AlO-La master Farming, Saturday, January 30, 1999 OPINION The Right Thing To Do Dairy farmers are funding dairy product and ingredient research at six regional centers nationwide to increase dairy pro duct demand. And according to Dairy Management Inc., head quartered in Rosemont, IL, this research is yielding results. Food and dairy researchers are busy extending dairy roduct shelf life, developing new uses for dairy proteins, and improving various cheese attributes. Food processors and formulates are now adopting these results to benefit consumers and dairy farmers alike. Specifically: 1. A hydrophobic coating has been developed to improve the appearance and melt characteristics of reduced-fat cheeses in prepared foods such as pizza and grilled cheese. 2. A new technique for producing a pizza cheese using the same equipment needed to make “stirred curd" cheeses such as cheddar and muenster has been developed. 3. Whey protein has been modified to expand its use in bakery, confection and meat. 4. Controlled-melt natural cheese has been developed and is now being used in culinary applications that open new markets for microwave entrees. S. Skim milk has been developed that now has the rich look and creaminess of 2 percent milk. While we.are glad to report this good news for the dairy indus try, it still does not tell us if these projects along with promotional campaigns like the “milk mustache” are cost effective. More than $3 million was collected in check-off moneies from farmers and processors last year. This money is spend by milk promotion boards that do not need to give an accounting of how the money was spent. There are a lot of good people on these boards, but we believe, if only for the appearance of it, dairy farmers should be able to have a financial statement from these boards, both nation al and state. This seems like the only right thing to do since it is the dairymen’s hard earned dollars that have been skimmed off his milk check before it was mailed to pay for all this promotion and research. r > Forest Landowners Conference, Penn State Behtcnd College, Erie, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Beaver/Lawrence Holstein Annu al Meeting, Bingo’s Restaurant, New Castle, 7:30 p.m. Annual Conference of the North east Organic Farming Associa tion of New Jersey, Cook Col lege Student Center, New Brunswick. New York State Farmers Direct Marketing Association Annual Conference and Trade Show, Buffalo Hilton, Buffalo, N.Y., thru Feb. 4. Fcedlot Veterinarian’s Workshop, Lancaster Farm and Home Cen ter, S:3O p.m. Beef Educational Evening, Shar- IcsvDle Grange, 5:30 p.m.-9: IS p.m. Silage and Forage Expo, Lebanon Valley Expo CEnter, 9:30 1999 Pa. Young Farmer Winter Convention, Comfort Inn, Lan caster, thru Feb. 4. Passing On The Farm Workshop, Hugo's Restaurant, Brownsville. Lancaster Cattle Feeders’ Day, Lancaster Farm and Home Cen ter, 9:30 a.m.-2:45 p,m. Computerized Farm Record- Keeping Workshop, Fulton LENDAR ❖ County Extension Office, McConncllsburg, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m, Milker Training and Udder Health, Clarion County extension office, 10 a.m. Forage Production School, Honey Brook Township Building, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., also Feb. 9. Beaver County Crops Day, Big Knob Grange, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Farmstead Exclusion Educational Meeting, Mercer County exten sion office, Mercer, 10:30 a.m.-I2 p.m. Income Generating Enterprises For Rural Landowners, McCr •'ellsbn' Ar Congress, Sea Gate Centre, Toledo, Ohio, thru Feb. 5. Northeast Pa. Regional Vegetable Meeting, Thompsons Dairy Bar, Clarks Summit, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Butler County Crops Day, East Butler Fire Hall. Adams, Franklin, and Cumberland Forage School, Keystone Agway Building, Shippens burg, 9 ajn.-3 p.m. Milker Training and Udder Health, Venango County extension office, 10 a.m. 1999 Southwest Livestock Man agement Workshop Series, Cedarbrook Golf Course, Belle Vernon, also Feb. 10, 17, and 24. To Look At Corn Facts Today's modern corn farmer can produce a bushel of corn with less than two minutes of labor using tractors and other equipment. According to the Corn Book published in 1956, early settlers spent 10 to 12 hours to produce each bushel ot corn. In 1904 The Book of Corn reported that one man can easily husk 50 to 55 bushels of corn a day. To put some of these numbers into perspective, in 1997 Lancaster County farmers grew 176,00 acres of com with an average yield of 126 bushels per acre. This equates to 22.2 million bushels of com produced in the county. Using the methods of early settlers it would take 244 million hours of labor to produce this amount of com. If a man works 2,000 hours per year, it would take 122,000 man years of work to grow and harvest the 1997 Lancaster County com crop. With modem technology and equipment, it only takes 370 man years of work to produce and harvest the crop. The amount of workers required just to harvest the 1997 crop if hand husked between October and the end of December using 1904 methods would be 5,146 people. To Protect From The Cold The cold days of winter are here. In extremely cold weather, Dr. Larry Kenney, Associate Professor of Applied Physiology at Penn State, says it is extremely important to keep the head covered and perhaps to cover the face and mouth with a scarf to prevent heat loss from the body. It is important to remember that the extremities of the body will cool faster than the rest of the body and must be protected with gloves, boots and ear flaps to prevent frostbite. When you know you will be out in the cold, always overdress. It is easier to remove unneeded clothing than it is to get warm when extra clothing is not available. Wearing layers of clothing is well suited to staying Nutrient Management and plan w• • - Lawrence County extension office. Forage/livestock meetings, Wesley Grange, Wesley, 7 p.m., also Feb. 11, 18, and 25. Act 6 Nutrient Management Certi fication and Plan Writing Semi nar, Franklin/Cumberland, Agway regional office, Ship pensburg, fertility; certification is Feb. 11 and exam Feb. 18. (Turn to Page A 25) warm and for changing the amount of clothing needed as temperatures change. Being aware of the effect that the wind has on winter temperatures is very important. Blowing winds can make a cool day feel very cold. Thirty degrees will fell like minus two degrees when the wind is blowing 30 miles per hour. To Operate Skid-Steer Loaders Safely Skid-steer loaders put workers at risk of rollover and runover accidents. If you operate or work near skid-steer loaders, take these steps to protect yourself. Follow safe operating procedures. Work with the seat belt fasten and the restraint bar in place. Travel and turn with the bucket in the lowest position possible. Never disable safety devices. Do MAKING KNOWN THE ‘UNKNOWN GOD' January 31,1999 Background Scripture: Acts 17:16-34 Devotional Reading: Psalms 96:1-13 Paul’s visit to Athens is com monly regarded as a failure. He argued in the synagogue and Acts does not record a favorable response. He gave an exposition of his Christian discipleship on the Aeropagus, one of the favorite gathering places of Greek philosophers, but only a few “joined him and believed.” In 1 Cor. 16:15 when he speaks of “the first converts in Achaia,” he mentions Stephanus of Corinth, but no Athenians. Some complain that in Athens Paul forsook his own principles, trying to reach his listeners with Greek philosophy instead of the principle in 1 Cor. 2:1-6 where he says he preaches only “Christ crucified” and dis claims all “plausible words of wisdom.” Some scholars believe that it was because of his “fail ure” in Athens that Paul arrived in Corinth determined to preach only “Christ crucified.” I don’t know how God judged Paul’s brief experienced in Athens, but I would not want to hastily conclude it had all been a failure. True, the converts, if any, were few. True, there is no evidence that his efforts pro duced a church there. But shall we judge our efforts for Christ only in terms of statistics? The mission of Christ in our world cannot be adequately evaluated by “bean-counters.” It is the Lord’s judgement call. THEIR OWN LEVEL I admire Paul’s effort to reach the Athenians on their own level. Quoting from Philosophers they knew, he weaved all of this into a tapestry into which he finally introduced Jesus Christ the Resurrected Lord. This was a wise approach because the Athenians were renowned for their curiosity about things philosophical. One of the reasons we often fail in evangelism today, I think, is because we do not translate the meaning of the gospel into words and concepts that are familiar to those whom we want to reach. We not only want oth ers to believe just as we do, but we want them to vocalize their not travel across slopes. Do not travel straight up or down slopes with the heavy end of the machine pointed uphill. Always enter and exit the loader safely. Enter the loader only when the bucket is flat on the ground or when the lift arm supports are m place. Never use foot or hand controls for steps or handholds Before leaving the operator's seat, lower the bucket flat to the ground, set the barking brake and turn off the engine. Maintain the machine in safe operating condition. Keep the foot controls free of mud, ice, snow and debris. Regularly inspect and maintain the skid steer loader. Feather Prof.'s Footnote " When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember you have not." beliefs in the very same words. Paul referred to the two lead ing schools of Greek philosophy, the Epicureans and Stoics. The Epicurean school was founded by Epicures around 300 BC and its goal was “happiness.” The Stoic school was founded about the same time by Zeno and it advocated conduct “according to nature.” There was not much difference between their goals. VERY RELIGIOUS First, he says: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are religious.” Observing the numerous altars and religious sites to various gods, he might have said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that you are thorough-going heathens and your religion is pure foolish ness!” Theologically that may or may not have been accurate, but it certainly would have turned off his audience. Too often, we begin our appeal for Christ with the condemnation of other reli gious ideas and practices. Paul tells of an altar he found with the inscription, “To an unknown god,” and he says: “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” He acknowledges their religious quest and tells them that the God he worships is the fulfillment of what they also seek. This God who created “the world and everything in it.” He is the universal God of all humankind. Furthermore, this God does not live in shrines, nor is he constrained by anything made by human hands. He is a much bigger, greater God than they have been worshipping. Yet, for all of his greatness, “he is not far from each of us.” Until now this God has been patient with their ignorance, but there will now be a day of judgement and they will be judged “by a man he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.” Enter: Jesus Christ! What was the box score of this first Christian sermon in Athens? —some runs, some hits, some errors. “Some mocked, but others said “We will hear you again about this.” And “some men joined him and believed” (17:32-34.) Do not our own efforts at Christian witness achieve much the same results? Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 -by Lancaster Fanning, Inc. A Stemman Enterprise William J. Burgess General Manager Everett R. Newswanger Managing Editor Copyright 1999 by Lancaster Farming
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers