Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, June 06, 1998, Image 200
El2-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 6, 1998 JINNY WILT Adams Co. Correspondent GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.) Adams County dairy farmer Larry Wilkinson not only has a Dairy of Distinction designation for his farm, Getty Acres, he was just named to receive the county’s Clean Water Farm Award. Wilkinson and wife, Doris, be gan their farming career at the 300-acre Rentzel Road property in 1977 when they moved from Chester County. Their homestead dates back to the early 1900 s. Then in 1985 they bought an addi tional 85 acres adjacent to their land. Another 2,300 acres located be tween their property and Gettys burg is rented, according to son Ed Wilkinson, a partner. The business not only includes the dairy opera tion, but also produces a large quantity of timothy hay for the mushroom industry in eastern Pennsylvania. Another son, Dan Wilkinson, is also a partner in the business. For father Larry, the fact that The Wilkinson family poses for a family picture on their farm, Getty Acres, In Adams County. They are, left, back row, Chris and Debbie Smith who were married on the farm on May 23, Dan Wilkinson, Kendall Wilkinson, Laurie Wilkinson holding baby Ty Wilkinson, Earl Wilkinson, Doris Wilkinson, Larry Wilkinson, and Ed Wilkin son. Front row, left, Lee Wilkinson, Carl Wilkinson, Tina Wilkinson, Holly Wilkinson, and Heather Wilkinson. Dairyman Sees Joy In Family Partnership his sons are a part of the operation is most satisfying. He said of all the good things in his life, one that he has a lot of gratitude for is the fact that he was able to have his boys join him in a partnership. And, Dan adds, because the two young men are partners in the business gives them an incentive to make the farm successful. Al ways working on the farm, he said, “Before (the partnership), we were just doing a job. Now we have a vested interest.” Do they ever disagree over the farm’s operations? Sure, they say, but Dan said, Tt brings different views to the situation.” Larry later explained that since each son uses his special talents in the job—Ed is the more mechani cally inclined and might fix ma chinery the three of them are not working shoulder-to-shoulder, so friction is seldom a factor. Larry works with the dairy cows, noting that they have a herd of 230 cows with 200 milking at the end of Apfl. They also have 22S head of replacement heifers and 267 head of steers. A day begins on the farm at 5 a.m. when Larry and another per son start milking. They are joined at 6 a.m. by Dan, Ed, son-in-law Chris Smith Chris and daugh ter, Debbie, were married at a ceremony by the farm pond on May 23 and five other employ ees, who might be frill time or part time depending on the season. Ed’s wife, Tina, also helps with the milking in addition to helping Doris with the office work. A sec ond milking takes place at 2 p.m. and a third is at 9:45 p.m. “Only 125 of the high produc ers are milked three times a day.” Ed explained. What is the major problem fac ing a dairy farmer today? Larry responds with a laugh, “Milk prices!” He goes on to ex plain that while last month the price was up, last fall when it had dropped, it made bill-paying diffi cult. Ed said be doesn’t think Ameri can tanners would be happy with a true milk quota system such as Hanging newly painted signs became a Wilkinson family project for grandsons Call and Lee Wilkinson, son, Dan Wilkinson, son-ln-iaw, Chris Smith (in green hat), and farm hand Randy Moritz. Germany has, “but we should be somewhere in between. “I know that we can’t stand a true open market where you’ve got real highs and real lows when with dairy production you can’t store that product. It’s too perish able. You can’t hold it in a bin or tank like you can com or soy beans.” He said he can’t solve the prob lem, and arriving at a solution No Equity Deductions? No Co-op Dues? Farmer Owned-Farmer Controlled? No Bull Talk-Straight Answers? Secure Milk Market? No Gimmick Milk Prices? Top Competitive Milk Price? Fewest Deductions? Top Notch Trucking? Milk Check Never Late? Member Services? Fair Treatment to all Members? 10 11, 12 If You cannot say YES to all of the above about ur Milk Marke Call: would be difficult because of the unique situations facing each fanner. Larry said “Mother Nature plays a lot in this milk produc tion.” Last summer’s dry, hot weather, and the milk winter have increased the Wilkinson’s milk production by three percent. While that doesn’t seem like much, when it comes to milk vol- (Turn lo Pag* El 3) ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!