooperative coun cil or organization whose activi ties during the past cooperative month celebration best illustrates the theme, “Cooperatives— Expanding People’s Horizons.” The awards will be presented dur ing the National Council of Far mer Cooperatives’ annual meeting Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C. “We are honored to present this award to two states who have done an outstanding job communicat ing the cooperative message to their local communities,” said Sheldon C. Petersen, chairman of the National Cooperative Month Planning Committee. “Both the Cooperative Council of North Carolina and the Kansas Coopera tive Council exemplify this year’s Cooperative Month theme.” The Cooperative Council of North Carolina brought coopera tion to new heights by using hot air balloons to celebrate co-op month. Held in three strategic cities across the state, the colorful or call: 1-800-BDEKALB. a national affiliate this past year and reports doing well. • Pa.DHIA pioneered milk urea nitrogen testing for its members and also performance economics. • Penn State dedicated a new $5.5 million dairy cattle research center. • A world record for milk pro duction was set in May with Raim Mark Jinx, a registered Holstein, making 60.440 pounds of milk in 365 days. She made 1,938 pounds of fat and 1,884 pounds of protein. She was milked three times per day and was given bovine somatotropin. balloons attracted attention and provided the opportunity for co-op employees to share with the public how cooperatives expand people’s horizons. A local radio personality broadcasted from the event—once from high up in the hot air balloon—and helped promote cooperatives to his radio audience. The Kansas Cooperative Coun cil opened new lines of coopera tive communication by organizing three legislative luncheons, giving cooperators and legislators an opportunity to get better acquainted. The lawmakers were all surprised to learn how many cooperatives businesses and employees they had in their dis tricts. Local co-ops—from credit unions to farm supply—shared the co-op message by conducted col oring contests that reached more than 1,000 school children, essay and poster contests, barbecues and open houses, and food drives that included cooperative brand foods. The cooperative community has been celebrating October Cooperative Month for more than 60 years. Cooperative month activities are coordinated by Washington, D.C.-based commit tees and are sponsored by more than 20 national cooperative orga nizations and government agen cies with special cooperative relationships. Earning Our Way On More Of Your Acres. For the Selects Bu>u(... 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers