— ip y ■A UNIV PARK PA 16802 _ _ U _ V 01.47 No. 15 Corn, Soybean Conference Educates, Honors Growers From left, John Yocum, coordinator of the soybean awards program, joins several of the Pennsylvania Soy bean Yield Contest top place winners. They include Eric Moser, Milton, sixth place; Kyle Henninger, Reinigsville, second place; and Scott Shoop, Milton, first place. Photo by Michelle Kunjappu MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming S&ff GRANTVILLE (Dauphin Co.) The Pennsylvania Corn and Soybean Conference Tuesday drew more than 125 producers and industry representatives to a one-day event conducted here at the Holiday Inn. The Pennsylvania Corn Growers Association (PCGA), Penn sylvania Soybean Board, and Penn State Cooperative Extension sponsored the event. During the day PCGA members voted on nominations for the upcoming year’s board of directors. Steve Wenger, James Her shey, Jim Hoover, and Russell McLucas were elected to fill the “producer” slots; John Hart, Mifflintown, fdled the “industry” position; and John Berry, regional ag marketing educator for Penn State Extension, will serve in the “education” position on the board. In other association developments, PCGA has a newly developed Website and e-mail address, available at www.pa corngrowers.org. Quality Assurance Focus Of Keystone Pork Expo MILLIE BUNTING Market Staff LEBANON (Lebanon Co.) Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) that’s the main focus of today’s pork production. That subject was tops on the agenda at this year’s Keystone Pork Expo Tuesday here at the Leba non Valley Expo Center. Attendance this year was esti mated at 250, which included members of the Pennsylvania Young Farmers Association, which the Cedar Crest chapter was hosting nearby. They found plenty to see and hear at one of ■he largest expo trade shows featuring 44 exhibitors plus the “Pork. The Other White Meat Racing” stock car and trailer. Ken Kephart, Penn State pro fessor of animal science, opened the program with Bob Mikesell, extension swine specialist, who led the discussion on Pork Qual ity Assurance. Mikesell said that 42 producers gained certifica tion or recertification in PQA. New PQA program booklets www.lancasterfarming.com (Turn to Page A 23) compiled by the National Pork Board were distributed. The booklets contain all the neces sary forms and information in volved in the program in which certification is required by most packers who slaughter hogs. A separate PQA booklet has been prepared for youth to make them aware of the program and the importance of PQA. It was subject of the winning speech in the junior division of the speak ing contest. Following the PQA certifica tion session, Dr. Roy Schultz, an lowan veterinarian, provided extensive information on his ex periences with sow mortality in more than 40 years of practice. He told about the study on 85,000 sows tested on various farms in Missouri. Cloistridium and lameness in sows were dis cussed as the main reasons for sow mortality. Meanwhile, across the road at the Lebanon County Extension Center, Linda Spahr from the York County extension was su- (Turn to Page A 27) Five Sections Budget Squeezes Agriculture, Food Programs Proposal To Keep Key Ag Programs In Place DAVE LEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) With revenue shortages, homeland security, and educa tion concerns at the forefront, funds for Pennsylvania agricul ture programs will be tight in 2002-2003. . Pennsylvania Young Farmer Conference award winners. From left, Tim Brown, South central Region vice president; Brandee, Kaylee, and Bill Vanarsdale, outstanding young farmers under 30; and Tina and Ed Wilkinson, outstanding community service. Photo by Dave Lefever Southcentral Young Farmers Shine At Conference DAVE LEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff LEBANON (Lebanon Co.) It was a big week for the south central region of the Pennsylva nia Young Farmers Association. At the annual convention here Tuesday and Wednesday, two Adams County couples were awarded for their outstanding commitment to agriculture and their community. Two individu als and a group from the Ship Four teams with four members each competed in the Keystone Pork Bowl Tuesday at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center. The first place, Potter County 4-H team, standing, from left, Annette Miles, coach; Larkin Hayman; Josh Risser; and Paul Risser. Kneeling, from left, Betsy Risser and Holly Hyde. Saturday, February 9, 2002 That was message conveyed by Gov. Mark Schweiker’s $20.9 billion state budget proposal this week. Key ag programs will remain in place, however, according to Secretary of Agriculture Sam Hayes Jr. The $76 million Farm Show pensburg area were also recognized. From the eastern region, Dick and Carol Kreider, of the Cedar Crest Young Farmers Chapter, represented the convention’s host county of Lebanon by win ning the outstanding young farmer over 30 award. The Kreiders grow crops, feed out about 150 head of beef, and run a custom corn planting busi ness. Their high corn yields have $34.00 Per Year Complex expansion, $6 million construction of a new livestock evaluation center, and expan sion of the state’s animal diag nostic laboratory are “scheduled to continue without cessation,” Hayes said in a statement Tues day. (Turn to Page A 24) been recognized through the years by the Pennsylvania Corn Growers Association. Dick has been a member of the Cedar Crest Young Farmers for more than 35 years and has served as president. He has also chaired the Lebanon Farm Expo board of directors and served for many years on the Lebanon Farm-City committee. The outstanding young (Turn to Page A 22) 75C Per Copy