HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Leas
ing has become a very popular option for
acquiring both new and used cars. Adver
tisers are tempting consumers with lower
monthly payments on even the most luxu
rious of vehicles. Typical car shoppers
wishing to spend as little as possible and
Dairy Of Distinction Highlights Well-Kept Dairies
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.)
- Pennsylvania dairy farms are invited
to apply for this year’s Dairy of
Distinction Award from the Northeast
Dairy Farm Beautification Program.
Applications must be submitted by
April 15.
The award is based on the idea that
attractive farmsteads enhance
consumer confidence in the
wholesomeness of milk and stimulate
milk sales and public support for the
industry. Dairies receiving the highest
scores in each of 10 Pennsylvania
districts will be awarded an 18- by 24-
mch Dairy of Distinction sign to
display in front of their farm.
“This program is run by volunteers
and recognizes the hard work and
dedication of dairy producers who
promote a positive image for the dairy
industry,” said Mike O’Connor,
secretary of the Pennsylvania Dairy of
Distinction program and professor of
dairy science extension in Penn State’s
College of Agricultural Sciences
Roadside judging will take place in
May Judges will look at factors that
can be controlled by the farmer, such
as clean and attractively finished
buildings; neat landscaping, ditches,
roads, and lanes; and well-maintained
fences. They also will take into
How Is Your Farm Scored?
Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance, and
other factors, which can be controlled by the farmer Attractive
background scenery should not be weighed heavily m judging
All judging observations should be made from a vehicle at one or
more points on an adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the
road, the nearest lane) Judging should give equal consideration
to old wood construction and new construction of metal or
concrete block
The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or
promotion activities for dairy producers or dairy farming
Farmers who apply for awards agree that, if selected, they will
cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts to
maintain both the exterior and interior of their properties in an
acceptable condition
How The Judging Works
Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May Farms
will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual
basis Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be
asked to remove their sign The Dairy of Distinction signs remain
the property of the committee, not the property of the dairy
farmer All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent
of their Dairy of Distinction score card Your cooperative or milk
handler will he contacted to approve your milk quality
I The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Committee
(NEDFBP)
2 The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by
the dairy farmer NEDFBP suggests that a wood post
4”x4"xl2’ or iron pipe 2”xl2’ be used Posts or pipe should
be installed and maintained in true vertical position with 8’
above ground Top of the bracket should be lower than six
inches from the top of the post In addition, NEDFBP
suggests that the sign be mounted in a frame to provide
additional stability ,
S The sign shall be displayed in front of the dairy at roadside
An attractive post and bracket, or other frame shall be used to
display the sign No more than three signs should be
displayed from the sign frame or post, and all shall be of a
style, general size and quality comparable to the Dairy of
Distinction sign The sign should be secured on all sides to
avoid wind damage
4 Signs shall not be moved to other premises New owners of a
Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign
5 Replacement of damaged signs shall be at the discretion of the
committee
6 No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expenses
7 The judges’ decision will be final
8 Judging will take place between May 1 and May 31
9 Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign m previous years
will be judged between April 1 and April 30 If they do not
qualify, they will be rejudged between May 1 and May 31 so
they have the opportunity to keep the sign
10 Farms that do not requalify will return the sign to their
regional Dairy of Distinction Committee
Low Lease Options Got Your Attention?
account other aspects of the farm, such
as cleanliness of animals, the
barnyard, feed areas, and manure
management.
Winning farms will be notified in
late June Because this is a yearly
award, previous winners are
reevaluated each year to see if they are
still maintaining excellent standards
To receiye an application, call Mike
O’Connor at (814) 863-3913 or e-mail
Rules
still drive the car they want have recog
nized that leasing can be a good option.
But how do you know if it’s right for you?
Leasing used to be for the business exec
utive: offering a
top-of-the-line vehicle and a tax deduc
tion. Today men and women, young and
Sterling Miller’s Sons, Stroudsburg
m Dairy of Distinction
• 2001 Pennsylvania Application
• PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
• Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the
• wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages
• public support for the dairy industry. The award gives recognition
• to the dairy farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead.
