AlO-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 20, 2001 OPINION Beef Agenda The Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association has a legislative agen da that we think would benefit all farmers. Items on their list include: • Private Property Rights Legislation protecting private prop erty rights is a top priority as the right to own and use property is fundamental to the American way of life and is vital to beef produc ers. Work is in progress on legislation that allows for compensation, litigation relief, and no net-loss in private property. • Death Tax Elimination Total elimination of the death tax re mains a top priority with the new Congress. Significant reductions have already been gained in both the estate and capital gains taxes. Achieving full deductibility of health insurance for the self-em ployed, like cattlemen, is also a priority tax relief issue. • Exports NCBA is working aggressively to gain access to emerging markets. U.S. beef and variety meat exports through Au gust 2000 increased 22 percent in volume and 25 percent in value compared to exports through August 1999. • Environmental Issues Working to ensure site-specific, sci ence-based standards for total maximum daily loads, effluent limit ation guidelines, CAPO guidelines, and endangered species rules. • Beef Labeling NCBA is working to limit the usage of the USDA grade to U.S. cattle only. We commend the beef farmers on their efforts to make farming more profitable and more free from unnecessary restrictions that hamper the production of food in this country. Crop Insurance Seminar, Penn State Fogelsville Campus. Butler County Pa. Holstein As sociation Meeting, Garden Gate Restaurant, Prospect, 11:30 a.m. Clarion/Venango Pa. Holstein Association Annual Meeting, Wolf’s Den Restaurant, Knox, 7:30 p.m. Maple Production School Satel lite Conference Program, Bradford County extension office, Towanda, 9:30 a.m.-l p.m. Workshop, York Extension Office, also Jan. 25, 29, and Feb. 2. Octorara Young Farmer Meet ing, Octorara High School, 7:30 p.m. Computer Workshop, Cambria County extension, Ebensburg, also Jan. 25. Northeastern Pennsylvania Maple Syrup Producers’ As sociation annual Meeting and Dinner, Bethany Methodist Church Hall, 10:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. lir Conp^ /ecisions (inference, Days Inn and Conference Center, Allentown. Franklin County Corn Clinic, Kauffman Community Center. Ag Day, Clarks Mills UM Church, Clarks Mills. Computer Workshop, Somerset Technical School, also Jan. 24. Troubleshooting Dairy Repro duction Meeting, Berks County Ag Center, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Session 2 is at the Tulpehocken High School Li brarv. 7:30 p.m. Cooperative ership Institute, Penn State Conference Center, thru Jan. 26. Milking Management Work- ♦ Farm Calendar ♦ shop, Donohoe Center. * Northumberland County Con servation District and Eastern Industries Workshop, Ot terbein UM church, Sunbury, 8:30 a.tn. Expansion II Conference, Edg wood Restaurant, Troy, 9:30a .m.-3;30 p.m. Crop Insurance Seminar, Neshaminy Manor Center, 7:30 p.m. Crop Insurance Seminar, Penn State Schuylkill County ex tension, Pottsville, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Troubleshooting Dairy Repro duction Meeting, Honey Brook Township Building, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Pesticide credit meeting, Mont lortheastern 'a. ui jchooi "and Trade Show, The Wood lands Inn and Resort, Wilkes- Barre. Dairy Reproduction Meeting, Neshaminy Manor Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Capitol Region Greenhouse Meeting, tour of Esbenshade’s Greenhouses, Brickerville. Environmental Livestock Certi fication Course, Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Workshop on Comprehensive Water Management Plan for Lower Susquehanna Basin, Wildwood Conference Center, Harrisburg Area Community College, Harris burg, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Troubleshooting Dairy Repro duction Meeting, Neshaminy Manor Center, Doylestown, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Hog Producers Meeting, Garrett Community College Ad vanced Technology Center, 7 p.m. Franklin Co extension ounty annual meeting, Kauffman Community Center, 6:15 p.m. Cecil County’s Producers’ Breakfast, Schaefer’s Canal (Turn to Pago All) To Recognize Farmland Preservation A record 83 Lancaster County farms were preserved in 2000. Thfe brings the total of preserved farms in the county to 456, repre senting more than 37,000 acres. This is a great success story of two organizations working to gether to make this happen. The Lancaster County Agri cultural Preserve Board, formed in 1980, handles the county and state funds appropriated for farmland preservation. This past year saw a large increase in both county and state funds available for farmland preservation. The Lancaster Farmland Trust formed in 1988 is a private, nonprofit organization that uses tax incentives to encourage farm THE PRODIGAL FATHER Background Scripture: Luke 15. Devotional Reading: Ephesians 1:15-22. No, that is not a typographical or editorial mistake in the title. I really mean to think with you about the Prodigal Father, not the Prodigal Son. I think this well known parable of Jesus may well be fnisiuftbed. Perhaps they key is to in the meaning of the w£rd “prodigal.” Apart from this parable, it is seldom used in our society today and perhaps that is why we have such a limited concept of what it means. When we call the youth in this story the “Prodigal Son,” what do we mean by the term “prodi gal?” My Thesaurus suggests the following: “extravagant,” “wasteful,” “improvident,” “profligate,” “spendthrift” and “excessive.” That is a pretty good description of this young man, isn’t it? Luke says “he squandered his property in loose living” (13b). But the adjective “prodigal” does not have to be a negative descrip tion, for my Thesaurus also sug gests some positive synonyms, too: “free,” “prodigious,” “open handed,” “unselfish,” “bounti ful.” “profuse,” and “copious.” Applying “prodigal” to the love of the father for his way ward son indicates that his love was more bountiful than the fail ures of his son. The Father was a greater forgiver than the son was a sinner. Yes, the Father’s love was extravagant, beyond any legal or ethical claim. Another name for it is “grace” God’s ers to donate their easements to the trust. In addition to preserv ing 83 farms this year, the Agri cultural Preserve Board received more than 120 additional appli cations in September 2000. This demonstrates that farm land preservation has become a legitimate and viable option for county farmers. By preserving farms, we are insuring the future of the county’s agriculture. It demonstrates the county’s sup port and optimism that agricul ture will be a very important part of the county’s economy. It is im portant to protect our farmland in the East, because we are one of the few areas in this country that can sustain agriculture be cause of our soils and climate. To Realize The Importance Of Preserving Farms Lancaster County, Pennsylva nia and Portland, Ore. shows the importance and impact a strong farmland preservation program has on the area. - By using urban growth bound aries and farmland preservation techniques, these two areas have seen strong agricultural growth along with an increase in popula tion. However, these areas have used less land to accomplish this growth than similar metropolitan areas. Also, these similar metro politan areas have seen a decline in their agricultural production. As Ron Bailey, director of Lancaster County Planning Commission, reports, not bad, but how we phtn for growth is the key. Bjykeeping farmland surrounding' commu nities instead of communities " surrounding farrqwnd is what amazing grace/fhat makes it pos sible to return to the Father’s house. Going Home Again Twb years ago I was invited to return to and preach at my last pastorate in Pennsylvania. Natu rally, though I realized that there had been changes since I left, 1 regarded this as a home coming. But 1 was unprepared for the congregation I faced that Sunday morning here and there a familiar face or family. But for the most part, it was hardly the congregation I re membered. 1 was reminded of Thomas Wolfe’s famous novel, “You Can’t Go Home Again.” For much of life that is certainly true: you cannot go home again and find it just as you left it. Yet, this parable tells us that there is one sense in which we can always go home again. No matter how much time had elapsed, how he had squandered his inheritance, and how “loose” his living had been, the younger son was able not only to head home again but was welcomed with open arms. The Father had not come after him to drag him back, for the decision to return would have to be his own. Luke tells us that in the midst of his degradation, the son “came to himself and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger?’” (17). The Jerusalem Bible, Phillips, New English Bible, and Moffatt all translate 15:17 as “then he came to his senses.” Isn’t it strange how, when he are caught up in an obsession with self-grat ification, we behave in such a nonsensical manner so contrary to the best that we know? It is as if we become temporarily insane. But, like the younger son, we can also come to our senses and realize that we can always go home again to the Father’s house. Turning Around helps to keep fanning growing in a county. By preserving farmland we are planning for the farm business to last more than one generation. This allows farmers to make the long-term investments needed to keep their farms profitable. It also allows public officials to de velop public policy to encourage and support agriculture in their areas. Farmland preservation is planning for the future and the sustainability of our farms and our country. To Form Ag Security Areas If you are not in an Agricul tural Security Area and plan on farming, you should seriously consider forming or joining an Agricultural Security Area. The Agricultural Security Area gives farmers additional protection to conduct their farm ing operations. An Agricultural Security Area does not limit land use options to the farmer or place any restrictions on his deed. The area designation in forms people that agriculture is the primary use of land and gov ernment is to promote agricul ture by enacting ordinances that support and encourage agricul ture. With the increasing popula tions in rural areas, township su pervisors are being forced to con sider ordinances that will limit the sustainability and profitabili ty of farms. Now is the time to work with other farmers in your township and form Agricultural Security Areas to insure the fu ture of farming in your township. Feather Prof’s Footnote: “Success does not come to you. You must go get it. ” Now we might wish Jesus had pictured the younger son as con science-stricken and repentant. Maybe he was, but Luke doesn’t tell us. He just says that the son at last realizes how much better off he would be in his father’s house, even as a servant. You might decide that he wasn’t really repentant, but was smart enough to know what he had to do to get out of the hole into which he had dug himself. If that is the most we can say about him, I would still have to say “good for him,” for rome people don’t even have enough gum ption to turn away from their profligacy and begin the trip back home. Instead of turning toward home, they dig in their heels and wait for the world to change instead. When I read Robert Ardrey’s book, “The Territorial Impera tive,” I remember him telling of the bird known as the Manx shearwater that was captured on Skokholm Island off the coast of Wales and flown by jet plane to Harvard University to be stud ied. But arriving in Boston, the shearwater flew 3,050 miles across the Atlantic and, main taining a speed of 244 miles per day, arrived back at Skokholm Island 12 and one-half days later. God has also given us the same gift of grace. As John New ton wrote the familiar hymn, “Amazing Grace”: “ ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. ” Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 —by— Lancaster Farming, Inc A Steinman Enterprise William J Burgess General Manager Everett R Newswanger Editor Copyright 2000 by Lancaster Farming
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