Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, December 14, 2002, Image 23

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    Farm, City Exchangees Experience Life On The Other Side Of The Fence
(Continued from Page A 1)
n...and I had to hold the cow,” he
said.
He was amazed at the record
keeping Lentz performed using a
laptop computer, the cost of
equipment, and the value of a
cow.
“Whenever I look at the milk
in our vending machines, I have
a whole new appreciation (for the
work behind the scenes).”
Dairy farmer Cheryl Horst,
Richland, spent the day at Hotel
Hershey. Working with Mary
Miller, staff development manag
er, Horst had no difficulty adapt
ing to eating a leisurely buffet
breakfast in the circular dining
room overlooking the Hershey
gardens, walking the posh halls,
and later eating lunch. Horst
learned the three deadly sins of
the service industry: never say
“no,” “I don’t know,” and “It’s
not my job.”
On the downside, Horst said
she saw the stress of keeping
guests and staff happy. “At
home, I can go to the bam with
out dressing up, combing my
hair, and be grumpy the cows
don’t care.”
Another big benefit of farming,
Horst said, “I can kiss my boss
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The Century Farm Award goes to the Rev. Henry C. Heagy, who said that his calling
was the ministry but he made his living on the 85-acre Annville farm. Heagy is sur
rounded by a few family member**, which includes 12 children and their spouses, 40
grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. From left, are Jay and Alice Fittery, Ruth
and Bob Hitz, Henry Heagy, Heidi Fittery, Elva Allen, and David Heagy.
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 14, 2002-A23
leld s
Over-Order Premium
To Be Reduced In Steps
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) The Pehn
sylvania Milk Marketing Board (PMMB) has
voted to incrementally decrease the over-order
premium from $1.65 to $1.25 per hundredweight
in the first four months of 2003. The over-order
premium for January will be $1.50 per cwt. In
February, the over-order premium will be $1,40
per The premium will then step down to
$1.30 per cwt. for March and to $1.25 per cwt.
for April, May, and June.
llie board believes it is necessary to cushion
the effect of lowering the over-order premium
and, therefore, reduced it in four increments. As
the lower premium takes effect, producers should
be receiving monthly Milk Income Loss Contract
payments through the Farm Bill, which will help
lessen the effect of the lower premium.
Although market conditions still warrant an
over-order premium, the dollar amount was re
duced. Based upon testimony received at the
Nov. 6 Over-Order Premium Hearing, the board
found that the market for Pennsylvania pro
duced milk is threatened. Because of the differ
ence between the Pennsylvania over-order premi
um and premiums paid out of state, customers
are beginning to demand that Pennsylvania pro
cessors seek arrangements that would allow them
to avoid paying the over-order premium alto
gether.
While the board members are aware of the fin
ancial stress on the state’s dairy farmers, and are
very concerned about the situation, they believe
it would be of no benefit to Pennsylvania produc
ers to set an over-order premium at a level that
would cause Pennsylvania processors for com
petitive purposes to seek ways to avoid paying
the over-order premium. To maintain a strong
dairy industry in Pennsylvania, all segments of
the industry must be healthy. To continue the
$1.65 over-order premium in relation to out-of
state milk costs provides a very strong incentive
for both in-state and out-of-state processors,
based on their customers’ demands, to either
source their raw milk from out-of-state supplies
or to structure their transactions in such a way
that the over-order premium is not paid to Penn
sylvania producers.
This was a difficult decision for board mem
bers. However, they felt it would be better for the
Pennsylvania dairy farmer to receive a lower
over-order premium than to receive no premium,
and possibly lose a market for their milk.
The over-order premium is an amount paid to
Pennsylvania dairy farmers for their Class I
(drinking) milk that is produced, processed, and
sold in Pennsylvania. The current over-order pre
mium of SI.6S per one hundred pounds (cwt.) of
milk is scheduled to expire Dec. 31.
anytime I want and be there for
my children.”
Of her day on the farm. Miller
said, in retrospect it seems quite
silly that she wore makeup and
did her hair before working in
the barn.
Miller said of helping prepare
udders, flushing embryos, and in
jecting needles in the milk vein,
she learned “I am definitely a
hands-on person, and not a
hands-in person.
The Lebanon Valley Cham
ber of Commerce Ag Commit
tee selected the farm of Rev.
Henry C. Heagy for the Century
Farm Award. Heagy said, “My
calling was to the ministry, but
we made our living off the
farm.”
He and his wife Dorothy, who
passed away in 2001, raised five
daughters and seven sons on the
farm. All seven of those sons
farm today some farm in
other states.
The great, great, great grand
father of Rev. Heagy purchased
the farm in 1830, which was
transferred through the years.
Henry was born in 1921 and
worked for his father until age
29. In 1958, Heagy and his wife
(Turn to Page A 24)