AlO-Uncitter Farming, Saturday, August 9, 1997 OPINION Ag Progress Days Are For Everyone Who If you produce food or eat it, you will find something of interest at Ag Progress Days to be held this week at Penn State’s Russell E. Larson research farm. From the hands-on experience of driving various models and makes of tractors to petting an insect, you will have fun at Ag Prog ress Days. But the most important reason to attend is to be a part of the future of agriculture. Some farmers choose to go the “route of less.” They want to use fewer chemicals and minimum tillage. They want to graze their livestock. Ag Progress Days features research projects and practical exhibits to help this kind of farmer. Other farmers thrive on the “high-tech route.” Computers in the milk ing parlor, the farm office, or on tractors and combines captures the attention of this breed of farmer. Ag Progress Days has many programs and equipment features of interest. How often do you get to ask the most knowledgeable ag college pro fessor available about your interest in his or her subject? This also is possible at Ag Progress Days. So load up the family in the pick-up truck, or get several neighbors together and make the trip to Ag Progress Days. You will see your friends there too. Pa. Holstein South-Central Championship Show. Ship pensburg Fairgrounds, 9:30 a.m. Cambria County 4-H Horse Show, Cambria County Saddle Club. Chester Co. 4-H Horse Show, 4-H Center, Honeybrook. Washington Co. Ag Fair, Washington, thru Aug. 16. Kids’ Day On The Farm and Old- Time Plow Boys Plowing Show, Pa. German Heritage Center. Kutztown, 10 a.m.-S dale, thru Aug. 16. Huntingdon County Fair, Hunting- Tournament, State College, late a.m., barbecue at 6 p.m. Eastern Agriculture Society Con ference and Short Course, Clay ton Hall, University of Dela ware, thru Aug. IS. Eastern Shore District Holstein Show, Queen Anne’s 4-H Park, Centreville, 10 a.m. Chester Co. 4-H Goat Show, Ron- Dio 4-H Center, Honeybrook. Dayton Fair Aug. 11-16. Kutztown Fair Aug. 11-16. Lawrence Co. Fair Aug. 11-16. Montour-Delong Community Fair, Washingtonville Aug. 11-16. Venango County Fair, Franklin, Aug. 11-16. McKi Co- EAYFA Meeting, Farm Safety, Luke Ray Zimmerman’s Farm, Ephrata. Pa. Hay Show At Ag Progress Days, Rockspring. Northeast District Jersey Show, Tioga County Fairgrounds, Whitneyville, 10 a.m. Chester County 4-H, Breeding Sheep and Market Lamb Show, Romano 4-H Center, Roundup, Romano 4-H Center, Honey Brook. Adv. Conserv. Leadership School, Penn State Campus, thru Aug. 26. . PEC Horse Breed and Safety Prog ram, Ag Progress Days, Rockspring. Octorara Young Farmers Ag Prog ress Days Tour, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pa. Performance Tested Boar Sale, State College. 6 p.m. Middletown Grange Fair, Wright stown, thru Aug. 17. Drought Informational Meeting, Frederick County, Md. exten sion office, 7:30 p.m. Cantaloupe Variety Demonstra tions, Weiser Orchards and Greenhouse. York Springs, 7 Mifllu^CountyH^ (turn to Page ASS) Editor: I have been comparing prices and statistics from our market ad ministrator report, from last year to now, and I see why our price is still so low. In the four classes of milk that they divide our production, the percent always changes depend ing how much the price in the class increases. That is why we are getting less money this year, than last. Last year in June the UNI FORM PRICE (UP.) $15.18 to day it is $12.74, this shows me that they are using all the classes of milk to their advantage. Eats To Manage Alfalfa Fields Robert Anderson. Lancaster County Extension Agronomy Agent, repor's that he has seen many alfalfa fields locking ex tremely bad. The dry wcathei did not allow the alfalfa to grow very tall However, the biggest prob lem is the potato leafhopper which is feeding heavily on al falfa When the leafhopper feeds it injects a toxin into the alfalfa plant that plugs the plant’svascu lar system. This stops the flow of water and nutrients within the plant. Fields where the leafhopper have been controlled are short but green in color. Once an alfalfa field shows signs of leafhopper feeding it must be mowed to get the plant functioning again. Fields that are showing yellowing or "leafhopper burn" need to be mowed and then sprayed with an insecticide. If the field has begun to bloom, it will not add height, it will only loose feeding value. These fields should be harvested immediately. If the alfalfa is too short to bale, it-should be clipped and the stubble sprayed for leaf hoppers To Harvest Silage to Optimize Quantity and Quality Even with recent rains, this summer's drought may have lasted too long to expect great things of com and other crops, according to Robert Anderson, Lancaster County Extension Agronomy Agent. The decision to harvest si lage should reflect 1. the potential the field has for recovery, 2. the moisture content of the crop and 3. any yield losses which could be expected due to the loss of lower leaves. As we get later into the growing season, the likelihood of yield increases due to late season rains diminishes rapidly. ale, As it says in this report “A sud den drop in dairy product sales and a sharp buildup in stocks dropped cheese and butter prices dramatically in April. In late May, butter prices regained most of their earlier loss, but cheese has yet to show much recovery. Once the current excess stocks are worked off and production de clines seasonally, prices are ex pected to raise substantially and, perhaps, QUICKLY. Don’t you guys get it yet????? They want us to make more milk for them so they can play with the milk we produce and (Turn to Page A 39) Corn and other plants quickly looses its ability to maintain leaves. Drought stress causes a high rate of abortion of kernels furtner limiting plants ability to recover from drought. Consider harvesting drought crops as soon as the moisture content of the whole plant is in the range of good storage. To Be Aware of Silo Gases A dry season, like we are hav ing, increase the danger of silo gas. This deadly gas from ferment ing forage can make filling silos particularly dangerous during dry weather, according to Penn State safety specialist, Dr. Dennis Murphy. Silo gas or nitrogen di oxide can cause severe irritation to the nose and throat and may lead to an inflammation of the lungs. It can cause unconsciousness or A MUTUAL-STIRRING SOCIETY August 10, 1997 Background Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-39 Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-10 Is your church a mutual-stirring society ? Since retiring from the staff of the First United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX where I served the last 13 years of my ministry, I have taken the opportunity to attend a variety of churches and denominations. All too often, my wife and I did not find very stir ring experiences. Some of these services seem to be planned so that no one runs the risk of being stirred to do anything—including coming back the following Sunday.' Among the 20 definitions of the word stir in my dictionary I found; “to rouse from inactivity, quiet contentment, indifference, etc.;” “to incite, instigate or prompt;” “to affect strongly; excite;” “to be emotionally moved or strongly affected;” and even “a jog, poke or thrust.” I know that sometimes being stirred —or not—is in the eye of the beholder and being stirred is not all there is to a service of wor ship. Still, it seems to me that a worship service that does not stir us in some way is not likely to motivate us to live as followers of Jesus Christ. LOVE AND GOOD WORKS The writer of Hebrews thinks so: “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...” (10:24). As followers of Jesus we have a responsibility, not only to live fruitful, loving lives, but also to motivate others to do the same. There have been many times when I have walked into a beauti ful cathedral and been inspired by what I found there. But that is a very limited experience and spir itually not all that the Church is meant to be. Our experience of God, whether in a cathedral, shrine, outdoor setting or the pri vacy of our own room, is meant to be helpful to others as well as ourselves. We are intended by God to be a fellowship in which we inspire each other to live more faithfully as disciples of Christ. In other words: a mutual-stirring society. Research indicates that, on the average, women are better able to survive the loss of a mate jhan death especially in the first 12 (o 72 hours after filling the silo Silo gas is heavier than air It tends to accumulate just above the silage in the silo. It has a strong bleach like odor and appears as a low lying yellow, red or dark brown gas The gas may flow down thedhutc and collect in the feed room or other areas near the base of the silo. To prevent silo gas poisoning, provide good ven tilation in and around the silo when silage is fermenting. Keep the door between the bam and feed room and silo closed Keep chil dren out of the area. Feather Prof, 's Footnote "There is little difference in peo ple, but that little difference makes a big difference. That little difference is attitude. The big dif ference is whether it is positive ni negative." men. The reason? Women tend to have more supportive relation ships than men. Twenty years ago when we did our research for a book on breast cancer (You CAN Save Your Breast, Valero & Larry Althouse, W.W. Norton), we found that studies indicated that breast cancer victims who joined the support groups recuperated faster from surgery and radiation and with fewer and less severe complications. Alcoholics Anonymous has demonstrated admirable success as a healing support group for alcoholics. As one who has conducted grief sup port groups, I have observed very often that the bereaved are often helped most by those who have experienced grief themselves. In life, all of us are wounded healers. SPIRITUAL SUPPORT GROUP The church is called to be a vital support group for all of us who are committed to living as disciples of Jesus. So. it is to be measured not solely by what we can get out of it, but also by what we can put into it. We need to find support there to help us in our daily living and we need to give support to our fellow disciples. The writer of Hebrews warns against “neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” (10:25). Neglecting to meet together as a church deprives us and others of support that is so vit al to our lives. Often the greatest gift we can offer someone else is encouragement. G. Ernest Thomas tells of a preacher in a village in Scotland who went to the home of one of his members. This member had recently declared to his friends that he did not have to go to church on the Sabbath because he could find God just as well in his garden or in the fields. The minis ter and parishioner sat in silence before a fireplace. After a while, the preacher arose and, taking the tongs from the fireplace, lifted a single coal from the embers and placed it alone on the hearth. Soon the coal burned into a black ash while the fire continued to bum brightly. Then he went quietly back to his chair. In time the par ishioner said, “I know what you mean, I cannot live alone. Next Sunday I’ll be at my place in the church.” Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building IE. Main St Ephrata, PA 17522 -by- Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stelnman Enterprise Robert G. Campbell General Manager Everett R. Newawanger Managing Edltoi Copyright 1997 by LoncotUr Forming
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers