A42-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 5,2002 Ag Secretary Leads Trade Mission To Mexico HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Building for agricul ture’s tomorrow, Agriculture Secretary Sam Hayes recently led an agriculture products group to Mexico with 18 stu dents from Delaware Valley College and eight students from W.B. Saul Agricultural High School on an Export for Schol ars trade mission. The scholars were accompanied by adminis trative leaders and faculty from the two agricultural schools. “We live in a global market place,” Hayes said. “Pennsylva nia agriculture needs to maintain its ability to compete at home and around the planet. The Export for Scholars program provides an opportunity for Penn sylvania agriculture students to have a hands-on learning ex perience in a real world marketplace. There is absolutely no reason why we should delay a person’s entry into the international arena. The students did very well on the trade mission. It was a good opportunity for them to learn about the professional world in which they will have to compete throughout the 21st century.” The goal of the Export for Scholars program is to promote the marketing and ex porting of Pennsylva nia Holsteins and to familiarize students with the export princi ples that operate in the international arena of agricultural trade. In addition to learn ing “Pennsylvania Ag riculture has Products for the Planet,” stu dents at W.B. Saul Ag ricultural High School and Delaware Valley College, for several weeks, managed Hol stein heifers at their dairy facilities. Stu dents were introduced to export principles such as customer needs, animal selec tion, price, interna tional border requirements, the role of trade missions, the need to build relation ships, and the impor tance of understanding the sig nificance of culture in the global market place. Hayes, the students, and other agriculture professionals hosted a Pennsylvania Holstein Field Day during the trade mission, and also attended many busi ness meetings, dairy ranches,the Queretaro Livestock Exposition, agricultural colleges in Queretaro and Guana juato, and New Hoi- land’s farm machine factory in Mexico. The Export for Scholars program was initiated by the Penn sylvania Department of Agriculture, and the recent trade mission as the second of its kind conducted through this program. In 2000, Secretary Hayes led Delaware Valley Col- lege and Saul students to Puerto Rico, which entailed the actual export of bred dairy heifers. Upon completion of the recent trade mission to Mexico, student participants reflected on their experiences. “I learned more in eight days about international agricultural business than I could have in a semester of college,” said Jake Lantzsch of Delaware Valley College. “It is a great experience for anyone in 21st century agri culture.” “Export for Scholars,” said Del-Val’s Audrey A. Nissly, “has provided me with a price less international agricultural experience, and opened my eyes Lancaster Poured Walls • Agriculture •Commercial •Residential Call for Prices On: • NRCS approved Manure Storage Pits • Basements • Retaining Walls • Footers • Foundation Walls Customer Satisfaction Is Our Goal Lancaster Poured Walls, Inc. 2001 Jarvis Rd. • Lancaster. PA 17601 • (717) 299-3974 CROP INSURANCE With weak prices and thin profit margins, it’s more important than ever to have the right coverage. ADJUSTED GROSS REVENUE (AGR) COVERAGE DEADLINE -1/31/02 CROP REVENUE COVERAGE (CRC) & MULTI-PERIL DEADLINE - 3/15/02 PDM INSURANCE VENTURE, LLC - T/A STINE DAVIS & PECK (SDlfj insurance AGENTS: Rita G. McMullen & Angie Lininger '(“[l* 4050 Lincoln Way West, Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone; 1-800-701-4050, Fax 717-369-5033 Email: pdmiv@pa.net The Sign of an Approved Agent “The Crop Insurance Industry Leader ” to many new things. I have learned the importance of the global marketplace.” And Troy Davis of W. B. Saul High School said, “Export for Scholars is a great opportunity for students interested in agri culture. It allows you to get the experience and knowledge of ex porting animals.” Pennsylvania export of live animals have averaged about $17.7 million dollars in the past three years. One-third of the state’s live animal exports were cattle and calves (dairy and beef). In 2001, total exports of Pennsylvania agriculture prod ucts totaled over $1 billion. Over 80 Holstein heifers were sold and exported to Mexico as part of this Export for Scholars program. An order for another 250 dairy heifers was received by the scholars and trade mission group while they were in Mexico. It is expected that this group of dairy heifers will be ex ported after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Agro 2002 in January. The Pennsylvania Holstein Association participated in the selection of registered heifers for this export package. Dave Lenz of the Pennsylvania Holstein As sociation said, “The Export for I HEAT WITH" CORN j 1 CENTRAL HEATING WITH CORN & WOOD PELLETS ! | Mtml EGEß&