AlO-Uqcatter Firming, Saturday, January 31, 1998
OPINION
A Reasonable Response
Fanners need to become public relations servants of agricul
ture in their everyday contact with people who have no back
ground in our favorite enteiprise of producing food for the peo
ples of the world. Often the normal practices of fanning look
offensive and even barbaric to those who have no emotional ties
to fanning.
For example, Brent Palmer, a dairy fanner from Salt Lake
City, Utah, posted on Dairy L on the internet that his family had
problems with viators to the farm about how calves were handled
in their dairy operation.
“The biggest hang-up that people have about our operation is
‘Why do you take the babies away from their mothers?”’ Palmer
writes. “Some people even ask this on the verge of tears. No mat
ter how we explain the reasons why, it never satisfies them. Prac
tices such as culling or something as simple as ear tagging go bey
ond their grasp. ‘Man’ They tell us, ‘this sure is a cut-throat
business.’”
In response to this dilemma, Howard Cornwell from Norwich,
Ont. wrote that the answer to this question that gets the most
accpetancc is the real answer. “We seperate the calves shortly
after birth so that the calf bonds with the fanner or herdsman.
Sometimes we forget the real reason, and just do things the way
our fathers did. Dairy cows are very dependent on humans for all
their needs and it is important that they respond to the farmer and
not be so independent that they (suffer or) cause problems."
This is a very logical and reasonable response that gives a
glimpse of the real relationship between farmers and their ani
mals, we think.
N.Y. State Fanned Deer Seminar,
N.Y.Sf Collr VetMcdi-
Bryce Jordan Center, Universi
ty Park, 2 p.m.
Udder Health School, Berks Coun-
Marketing Conference and
Trade Show, Stiutridge Host
Hotel and Conference Center,
Sturbridge, Mass., Feb. 4.
Beef Educational Evening, Mid
way Diner.
Welcome To Computers Seminar.
Adams County Extension
Office, 9:30 a.m.-noon, also
Feb. 9.
Octorara Young Farmers pesticide
credit meeting, Octorara High
School, 7:30 p.m.
Community Relations and Swine
Mi M( vilir
da Inn, State College, thru Feb.
Beaver Crape Day, Big Knob
Grange, 9:30 a.m.-3 pjn.
Southwest Forage Management
Workshop Series, Belle Ver-
non. also Feb. 10.
Writing Nutrient Management
Plans, Western Md. Resource
and Education Center.
Keedysville.
Cattle Feeder’s Day, Lancaster
Farm and Home Center, 9:30
ajn.-3:15 p.m.
Pesticide test, 4-H Center, Fair
grounds, Bedford, 9 aan.-noon.
Ag Round Table, Howard John-
❖ Farm Calendars
son’s. Millington, 10 a.m.-2:30
p.m.
Milker’s School, Potter County
Extension Office, Coudersport,
repeats Feb. 10 at Brady Town
ship Community Center,
Luthersburg.
Soil Fertility and Nutrient Man
agement Workshop, Mahan tan
go Fire Company, Pitman, also
Feb. 10 and 17.
Com Planter Clinic, Biehl Farm,
Lancaster Farm and Home Cen
ter, Lancaster.
Cooperative Extension Regional
Greenhouse Meeting, Richland
Township Fire Hall, 8:30
a.m.-3:4S p.m.
Armstrong Crops Meeting, Kittan
ning Fire Hall, 7 pan.-10 p.m.
Butler Crops Day. Days Inn, 9:30
a.m.-3 p.m.
Planter, Drill, Sprayer Clinic,
Lebanon Expo Center, 10
a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Soybean Production Management,
Clarion County Extension
Office, 1 p.m.-3;30 pjn.
NE. Vegetable Growers Meeting,
Thompson’s Dairy Bar, 9
a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Dairy Industry’s Changing Envi
ronment Conference, Leslie N.
Firth Learning Center, Mercer,
12:30 pjn.-3 pjn.
Management Intensive Grazing
Series, U. of Md. Cooperative
Extension, Frederick, Md., 7
p.m.-9 p.m.
Regional Greenhouse Educational
Meeting, Richland Fire Hall,
Johnstown.
Ohio Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Congress, Seagate CEnter,
Toledo, Ohio, thru Feb. 6.
Johne’s Disease Meeting, Craw-
To Understand Bt Corn
Resistance
Now that com growers Anally
have an economical and effective
way to control European Cora
Borers through com varieties
which contain Bt (Bacillus
thuringiensis), careful
management to prevent the borers
from becoming Bt resistance is
essential, according to Robert
Anderson, Lancaster County
Extension Agronomy Agent.
Before an effective control was
available, most com growers were
somewhat oblivious to the
amount of damage the European
Com Borer was causing in com
fields.
Now that com growers have
experienced their first real effective
control of European Cora Borer
with Bt, they have become aware
of the loses caused by this insect.
Now that the value of this control
is recognized, farmers must also
recognize the importance of an
effective Bt resistance
management plan. Otherwise,
European Cora Borer may develop
resistance to Bt com and we will
lose this effective control method.
To Manage Resistance to
Bt Corn
As more com growers begin to
use Bt com, resistance
management becomes more
important. The EPA will make
management plans essential
beginning in 2000. However,
farmers should begin now to
prevent resistance according to
many entomologists.
There are several approaches to
prevent resistance. Growers can
plant Bt and non Bt com in the
same field by mixing seeds. Or
they may plant adjacent fields
with Bt and non Bt com. Or they
may plant a field border of non Bt
com around ail Bt com fields. In
all cases, it is vital to plant non
Bt com that has similar
agronomic characteristics, like
maturity and is planted at the
same time.
If farmers take resistance
fod County Extension, Mcad
villc, 7 pjn.
Northwest Pa. Livestock and
Grazing Management Woric-
Farm and Home Center.
Estate Planning Workshop,
Neshaminy Manor Center,
Doyles town.
Lawrence Crop Meeting,
Lawrence County Extension
Office, 9:30 a.m.-noon.
Writing Nutrient Management
Plans, Wye Resource and Edu
cation Center, Queenstown.
Agronomic Update, Luzerne
(Turn to Page A 25)
management seriously, Bt com
may be a valuable tool to increase
com yields for many years to
come. However, Robert Anderson,
Lancaster County Extension
Agronomy Agent, reminds us if
farmers plant only Bt com,
resistance may develop in a short
period of time.
To Prevent Stall Vices
During the winter months
many stable vices of horses
become more evident, according
to Lori Little, Lancaster County
4-H Animal Sciences Extension
Agent. This is due to the lack of
exercise and pasture time during
the winter months. Horses may
become bored within their stalls
and as a last resort pick up bad
habits to occupy their time. Some
common stable vices are weaving.
VLEASE CONFIRM!
Eebmaiy I. IWft
Background Scripture;
2 Pclei
Devotional Reading:
2 Pclcr 1 16-21
Wc liad been to Oiina and planned
to sto|xivcr a few days m England
on the way back to D.dlas Before
leaving Dallas, I had called to book
a country hotel about 25 miles (rout
laimlon's (ialwick Air|x>il When
wc got there, exhausted alter a long
flight and wandenng (hccountiyside
trying to find the hotel, wc were
shocked to bear tile recc[Hionisl tell
us. “I'm sorry, Mr Allhouse, your
reservation is fortomoirow night, not
tonight. Unfortunately, wc arc fully
booked tonight 1 ”
This experience confirmed for me
the wisdom of confirming in writ
ing arrangements made orally. It is
one of the best ways to avoid misun
derstanding, disagreement and dis
appointment. Often, after an impor
tant conversation, I will write a letter
or memo that says, “If I understood
correctly from our conversation, you
expect me to do the following...”
Sometimes the reply tells me that wc
did not really understand each other.
"Confirm” has various meanings
which arc quite related: to establish
the truth or accuracy of something,
to acknowledge with definite assur
ance, to ratify, to make firm or more
firm, and to corroborate. I believe (he
writer of 2 Peter had all of these
meanings in mind. “Therefore,
brethren, be the more zealous tocon
firm your call and election, for if you
do this you will never fa 11...” (1.10-
italics mine).
OFFER & ACCEPTANCE
Although the person and work of
God can never be reduced to a for
mula, the Bible seems consistent in
representing the call of God as a pro
cess in which God does the calling,
but we must confirm our acceptance
of that call. I remember from my col
lege classes in business law that to
every contract there must be “offer''
and “acceptance.” If an offer is made
but not accepted in some way—a
word, an acdon—there is no con
tract
So il is m our telalnmsliips with
God God makes lire oiler, you anil
I must re.s|xnxl with tire acceptance
Without our confirmation dial wc
have accepted die grace of God. die
call of God, the sal vatipn of God. to
put it in simphsUc terms, t/wwi no
deal 1 *
pawing, wood chewing and wind
sucking.
Providing access to hay and a
salt block may help eliminate
these problems. Toys placed in a
stall may also help. Stall toys
may be purchased at any tack
store. Be sure to read the
instructions and the cautions when
using. Remember prevention is
the key to controlling stable
vices.
The following are some
preventative tips: allow as much
pasture time as possible, make
hay available constantly, avoid
keeping a horse stalled alone and
keep windows open so the horse
may see out.
Feather Prof.'s Footnote: "If
you have the courage to begin,
you have thecourage to succeed."
I’m sure that tins is nothing yon
don’t already know I know it, too,
lull I sometimes loigel it So 2 Pelei
is saying to Ins leaders ‘'llierefoie
I intend always lo remind yon o I
these tilings, though you know llicm
.iiul aiv established in the (nidi dial
you have I think it right, .is long as
1 am in this body, to arouse you by
way of reminder "(1 12, H)
ARK YOU CONSISITWr?
I am currently reading a book
about the Apostle Paul Tlic author
(|uestions the authenticity of Peter's
ex|K’iiciK c (Atls 10) witli Simon the
T.innci at Joppa lx.vausc later. Paul
was critical of Peter (or avoiding
eating with gentile Chnsiians 'lhe
author says that i f Peter I lad had (In s
revelation about gentiles from God
in Acts 10, he would not have acted
as reported m Galatians 2 Admit
tedly Peter in Galatians 2 ts not con
sistent with Peter in Acts 10. But
where does it say that people al ways
(even usually) have to act consis
tently 9
I do not and I rather imagine that
you do not either I know better and
try to It ve by what I believe, but there
arc times when 1 lapse back into be
havior which is not consistent with
the best I know. Docs that not hap
pen to you, too? Would you agree
that our problem is not in knowing
what to do, but in consistently do
ing what we know to be tme? So,
like those to whom 2 Peter is ad
dressed, wc need to be reminded of
what we already know
I believe K was Emmet Fox who
wrote about a man who was offer
ing courses in spirituality—a
beginner's course and an advanced
course Everyone signed up for the
advanced course What the man
eventually told his students was that
there was really no difference be
tween the two courses. The
beginner’s course was based upon
the principles of a spintual life and
the ad vanccd course was about put
ting into practice the principles of
the beginner's course.
We do not need the revelation of
any more “secrets” or “advanced
courses” in following Jesus Christ
We know all the basics. What we
need to do is simply confirm God's
call by putting those basics into prac
tice.
Lancaster Farming
Established 19SS
Published Every Saturday
Ephrat* Review Building
IE. Main St
Ephrata, PA 17522
-by-
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Stelnman Enterprise
Robert a Campbell General Manager
■voftH a Hewfwtngw Managing Edltoi
Copyright 199* by Laosutar Fuming