*•* ' V » rw - i Award Honors Md. WASHINGTON, D.C, A* Both Rominger and Glickman fourth-generation Maryland farm praised the McGinnis family for family hailed as a strong, vocal their conservation efforts, proponent of state and national A member of the 1958 Univer farm land protection programs and sity of Maryland basketball team the usage of environmentally which finished sixth in the NCAA, sound farming practices received McGinnis owns and operates the the first national Steward of the- 1,400-acre McGinnis Family Land Award. Barm in north Baltimore County, American Farmland Trust, a national nonprofit farmland con servation organization, chose the Wayne McGinnis family of Balti more County, Md., for the award over 60 other nominees nation wide in recognition of its out standing efforts in land steward ship, farmland conservation poli cy, and the use of environmentally and economically sustainable farming practices. Wayne McGinnis accepted the award at a special luncheon of the AFT board of directors in Washington attended by U.S. Sec retary of Agriculture Dan Glick man and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Richard Rominger. LYNB Holds Ag Seminar Leading Research • Livestock Products Specialists • Forage Quality • Nutritionists • Local Representatives • Excellent Disease Resistance • Proven stand Life NORTH CORNWALL (Lebanon Co.) Mote than 500 people on Wednesday attended the annual spring agriculture semi nar sponsored by the Lebanon Valley Nation al Bank agricultural lending group, at the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center at the Lebanon Area Fairgrounds. Speakers for the event included Dr. Robert Yonkers, a Penn State University agricultural economist who discussed the dairy situation and predicted that while dairy producers can expected to receive less for their milk this year, compared to last year, that it shouldn’t be as much of a drop as some have predicted. Also speaking was H. Louis Moore, Penn State professor emeritus of agricultural eco nomics, who said that livestock and grain prices appear set to remain strong for the com ing year, largely because of the growth in exports. He said that 15 percent of the beef, as well as 20 percent of the United States’ poul try production is to be exported, helping to prevent domestic surpluses and thus lower prices. The same is true for grain production, he said, predicting relatively strong prices because of export commitments. Albert Murry, president and CEO of LVNB, also addressed the audience, discuss ing financial tools that may be available to them to survive uncertainties in farming. Erik Bucks, a nutrient management spe cialist with the Lebanon County Conservation District, also talked to the group. He dis cussed the help that the Conservation District exists to provide free to customers, in addition to opportunities through the Chesapeake Bay Program, Well-known Pennsylvania weatherman Joe Bastardi, of Accuweather and the Penn State public television weather program, “Weather World,” talked about weather pat terns in the Lebanon Valley and how major winter storms have formed over the past years. Bastardi gave a list of the 10 most signific ant winter storms in the Lebanon Valley dur ing the past years, and showed a comparision of how the storms developed. Bastardi reviewed each of the storms and what made each unique, such as the weather following the storms. For example, the Janu ary 1996 blizzard (Farm Show storm) was fol lowed by a flood of a level that hadn’t been experienced since the 1972 flood associated with Hurricane Agnes. The weatherman said that residents of the Lebanon Valley are extremely fortunate. , weather-wise to live where they do, because ■of the protections provided by the mountain ranges to the west, south and northeast. Most of the severity of storms passes either ; to the north or south of the Lebanon V alley, he Md. The tall, strapping, 6-foot, 7-inch farmer raises com, soy beans, wheat and hay. He also has 160 head of Angus beef cattle. The $lO,OOO award honors the memory of Peggy McGrath Rock efeller, philanthropist, farmer and AFT founder who died last year. It recognizes the spirited inspiration and deep personal commitment to farmland conservation that Mrs. Rockefeller brought to AFT from its establishment in 1980 until her passing. “Mrs. Rockefeller strongly believed in the family farmer and the protection of the nation’s best and most productive land,” said AFT President Ralph Grossi. EXTRA TONNAGE AND QUALITY NO MATTER HOW YOU CUT IT, Farm Family For Land Stewardship “Wayne McGinnis and his family have demonstrated that same strong commitment to the conser vation of our nation’s agricultural resources as Mrs. Rockefeller did. I know she would have been very pleased with AFT’s choice. The family truly is a model for farmers across the nation.” “Our family are fourth generation farmers who have always had a teal passion for the land,” said McGinnis. “So it’s an honor, a great honor in fact, to be recognized for something we have believed in so strongly and com mitted ourselves to so much.” McGinnis was born and raised on his family farm in Baltimore County. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland where he met his wife, the former Harriet Hasted. She now handles the farm’s adminstra tive matters. Their three children all grew up on the farm and intend to return some day. McGinnis was an early leader in the usage, demonstration, and Put the whole package of Pioneer support to work for you. /•'ll *y Late Cut Variety Medium Fall Dormant • Produces high tonnage yields of quality forage • Exceptional winterhardiness - rated ‘very winterhardy’ in the University of Wisconsin winter hardiness tnals • Outstanding multiple-pest resistance • Attractive dark green field appearance SAS A Early Cut Variety Late Fall Dormant • Exceptional combination of high yield performance and excellent wmterhardmess • Outstanding resistance to major alfalfa diseases • Adapted to less-than-well drained soils • Provides fast regrowth, suitable for intensive cutting programs m, PIONEER. m*m> PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC ®, SM, TM Trademarks and service marks registered or applied for of Pioneer Ht-Bred International Inc, Oes Moines IA All sales are subject to the terms of labeling and sale documents © 1996 PHll BALE IX CHOP IT, TRUCK IT, OR FEED IT. Technology That Yields™ promotion of environmentally sound farming practices. As early as 1969, he converted his farm to “no till” cultivation, a then new form of cultivation that improved organic matter on his crop acreage. He used other practices as well to reduce soil movement and protect the water quality of streams. He also continued to experiment on ways to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers and created wildlife habitat on the nonproductive portions of his farm. hi the 19705, McGinnis actively supported Baltimore County efforts to adopt agricultural zon ing and protect farmland from suburban sprawl. His work on three different county committees resulted in the establishment of ag zoning for a third of the county. Later he aggressively promoted and placed his own farm in the Maryland Agricultural Land Pre servation Program. Today the county ranks in the top 10 in agri www.pioneer.com Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 8, 19874)1 cultural preservation nationally, having protected more than 19,000 acres of farmland. McGinnis also aggressively promoted farmland protection at the state level and recently was appointed chair of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation. He has taken part in .national farmland protection efforts as well, speaking before farm groups, legislators, reporters, planners and government officials in numerous states. “Wayne McGinnis feels so strongly in his heart his commit ment for agriculture that he has spoken up even when it was not politic to do,” said Wallace Lip pincott, program adminstrator for the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management, who nom inated the McGinnis family for the award. “He truly has made a dif ference in fanning and land pre servation in his community, the state and the nation.” , ~ wl