• ELIGIBILITY
• All Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are invited to
• submit an application for the award Dairies receiving the 10
• highest scores in each of the 21 districts will receive an 18”x24”
• Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed in front of their farm
• APPLICATION
Your Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number,
Cooperative or Handler (where you ship your milk, be specific)
(Your Handler will be contacted to approve your milk quality)
Location (driving directions forjudging team)
County (where your farm is located)
I hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification
Committee to have my dairy scored in accordance with the rules of
the program for the purpose of obtaining a Dairy of Distinction
sign to be displayed on my premises. (No producer will be charged
for scoring or sign expense.)
Signature Owner/Operator
Return application by April 15 to:
Pennsylvania: Michael O’Connor
Department of Dairy and Animal Science
324 Henning Building
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
✓ NEW YORK - Carol Keene-Ainsille, 3993 Jordonville Road,
Jordonville, NY 13361
✓ NEW JERSEY - Joy Ricker, 91 Beemer Road, Sussex, NJ 07461
✓ VERMONT - Elisa Clancy, Vermont Department of Agriculture,
16 State St., Drawer 20, Monteplier, VT 05620-2901
old, from all different walks of life are
considering the leasing option. With the
average cost of a new vehicle exceeding
$20,000, deciding how much payment you
can afford is a priority. According to Con
sumer Reports (www.consumerreport
s.org), leasing is just one option for financ
Dairy Mh
of Wt
Distinction
him at MOConnor@das psu edu
Since 1987, Pennsylvania’s Dairy of
Distinction Program has recognized
more than 750 dairy farms The
Pennsylvania program is part of the
Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification
Program, which also includes New
York, New Jersey, and Veimont
Dairies m these states can contact'the
program secretary in their state for
applications
Farm Name
Date
ing a vehicle, and it has no inherent
advantages over buying. Remember, low
payments don’t always mean the best
value; the additional amount you pay in
interest could negate your monthly sav
ings. Nonetheless, leasing could put your
dream car within reach.
If you compare leasing and owning,
you’ll quickly see that monthly payments
will diner. For example, at current rates,
an $18,500 vehicle with a $3,700 down
payment on a three-year loan could give
you monthly payments around $446.
Leasing the same vehicle for 30 months
with a down payment of $250 would re
sult in a monthly payment of $239.
Why? Because, when you lease, you
usually give the vehicle back at the end of
the lease period. Leasing costs you only
the expected decline in the car’s value
during the term of the lease. Take the
time to shop around for the best financing
rates; they will differ dramatically from
car to car and from leasing company to
company. With leasing, your state’s sales
tax is also reduced, due to the fact that it
is based on the amount of your monthly
payment.
in contrast, when you purchase a new
car, you must pay sales tax on the full
amount you’ve financed ($18,500). Of
course, at the end of the three years, you
own the car (worth $11,330). With the
leasing, you own nothing. The difference
between a $250 lease payment and a $446
loan payment over three years equal
$7,056. The extra $7,056 buys you a car
worth $11,330. That puts you $4,274
ahead when you buy instead of lease.
Some people, however, still like the con
venience and lower monthly cost of leas
ing.
Leasing is not for everyone, though. If
you have the ability to pay in cash or fi
nance the car in one or two years, think
twice. Or, if you drive more than 1,000
miles per month, you should also look at
leasing cautiously. Most lease agreements
include a 12,000 15,000 mileage allow
ance. Exceeding the mileage allowance
can add up when it comes time to turn
your car in. For instance, if you have a
12-month, 12,000 mile a year lease and at
the end of that year you’ve driven 15,000
miles, you will have to pay a penalty for
the additional 3,000 miles. At the average
rate of ten cents per mile, your excess
mileage would cost $3OO.
Used car buyers have benefited greatly
from the volume of off-lease vehicles hit
ting the market and, until recently, this
group would have never been considered
good lease candidates. However, with the
number of short-term lease quality vehi
cles being turned in, the latest trend is
used car leasing.
Leasing is undeniably an option worth
looking into when you are considering a
new or used car. And, it can be a satisfy
ing experience if you are a tough negotia
tor and gentle driver, says Consumer Re
ports. Just remember: take your time
before you buy, sell or lease a vehicle.
Weigh all of the options, and give yourself
a couple of days to think it over.
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