!inl r !U.J Bfl ■ rn SEP I 01996 n in nnHr aiß i^cb Vol. 41 No. 44 The Berks County Farm Family of the Year is the Werley family from Hamburg. They pose with one of their favorite cows, Sonnen-Springs Marv Camera, VG-88, with excellent PennAg To Consider Opening Council, Merger With PAPA VERNON ACHENBACH JR. Lancaster Fanning Staff EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.) A possible merger between PennAg Industries Asso ciation and the Pennsylvania Agronomic Products Association (PAPA) is to be considered Tues day during a meeting at the Eden Resort. The meeting is being held between the executive committee of Penn Ag and a PAPA committee. Pork Quality Assurance Necessary, Has Real Benefits ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) By signing up under the Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Prog ram, producers could experience a $2-$3 per hundredweight decrease in production costs. Signing up for PQA is not com plicated, according to pork profes sionals who spoke to about 75 pro ducers and agri-industry represen tatives at a meeting at the Farm and Home Center in Lancaster last week. The meeting was co sponsored by Penn State. The decrease in production costs as a result of using PQA was Four Sections Werleys Named Berks Farm Family If the meeting results in the PAPA committee approving of such a move, then PennAg leader ship mhy have something fairly substantial to present to its mem bers on the issue when it holds its 118th convention at the Hotel Her shey Sept. 16 and 17. The discussions between Pen nAg and PAPA are but one effort by those with a stake in represent ing Pennsyulvania’s agribusiness to improve political strength and reduce duplication of effort. pointed out in a study conducted by the Ohio Pork Producers Association. Pennsylvania has a similar prog ram, adopted by the guidelines written almost a decade ago by the National Pork Producers Council. As for Pennsylvania’s program, “a lot of producers just don’t know about it,” said Duff George, Hat field’s hog buyer. George said the PQA meeting was part of the important educational process, “not an obstacle” for producers. Hatfield is using the program to bolster marketing of its products overseas. According to John Rei (Turn to Poge A 26) Lsncsster Fanning, Saturday, September 7. 1996 udder and lifetime over 100,000 m. From left are, Pamela, Angela, Matthew, Phil at halter, Donna, and Melissa. Photo by Everett Newswanger, managing editor. The most apparently logical strategy would be for one group to serve as a big tent for all the other organizations, according to Dave Brubaker, executive vice president of the Penn Ag. As it is now, there are about 100 Jersey Supreme At Maryland State Fair LOIS SZYMANSKI Maryland Correspondent TIMONIUM, Md. Among the many exhibitors at the recent 10-day Maryland State Fair were some of the finest dairy cattle from across the nation. On separ ate days throughout the week each breed held their own open show. Represented were Holsteins, Guernseys, Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Jerseys, and Milking Short horns. On Monday morning, Sep tember 2, the Grand Champion of each breed division was brought into the ring at the conclusion of the open Holstein show. Judge Robert Morrell was joined by Paul Miller, and Dr. Angelo Pozetti of the Italian Brown Swiss Associa tion. Together, they carefully evaluated each breed champion. Then, a sparkling Supreme Cham pion of Show for the 1996 Mary land State Fair was chosen. The Grand Champion Jersey cow quickly became Supreme Cham- (Turn to Page A2O) $27.50 Per Year different agribusiness organiza tions or associations, Brubaker said. Some of the members of Pen nAg, which is the largest agribusi ness association in the state, belong to several different trade associations, all primarily with a Douglas King, (holding the trophy) and partner, Michael Heath, celebrate their supreme champion dairy cow, Sparklers Unique Jeanna at the Maryland State Fair. 60t Per Copy EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor HAMBURG (Berks Co.) —For the new Berks County Farm Fami ly of the Year, fanning is in then blood. Phil and Donna Werley and their children Angela 18, Melissa 17, Pamela 12, and, Matthew 5, farm 195 acres northeast of town, along Blue Mountain. The family was honored at the 41st annual out standing farm family awards ban quet Wednesday evening at the Fleetwood Grange Hall. You will also know Angela as the Berks County dairy princess. She is studying dairy and animal science at the Berks campus of Penn State with one more semester to go before transferring to the main campus in State College. Melissa was one of the members of the Bedes County dairy bowl team that won in Pittsburgh at the National Holstein Convention last year. Under the Phil-Don Farm prefix, they milk 68 registered and grade Holsteins and have 67 heifers and calves. A home-bred excellent and five very good cows arc part of the herd. Angela and Melissa each own 19 or more mature cows, heif ers, and calves in the herd, and Pamela is known for her champ ionship showmanship abilities. The sisters banter good-naturdly about whose cows give the most (Turn to Page A3l) similar mission, especially when it comes to legislative issues. The proposal is for PennAg to serve the host for the industry council, with the council represen taliaj„ k not eliminating, indepen- (Turn to Page Al 7)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers