Vol. 41 No. 27 Longhorn Cattle For Love Of History, Minimal Care EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor ASPERS (Adams Co.) Christopher Columbus gets a lot of credit for America’s oldest cattle breed—Texas Longhorn. These Spanish “long-horns” came along to the New World on the explorer’s second trip in 1494. From this beginmg, 500 years of descendants can be traced. They pulled thousands of wagons over the Oregon Trail, set the stage for the creation of the legendary American cowboy, fed the armies in the Civil War, and today can claim a prominent role in produc ing lean, nutritious food. “If you like history and cattle, you’ll like Texas Longhorns,” said Tim Cline at his 40-acre Point of View Farm, located northwest of Bcndcrsville. “That’s why my wife Mary Sue and I started our herd in 1990. We didn’t just want to mow the ground. We have a real interest in conservation, and after looking at several breeds decided that with Texas Longhorns we could com bine all of our interests into a pro fitable operation.” While there are some large herds scattered across the nation, these cattle fit well into farms with a few acres and primitive facilities. At HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Agriculture Secretary Charles C. Brosius is offering the services of the department’s plant disease diagnostic laboratory to help pota to growers combat the fungal dis At the conference, the new Lancaster County officer team was announced. They are, front to back, Justine Hill, vice president, Solanco; Sara Strickler, secretary, Solanco; Keith Bollinger, president, Cloister FFA; Ken Martin, trea surer, Grassland; and Dale Zimmerman, reporter, Cloister. Not available for photo was Walter Langley, Manhelm, chaplain. 60$ Per Copy Point of View, the herd gels pas ture in summer with supplemental hay over hot dry periods until the pastures can recover. In winter, the weanlings, bulls, and fattening ani mals get a protein supplement with their hay. But the mother cows get only hay. They have a shelter for the coldest weather but spend the winter outside. This hardy constitution comes from the Longhorn’s wild west genetics. In earlier times, these cattle roamed the pairics in all kinds of harsh weather and were driven 3,000 miles to the railroad heads to be shipped East to market The cows have their calves with case. Of the 95 calves bom on his farm, Cline has seen only two births. “The calves come unas sisted and unnoticed until we get home and say ‘Oh, we have a new calf today,”’ Cline said. “When I sell a bull to a Holstein breeder to use on his heifers, I guarantee that I will pay the vet bill if my Longhorn bull breeds his heifer and she has calving problems. I have never been called to pay.” Longhorn cattle fed the nation, including the armies of the Civil (Turn to Page A 22) PDA Offers Seed Potato Testing For Late Blight ease late blight. “One of the primary couriers of late blight fungus is infected seed potatoes,” Brosius said. “We’re offering this new service to help potato farmers prevent economic Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 11, 1996 Tim Cline, Point of View Farm, shows Piggln String, one of his Registered Texas Longhorn cows. The breed is a true American heritage imported by Columbus in 1494. losses." Late blight fungus (Phytoph thora infestans) affects tomatoes and potatoes. Brownish to purp lish-black spots apear on leaves or stems of plants. The disease can occur at any time during the grow ing season when humid, rainy conditions occur. Seed potato testing is being of fered to commercial potato grow ers and home gardeners free of charge on a first come, first served Lancaster FFA’ers ‘Go The Distance’ At Leadership Conference ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming StafT LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Slate FFA Reporter Josh Trox cll often finds himself between a rock and a hard place. As state reporter, he is charged with documenting and distributing news of county and slate FFA cvcnls. As an officer, he is respon sible for coordinating meetings and performing numerous other duties as an officer. In short, he not only reports the Ticws, he participates in it. And every tithe he wears the blue corduroy jacket, a staunch symbol of FFA membership, he said he has “new experiences” .that help him develop as a ‘"professional. Both reporting the news and participating in it formed the core basis. Protocols for sampling and submission to the department’s plant disease diagnostic labora tory in Harrisburg are available through the department’s regional offices, county extension offices, and the laboratory (717-787- 5609). In addition to the seed potato testing service, other departmental activities to control late blight in clude; • Environmental monitoring and field scouting. of the experiences of all the county officers, old and new, on Wednes day evening at the annual Red Rose Leadership Conference at Lancaster Mennonile High School. “Go the Distance” was the theme of the conference, a training institute for professional leader ship for all Lancaster County ol fleers. At the conference, the new Lan caster County officer team was announced. They are Keith Bollin ger, president. Cloister FFA; Jus line Hill, Vice president, Solanco; Sara Stncklcr, secretary, Solanco; Ken Martin, treasurer, Grassland; Dale Zimmerman, reporter. Clois ter, and Walter Langley, Man heim, chaplain. Also serving as a special guest with some of the night’s activities was Shannon Horst, Grassland Four Sections • Seeking approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply several new fungicides on potato and to mato plants. • Laboratory testing of infected plants and seed for disease con firmation and gcnotypmg. • Regular dissemination of in formation via newsletters and the statewide integrated pest manage ment (IPM) hotline (1-800- PENN-IPM) FFA, state chaplain. Nearly 100 FFAers were in attendance. Troxcll, Grassland FFA mem ber who is pursuing a career in ag education with a minor in journal ism at Delaware Valley College, participated in a workshop with Lisa Warner, Manhcim FFA, and Justine Hill, Solanco, about the duties of chapter officers as histo rians and reporters. At the workshop, members reviewed some of the work involved in news gathering, including the importance of story timeliness and how to submit arti cles for' publication. Also, the workshop reviewed how to put together a chapter newsletter. Troxcll is editor of the newslet ter of the state FFA, The FFA I.C.E. (acronym for Involvement, (Turn to Page A 26) $27.50 Per Year
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers