- . V 01.46 No. 15 Ridge’s Budget Proposal Called Good For Ag EVERETT NEWSWANGER Editor HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)- The annual Pennsylvania budget unveiled Tuesday by Gov. Tom Ridge included an increase of more than $4.1 mil lion for programs related to ag riculture. Pennsylvania’s Ag Secretary Sam Hayes said the budget demonstrated the gover nor’s commitment to Pennsylva nia’s No. 1 industry. “In addition to revenue in creases throughout several pro gram areas, this will be the fiscal year when a proposed $72 mil lion will become available to the Department of Agriculture for our major construction proj ects,” Hayes said. “These in clude a new livestock evaluation center, a new greenhouse, and the upgrade and construction project at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. “Funds will continue to flow Regulatory Agencies, Noted Growers, Beginning To Focus On ‘Agri-taiument’ ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.) While farmers’ markets enjoy a surge in popularity and finan cial success, owners have real ized that issues of farm safety, liability protection, and cus tomer communications are criti cal. Ken Wightman, Morristown, N.J., ought to know. Five mil lion people reside within an hour drive of his farmer’s market. Market Outlook, Quality Assurance Topics At Pork Expo ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff NORTH CORNWALL (Leba non Co.) For com producers, the crop carryover could be a burden on the market. Champion Pork Bowl team at the Keystone Pork Expo was the Tulpehocken FFA. From left, Todd Rabenold, coach; Brian Hartman; Cathy Levan; Nate Manbeck; and John Hart man. Photo by Andy Andrews Five Sections into our farmland preservation program making it possible for us to continue our role as the leading state in the nation,” Hayes said. “Pennsylvania has preserved more than 1,500 farms and 183,000 acres of farmland, more than any other state in the nation. Pennsylvania has been recognized by the American Farmland Trust as having the best farmland preservation program in the country.” To continue Pennsylvania’s nation-leading pace of farmland preservation and Gov. Ridge’s “Growing Greener” initiative, a commitment of $59.6 million has been recommended for the upcoming fiscal year. “Growing Greener” is Gov. Ridge’s com mitment to Pennsylvania’s envi ronment. Animal and plant health issues receive increases that in clude the West Nile virus and the Plum Pox Virus. Issues such “It blows your mind,” he told more than 100 growers and agri industry representatives last week during the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention at the Hershey Lodge and Con vention Center. Wightman Farms includes about ISO acres, including a bakery and cider mill. “You name it, we do it,” said Wight man, a third generation farmer whose farm is only about 32 (Turn to Page A 37) For those who depend on feed for their hogs, it’s another story. Feed “will be cheap for at least another year,” said-Lou Moore, Penn Sta*e ag economist. About 80 swine producers and Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 10, 2001 as Johne’s Disease and Scrapie also are animal-health initia tives in the proposed budget. The same is true for the Animal Health Commission. To address concerns facing the dairy industry and the sheep industry, PDA now has $200,000 available to fight the Johne’s Disease and $35,000 for the Scrapie program. To assist in PDA’s mission to Fons De Ridder of Belgium delights in driving these horses in a recent Somerset County snow. “American harnesses are the best in the world,’’ he said of his reason for incorporating Somerset countians to prepare harnesses for a 76-horse hitch. Turn to page B 6 to read about the unusual quest to break a record listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records.” Photo by Gay Brownlee, Somerset County correspondent agri- industry representatives listened to Moore’s annual market outlook Tuesday at the 23rd Pennsylvania Pork Produc ers Council (PPPC) Keystone Pork Expo at the Lebanon eradicate the Plum Pox Virus from Pennsylvania, assistance totaling $717,000 has been pro posed to support continuing field and laboratory efforts. Also, the proposed budget in cludes $3.1 million for the Plum Pox Indemnification Program for the upcoming year. Eradica tion and indemnification pay ments assist fruit growers with orchards that have been stricken Valley Expo Center. Crop prices will remain rea sonable through the rest of the year. “That’s good news for the livestock industry,” Moore said. The U.S. has just been through the longest expansion in economic growth in its history, about 10 years. “Some young people don’t even know what a recession is,” he said. Consumer price index, or the measure of inflation, stood at 3.4 percent, with food prices ex pected to increase by a mere 2.3 percent. Unemployment is at 4.2 percent recognized as full employment, according to Moore. Conference Preview, Amish Grazier Survey In Foraging Aron ml Lancaster Farming includes the winter issue of Foraging Around, the newsletter of the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council (PFGC). The issue includes a preview of the upcoming Pennsylvania Grazing and Forage Confer ence in Grantville and detail about an Amish grazier survey conducted by a Penn State farm management agent. Foraging Around also contains a calendar of farm events and other information for the grower* and grazier. $32.00 Per Year with Plum Pox Virus. The virus attacks stone fruits such as peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots. While the virus deva states the tree’s capacity to pro duce, the fruit can be eaten without any fear whatsoever. An increase of $llO,OOO has been recommended for agricul ture research. The biggest good news is the proposed $1.5 trillion tax cut by the Bush Administration. “The question is not whether we’ll see it or not, but how big it’s going to be,” Moore said. Bad news has been the falling tech stock market, with NASdAQ down 39 percent from a year ago, Dow Jones is down 6 percent, and Standard and Poor down 10 percent. For a recession to occur, there would have to be two consecu tive quarters, or two three month periods, of no economic (Turn to Page A2B) 60c Per Copy (Turn to Page A2O)
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