A36-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, July 28,2001
Economist: Major Changes
(continued from Page A 1)
price supports in effect after
they were due to expire.
Price support funds are not
being paid to dairy fanners at
this time because of relatively
high milk prices.
According to an article re
cently published by the Ameri
can Farm Bureau Federation
(AFBF), the Combest-Stenholm
proposal would extend the cur
rent milk price support target of
$9.90 per hundredweight.
Federal milk marketing
orders, as well as any premiums
mandated by state agencies such
as the Pennsylvania Milk Mar
keting Board, fall under sepa
rate legislation and will not be
effected by any price support
legislation (or lack of it) that
goes into the Farm Bill.
National budget limitations
are another obstacle to agricul
ture policy reform.
Dr. Bob Young, a policy spe
cialist from the Food and Agri
cultural Policy Research
Institute, warned that falling
U.S. budget surpluses could put
a crunch on Farm Bill programs,
according to a recent AFBF
report.
“The budget issue and how
much we are going to spend I
think that’s going to put us in a
real quandary,” Young told a
group of state Farm Bureau
presidents.
The Farm Bill debate will
likely include issues such as
commodity loan rates, fixed
payment rates, and countercycl
ical payments, he said.
As opposed to fixed pay
ments, countercyclical support
would provide relief to farmers
only during periods when eco
nomic cycles bring about the
lowest commodity prices.
The debate on countercyclical
support will focus on what type
of trigger is used to initiate pay
ments, a decision that Young
said is critical to shaping the
new policy.
According to the AFBF
report. Young made a distinc
tion between assistance for
farmers and commodity sup
ports. He urged farm leaders not
to focus on how much money is
allocated for each commodity,
but ensure that producers get
the assistance they need.
“The bottom line is what
money can we put in producers
pockets at the end of the day,”
Young said.
The AFBF reported that if the
proposed plan were enacted, “it
would continue much of current
law but provide producers with
additional income support.”
Measures in the draft plan not
provided in the 1996 bill include
an option for producers to
update their base program acres
and a proposed 34-cent-per
bushel payment rate for soy
beans, the AFBF noted.
Other groups making recom
mendations for the new bill in
clude the National Farmers
Union, American Soybean Asso
ciation, the Soil and Water Con
servation Society, and the
National Council of Farmer Co
operatives.
“With a few exceptions, their
proposal is much like the cur
rent policy that does not serve
our nation’s family farmers,”
said Leland Swenson, National
Farmers Union (NFU) presi
dent. “In the wake of the failure
of Freedom to Farm, we need a
real change. We must take a
simple and understandable ap
proach that is about what farm
ers are planting today and what
their yields are today,” he said.
NFU recommendations for
the new bill include an improved
marketing loan program, a
better price support system for
milk producers, fair trade initia
tives, and a broader range of
conservation programs.
Tony Anderson, president of
the American Soybean Associa
tion (ASA), told the Senate Agri
culture Committee that the
previous Farm Bill has left an
“unfinished agenda.”
“Unless key issues are re
solved, it will be difficult, if not
impossible, to move farm policy
beyond the role of a safety net
for producers facing disadvanta
geous conditions, both at home
and abroad,” Anderson said.
ASA stated that the bill pro
posal is not equitable to produc
ers of oilseed crops including
soybeans, sunflowers, and
canola, because loan and pay
ment provisions “do not reflect
the value or historical price rela
tions of oilseeds to ‘program’
crops (such as corn).”
While commending the pro
posal for several measures in
cluding a continued marketing
assistance loan program for
oilseed producers, ASA also
asked that the new bill include
measures that enhance U.S. ag
ricultural trade competiveness,
increase funding for humanitar
ian assistance in developing
countries, increase funding for
agricultural research, ease regu
lations that increase production
costs, provide incentive pay
ments for conservation prac
tices, and continue adequate
price and income supports.
Among the groups asking for
greater conservation incentives,
the Soil and Water Conserva
tion Society (SWCS) proposed
that USDA conservation and fi
nancial assistance programs be
doubled.
“Congress should authorize a
minimum of $3 billion annually
for a stewardship-based farm
and ranch program that rewards
producers for utilizing their land
labor, and capital to enhance the
environment,” the SWCS rec
ommended.
The National Council of
Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC)
has also been lobbying for new
farm policy.
“The farmer’s share of the
consumer food dollar has de
clined to just 20 cents its
lowest level ever,” said David
Graves, NCFC president and
CEO. “Increasing the farmer’s
share by just one cent to 21 cents
would generate an additional $6
billion in total income.”
