Agricultural Survey Under Way In Chester County EXTON (Chester Co.) Agri cultural landowners throughout Chester County have received survey forms from the Chester County Development Council and the Chester County 2020 Trust that will provide valuable information on the business of agriculture in the county and offer insights in ways to promote farming as an economic industry in the county. “This survey is vital for the fu ture of agriculture in Chester County, one of our most impor tant industries,” Gary Smith, ex ecutive director of the Chester County Development Council, said. “We’re urging everyone who receives this survey to fill it out and return it.” Chester County and many other areas in the region are los ing valuable agricultural land to office parks, residential develop ments and shopping centers. The loss is keenly felt among tradi tional dairy, hay and livestock farmers as increasing operation costs and falling commodity prices are forcing farmers out of business and off their land. “Many county residents per ceive this change only as a loss of open space and rural vistas,” David Davis, president of the Chester County 2020 Trust said, “There is also a significant eco nomic loss. Farming in Chester County is a significant economi cally valuable industry. We need to understand more about the economics of the county’s farm ing.” The Development Council and 2020 Trust have joined together to complete a comprehensive study of agricultural in Chester County. Funding for the study was provided by the Develop ment Council, the 2020 Trust and Commonwealth money se cured by Pennsylvania Senator James Gerlach of Chester Coun ty. Pressure Washer Sale New in Boxes - Free Shipping 2500 PSI 6 HP Kohler *649°° ICochel 3030 Ridge Rd., Elverson, RA Phone Orders 1-800-922-9680 Credit Card - Certified Check or Money Order For Free Shipping The project’s goals are to iden tify public policies and economic policies that can help recognize, measure and promote economi cally viable agriculture in Chester County. Also, the study should identify ways to build on the land preservation programs of public and private organizations that al ready exist in the county. Anoth er goal is to identify those public and private agencies, trade or ganizations and other groups who can champion innovative projects and programs. In Chester County, more than 36 percent of the county’s total acreage is active farming (more than 176,000 acres). There are approximately 1,750 farms, aver aging about 101 acres, including 350 commercial dairy farms. More than 35 percent of the county’s farm acreage is in crop production. Because of fertile soil, favorable climate, and ad vanced farming practices, Chest er County ranks #1 in Pennsylva nia in crop yield. Chester County also ranks #1 in cash receipts for the sale of agricultural crops and #2 in cash receipts from the sale of livestock and livestock prod ucts. The project has been divided into thee phases. The first is the data gathering, the second is drafting policy and the final phase is the public briefings and presentations to create concrete projects and programs that stake holders in the agriculture com munity can participate. Gene Bazan, a consultant from State College, is coordinating the program, which has been en dorsed by the Chester-Delaware County Farm Bureau, The Chester County Agriculture De velopment Council and The Chester County Agriculture Lands Preservation Board. Mem bers of the Agricultural Advisory Board of the project include: Kevin M. Baer, program coordi 3000 PSI 9 HP Honda s 949°° Equipment nator, Chester County Agricul tural Development Council and Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Board; Diana C. Hoopes, program assistant, and Chester County Agricultural Development Council and Chest er County Agricultural Land Preservation Board; Scott Mcln tyre of LF Lambert Spawn Com Dairy Groups Ask For Hearing CLEVELAND, Ohio Conti nental Daily Products, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Mich igan Milk Producers Association, and Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. have requested that the USDA hold an emergency public hear ing to consider proposals to amend the pool plant and pro ducer milk provisions and the method of calculating partial payments in the Mideast Milk Marketing Order. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the proposals from the market administrator’s Office at the following address: Market Administrator, P.O. Box 30128, Cleveland, OH 44130, Telephone (440) 826-3220. These proposals have not yet been approved for inclusion in a Notice of Hearing. Before decid ing whether a hearing should be conducted to consider amending the Mideast Order, the Depart ment is providing interested par ties an opportunities to submit additional proposals. The proposals should be mailed by Aug. 10 to: Deputy Administrator, USDA/AMS/ Dairy Programs, Room 2968-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456. Each proposal should be ac companied by a brief but compre hensive statement on the need to amend the Mideast Order. The statements will be used in decid ing what proposal should be con- 3500 PSI 13 HP Honda , 1149 00 pany of CoatesviUe; Sam Cantrell of Maysie’s Farm Conservation Center: David Davis, president of the Chester County 2020 Trust and chair of the Agriculture Study Advisory Board, Peter Hausmann of Terramics Proper ty Company; Joyce Hershey, chair of the Agricultural Devel opment Committee; Dr. Henry Jordan of Claneil Enterprises; sidered if a hearing to amend the order is to be conducted. If a hearing is called to consid er requests to amend the provi sions of the Mideast Order, only those proposals included in the hearing notice will be heard. However, appropriate modifica tions of the proposals included in the hearing notice may be consid ered at the hearing. Actions under the federal milk order program are subject to the “Regulatory Flexibility Act.” This Act seeks to ensure that, within the statutory authority of a program, the regulatory and in formational requirements are tai lored to the size and nature of small businesses. For the purpose of the federal order program, a small business will be considered as one which is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of opera tion. Most persons subject to a milk order are considered as a small business. Accordingly, in terested persons are invited to submit hearing proposals that would cany out the intent of the “Regulatory Flexibility Act.” Lancaster Farming Check out our Website! HEAVY DUTY HOOF TRIMMING TABLES Endorsed by the International Hoof Trimming School of Wisconsin - ■ ; Ji&OOtBM 1 ..I tStU* 'S - '" -mi——j ■• ■• •;’ v uv ? <<» J O Y m W :i ;r> s't' FOUR MODELS TO CHOOSE 1. PORTABLE 2. STATIONARY 3.3-POINT HITCH 4. SKID STEER MOUNT Berkelman’s Welding - RR 7, AYLMER, ONTARIO, CANADA NSH 2R6 (519) 765-4230 1-877-230-9993 Web Pai Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 28,2001-A27 William P. Moore of Walmoore Holsteins, Inc.; Molly Morrison of the Natural Lands Trust; Gary Smith, executive director of the Chester County Development Council; Cheryl Fairbairn, exten sion agent of the Chester County Cooperative Extension; and Henry Thome, president and CEO of Downingtown National Bank. If the USDA concludes that a hearing should be conducted, all known interested persons will be mailed a copy of the hearing no tice. Anyone who desires to pres ent evidence on proposals set forth in the hearing notice will have an opportunity to do so at the hearing. Once a hearing notice is issued and until the issuance of a final decision, USDA employees in volved in the decisional process may not discuss the merits of a proceeding on an ex parte basis with any persons having an inter est in the proceeding. For this purpose, the market administra tor and his staff are considered to be involved in the decisional pro cess. Thus, it is suggested that any discussions that you may wish to have with USDA person nel regarding hearing proposals be initiated soon. Procedural matters may be discussed at any time. If you have any questions con cerning the filing of the proposals or desire a copy of the present order, please contact the market administrator’s office at (440) 826-3220. rfa ■4S s * *L I * ie; www.berkelmansweldim min • 12-year building experience in the tables design • 2”x2” tube frame chute • chute measures 75”x28”x75” high • 4” casters for cradle fold up •2 10-inch lift belts • 3500 lb. axle with or without brakes • two hydraulic cylinders for extra stability • tool box for D.C. pump and battery protection • manure grate to keep work area clean • fold away side gate • removable head board • 45 min. video from International Hoof Trimming School of Canada .on.ca
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