AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 9,'2002 OPINION What Our Thoughts Make It Some financial analysts see the recession as short-lived and soon to be done with. Yet agricultural export companies continue to re-invent and remarket themselves. Great news: in the Dec. 27 U.S. Agricultural Trade Update of the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), U.S. ag exports from January- October 2001 increased by $l.B billion over the same period in 2000 as high-value sales gained by $1.7 billion. U.S. farm trade surplus through October was up by a cumulative $1.5 billion. Exports in October 2001 climbed by $639 million from the previous month as shipments of soybeans, horses, cattle, and tree nuts jumped by significant amounts. Hoard’s Dairyman reported early last month that the value of dairy ex ports jumped 13.6 percent during fiscal year 2001 (October 2000-September 2001) to $1.1.32 billion. The most growth, according to Hoard’s, was in the cheese category, which climbed to $l5B million (com pared to $134 million the year before). Farm Bureau News, for the Jan. 7 issue, noted in big headlines that “Ag is the bright spot in a dim world economy.” They report: “the value of U.S. agricultural exports is expected to grow for the third consecutive year, making agriculture the bright spot in the current world economy.” The Farm Bureau reports ERS information that show exports will grow 6.5 percent to $57 billion in fiscal year 2002, which began on Oct. 1. Most of the gain, they note, will be seen in the major bulk commodities, includ ing corn, wheat, soybeans, and cotton. And horticultural products, such as fruits and vegetables, are also projected to increase. ERS reports that in fiscal year 2001, according to Farm Bureau, total exports of U.S. farm and food products grew to $53 billion, a $2.1 billion increase over fiscal year 2000."High J vaIue consumer-oriented products sparked the increase with $2.1 billion in additional exports. Though the ERS’s Ag Outlook report for January-February 2002 paints a “mixed picture for the farm and rural economy,” mostly because of the recession, clearly exports are on the way up. East Asian countries have tasted Western products, and want more. We don’t think there’s any turning back now China'and other coun tries want Western products more and more, and are willing to spend for them. That kind of good news is often hard to come by. So the recession af fects us perhaps only if we let it. Dauphin County Crops Day, Upper Dauphin High School, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., (717) 921- 8803. New Castle County 4-H Winter Workshop on Vet Science, 9 a.m.-noon. Southern Maryland Small Farmers Seminar, Prince George’s County Extension, county office in Clinton, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., (410) 222- 6759. Delmarva Forestry Seminar, Po lytech Adult Education Con ference Center, Woodside, Del., 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., (302)730-4000. Introduction To Beekeeping Workshop, cooperative exten sion office in Wayne County, Courthouse’, Honesdale, 9 a.m.-noon, (570) 253-5970, 4-H Day, Lady Lions, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, 2 p.m. Nr York S*' Ve^Tbl^Co^ iew . <tate VegetaL in ference, Holiday Inn and Convention Center, Liver pool, N.Y., thru Feb. 14. Ohio State Extension, USD A program, Upper Valley Joint Vocational School, Piqua, (937)498-7239. Southeast Pennsylvania Grazing Conference, Solanco Fair grounds, Quarryville, also Feb. 12,(717)529-6644. Poultry Health and Manage ment Seminar, Kreider’s Res taurant, Manheim, noon. Midwest Young Farmers Begin- ❖ Farm Calendar * ning Farming Safety Course, Middleburg High School, (570) 837-1171, ext. 119. Ag Outlook Forums, Country Cupboard Restaurant, Lewis burg, Noqn-3 p.m.; Feb. 12, Ramada Inn, Altoona, Noon -3 p.m.; Feb. 12, Four Points Sheraton, Cranberry Twp., 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m., 1 (800) 998- 5557. Forage Expo, Lebanon County Expo Center, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cooperative Director and Lead ership Conference, Nittany Lion Inn, thru Feb. 14. Ohio, Michigan Grain Market ing Program, Ann Arbor, Mich., (419) 422-6106. Nutrient Management and Sedi ment Control, Innovative Technology Forum, Holiday Inn, Grantville, thru Feb. 14, (717)545-8878. Spring Vegetable Grower’s Meeting, Polk Township Fire Company, Kresgeville, 6:30 p.m. Pa. Draft Horse Sale, Pa. Farm Show Building, Harrisburg, thru Feb. 13. Northeast Fruit Growers Meet ing, Iron Skillet Restaurant, Petro Shopping Center, Avoca, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Vegetable Production School, Cumberland County Cooper ative Extension office, Carli- sle. Also Feb. 13. Tilling the Soil of Opportunity, Bucknell University, Lewis burg, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings Feb. 12- April 30, (570) 837-4252. (Turn to Page A4l) To Protect Your Hearing Farms are noisy places 'with potentially damaging noise from tractors, other equipment, vacu um pumps, and even fans in the working environment every day. Dennis Murphy, Penn State pro fessor of agricultural engineering, said farmers should protect their hearing before it’s too late. Murphy points out loud rock music is about 115 decibels. Noise on a farm ranges between 90 and 140 decibels, which is well above the 85-decibel limit at which in dustrial employers must provide hearing protection for workers. “Consistent, repetitive expo sure to high-decmel noise can damage hearing (more you notice any change,” Murphy said. “The farmer may think he’s getting used to thjb ngfee, but in reality he already Qiawhave experienced a mild hearing loss.” Hearings loss, like many med ical problems, does have warning signs. One warning is buzzing, wnitrini or ringing in the ears, which can indicate a temporary hearing loss. Also if you listen to the/adio or television at a vol ume that seems too loud for fam ily or friends, you may have some hearing damage. Frequently asking people to speak up or the ; inability to follow conversations ' in a crowd can indicate hearing loss as well. A MOABITE BLOOD Background Scripture: Ruth 2 through 4. Devotional Reading: Psalms 126. In Biblical daySjjpeople did not have surnames. The people of Bethlehem probably called Nao mi’s daughter-in-law “Ruth the Moabitess.” We do not know the meaning of the word “Moab,” but “Ruth” is derived from the same Hebrew root as “friend” or “companion.” If that is so, then Ruth was very suitably named. Normally, of the two words “Moabitess" 4 ’ and “friend,” the former would be the most impor tant: she was a foreigner. It would have been the same if she had been an Edomite, Ammonite, or Canaanite. Initially, ethnicity was believed to be more impor tant than personality. Having the “right” blood or the “wrong” blood was very important. So Ruth was initially suspect be cause she was of Moabite blood. To overcome that liability, Naomi played the “family” card. Too old to work herself, Naomi based their survival on kinship. As kin to Boaz, she hoped that Ruth would be allowed to glean in his fields. Gleaning was a Lancaster Farming An Award-Winning Farm Newspaper • Keystone Awards 199 J, 1995 • PennAg Industries 1992 • PACD Media Awaid 1996 • Berks Ag-Busmess Council 2000 • Recognized for photo excellence throughout the years by the Northeast Farm Communicatois On farms, extremely high noise levels may seem normal, but Murphy said there’s a quick way to tell if noise is at a dangerous level. “If you have to shout to be heard at a distance of about three feet, the noise is too loud,” he ex plains. “Reduce the noise level or wear hearing protection.” Murphy said safety surveys have shown that farmers are aware of excessive noise hazards, but many opt not to wear ear protection. “It may be that farm ers believe wearing them is incon venient, unwieldy, or time-con suming,” Murphy said. “Certainly it will be a change in routine, but better to wear protec tion today than hearing aids to morrow. Murphy said ear protection comes in two basic forms: muffs that fit over the ears (much like those worn at shooting ranges) and plugs that are worn inside the ear canal. Both types reduce noise by about 25 decibels. Both product types are carried in health and safety catalogs, sport ing goods stores, or through li censed audiologists. Muffs are more comfortable “if worn over a long period of time,” Murphy said. “Still, their effec tiveness can be compromised if you wear glasses or a hat. Ear plugs are less noticeable and fit into your pocket.” Disposable earplugs cost about $1 while muffs cost from $5-$BO. If you use plugs regularly, it may be more cost effective to buy reusable plugs or muffs, accord ing to Murphy. To Learn To Use The Futures Market To Manage Fluctuating Milk Prices Fluctuating milk prices are a new challenge for dairy fanners, but using the futures market can help to stabilize income. Dairy experts in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will offer several training classes on this topic in February. “Dairy Risk Management Training: Learning How to For ward Contract/Hedge Milk in Pennsylvania” is a one-day work shop being taught in several loca tions around the state by Ken neth Bailey, associate professor of dairy markets and policy, and Sarah Roth, extension associ&te with Penn State’s Dairy Alliance means of providing for those less fortunate, permitting them to gather what was left of the crop after