At the heart of NCFC’s pro
posal is that federal legislation
encourage and support farmer
owned businesses. Key recom
mendations are improving
access to capital, clarifying tax
laws, revitalizing USDA sup
port, and passing a resolution to
support farmer cooperatives.
“To be successful, farmers
and their cooperative businesses
must be strategically positioned
to be able to compete in what
clearly is a rapidly changing
marketplace,” Graves said.
USDA Secretary Ann M.
Veneman commended congress
men Combest and Stenholm for
their work thus far on the pro
posal.
“This is an important begin
ning and a serious response to
the needs of our nation, its farm
ers, ranchers, and citizens,” she
said.
“(USDA) is currently devel
oping principles related to
future food and agriculture
policy that meet the objectives
outlined by the President, which
include ensuring a strong
income safety net, pursuing a
more market-oriented U.S. farm
policy, and opening up new
trade opportunities abroad.
“We expect to release these
Kimberton Selects Dairy Show Champions
ANDY ANDREWS
Editor
KIMBERTON (Chester Co.)
Tom Arrowsmith, Peach
Bottom, who manages a herd of
50 registered Jerseys, selected
champions of the Jersey show
Thursday evening here at the
Kimberton Fair.
Arrowsmith selected the
senior 2-year-old, WRF Fraiser
Madeline, exhibited by Pat Jen
kins, Toughkenamon, as grand
champion of the 4-H Show. Re
serve was the 4-year-old exhib
ited by Erica Lloyd, Pottstown,
Top-O-Hill Juno Patty Cake.
Champion of the open show
was exhibited by Beth Jenkins,
an aged cow, CLV Montana
Windstar. Reserve went to the 2-
year-old exhibited by Pat Jen
kins, junior show winner.
Ayrshire champions were se
lected earlier in the week. At the
4-H show, grand champion Jill
Vail, Myerstown, won grand
champion. Reserve went to Mer
edith Baily, West Chester.
In the open Ayrshire show,
grand champion went to Jill
Vail. Reserve went to Meredith
Baily.
Guernseys and Holsteins were
shown Friday evening, but the
results weren’t available as of
presstime.
Following is a list of show
placings.
KIMBERTON FAIR
DAIRY SHOW
RESULTS
OPEN SHOW AYRSHIRE
Junior Heifer: 1. Rebecca Nolan. 2. Kelly
Kulp. 3. Kaitlyn Kulp.
Intermediate Heifer: 1. Abby Hednck 2.
Jill Vail. 3. Amber-Knoll Farm.
Senior Heifer Calf. 1. Abby Hednck.
Summer Yearling Heifer; 1. Jill Vail. 2.
Champions of the Ayrshire Show earlier in the week.
From left, Kellie Phillips, showing for Jill Vail, grand cham
pion Ayrshire, and Meredith Baily, reserve grand cham
nion.
jejuni, and toxoplasma gondii
(parasites) from food products.
Industry will not be allowed
to use irradiation to destroy
toxins or virus or to cover up
badly contaminated food.
“You could probably eat a
raw hamburger again,” Cathe
rine Cutter said of the time
when all meat would be irradi
ated.
Although the cost to the con
sumer is higher, market trials
show that 30 percent of con
sumers are willing to pay a
premium price to assure they
have a safe product, and con
sumers readily purchased food
that FDA has approved for irra
diation: spices, herbs, dehy-
principles in the near future and
look forward to working to
gether with Chairman Combest
and the committee, as well as
the Senate Agriculture Commit
tee, as we address these import
ant issues,” Veneman said.
Champions of the Jersey Show Thursday evening at
Kimberton Fair. From left, Erica Lloyd, reserve senior and
reserve youth champion; Pat Jenkins, 4-H grand champion
and open show reserve champion; and Beth Jenkins, open
show grand champion. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor
Amber-Knoll Farm. Senior Champion Female: Jill Vail. Re-
Junior Heifer Heifer: 1. Rebecca Nolan. serve: Meredith Baily.
2. Rebecca Nolan. 3. Amber-Knoll Farm. GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE
Intermediate Yearling Heifer: 1 . Rebecca Jill Vail
Nolan. 2. Aaron Heiser. 3. Abby Hednck. RESERVE
Junior Champion Female: Abby Hedrick. Meredith Baity
Reserve; Jill Vail.
Get of Sire: 1. Amber-Knoll Farm.
Dry Cow (3 Years): 1. Amber-Knoll Farm.
2. Rebecca Nolan.
Junior 2-Yoar-Old: 1. Rebecca Nolan.
Senior 2-Year-Old: 1. Meredith Bailey. 2.
Amber-Knoll Farm. 3. Abby Hednck.
3- 1. Jill Vail. 2. Amber-Knoll
Farm. 3. Jill Vail.
4- 1. Jill Vail.
5 Years and Over; 1. Rebecca Nolan 2
Jill Vail
Cow In Milk: 1. Jill Vail. 2. Meredith Baily.
3. Amber-Knoll Farm.
Best 3 Females: 1. Jill Vail. 2. Rebecca
Nolan. 3. Amber-Knoll Farm.
Dairy Herd: 1. Jill Vail. 2 Amber-Knoll
Farm. 3. Rebecca Nolan.
Produce of Dam; 1. Rebecca Nolan. 2.
Amber-Knoll Farm.
Dam and Daughter; 1. Rebecca Nolan. 2,
Jill Vail.
Penn State Labs
(Continued from Page A3l)
drated vegetables and seasoning
mixtures, wheat flour, strawber
ries, papayas, potatoes, mangos,
poultry, and fresh and frozen
beef, pork, lamb, and veal.
Irradiation in high doses
changes the color of the food
being irradiated. Scientists must
determine how low of dosage
can be used and still kill the
germs, save money, and pre
serve quality.
The research labs are working
with high pressure combined
with carbon dioxide to sanitize
equipment.
Microbes in alfalfa sprouts is
considered the number two food
contamination outbreak in the
U.S. It’s difficult to kill microbes
in alfalfa sprouts because the
germs can hide in the crevices. If
heated to kill the microbes, the
seeds often die instead of sprout.
Pressurizing the sprouts can
break down the tension and kill
the germs hiding in the crevices.
Although irradiation is an ef-
YOUTH SHOW AYRSHIRE
Junior Heifer; 1. Rebecca Nolan. 2. Kait
lyn Kulp. 3. Maggie Hillegass.
Intenm Heifer 1. Abby Hednck. 2. Jill
Vail.
Senior Heifer 1. Abby Hedrick.
Summer Yearling Heifer 1. Jill Vail.
Junior Yearling Heifer: 1. Rebecca
Nolan. 2. Rebecca Nolan.
Interim Yearling Heifer 1. Rebecca
Nolan. 2. Aaron Heiser. 3. Abby Hednck.
Junior Champion Female: Abby Hedrick.
Reserve: Jill Vail.
Dry Cow 3 Years and Over 1. Rebecca
Nolan.
Junior 2-Year-Old: 1. Rebecca Nolan.
Senior 2-Year-Old: 1. Meredith Baily. 2.
Abby Hednck.
3- 1. Jill Vail. 2. Jill Vail.
4- Jill Vail.
5 Years and Over: 1. Rebecca Nolan. 2.
Jill Vail.
Dam and Daughter: 1. Rebecca Nolan. 2.
Jill Vail.
Senior Champion: Jill Vail. Reserve: Mer
edith Baily.
GRAND CHAMPION
Jill Vail
RESERVE
Meredith Baily
AYRSHIRE SHOWMANSHIP
AND FITTING
FITTING
15 Years and Over. 1. Abby Hednck. 2
Meredith Bally. 3. Rebecca Nolan.
12-14 Year Olds: 1. Aaron Heiser.
8-11 Year Olds; 1. Kaitlyn Kulp. 2.
Maggie Hillegass.
SHOWMANSHIP
15 Years and Oven 1. Meredith Baily. 2.
Abby Hednck. 3. Rebecca Nolan.
12-14 Year Olds: 1. Aaron Heiser.
8-11 Year Olds; 1. Kaitlyn Kulp. 2.
Maggie Hillegass.
JERSEY OPEN SHOW
Junior Heifer. 1. Erica Uoyd. 2. Erica
Lloyd. 3. Julie Sollenberger.
Intermediate Heifer: 1. Janet and Eliza
beth Jenkins. 2. Jessica Huff. 3. Rebecca
Baily.
Senior Heifer: 1. Melissa Wertz.
Summer Yearling Heifer: 1. Jenkins Huff.
2. Bryan and Pat Huff. 3. Melissa Wertz.
(Turn to Page A 37)
fective method for many items,
scientists are searching for sev
eral methods since some con
sumers are skeptical of the
process.
Dana McElroy explained how
extension agents have been
trained to teach food services
and processors how to prepare
and serve safe food. The univer
sity offers a food safety certifica
tion program.
The long process of research
ing new methods, proving them
safe, and gaming FDA approval
is expensive.
But it isn’t only contamina
tion that worries scientists, it’s
also plant diseases such as plum
pox that threatens the orchard
industry. To be effective in solv
ing problems, researchers need
to understand the problem. That
is the struggle with the plum pox
virus. Scientists do not under
stand exactly how the virus
thrives. Poor understanding
limits the ability to stop it.