OPINION Large-Scale Victories In the past two weeks, in which all of us have had to deal with the gloomiest news since the outbreak of World War 11, in which victories have been few and far between, large-scale agriculture advocates may have something to cheer about. PennAg Industries Association, in their release about a recent “Ag Days” program that focused on agriculture and municipalities, pro vided a feature topic presentation on “Agricultural Law Zoning, Farmland Preservation, Nutrient Management, and Local Ordi nances” (see story last week on page A2B). Christine Kellett, professor of law at the Penn State Dickinson Agricultural Law, Research, and Education Center, spoke. PennAg outlined that Kellett advised township officials to consult the ag community, conservation district, and township solicitors when formulating ag ordinances to stay “within the realm of the law and avoid conflict.” Kellett informed township officials about a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in June 2001, Naylor v. Township of Hellam, “determining that a township had no actual or incidental power to impose a moratorium on building approvals.” In other words, townships can’t simply decide they don’t want large-scale agriculture from appearing on the landscape and start to reformulate existing laws, or even go against established, overriding state or federal laws. In the case opinion, on page four, it’s noted that “Municipal cor porations have no inherent powers and may do only those things that the Legislature has expressly or by necessary implication placed with in their power to do.” Municipalities “are creatures of the state” and the “authority of the Legislature over their powers is supreme,” according to the opinion, posted by Mr. Justice Zappala on June 20,2001. The ruling could “affect townships considering moratoriums on large-scale agriculture,” according to the PennAg release. Many agricultural advocate organizations have been drawn into this war between small-minded opponents of family-based or small company-based large-scale, environmentally responsible operations. And it looks like large-scale agriculture is coming out on top, smiling. The ag economy is the heart and soul of business in many small communities. It’s a small world already, and we have to work togeth er. ❖ Farm Calendar ♦' 2nd Annual Fawn Grove Olde Tyme Days Fall Gas Engine and Garden Tractor Show and Swap Meeting, southern York County, thru Sept. 23. Penn State Poultry Science Alumni and Friends Reunion, noon-3 p.m. Northeast Small Farm and Rural Living Expo and Trade Show, West End Fairgrounds, Gilbert, thru Sept. 23, (908) 475-6581. Washington County Cattle men’s Association Feeder Calf Show and Sale, Wash ington County Fairgrounds, Meadowlands, (724) 239- 3556. Bloomsburg Fair, thru Sept. 29. First State Antique Tractor Club Show, Yoder Farms, Green wood, Del. Ephrata Fair, Ephrata, thru Sept. 29,(717)733-4451. Deer In Your Woods, Bradford County Extension Allen Hall, Mansfield University, 9 a.m. All American Dairy Show, Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, thru Sept. 27. Pa. Dairy Princess Pageant, 4 Points Sheraton, 6:30 p.m. Farm Safety Day Camp, 4-H Center, Bedford County Fair grounds, Bedford, 9:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Southwest Pa. Watershed Con ference, University of Pitts- _ - 1 " " X burgh Greensburg Campus Penn’s Comer Conservancy. (724)834-9063. Farm Days, Ohio State Univer sity Unger Farm, Bucyrus, Ohio, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lancaster Farmland Trust Annual Picnic, Bob and Debbie Wenger, Quarryville, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Dairy Antiques and Collectibles Show, Farm Show Complex, Fa. All-American Df : ‘ Show, Farm Show Complex, Harris- burg, thru Sept. 27. Food and Crafts For Profit Sem- inar, Keystone College, 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m. ADA District Meeting, Elks Lodge, Nalliston, N.Y., 7:30 Fa. Holstein Fall Championship Show, Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. Fall Family Living Day, Trinity Lutheran Church, William- sport. Morrison Cove Community Fair, thru Sept. 28. Ephrata Fair, thru Sept. 29. Dairy Feeder’s Training Work shop, Lebanon County exten sion office, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. ADA District Meeting, Dela ware and Greene Counties, (Turn to Page A4l) This year’s dry weather has limited forage supplies with hay crop and com silage yields both being less than normal. Many dairy producers are going to need to pur chase forages to have sufficient feed for this year. Virginia Ishler, program assist ant in the Penn State Dairy and Animal Science Department, re ports that hay supplies are tight in the western states as well, so hay prices are expected to be very high this year. However, cottonseed pro duction is expected to be up 16 per cent from 2000, which would be the largest production on record. Many dairy producers are accus tomed to feeding whole cottonseed. However, the fat content in cotton seed limits the amount that can be used in a dairy ration. According to Ishler, cottonseed hulls can make a very satisfactory forage substitute WITH NOTHING BUT FAITH Background Scripture: Matthew 15:21-31. Devotional Reading: Luke 4:16-21. Going from Israel to the district of Tyre and Sidon was not like going from Texas to Oklahoma or from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. Israel was the home of monotheis tic Judaism, and Tyre and Sidon were cities of a polyglot pagan pop ulation, including some Ca naanites. Jesus was journeying from one world to another. Ap palled as the disciples were when they found him conversing with a Samaritan woman (John 4), they were even more shocked when Jesus was approached by a Ca naanite woman. airy This nameless woman had no background in Judaism she knew nothing about the preaching and teaching of Jesus. All she knew was that this man was purported to be the Jewish Messiah and a gifted healer. So she came to Jesus, say ing, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is se verely possessed by a demon” (15:21). She had nothing to offer Lancaster Farming An Award-Winning Farm Newspaper • Keystone Awards 1993,1995 • PennAg Industries 1992 • PACD Media Award 1996 • Berks Ag-Busmess Council 2000 • Recognized for photo excellence throughout the years by the Northeast Farm Communicators To Stretch Feed Supplies With Cottonseed Hulls that provides effective fiber. Addi tionally there is a product on the market that combines cottonseed meal with the hulls and this makes a good substitute for average quali ty alfalfa hay. With a current price of about SISS-160/ton, this could help stretch limited forage sup plies. In several research projects con ducted at Penn State, straight cot tonseed hulls have been success fully used both in early lactation diets and dry cow rations. The early lactation study compared cows fed four pounds of cottonseed hulls with 23 pounds of com silage to a diet containing 29 pounds com silage. The ration with the hulls contained 47 percent concentrate and the no hulls ration contained 43 percent (percent of the total ra tion dry matter). Milk production was very similar with both diets. For both of the diets, milk produc tion averaged 105 pounds with 3.5 percent butterfat. Dry matter in take averaged 60 pounds on the hulls ration compared to 56 pounds without hulls. If you are in a situation where you find your forage supplies are limited, consider cottonseed hulls as an option in your program. As always, when evaluating a new feed ingredient, have, your nutri tionist evaluate its availability and its fit for your situation. To Plant Cover Crops Many farmers need to empty their manure storage units during the fall season. This means these crop nutrients are applied to cro pland at a time of year when they are not needed by a growing crop. Therefore these nutrients are vul nerable to being lost to the environ ment because of soil erosion and leaching. Winter cover crops are a valu able tool farmers can use to pre vent this economic loss of valuable nutrients and prevent the environ mental .damage also caused. If you are applying manure to cropland but her love for her daughter and a dogged persistence. The first few times I read the fol lowing dialogue with Jesus, I was puzzled. The replies that Jesus made to her seemed totally out of keeping with the compassionate Jesus of Nazareth I had encountered up to this point. Then it occurred to me that what Jesus was voicing were not his own thoughts, but those of his disciples and others. In a sense, Jesus was putting on the Canaanite woman, fencing verbally with her so as to prod the prejudices of his disciples. The Silent Response To her initial plea, Jesus “did not answer her a word.” From time to time, Jesus responded with si lence as he was silent when he bent to write with his finger in the earth before the woman taken in adul tery, as he stood silent before both Herod and Pilate and on other oc casions. His silence triggered an ur gent request from his disciples and perhaps that was his intention: “Send her away, for she is crying after us.” They were embarrassed lest anyone should think she was one of their band. As if to support this request, Jesus finally answers the woman: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” That probably would have chas ed away most others, but not this persistent woman. Instead of being repulsed by his words, she came even closer to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” No tice that she does not reply to his argument about being sent only to the “lost sheep of the house of Isra el.” Her focus is much more simple than that; “Lord, help me.” This is not theological but personal. Jesus responds with a bit of rea- this fall, plan on planting a small grain cover crop such as rye. The rye will take up the avail able nitrogen and hold it in the plant, preventing its loss to the water supply. If the rye is harvest ed, the nutrients will be utilized as high-quality feed. If the rye is killed or plowed in the spring, the nutrients will become available to the following crop. The rye will also prevent nutrient loss by slow ing soil erosion. Rye can be planted as late as November but the earlier it is planted the more nutrients it will take up and the more yield it will produce in the spring. To Protect Yourself From Frauds, Scams And Rip-Offs Cathy Bowen from the Penn State Department of Ag and Ex tension Education reports there are a number of frauds, scams, and rip-offs designed to separate you from your money. Some of the more common ones are work-at home schemes, sweepstakes offers, investment scams, and advance-fee loans. And free gift offers are rare ly free. If someone asking for money contacts you, the chances are good that you may be getting scammed. Bowen suggests some signs to watch for are pressure to make a quick decision, demand for imme diate payment, too-good-to-be-true offers, or charging a fee to recover lost money. Never give out your credit card, checking account, or social security number to someone who contacts you. If you suspect fraud, contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800)441-2555. Quote of The Week: In light of the ongoing recovery efforts after last week’s tragic events, I offer the following words of Dr. Albert Schweitzer: “ Whosoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others.” soning that may have reflected the thinking of his disciples: “It is not fair to take. the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” That’s what Jews called the Canaanites, “dogs.” That must have been what his disciples were thinking, .so Jesus brought it out into the open. As the disciples probably saw it, this woman did not deserve to make any requests of their Master. But they had forgotten that no one is deserving of God’s grace. Crumbs Under The Table The Canaanite woman was un deterred by Jesus’ terrible an nouncement and she replies, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their mas ter’s table.” Persistent, she was nevertheless humble. She did not demand to be treated as an equal, but rather pleaded for the grace of God. Then Jesus rewarded her faith and per sistence: “ ‘O woman, great is your faith. Be it done for you as you de sire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” What did Jesus mean when he said, “... great is your faith”? How could this Canaanite woman have any kind of faith? Here again the word “faith” means “trust.” She had no theology, no belief system, but she trusted this man Jesus and that trust was the opening through which healing was brought to her daughter. She was only a Canaanite woman. She had only love, faith, and persistence. And it was enough. Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 —by— Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stemman Enterprise William J. Burgess General Manager Andy Andrews, Editor Copyright 2001 by Lancaster Farming
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