harvesting. The Moabite Woman Boaz observed Ruth gleaning in his fields and asked his work men to identify her. Note the an swer that they gave him: “It is the Moabite maiden, who came back with Naomi from the coun try of Moab” (2:6). His workmen say “the Moabite woman,” not “a Moabite woman.” She was the Moabite woman about whom the town was talking because of her loyalty to their kinswoman, Naomi. Boaz is attracted to Ruth. Per haps it is because of her loyalty to Naomi. Perhaps he was im pressed by her pluck in subject ing herself to a backbreaking and perhaps dangerous task. (“Have I not charged the young men not to molest you?”) Ruth is so in credulous at his invitation to glean exclusively in his fields that she asks; “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?” Answers Boaz: “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me...” (2:11). So, Ruth’s person ality won out over her ethnicity. Although she has Moabite blood, she displayed the kind of loyalty, responsibility, and love that Isra el’s God asked of all Israelites. David’s Great Grandmother Do we also see romance here? Whether it was in Naomi’s mind from the time they returned to Bethlehem or occurred to her when Boaz shows interest in program. AgChoice Farm Credit ana Land Oxakes Dairy Cooper ative sponsor the training. Bailey explains that the train ing helps dairy farmers lock in better milk prices, understand their milk market, and decipher their milk checks. “In recent weeks, milk prices have fallen significantly due to a weak national economy and events surrounding September 11,” Bailey said. “Dairy farmers who used the futures market prior to the September tragedy were able to protect their milk in come against these sudden drops, and it’s surprisingly easy once you understand the basics. The training is very basic and participants do not have to be a math whiz to participate. Bailey points out this one-day class also is a good introduction for farmers E tanning to attend the USDA’s ►airy Options Pilot Program later this year. The six-hour training will ad dress such topics as “Under standing Your Milk Check,” “Basics of Forward Contracting,” “Computing Your Basis,” “in corporating Risk Management Into Your Business Plan,” and “Strategies and Market Out look.” Training sessions will be limited to 20 participants, and a registration fee of $lO will in clude lunch. All worksheets and materials will be provided, and the basis of the training will be a new Penn State manual on dairy risk management available on the Web at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/ freepubs/ua3s9.html. The training is being offered Feb. 19 in State College. Contact Terry Maddox for more informa tion at (814) 355-4897. The pro fram will be repeated in Cou ersport Feb. 20. Contact Jim Clark at (814) 274-8540. It is also set for Meadville Feb. 21. Contact George Wilcox at (814) 825-0900. This class will be presented in Myerstown Feb. 27. Contact Galen Kopp at (717) 270-4391. Quote Of The Week: “Agriculture, manufactur ing, commerce, and navigation, the four pillars of our prosperi ty, are the most thriving when left most free to individual en terprise. ” Thomas Jefferson <KirSt Annual Message to Congress, Dec. 8,1801) Ruth, Naomi sees the possibility of an even deeper attraction on his part: “Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor” (3:3). When Boaz fell asleep on the threshing floor, Ruth was to quietly lie at his feet. In the middle of the night when he awoke, Boaz is startled and Ruth says to him: “I am Ruth, your maidservant; spread your skirt over your maidservant, for you are next of kin” (3:9). Her invitation for him to spread his robe over her is an invitation to take her in marriage. This was Levirate marriage: the next of kin had the right and obligation to protect the property anononor of a kinsman who died, maintaining the family line (Lev. 25:25; Deut.25;5,0). Despite her Moabite blood, Boaz married Ruth and she bore him a son, Obed, who would be the father of Jesse, the father of David the King. Although Nehemiah and Ezra were pronouncing strong prohibi tions against the marriage of Is raelites and foreigners, the author of Ruth is bringing a different message to Israel. Ruth, a for eigner, is exemplary in her loyal ty and love of her Israelite moth er-in-law. Later, when David ascended the throne and became the model Israelite king, it was to be remembered that his great grandmother was a woman of Moabite blood. Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 —by— Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Steinman Enterprise William J Burgess General Manager Andy Andrews, Editor Copyright 2002 by Lancaster Farming
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers