Could Farming Grow On You?
GingerS. Myers
Agricultural Development
Specialist
Howard County
Economic Development
Authority
The advantages of farm life
are among the reasons individu
als operate part-time farm or
natural resource enterprises.
Farm enterprises can provide
open space and learning experi
ences for the entire family.
If the family chooses the right
enterprise, it can also provide
supplemental income. The phys
ical labor required by a farm en
terprise can also have a
therapeutic effect on those who
also work off the farm.
One of the first considerations
when selecting a fanning or nat
ural resource based enterprise is
to evaluate your personal and
physical resources. Your per
sonal resources include avail
ability of labor, yours or other
family members’, the capital in
vestment required, and your
level of experience or expertise.
Your physical resources include
your land, water resources,
buildings, and equipment.
Recognize the pitfalls of the
enterprise you select and then
establish some basic goals for
your operation. Livestock re
quires daily care and may re
strict family traveling. Crops
can be planted with meticulous
care only to wither and die for
lack of rain. The two most im
portant questions are, “Why do
I want this enterprise?” and
“What do I expect to receive
from this enterprise?”
Understanding your reasons
for having a farming experience
will help determine the type and
extent of the farming enterprise
you choose.
One of the most important
concerns when considering a
farm enterprise is the market
and the ability to sell what you
produce. Potential producers
need to take responsibility for
carefully evaluating the market
potential for their products.
Market supply and demand,
market stability, and the avail
ability and location of the near
est market are also important.
Marketing begins when the
seed hits the ground or the
first hoof hits the pasture. A
consumer-oriented approach to
marketing is essential to the suc
cess of the enterprise.
Association Sets Awards Banquet
PALMYRA (Lebanon Co.)
The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s
Association has planned its an
nual awards banquet Wednes
day, Dec. 13, at 6:15 p.m. at the
Holiday Inn, Grantville. A recep
tion will be from 5:45 p.m.-6:15
p.m.
For the third year, the awards
banquet will be held in conjunc
tion with the Pennsylvania Dairy
Stakeholders Conference. The
Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Associ
ation has chosen this partnership
to encourage its members and all
Pennsylvania dairymen to lend
their full support and endorse
ment to the Dairy Stakeholders
mission.
ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET TICKET RESERVATION FORM
Grantville Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
Milk punch reception 5:45 p,m.; Dinner 6:15 p.m.
Ticket orders must be received no later than Friday, December 8,2000.
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Since 1976, the Pennsylvania
Dairymen’s Association has an
nually awarded its Charles E.
Cowan Memorial Award to a
Pennsylvania dairyman who
demonstrates the ability to main
tain a high level of production in
his home operation, and who
also shows leadership contribut
ing to the improvement and
promotion of the Pennsylvania
dairy industry. Other honorees to
be named will be the recipients of
the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s As
sociation’s 2001 Pennsylvania
Distinguished Dairy Women and
Extension Awards.
The evening program will in
clude speaker, Rick Smith,
PENNSYLVANIA DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Wednesday, December 13,2000
No. of tickets @ S2O =
Return Ticket Reservation Form with check payable to:
Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association
440 Plaza Drive
Palmyra, PA 17078
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, Dacambar 2, 2000-A2l
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Dairylea Cooperative Inc. His
speech is titled “Looking Into
Our Future.”
The board of directors of the
Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Associ
ation invites all dairy producers
and industry persons to join in
the evening awards banquet and
to also team from the numerous
speakers who will be addressing
the Pennsylvania Dairy Stake
holders Conference Dec. 13-14.
Tickets may be reserved by
contacting David R. Smith,
Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Associ
ation, 440 Plaza Drive, Palmyra,
PA 17078, (717) 838-3283. Ticket
price is $2O and reservations
must be made by Dec. 8.
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