AlMancMltf Farming, Saturday, January 4, 1997 OPINION American Agriculture Again Sacrificed On Altar Of World Government Officials of our national government are at it again. In a pend ing international treaty, we are proposing to give up more of our national sovereignty in subjection to the powerful international environmental lobby. Ibis time agriculture is being unfairly blamed for greenhouse gas emissions without any consideration of the industry’s positive role in reducing the gases. Potential legally binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions may come out of the second Conference of Parties of the United Nations’ Framework Convenion on Climate Change. This U.N. scientific panel is considering reports that blame agriculture for more than 20 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emis sions. Among the proposals are such things as fuel economy requirements; reduction or phaseout of diesel fuel use; limita tions mi production per acre for some crops; requirements for “plowless” soil preparation; mandatory fallowing of cropland; limits and restrictions on livestock production to reduce methane emissions: restrictions on fertilizer use; restrictions on timber harvesting, and restrictions on processing, manufacturing and transportation of food products. To us, this lodes like the naked agenda of our national enemies who want us to lose our most valuable resource—a world class agriculture able to out-produce and out-feed any other country in the world. Unfortunately, these proposals ignore agriculture’s positive role in reducing greenhouse gases by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. It also disregards the most valuable function of modem agriculture—feeding 'a hungry world. There is a lively debate among respected scientists about the human vs. natural sources of greenhouse gases and their effect on climate. But the climate change treaty is moving full speed ahead with the U.S. adminstration’s enthusiastic support. A final agree ment is scheduled to be completed in December of 1997, with ratification by individual countries begining in 1998. If ratified by the U.S. Senate, the treaty will be binding on the United States and other developed countries and may be incorporated into U.S. law. Developing countries, however, will not have to comply. Again the strength of American agriculture will be sacrificed on the alter of the powerful world government movement' S.ilmd.n, J.mu.irv 4 Stmd.n . .I.iiiii.ii \ 5 ing, Thompson’s Dairy Bar. Lackawanna County. 9 a.m.-3 pjn. Tulpehocken Adult Young Fanner business letter writing meeting, Tulpehocken High Schoool, Montgomery County. Family Heritage Restaurant, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Franklin County Extension Dairy Day, Kauffman’s Community Center, Chambersburg. 9 a.m. Tri-County Council For Southern Maryland and Southern Mary land Agricultural Commission meeting. Southern Maryland Regional Library. Charlotte HaU, Md., 7 pjn. Lancaster County Tobacco Show. Farm and Home Center, 9£o ajn. Solanco Young Farmers Associa tion meeting/ Dairy Feeding Economics, Solanco High School 7:30 p.m. Eastern Pa. Turf Conference and Trade Show, Valley Forge Con vention Center, King of Prussi- Guthriesville. Vegetable Technology Confer ence, Mt Airy Fire Hall, Mary land, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Frederick County Walk-A-Bout, Larry and Judy Riggs, hosts, 10 a.m.-noon. 1997 Ht nil ilSht Berks County Dairy Day. Berks County Agricultural Center, Leesport, 9 a.m.-3 pjn. Stepping Ahead With Hoof Health, Yoder’s Family Restaurant, Hartleton. Schuylkill County Dairy Day, Penn Stale Schuylkill Campus, Pottsville, 9:30 ajn.-i3O pjn. Mercer County Dairy Day, Mercer Cooperative Extension Center, 9:30 ajn.-3 pjn. Fuming For The Long Run; To Attend 1997 Farm Show Next week maria the opening of the 1997 Pennsylvania State Farm Show. The Farm Show will run from Jan. 11-16 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Saturday, Jan. 11 is Governor’s Day featur ing livestock shows, egg judging, home economics demonstrations, and 4-H, FFA, and youth exhibits. Sunday, Jan. 12 is Family Day with more livestock shows, hun dreds of commodity and business exhibits and crafts. The theme on Monday, Jan. 13 is Agricultural Machinery Costs, Berks Coun ty Ag Center, Leesport, 10 a.m.-noon. York County Ag Land Preserva tion Board informational public meeting. County Annex Build ing. York, 10 a.m., also Jan. 22 Complex, Harrisburg, thru Jan. 16. Md. Organic Food and Farming Association annual meeting, ings, Hotel Roanoke and Con ference Center, Roanoke, thru Jan. IS. National Limousin Show and Sale, of New Jersey 1997 Trade Show. Taj Mahal Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, NJ. Frederick County Milkers ’ School, Mountain Gate Restaurant, Thurmont, 10 of New Jersey 1997 Trade Show, Taj Mahal Hotel Casino, )g(< Northampton counties), Kresgeville. Good Nutrition Or Just Expensive Feeds meeting, All-American Restaurant, Milton. Managing For Success Workshop, Theo’s Restaurant, Franklin County, also Jan. 24. Farming For The Long Run: Land and Rental Arrangements, Berks O — "offir pdti ing, Howard Johmon’i, (Turn to Pag* AST) Heritage Days, Tuesday. Jan. 14 is Dairy Day. Wednesday. Jan. 15 is Youth Day, and the Show ends with the sale of champions on Thursday, Jan. 16. Food is always a highlight at the Farm Show. A huge variety of Pennsylvania food products are on sale at the Food Court. Plan now to attend die largest indoor agri cultural show. To Look At New Technology Technological changes are like ly to have a profound impact on American agriculture, according to Dr. Gerald Cole, University of Delaware resource economist. Cole said small family farms will have the hardest time surviv ing these pressures. New technology is presumed to enhance productivity and increase output While some technologies are scale neutral, others are likely to be adopted only by larger pro ducers. This wiU continue the trend toward fewer but larger farms. Thus, technology will be changing the size of this farm, cost of production, and skills needed in farming. Small farmers unable to adapt new technology may need to LESSOR OR GREATER? January S, 1997 Background Scripture: Mark 1:1-15; Luke 7:18-30 Devotional Reading: Matthew 11:7-17 I had always more or less as sumed that, after die execution of John the Baptist, most of his disci ples turned to following Jesus. This was based on the fact dial at least two of his disciples did fol low Jesus (Jn. 1:37). I was surprised, then, to leam that, for at least the first century of Christianity, some of his followers of John the Baptist were a contem porary and probably a competing movement This explains why all four of the gospel writers include the story of Jesus* baptism by John. They are at pains to show that John and Jesus were not com petitors, but that the Baptist’s role was one of preparation for the coming of Jesus. Luke tells us they were kin through their mothers (Lk.1:26-80). Matthew indicates that John recognized the import ance of Jesus, saying *‘l need to be baptized by you and do you come to me” (ML 3:14). John also indi cates John’s recognition of Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29). Luke and Matthew tell us he recognized his role as secon dary to that of Christ: “I baptize you with water, but he win is mightier than I is coming ...” (Lk. 3:16, ML 3:11). HIGH PRAISE All four gospels tell us that Je sus' baptism was accompanied by an affirming revelation from heaven. In Mark only, the Baptist saw it, while in the other three it is the voice of God, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11; Mat 4:17; Lk. 3:22; Jn. 1:32,33). The New Testament picture of John the Baptist is one of high praise. He is identified as God’s “meaaengor” of whom Isaiah the consider securing a put-time job or work on a larger fain able to adapt new technologies. To Look At Effect Of Regulations Dr. Gerald Cole, University of Delaware resource economist, said new and expanded regula tions including the Coastal Zone Act, nutrient management, pesti cide application records, and labor regulations are examples of increased record-keeping require ments being placed on farms that are likely to make it harder for small family farms to survive. These regulations tend to create a greater disadvantage for smaller fanners. We often hear politicians speak with great fondness about preserv ing small family farms. However, many times they pass new laws that hurt many small farmers because they cannot keep up with the additional cost of compiling with the regulations. Many times these regulations will hasten the demise of farm businesses that are already marginal, according to Cole. Feather Prof's Footnote: “Do more than exist. Live!" prophet wrote, one “who shill pre pare die way” for the Messiah (Mark 1:2b). Then Jesus utters his seemingly paradoxical pronouncement' “I tell you, among those bom of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Lk. 7:28). Is this a skillful put down of John? Or is Jesus here saying something of highest importance to his followers? The man who is a prophet and even mote than a prophet the messenger sent by God to proclaim the Christ is still less than the lowest person in the kingdom of God? WATER vs HOLY SPRIT I think the key to understanding this enigmatic statement is in the Baptist’s own words, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming ... he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 3:16). The ministry of John the Baptist is a vital one in God's purpose, but die difference between the Baptist and the Christ is like the difference between wa ter and the power of the Holy Spir it John calls the people to repent but repentance is only the prepara tion for that which is to come: the power of the Holy Spirit And, when John in a moment of doubt sends two of his disciples to Jesus, asking, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for an other?” Jesus replies, not with ar gument or doctrine, but with evi dences of God's power in his min istry: “the blind receive their sight the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and die deaf hear...” (Lk. 7:22). We can see this in our own lives. All of us need to repent, but repentance by itself is like the wa ter that washes us but cannot keep us clean. We need power to live the life of a forgiven penitent That is what John did not have and what you and I can have to day, if we want it Lancaster Farming Eatmbllahad 1955 Published Every Seturdey Ephrete Review Building 1 B. Main Bt. Bphrata, PA 17533 -by- Lancaater Panning, me. A Stelnman Entarpnia Robert CLCampMI Qwwnl Mawgw Evantt a Nawaimngar Managing EdHor Copyright 1806 by LanoaHar Farming
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