A» -Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 27, 1997
Lehigh 4
ALLENTOWN (Lehigh Co.) -
Six Lehigh County 4-H members
were named as outstanding
members for their achievements
during 1997 at a recent recogni
tion inner. Nearly two dozen
other 4-H members were hon
ored for outstanding work in a
specific project area or for their
teen leadership efforts.
David Harwich, Kempton,
and Renee Ruhe, new Tripoli,
were awarded plaques as out
standing 4-H boy and girl in the
8-10 yfar-old category. David is
a member of the Dairy and
Lowhilt Laurel clubs. Renee is a
member of the Neffs Cloverettes
and the Lilliput Corner clubs.
Nathan Wagner, Coplay, and
Katie Harwich, Kempton, were
named outstanding 4-H boy and
girl in the 11-14 year-old catego
ry. Nathan is a member of the
Laurys Station and Seeing Eye
Puppy clubs. Katie is a member
of the Dairy and Lowhill Laurel
clubs and participated in dairy
judging at State 4-H
Achievement Days this past
summer.
Tiffany Smith, Kempton, and
Kiera McAllister, South
Whitehall Township, won the
outstanding awards in the 15-19
year-old category. Tiffany is a
member of the Neffs Cloverettes
and Tenn Council. She has been
active in the International 4-H
Youth Exchange program, both
as a host and as a visitor. Kiera
is a member of the Trexlertown
Merry Stitchers and Teen
Council. Both girls are 4-H
Ambassadors for Lehigh County
this year. Kiera has also been
Daiiylea Testifies
Increase Farm Milk
SYRACUSE, N.Y. Daiiylea
Cooperative Inc., the largest milk
marketing organization based in
the Northeast, has testified at
several hearings throughout the
region in support of efforts to
increase milk prices to dairy farm
ers.
Most recently, Daiiylea Direc
tor of Planning and Regulatory
Policy Ed Gallagher appeared at a
hearing in New Jersey to consider
increasing the price paid to farm
ers for Class I milk.
“Daiiylea commends and sup
ports efforts to increase milk
pices to farmers in New Jersey,”
said Gallagher. “With the recent
Minnesota Milk Producers Law
suit decision that enjoins the
Secretary of Agriculture from
utilizing the current Class I differ
entials in most Federal Milk Mar
keting Orders including those
in the Northeast efforts to sta
bilize and increase farm milk
pices take on a much more signi
ficant importance.”
Gallagher commented that
Daiiylea specifically supports the
implementation of a $1.20 Class I
over-order premium for milk pro
duced in New Jersey and de
livered to New Jersey Class I pro
cessing plants as long as it is
done in a manner that prevents
Class I processors from subverting
the pricing measure, and it results
in a “real” increase in premiums to
poduccrs.
During his testimony, Gal
lagher outlined other strategics to
raise New Jersey farm milk prices,
including developing a tri-state
plan among the states of New
Jersey, New York and Pcnnsylva
*4 *
H Members Recognized For Achievement
selected to help train 4-H
Ambassadors on the state level
for next year. Ambassadors are
available to talk to community
groups about 4-H and how it has
changed in Lehigh County.
Outstanding club officers
were recognized: Amy
Lichtenwalner of Coplay, presi
dent; Katie Harwich, secretary;
Tim Rabenold of Upper
Macungie Township, treasurer;
and Kristin Smith of Kempton,
news reporter.
The Neffs Cloverettes 4-H
Club won $25 for the best club
scrapbook. They also won the
Outstanding Community Club
Award. The County Cabbits 4-H
Club won the Outstanding
Special Interest Club Award.
The following won project
medals recognizing excellence in
specific project work; Jill
Wagner, Coplay, overall achieve
ment and clothing and textiles;
Tiffany Smith, overall achieve
ment, citizenship, and garden
ing/horticulture; Samantha
Gressley, Fogelsville, agricul
ture; Adam Rabenold, Upper
Macungie Township, beef; Kiera
McAllister, citizenship and lead
ership; Julie Lichtenwalner,
Coplay, clothing and textiles,
fashion revue, and leadership;
Jennifer Harris, Germansville,
dairy; Elizabeth Eddinger,
South Whitehall Township, food
and nutrition; Suzanne
Harwich, Kempton, food and
nutrition; Cynthia Jacoby, New
Tripoli, photography; Robyn
Wirth, Orefield, poultry; Leah
Crouthamel, Zionsville, rabbits
and veterinary science; Chad
nia that will implement policy
that raises returns to dairy farmers
in the region and that can be im
plemented relatively quickly. At
the same time, Gallagher called on
lawmakers to pass legislation that
would allow New Jersey to join
the Northeast Dairy Compact as
exists in the New England states.
In light of the recent Court deci
sion that would eliminate Class I
differentials, Gallagher also
strongly urged the State of New
Jersey to intervene and file an ap
peal in the Minnesota Case, if pos
sible, and if not possible, to file an
amicus brief asking the Court to
stay the decision.
“The dairy farmers of New Jer
sey are under severe financial and
emotional stress,” explained Gal
lagher. “Plain and simple, market
forces on a national level which
have the greatest influence in de
termining farm milk prices
have led to a severe decline in re
venues for dairy farmers. With lit
tle change in feed prices and rises
in other input costs, dairy farmers
are facing a crippling cosl/pricc
squeeze. Despite their best efforts
at cost containment on their farms,
dairy producers are left short and
frustrated when prices fall because
supply and demand relationships
which arc well beyond the con
trol of dairy farmers go against
them."
Gallagher noted that the milk
price crash of the past year has
been well documented. “Prices are
expected to end the year about 11
percent lower than a year ago,” he
reported. “This includes year
over-year price declines this past
summer of as much as 22.5 per-
Flyte, Kutztown, Seeing Eye
Puppy; Jessica Lichtenwalner,
Emmaus, Seeing Eye Puppy;
John Reinert, Orefield, sheep;
John Strawbridge, Whitehall,
swinge; Beth Pinto,
Breinigsville, veterinary sci
ence; and Nathan Wagner,
Coplay, wood science.
Adult volunteer leader were
also recognized for their years of
service. Completing one year of
service were Eugenia Emert and
Gail Heintzelman of the Neffs
Cloverettes; Linda Haas, Laurys
Station 4-H Club; Connie
Guimaraes, Carol Moyer and
Bonnie Wachter, Bth Ward
Tropical Jungle 4-H Club;
Debbie Jury and Jane Nattress,
Lehigh County 4-H Equine
Club; Gail Post, Lowhill
Laurels; and Jody and Mike
Rennie, Macungie 4-H Club.
After a one-year apprenticeship,
the Rennies have now started a
new club in Coopersburg.
Honored for five years of ser
vice were Jane Bauer and
Michelle Terifay, Seeing Eye
Puppy 4-H Club; Richard
Gressley, Sheep 4-H Club; Peggy
Heminitz, Macungie 4-H Club;
Ann Mittura, Trexlertown
Merry Stitchers; and Marie
Weber, Veterinary Science 4-H
Club.
It was announced that Naomi
Lauchnor, Slatington, was given
the Someone Special Volunteer
Award for 42 years of leadership
in the Germansville 4-H Club.
Her daughter Cynthia
Newhard, also of Slatington,
was honored for 18 years of ser
vice in the same club. Bill and
To
Price
cent”
As a means of clarifying the
cost price squeeze that farmers are
experiencing, Gallagher reviewed
analysis of milk-feed price rations
from a U.S. Department of Agri
culture document, titled Agricul
tural Price Summary, which was
compiled by the National Agricul
tural Statistical Service.
“For October 1997, the milk
feed price ratio was 2.46. This
means that, with the value of one
pound of milk, a dairy farmer
could purchase 2.46 pounds of 16
percent mixed dairy feed,” he ex
plained. “This measure takes into
account the value of milk and the
cost of dairy feed and puts them
on relative terms.”
According to the document, the
1997 national milk feed ratios
have been at the lowest levels
since before 1986, for almost
every month. “These ratios are
even below those that existed in
1991 the lowest milk price year
of this decade,” stressed Galla
gher. Interpretation of this data in
dicates that although feed prices
have fallen, milk prices have de
clined much more severely and
have placed U.S. dairy farmers in
the tightest cost/price squeeze
they have experienced in many
years.
As much as low prices are a
problem for farmers, so is price
volatility, added Gallagher. The
Basic Formula Price (BFP), which
affects approximately 80 to 90
percent of the Northeast's milk
price, has experienced unprece
dented volatility.
JTurn to Page A 34)
Six Outstanding Lehigh County 4-H Members. Back,
from left, Nathan Wagner, Copiay, and Katie Harwick and
David Harwick, Kempton. Front, Tiffany Smith, Kempton;
Renee Ruhe, new Tripoli; and Kiera McAllister, Allentown.
Imogene Dietrich, Germansville,
were also honored as Someone
Special Volunteers for more
than 10 years as leader of the 4-
H Dairy Club. The Someone
Special Volunteer award is joint
ly sponsored by Gebhardt
Trophies and Radio Station
WAEB.
Teen leaders honored were
Harvey Emert, IV, Catasauqua;
Erin Lichtenwalner, Julie
Lichtenwalner, and Jill Wagner,
Coplay; Kristin Smith, Tiffany
Smith, and Katie Harwich,
Kempton; Josh Wagner, Jeff
Wagner, and Amy Lenhart, New
Tripoli; Stacey Dietrich and
Jennifer Harris, Germansville;
Terri Heintzelman,
Schnecksville; Samantha
Gressley, Fogelsville; Kari
New Jersey
Ready For EQIP
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. -
The USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service has
announced the second sign-up of
the Environmental Quality
Incentive Program (EQIP)
through Jan. 16, 1998.
Established in the 1996 Farm
Bill, EQIP provides a voluntary
program for farmers to conserve
water, soil, and related natural
resources.
Nationally, EQIP provides
technical, financial, and educa
tional assistance to install or
implement structural, vegeta
tive, and management practices
within a five-to-10 year contract
period.
Here in New Jersey, local
farms will fall into either the
Statewide Program Area or the
Upper Delaware/Raritan
Watershed Priority Area.
The Upper Delaware/Raritan
Watershed Priority Area has a
mix of agricultural operations
that vary considerably in type
and size.
This priority area was select
ed based on its importance to
the state’s fish and wildlife
resources, wetland resources,
surface water supply, and farm
family heritage. Farming enter
prises range from grain produc
tion, dairy and beef operations,
orchard crops, small fruits and
vegetables, poultry operations,
horse breeding farms, and nurs
ery operations.
Also, in this priority area, the
limestone valleys create many
unique challenges in water qual
ity with sinkholes and disap
pearing streams.
Baker, South Whitehall
Township; and Laura Segan,
Upper Macungie Township.
During the annual meeting of
the 4-H Development Fund of
Lehigh County, held at the samt
time, Jeff Segan of Upper
Macungie Township was re
elected to serve a second term on
the board. Bob Soha of
Allentown was elected to his
first full-term on the board. He
had previously filled someone
else's unexpired term. The board
of the 4-H Development Fund of
Lehigh County oversees the dis
tribution of money received from
the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture and various founda
tion to run the 4-H program in
Lehigh County.
The 1997 round of EQIP
brought $291,010 to the Upper
Delaware region. The money to
be allocated to this region for the
second sign-up has not yet been
determined. All of the four
Warren County farmers who
were approved for funding for
EQIP signed conservation con
tracts on their farms.
Suggested conservation prac
tices for cost-share support fall
into three categories: water
quality, soil resources, and
watershed ecosystem protection
and enhancement.
Cost-share incentives will be
available as a percentage of
actual cost to install (up to 75
percent) or as an incentive pay
ment in the case of management
practices.
Practices eligible for cost
share will be based on a Total
Resource Management Plan
developed specifically for each
farm in conjunction with NRCS
and the Warren County SCD.
Natural resource conservation is
the goal of the partnership
between two important agen
cies.
The NRCS and the Warren
County SCD work closedly
together to determine the local
natural resource needs and to
implement critical programs
that help ensure the future of
the farmer.
Farmers or farmland owners
may contact the Hackettstown
Service Center of the NRCS at
908/852-5450 ext. 202 or the
Warren County SCD at 908/852-
2579.