Farmino, Saturday, March 9, 1996
opimon
Attitude makes all the difference in whether or not happiness
can ever be part of a fanning operation.
What that means may be simple to understand by those who
already have it, but for those frustrated by mounting or seeming
ly overwhelming obstacles, it is difficult to understand or even
consider without cynicism.
What is described as a good attitude is pan of good mental
health, and traditionally, considering how much information
about animal health and comfon that is continuously made
available to the fanning community, it is almost remarkable that
techniques for maintaining good mental health has not been
made more widely available to farmers.
Fanners are constantly challenged mentally. That’s been a
large part of the attraction of farming it’s never the same
from day-to-day and demands awareness, clear thinking, crea
tiveness and a positive attitude.
It also requires an ability to be open to reality, rather than
blinded to concepts of desire.
For the past 10 years and still today, it seems that no one wide
ly respected public leader has been able to provide the American
public, especially the family fanner, with a clear vision of
direction.
The Smiths and the Joneses have more, live better and work
less than we do and we should be more like them to have self
respect. Right?
Wrong. That’s all a sham. We can not forget that the Smiths
and the Joneses do not exist. If they appear to exist, who
cares most likely that apparition is a gimmic to stimulate
product consumption.
What the Smiths and Joneses don’t have is you and your
family.
Those without some spiritual development, those whose past
immediate family didn’t possess or pass on good coping skills,
and those convinced that singleness of direction, force and per
sistence are the only ways to achieve goals and achieving goals
is the only way to achieve happiness are probably in need of a
friend and maybe family.
Recently the saying, “Wherever you go, there you are,” has
become popular because of its ironic simplicity and seeming
philosophical advice that where ever we are in life, that is what
we have to deal with and if we can’t find happiness in our situa
tion, comfort in our family and God, then something should
change.
Attitude.
With all the pressure on farmers to deal with volatile, uncer
tain markets, a political arena that rewards outlandishness and
hate rather than knowledge, understanding and strength of char
acter, and a growing general business ethic that can be described
as “predatory capitalism (or canabalism),” it is understandable
that frustration and cynicism have seeped into farm family rela
tionships and operations.
People need people. Family members need each other. Fann
ing is a business that can involve the family, but the success or
failure of that business should not determine the success or fai
lure of a family.
That’s the difference attitude makes.
No matter what the circumstance, attitude makes the differ
ence in whether there will be hope, love and companionship or
misery, malaise and despair.
If the happiness of a family derived from love and respect
doesn’t come first, then what is a family farm?
S;itititl.i\. Mint'll '<
Wayne County Dairy Day, Hones
dale High School. 9:30
a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Maryland Holstein Eastern Shore
Showcase Sale, Quarryville.
Regional Christmas Tree Seminar
and Trade Show, Chestnut
Ridge Resort, Blairsville, 8
Moikl.iv. M.irdi II |
Poultry Management and Health
Family First
Seminar, Kreider’s Restaurant,
Manheim, noon.
Maryland Holstein, Kent County
annual meeting. Galena.
Nutrient management public hear
ing meeting. Farm and Home
Center. 7 p.m.
Octorara Young Farmers Awards
banquet. West Fallowfield
Christian School. 6:45 p.m.
York County Chamber of Com
merce Agribusiness Presenta
tion, Adams Electric Co-Op,
(Turn to Pago All)
To Manage
Mastitis
Managing mastitis flare-ups has
a lot of similarity to managing a
hay mow fire, according to Glenn
Shirk, extension dairy agent
Think of subclinical mastitis as
smoldering embers in a hay mow
waiting for an opportunity to flare
up. In the case of cows, these hot
spots are the code S cows on your
DHI SCC report.
These are the cows that keep
your herd cell counts hanging in
the 300,000 to 500,000 range.
These cows will generally move
one of two directions: up or down.
As with sparks in the hay mow, all
it takes is a little fanning to cause a
flare-up.
With cows, this fanning may be
in the form of added stresses
placed on the cows such as other
infections, injuries, changes in the
weather, changes in the feeding
program, milking system failure,
changes in milking practices, dis
comfort, poor ventilation, etc. We
need to focus on the clinical cases
and get them undo: control or cull
them from the herd.
At the same time, we need to
vigorously seek out and attack the
subclinical cases (code 5 cows) so
they do not become tomorrow’s
flare-ups. When the number of
subclinical cases is reduced, the
job of managing the herd becomes
much easier. Thus, it is very
important to reduce the number of
code S cows in the herd.
To Know
Sow Nutrition
According to Chester Hughes,
extension livestock agent, it is
important that brood sows and gilts
Farm Forum
Editor:
February 21,1995 is definitely
a night that I will always remem
ber! Being the 1995-1996 New
York State Dairy Princess was an
incredible feeling and one that
will always be close to my heart I
knew that moment would mark
the beginning of a year full of
excitement hard work and lots of
fun. I also knew that with a great
amount of determination, enthu
siasm, and many smiles, I would
be able to make a difference in the
lives of agricultural and non
agricultural people throughout our
state.
Over the last twelve months, I
have done my best to represent the
farmers of New York State and the
American Dairy Association and
Dairy Council, Inc. (ADADC) at
numerous promotions. Many
times, I have shared my children’s
presentation entitled “A Very Spe
cial Animal” to audiences young
and old. I have had the opportuni
ty to give speeches at several
meetings such as the National All-
(Turn to Pago A 26)
get die proper levels of nutrients
for successful reproduction.
Feeding in excess is not only
wasteful and costly but may
increase embryonic mortality. A
limited feeding system using
balanced, fortified diets is
recommended.
Individual feeding insures that
each sow gets her daily require
ments of nutrients without con
suming excess energy. As a rule of
thumb, four pounds of a balanced
diet per day usually will provide
adequate protein and energy.
During cold weather, additional
feed may be required, depending
on type of housing. Heavy milking
breeds or females that are still
growing will require more total
nutrients. With limited feeding, it
is extremely important that each
sow gets her level of feed and no
more.
The daily feeding of a limited
amount to each individual is the
most popular system. Its success is
based on having an adequate num
ber of feeding stalls or space for
individual animals.
To Know
Some Statistics
As agriculture prospers, so pros-
BY LAWRENCE W ALTHOUSE
‘saisas
SKj
WHEN IS ENOUGH
u ENOUGH”7
March 10,1996
WHEN IS ENOUGH
“ ENOUGH *7
Background Scripture:
Matthew 18:21-35
Devotional Reading:
Ephesians 4:25 to 5:2
Right after the Christmas holi
days I made a surprising and baf
fling discovery: all of my shirts
have unaccountably gotten tighter
around my neck! I can get them
buttoned, but sometimes only with
a lot of effort
That’s the way the parables of
ten affect me. I find these simple
stories a kind of judgment on the
ponderous ways in which I try to
communicate the gospel of Christ
Jesus used simple stories to com
municate what would probably
evoke from me a wordy treatise.
Peter comes to Jesus with a
problem that has probably trou
bled each of us at some time:
“Lord, how often shall my brother
sin against me, and I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN
I probably would have given
Peter an answer in 10 or 11 good
sized paragraphs, but Jesus says
simply, “I do not say to you seven
times, but seventy times seven.”
Now some of us would to the math
in our heads and exclaim, “Aha!
we must forgive our brother 490
times!” Peter, of course, being
from the Middle East, knew better
than to interpret Jesus literally. In
fact, not having much, if any
schooling, Peter probably didn’t
know the product of seventy times
seven. Jesus wasn’t saying that he
should forgive his brother 490
times and no more, but that for
giveness is beyond calculation.
The parable that follows con
firms this, for Jesus is teaching us
that we ourselves should forgive
as often as we want God to forgive
us. Since we don’t want any limits
on his forgiveness (Who among us
could afford to take a risk such as
pen the nation!
All of us depend upon food and
fiber for substance. We also enjoy
and expect a bountiful supply of
high quality food at a very afford
able prices.
Americans spend 11.4 percent
of disposable income on food. The
United Slates has 7 percent of the
world’s tillable land and produces
13 percent of the world’s food.
Food and fiber production
accounts for 17 percent of our
gross national product.
Less than 2 percent of the
United States’ population are far
mers. Today’s farmer feeds 129
other people.
The United States spends only
two percent of its research and
development budget on agricultur
al research and extension educa
tion programs. These monies indi
rectly help everyone, not just the
two percent farmers.
This two percent compares to 54
percent spent on defense research
and 44 percent on other civilian
research.
Feather Prof's Footnote:
"Respect cannot be learned, pur
chased or acquired—it can only
be earned."
that?” there should be none on
ours either.
Unfortunately, this is one of the
parables of Jesus that I can relate
to all too well. When I look at my
own status before God, I cannot
entertain any thought of the end
less mercy of God. If his forgive
ness were limited to some particu
lar number like 49,000 I’m
sure I would already be over the
limit I have no illusions about
how much I depend upon God’s
unlimited grace.
DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH?
At the same time, however,
when I think of my role as the for
giver rather than the forgiven, the
situation appears to be completely
different. Then, like Peter. I tend
to think that “seven times” is a lot
of forgiveness for anyone to ex
pect of me.
There have been a few people in
my life, however, who have re
ceived from me at least seven for
givenesses and beyond that. So I
find myself praying, “Lord, when
is enough enough?” When can I
stop forgiving?
And the answer which he gave
to peter is the same one he gives to
me: “It’s enough if when you
don’t need any more forgiveness
yourself.” Of course, when is that?
Never! So, what the king said to
the unforgiving servant, God says
to me: “You wicked servant! I for
gave you all that debt because you
besought me; and should you not
have had mercy on your fellow
servant, as I had mercy on you?”
As George Herbert says, “He who
cannot forgive breaks the bridle
over which he himself must pass.”
’When we ask God when we
can stop forgiving others, the an
swer is always “Never.”
The Allhouses will lead a group to
the Holy Land, Oct. 9 to Nov. 2,
1996. Space limited. For informa
tion, write them at 4412 Shenan
doah Ave., Dallas, TX 75205.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
EphraU Review Building
lE. Main St
EphraU, PA 17522
—by—
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
ASMmanEnlmprito
Robert O. Cempbe* General Manager
Everett R.Newawenger Menagtng EdNor
Copyright 1996 by Laneultr Faming