Farmer/Congressman Bartlett
To Speak At FCFO Luncheon
WESTMINSTER, Md.
Roscoe G. Bartlett, Jr., U.S.
Congressman, Maryland 6th
District, will be the featured
speaker at the ISth annual
luncheon of the Fellowship of
Christian Farmers Outreach
(FCFO) scheduled for March 2
at Wilhelm Ltd., ‘ Route 140,
Westminster.
Bartlett owns a 145-acre farm
in Frederic, Md., where he now
actively raises sheep and goats.
He has had a successful career
as a professor, research scientist
and inventor, and a small busi
ness owner as well as a farmer.
He and his wife Ellen have 10
children and 12 grandchildren.
Serving his fifth term in Con
gress, Bartlett is chairman of the
energy subcommittee of the Sci
ence Committee; chairman of
the Armed Services Cofiunittee
USD A Secretary Calls On Japan To Lift Ban On U. S. Poultry
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Agriculture Secretary Ann M.
Veneman has called on Japan to
lift a 90-day ban on U. S. poultry
and poultry products.
The ban was imposed due to
the confirmation of a low
pathogenic avian influenza virus
in a small number of chickens in
Pennsylvania.
“According to Office of Inter
national de Epizootics (OIE)
standards, low pathogenic avian
influenza is not a reportable dis
ease,” Veneman said in a letter,
Jan. 18, to Japan Agriculture
Minister Tsutomu Takebe.
“Given that OIE standards do
not support a quarantine meas-
on Moral Welfare and Recre
ation; and vice chairman of the
Small Business Committee.
Melissa Aldelmann, Elders
burg, Md., teacher at the Mt.
Airy Middle School, will provide
special music for the buffet
luncheon.
Cost of the luncheon is $9.00
per person. Tickets may be ob
tained by calling any of the fol
lowing CFCO officers: Wilson
Lippy, president, (410) 374-
2975; Dave Sparks, past presi
dent, (410) 239-8480; Roland
jVlann, treasurer, (410) 857-
5448; John Mike Myers, vice
president, (410) 775-7527;
Gordon Flickinger, secretary,
(410) 775-7394; or Vernon Bolte,
chaplain, (410) 429-8960. Mail
ing address is Fellowship of
Christian Farmers, P. O. Box
136, Hampstead, Md. 21074.
ure under these circumstances,
we see no justification for this
action,” Veneman wrote. “I
urge you to immediately remove
this unnecessary import restric
tion.”
The virus was identified by
the USDA’s National Veteri
nary Services Laboratory as a
low-pathogenic form of AIV.
The state of Pennsylvania has
taken aggressive actions includ
ing: depopulating the chickens
to prevent any spread of this
virus, inoculating its poultry,
and an aggressive monitoring
program to continually test
birds for potential diseases.
Veneman explained that the
Committee members of the Penn State Agriculture Council gather Thursday at the
Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, to discuss partnering between businesses and aca
demia and the need for more high school students to become acquainted with ag
related career opportunities. Seated from left are Marc Lewis, Walt Peechetka, Mary
Wirth, and Chuck Cruickshank. Standing from left are Don Seipt, Mel Eckhaus, Jerred
Golden, Rob Good, Dean Girton, Jack Watson, and Allen Fidler.
import ban is causing serious
economic damage to U.S. poul
try and egg producers in many
regions of the United States.
The Japanese market is im
portant to the U.S. industry ac
counting for over $l7O million
annually.
“This measure is disturbingly
similar to the action taken by
your government in November
2001, which was rescinded after
we demonstrated a ban was un
necessary,” Veneman said. “I
am troubled that, having re
solved this issue only two
months ago, we are now faced
with another import crisis for
U.S. poultry and poultry prod-
ucts.”
Veneman added that the U.S.
Department of Agriculture re
sponded fully and immediately
last week to Japanese agricul
ture ministry’s request for infer
THE GRAIN OF OUR ECONOMY*
mation on the avian influenza
outbreak. “We now expect
Japan to comply with its inter
national obligations and imme
diately lift the import ban,” she
said.