AKRancMter Farming, Saturday, March 1, 1997 OPINION History Not To Be Repeated The avian influenza scare is always with us. The most recent wakeup call came late last year and early this month when, first a dealer/hauler poultry operator working in the New York, New Jersey markets depopulated his flock and then, more recently, a commercial 123,500-bird layer flock was depopulated. While it was determined in both cases, that it was a non pathogenic strain of avian influenza (and as such an official “non event”), the owners voluntarily took steps to protect other flocks, just in case. This was certainly commendable, especially when you consider the large loss the process represents to the flock owners. But for all owners of poultry flocks, an A.I surveillance must continue. It is more important than ever to observe increased biosecurity to decrease the risks of crossover contamination. Unauthorized people must be kept out of poultry buildings. Boots must be clean and disinfected before entering and leaving build ings. Do not visit other farms or use other equipment from other farms, and carefully log visits to and from your farm. John Schwartz, Lancaster County agent says the cost of quar antines and depopulation is very expensive and often very emo tional. So the goal of biosecurity is to keep germs away from your birds and animals and to keep your birds and animals away from germs. We believe a continuing awareness of the A.I. threat is essen tial if we arc going to maintain a viable poultry industry. We can not forget the lessons we learned ten years ago when A.I. wiped out many poultry operations. Former Lancaster County Agent, Jay Irwin brings us back to the heart of the matter. He says the losses experienced by growers in the mid-1980’s caused tragedies and heartbreak that you could see in the eyes of the people involved. This bit of history is one we don’t want to see repeating itself. Wyoming/Lackawannc Holstein Association Annual Meeting, Meshoppen United Methodist Church, Meshoppen, 7:45 p.m. Philadelphia Flower Show, Phi ladelphia Convention Center, through March 9. Working Together for an Organic Garden State Annual Winter Conference, Cook College, Rutgers University, Brunswick, N.J., 8:30 a.m.- 6 pan. Western Pa. Gardening and Land scaping Symposium, Pitts burgh Civic Garden Center, Pittsburgh. Maryland Jersey Cattle Club Annual meeting. Wood boro Activities Building, Woodsbor o, Md., 9:30 a.m. Lancaster Poultry Association serves food at Water Street Rescue Mission, Noon. “Identifying Trees in Winter,” County Office Building, Con ference Room, Montrose, 10 ha Environmental Center, Westminster, Md., noon to 5 Pest Control in the Home and Gar den Seminar, County Annex Building, Pleasant Acres Road, York, 6 p.m.-9;30 p.m. Also March 25 and April 1. Octorara Young Farmers Associa tion Annual Banquet, West Fal lowfleld Christian School, 6:45 Safe and Successful Field Trips, Lebanon County Extension Office, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (Turn to Page A4l) Editor: Agriculture is Maryland’s num ber one industry contributing greatly to our economic well-be ing and excellent quality of life. It provides all Marylanders with a bounty of wholesome food, as well as maintaining open space with its forests and farms for all to enjoy. As I travel around the state and meet with farm groups, I find one of the foremost concerns is the loss of our valuable farmland and the threat this poses for the future of our agricultural industry. Governor Parris N. Glendening has introduced House Bill 507 and Senate Bill 388 entitled, ‘“Smart Growth’ and Neighborhood Con servation - Rural Legacy Pro gram,” as part of his “Smart Growth” initiative. This program will serve to ac celerate Maryland’s efforts to pur chase voluntary easements on contiguous tracts of agricultural, forest, and environmentally sensi tive areas before they are perman ently lost to development and ur- To Understand Hitching To A Tractor When a tractor is pulling a load, its Tear tires are pushing against the ground. The backward and down ward pulling of the load results in the rear axle becoming a pivot point. The load being pulled acts as a force trying to tip the tractor backward. The angle of pull that is created between the ground’s surface and the attachment plane of the chain, draw bar or other attaching method is critical. The wider the angle is. the more likely the tractor could tip over backwards. As the hitching point onto the tractor moves furth er off the ground, the wider the angle of pull. To Hitch To Tractors Properly To prevent tractors from tipping ova- backwards and causing seri ous injuries or even death, it is important to hitch a load properly to a tractor. When the hitching point is low, the tractor will either stall or the tires will slip. If the hitching point is high, the tractor will act like a winch trying to wrap the chain or hitching device around the tractor axle. When the tractor has suffi cient power and traction, it will tip ban sprawl. I emphasize “purchase” be cause landowners will be compen sated and “voluntary” because easements will only be purchased after agreements between the landowner and local government This will serve as a safeguard in protecting the equity of one’s property. The Rural Legacy Program will be funded by re-allocating exist ing State funds from the State’s portion of Program Open Space and General Obligation Bonds to provide funds for acquisitions in focus areas. Under this program, funds will be made available on a competitive basis to counties or groups of counties willing to focus their efforts to protect large and important concentrations or agri cultural or other natural lands from sprawl development The end result of the proposed program is a commitment of $163 million to preserve more than 90,000 acres within the next five years. As the success of this pro ffurn to Page A 39) over backwards. When trying to pull heavy loads or objects which are fastened like a trunk, it is important to remember to hitch as low as possible on the tractor. Even if the load is Dmov ing, a low hitching point is critical if die object being pulled could suddenly stop. A good example of this is a log which could suddenly dig into the ground. If the tractor is moving at 5 miles per hour, it would take less than 3/10,000 of a second for the tractor to roll up to a vertical posi tion and continue over backwards. To Select Garden Seeds According to Dr. Tim Elkner, extension horticultural agent, one of the most important traits to look for in flower or vegetable seeds is disease resistance. Read the individual seed variety descriptions closely for mention of resistance to disease, or look for capitid letters such as F or V next to w BY LAWRENCE W ALTHOUSE f !BOI§EyS ARE YOU “GOOD NEWS”? March 2, 1997 ARE YOU <GOOD NEWS’? March 2. 1997 Background Scripture: I Thessalonians 2:1-13 Devotional Reading: I Thessalonians 1:10 Not counting my student pas torates, I served four congrega tions during my ministry in the United Methodist Church. But I doubt that I could write to any of those congregations as Paul wrote to the church at ThesSalonika: “You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers” (2:10). What Paul is saying in this first letter to the Thessalonian churches that die good news he preached to them is essentially the good news he lived in their midst. Apparently Paul’s enemies have made all kinds of attacks upon him and his message. So he is pointing, not to the words he spoke, but to the deeds he did while he was with them. They way he lived was the authentication of what he preach ed and taught What made his living among them so exemplary was the fact that his ministry there was “in the face of great opposition” (2:2). That’s when living the life of Je sus among our peers is the most difficult We may manage all right when no one is giving us a hard time, but living like our Lord is difficult when there are people speaking and acting against us. I’m afraid I haven’t always excel led in that. WORDS & DEEDS I was at a program the other day and sat next to a gentleman who had been in a church school class that I had taught 10 years ago. I was amazed to find that he re membered the very words I had used one day when I was teaching. For some reason, the words stuck with him and I was very gratified. But I wish he could say as much for my life. Tm not suggesting that my life was a negative influ ence, but that I wish that it had been more obviously the good news of Jesus Christ. the variety names. These letters signify resistance to particular dis eases and arc usually found with tomatoes. By planting resistant varieties, you can reduce the time and expense required for pesticide sprays. You can also grow plants where dine may be soil borne wilt diseases that cannot be controlled with sprays. This protection is part of the plant’s genetic make up and you do not need to do anything special to receive this benefit other than planting a resistant variety. Are you tired of being covered up with excess tomatoes and sweet com in the summer? Select early and late maturing varieties in addi tion to the main season types of vegetables you enjoy. This way you can spread the harvest out over a longer period of time. Feather Prof.'s Footnote: "We take risks not to escape life... but to prevent life from escaping us." You probably remember that old much repeated story of St. Frances of Assisi, who asked a brother monk one day to go with him to preach in the village. As they walked through the village, however, the brother monk was baffled because St. Frances never began to preach. When, at last, they left the village behind them, the monk said, “But I thought we were going to preach to them!” St. Frances replied, “Ah, but we did! They observed two brothers ex hibiting Christian love and that was the sermon we preached.” How can we preach the good news without words? Paul tells us; “But we were gentle among you. like a nurse taking care of her chil dren ... for you know how. like a father with his children, we ex horted each one of you and en couraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God” (2:7,11). Paul and his companions showed them the way to liye for Christ and his example gave life to his words. PLEASING MEN ' Something else that made his living among them such good news is that he lived as if he were answerable only to God. “So we speak, not to please men,” he said, “but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never used either word of flattery ... or a cloak for greed ... nor did we seek glory from men .. .” (2:4-6). Paul’s conduct among them was based upon his desire to please God, not to make a name or even a living for himself. In fact, Paul’s life pointed, not to Paul, but to his Master. Would that I could say the same. I have lived long enough to know that if your goal is to win people to yourself it isn’t all that difficult You can learn to say and do the things people want to hear and see but when that is our goal, our lives are more likely to be just more of the bad news that is so prevalent in our world. So, this is a time to ask yourself that important if not disturbing question: The life you live, is it good or bad news for others? Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 -by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stemman Enterprise Robert G. Campbell General Manager Everett R. Newawangar Managing Editor Copyright 1997 ay Lancaster Farming
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