Pa. State Grange To Celebrate Grange Week In Harrisburg
'HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) The Pennsylvania State
Grange has scheduled its annual
Grange Week activities to be cele
brated Monday in Harrisburg.
The national Grange Week is
officially April 19-25 this year,
though the Pennsylvania Grange
set April 27 as its official celebra
tion, to coincide with its legislative
day activities, day-long workshops
and legislative banquet at die Sher
aton hm-East in Harrisburg.
According to Grange spokes
man James C. Mcntzer, about 300
members from across the state are
expected to attend the event, which
includes visits with respective
legislative representatives in their
Harrisburg Capitol Building
offices, as well as a series of work
shops and the banquet at the Shera
ton Inn.
While the state budget is no lon
gcr an issue, the Grange
announced that it was pleased with
Gov. Tom Ridge’s proposal for
agriculture, which is effectively
what the governor signed into law
Wednesday.
According to Grange legislative
director Brenda Shambaugh, *"1116
Department of Agriculture did
fairly well, getting increases in
their general operating budget and
in agriculture promotion and
research,” Shambaugh said.
“The legislative reception and
banquet is grass-roots at work as
our members meet with the legisla
tors to affirm Grange policy and
express their concerns about
agriucltural and rural issues,” she
said. “It also gives our members an
opportunity to discuss, one-on
one, the problems facing them.”
The workshops are to begin at 1
' What Is This Year Worth To You?
fi
ii
• Do business with an agency that understands youl
• Has over 50 years experience in Agriculture
• Provides individual attention to their clients at claim time.
• It’s simple and fast.
• Now is the time to change and save!
1 '800'537'6880 • 717'665*2283
We represent Agri-Services Agencies, Inc.
Includm Workers Compensation, Disabili & Health
p.m. at the Sheraton with sche
duled speakers, state Attorney
General Michael Fisher who is to
talk about his office's activities
and legal issues.
The test of the workshops ate
concurrent One set, called Track I
workshops, focuses on political
issues, the other set deals with ser
vice and motivation.
Under the Track 1 schedule,
from 2 pm. to 3 p.m., David Hess,
deputy secretary of the state
Department of Environmental Pro
tection (DEP) is to discuss the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agen
cies initiatives and mandates under
the Clean Water Act, such as its
adoption of the term, “Concen
trated Animal Feeding Opera
tions” (CAFOS), as opposed to
Pennsylvania’s use of Concen
trated Animal Operations as
defined in the slate Nutrient Man
agement Act.
From 3 pm. to 4 pm., George
Wolff, a private consultant, and
John Shirvinsky, with the Civil
Justice Coalition, ate to discuss the
Lawsuit Abuse Reform Act, and
its implications.
From 4 pm. to S pm., Barbara
Knisely, with the National Grange,
and the state Grange’s Brenda
Shambaugh arc to discuss issues of
concern.
For Track 2, from 2 pun. to 3
p.m.. Deb Campbell, state Grange
junior director, and Martha Eber
sole, state youth director are to
give a presentation on building
energy and momentum into youth
programs.
From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Joan
Keith with the Lincoln Grange is to
give a presentation on community
service through the Grange.
FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE
- - ■ - -
ou're a Good Manag
at's Worth Something.
* Last Year It Was Worth
UP TO 50% OFF
Your Workers Comp Cost
We Paid 25% Dividends in 1997.
(Over $335,000 to Ag employers in PA.)
Call Today
From 4 pm. to S pm.. Grange
Service Corporation representa
tives are to discuss programs and
services available through the
Grange.
Some of the other issues of con
cern to Grange, to be discussed are
an alternative to a long-proposed,
but always defeated, mandatory
deposit on returned beverage bot
tles, to curtail the amount of road
side disposal going into farmers
fields causing large losses through
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
—The annual bee inspection pro
gram will get under way on May
18 throughout the commonwealth
to check hives for brood diseases
and parasitic mites, according to
Agriculture Secretray Samuel E.
Hayes Jr.
“Bees are a very valuable re
source for Pennsylvania agricul
ture, and the inspection program is
designed to protect honeybees.
There has been a dramatic decline
in the number of bees and bee
keepers in the past 10 years, and
that has serious implications for
pollination of crops,” Hayes said.
The 1994 amendmenti to the
Bee Law require beekeepen to re
gister with the Agriculture Depart
ment The registration program
helps the department maintain an
accurate listing of beekeepers and
has greatly improved the efficien
cy of the inspection program.
Hayes noted that all registered
beekeepers are inspected at least
/Ask for
Nevin or Bob.
ice
animal injury and death, and
equipment damage.
The alternative proposal is to
create a compensation program to
pay for some of the damages
incurred to livestock and
equipment
The state Clean and Green prog
ram is being proposed for change.
Some of those proposals ate to be
discussed.
Other topics expected to receive
attention include dairy issues, such
Beekeeper Inspection
Program Under Way
once during the two-year registra
tion period.
A fee of $lO must be submitted
with a registration form, and cov
en all apiaries owned by the bee
keeper.
Benefits of the apiary registra
tion program include an ability to
notify beekeepers of potential
dangers and benefits to their apiar
ies, and the observation of trends
in the distribution of bees.
Hayes noted that with fewer
Summer Grazing
Field Meeting Kickoff
BLOOMSBURG (Columbia
Co.) Penn State Extension in
the Central Susquehanna Valley
area is planning a kickoff meeting
for the 1998 summer grazing field
meetings.
The kickoff meeting will be
Lancaster Fuming, Saturday, April 25, 1998-A33
as the Northeast Dairy Compact;
property rights to provide better
compensation and more difficult
processes for state condemnations;
a plan to fix the diesel fuel tax
refund; continuing the Ag Loan
Forgiveness Program; and amend
the Right To Farm Act to add pro
tection for new technologies.
The state Grange represents
30,000 members in 66 counties
across the state.
beekeepers and a corresponding
increase in honey prices, it may be
a good time to consider beekeep
ing.
Because successful beekeeping
requires knowledge of good man
agement practices, department
personnel can direct inquiries to
the proper specialists.
For more information on regis
tration or brood diseases and
mites, contact Jim Steinhauer,
2301 N. Cameron Street. Harris
burg, PA 17110-9408.
held on Friday, May 1 at 10a.m. at
Yoder’s Restaurant on Route 45
west of Mifflinburg.
The guest speaker will be Craig
Williams, an extension agent in
Tioga County. Williams will
speak on extension and on-farm
research work he has done in graz-
ing and pasture management He
will also profile his home farm in
Dauphin County where management inten
sive grazing has been utilized for the herd of
Jerseys for many years.
No reservations are necessary for the meet
ing. For more information, call David Hart
man at the Columbia County Extension office
at 717-784-6660 or 1-800-254-6470.
Penn State encourages persons with dis
abilities to participate in its programs and ac
tivities. If you anticipate needing any type of
accommodation or have questions about the
physical access provided, please contact Da
vid Hartman at 771-784-6660 in advance of
your participation or visit
ldi€ €i ass H jslc
Horst Auction Center
Intersections of Durlach Rd. & Rt. 322,
West of Ephrata, PA
Saturday* May
7:30 pm
Featuring:
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain
Boys along with The Goins Brothers
Price- $12.00 adults
$6.00 6-12 years
FREE Under 6
for more info.
f SEPTIC SYSTEMS 1
SEMINAR
Perculation - Tanks
Designs - Alternatives
Treatment Ponds
Proper Maintenance
Regulations
Cost: $ 55.00 per person
Manual & materials included
MAY 2 • 9 am to Noon
Held in Gettysburg, PA
ECO-TECH
jh 717-337-9325 £