AlO-Uncaster Farming, Saturday, October 9, 1999 OPINION Hungry In The Next Century By the time you finish reading this editorial, the world's population will have increased by the size of Penn State's freshman class, says a natural resources expert in the College of Agricultural Sciences Larry Nielsen, director of the School of Forest Resources says October 12 has been designated by the United Nations Population Fund as the Day of Six Billion (D6B). This is the day the world's human population will officially reach 6 billion. "These people will need food, resources, and safe, healthy places to live," Nielsen said. "-For the first time, people are witnessing the tripling of the world population in one lifetime. The world population was 2 billion in 1930. Food demands will double in the next 20 years, yet arable land will remain constant The demands on science and cooperative extension programs to make food production more efficient will be enormous " Not only will science and extension be on demand, the actual farmer will become increasingly important, if the world is to be fed. But from our point of view, the real problems to be faced will come Irom distribution and political restraints. As important as research and extension is, unless farmers are allowed to farm, and food is allowed to reach the people in the woild who need it, all the good intentions come to naught. Let's hope environmental restraints and land taxation obstacles do not cause the demise of agriculture to the extent that we all go hungry in the next century. ,ltry ..uiage.. Seminar, Krcidcr’s Restaurant, Mentor Meeting, Ephrata High School, 7:30 p.m. Dillsburg Community Fair, Dills burg, thru OcL 16. Dairylea Cooperative Annual Meeting, Holiday Inn, Liver pool, N.Y., thru Oct 13. Sustainable Greenhouse Systems Short Course, Arena Restaur- ant, Bedford, also Oct. 19 and AD ADC Dist 6 meeting. Club 211, Middletown, N.Y., 7:45 Pa. Veterinary Medical Associa tion Annual Meeting, Lancaster Pa. National Horse Show, Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, thru Oct 23. ADA DC Dist 12 meeting, Sennctt Federated Church, Sennett, N.Y., 6:30 pjn. AD ADC Dist 17 meeting, Gibson Grange, Gillette, 8 pm Carroll County, Md. pesticide training and exam, extension iffic'- Dunbar, thru Oct. ducts Show, Ayrshire Golden Milk Sale, Empire Livestock, Dryden, N.Y. Wyoming County Sheep and Wool Producers Association annual meeting and roast lamb dinner. United Methodist Church, Cen * Farm Calendar ♦ I * l> Berks County Open House and 85th Anniversary Celebration, 3:30 pm.-9 p jn., Berks County Ag Center. AD ADC Dist 14 meeting, Tally- Ho Restaurant, Kanona, N.Y., Wyoming County Extension Bth Annual Dinner Meeting, Eldred Township Fire Hall, Wanens ville, dinner 7 pan. Forest Management Program, Cambria County extension office, Ebcnsburg, 7:30 pjn.-9:30 p.m. Lancaster County 4-H Recogni tion Night, Historical Revere Tavern, Paradise, 6:30 p.m. Solanco Young Farmer Com Sil age Meeting, Solanco High School, Quanyville, 7:30 p.m. Fulton County Agribusiness Breakfast, McConnellsburg American Legion Post 561, 8 a.m. Hands-On Computer Workshop Scries, York 4-H Center, York, 10 ajn.-3 p.m., also Oct. 21. AD ADC DisL 9 meeting, Taly- Ho, Richfield Springs, N.Y., try Health and Processing, Ocean City, Md., thru Oct. 22. Food for Profit, Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 6:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., also Oct. 27. AD ADC Dist. 2 meeting. Inn Through The Woods, Copenha gen, N.Y., 8 p.m. AD ADC Dist. 3 meeting, Ameri can Legion, Chateaugay, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. ADADC Dist 16 meeting, Mains burg Community Center, Mainsburg, 7:30 p.m. V; To Learn About Hay Assistance Program On September 15, 1999, Governor Ridge initiated a $5 million hay assistance program for drought stricken livestock producers The hay assistance program has two components. First, 1,300 tons ot donated hay and second, a rebate plan based on the $5 million allocation from the govei nor The rebate program is foi farmer pui chased hay and long distance hauling costs. The rebate is only for hay purchased after October 1, 1999. Within the financial limits of the allocation, the rebate plan will cover $6O per ton for hay purchased in Pennsylvania. A $5O per ton icbate will be provided tor hay purchased out of state. In addition, a $25 per ton rebate will be provided to help defray long distance hauling costs for hay purchased from areas outside Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Vngima and Ohio Also, the Pennsylvania legislature is considering bills that will offer addition relief to farmers. Keep informed as relief packages are developed and make applications m a timely manor. These programs will probably have short sign up times m order to provide financial help in a timely manor. To Register for Hay Assistance Program To be eligible consideration for Pennsylvania Hay Assistance Program, you must be a Pennsylvania resident with a farm that lost a minimum of 30 percent of the crops intended for livestock feed including pasture as a result of the 1999 drought If you want to participate in the program, you must return the Livestock Hay Assistance Program Application to the Pennsylvania Department ot Agriculture (PDA) with a postmark no later than October 20, 1999 Completion of this application does not guarantee eligibility This progiam is tor dairy, beef and sheep producers There will be a review ot all applications to determine the degree of loss and animal units required for participation m the hay assistance progiam PDA mailed a letter and application to livestock producers they had on record It you did not icceive an application m the mail, contact youi county Penn State Coopeiative Extension office or call PDA at 800-423-6912 between 7.30 A M and 5 00 P.M Additional information is available at the PDA web site at www.pda.state.pa us To Operate Generator Safely Dr. Dennis Buffington, Penn State Agricultural Engineer, reminds us when using a portable generator be sure to follow these safety proceduies. They are important for your safety and the safety ot any utility company personnel working on the lines Report the power failure. Do not assume the power company knows. Turn off or disconnect all electrical equipment Place your generator and power unit in the proper position Be sure to maintain a level, firm base for both BEYOND •JUST THE FACTS’ October 10, 1999 Background Scripture: Numbers 1:1 through 14:25 Devotional Reading: Numbers 14:5-19 Perhaps you may remember Drag net, the popular TV police drama of more than a few years ago. Question ing witnesses of this crime or that, the detective, played by Jack Webb, would frequently caution, “Just the facts” when bombarded with extra neous information. “Just the facts" became a popular quip. 'Just (he fads’ is one of the icons of our society in this information age. W: believe that there arc no problems that cannot be solved if we arc in pos session of the right data. But, al though data may help us solve prob lems, often the solution may be de pendent upon other facts that arc not self-evident. My college professors of business statistics, told us, “You can prove al most whatever you want with statis tics.” Facts arc never as objective as they may appear to be. Just as on Dragnet the ‘facts’ sometimes turned out to be colored by personal percep tion and interpretation, so the facts of daily life may be equally decep tive and partial. for the TOO MUCH FOR US’ Look at what happened when Moses sent twelve men to scout the Promised Land in Canaan. The re port of the spies—one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel—was overwhelmingly (10 to 2) nega tive: cancel your plans for the Promised Land; the inhabitants there arc too much for us. This negative majority report was full of facts, their recommendations were convincing and the twelve tribes quickly decided that they must return to the land of Egypt. Having come so far and survived so well at God’s hand, they were ready to call off the mission and go back to the slavery of Egypt. We should not be too quick to condemn them; this was a majority report and we expect majorities to be right. Sometimes, however, we have to listen to minorities, even minori ties of one or two. From our vantage point today wc know that there were other facts of which the ten spies were unaware. They reported exactly what they had seen— or thought they had seen. They were not evil men who gave a false report, but men of little faith who Ensure the exhaust fumes are vented to the outside. Even small portable generators placed in basements must have exhaust fumes vented to the outside. Bring generator up to speed before activating a transfer from power company lines Use voltage and frequency meters to monitor generator performance. Connect electrical loads one load at a time. Start with the largest motor first, followed by the second largest, etc. Do not load to fast. (Turn to Pag* A3l) believed every negative fact they re ported. What was wrong with their report was that their ‘ facts’ were dis- torted by their fear which was greater than their faith in God. So they chose to trade the promise of the future un der God for the painful but familiar rut that had been their lot in Egypt. WRONG CONCLUSIONS Near the him of the last century, Milton S. Hershey decided to sell his successful caramel candy business in Lancaster, PA. His advisors tried to talk him out of it, but he was con vinced that he should devote himself to the manufacture of chocolate. 1 Ic also decided to relocate his factory to an obscure agricultural area of Derry Township, halfway between Lancaster and 11.unsburg Again, his advisors told him it was not a good move. Hershey built his factory and the town of Hershey around it and soon he was on his way to becoming the "Chocolate King.” Then, while lire Depression threatened the whole nation, Hershey decided to build a luxury hotel and a school for home less boys there. This time even his mother thought his plans were fool hardy. But Hershey went beyond 'just the facts’ and proved them all wrong. The facts of his advisors were not wrong, but the conclusions (hey had drawn from them were. Sorcn Kierkegaard tells the story of a wild goose who one day flew into a barnyard of domestic geese. Perch ing on the fence, he began to talk to them. “Did you know that you, too, arc geese and, like me, were created to fly far and wide?" In dramatic tones he pointed to the sky and the glorious freedom and far horizons that awaited them if they would use their God-given wings. The geese were very impressed with this visitor and they began to long to be like him. Some applauded enthusiastically. But the com was so plentiful and the barn yard so cozy and warm that when he flew away, they all remained where they were. Moses asked God to forgive the people of Israel and He did. There were, however, consequences for those who had not obeyed God. They themselves would not see the Prom ised Land. God will forgive our fail ures to trust him, but there will be consequences when we choose to live by ‘just the facts.’ Lancaster Fanning Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 B. Main St.* Ephrata, PA 17522 -by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stemman Enteipnse William J. Burgess General Manager Everett R. Newswanger Editor Copyright 1999 by Lancaster Farming
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers