E2O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 4, 2003 Ram CONESTOGA (Lancaster Co.) At 12 years of age, Kelsey Binkley is no stranger to winning: her bedroom features an impres sive collection of trophies and blue ribbons dating back to her very first sheep show. But after four years of contin ued success, she has discovered that there is still room for sur prises. In April, Kelsey entered her Dorset ram, “Double R” in the annual performance test con ducted by the Pennsylvania De partment of Agriculture and hosted at Penn State University’s Livestock Evaluation Center (LEG). According to Glen Eberly, the director of the LEC, the test is designed primarily to improve the quality of flocks by identify ing and certifying the most eco nomically valuable genetic traits. The program is the largest Dorset performance test in the nation. By eliminating as many envi ronmental and management vari ables as possible, the test estab lishes an objective criteria by which to measure the genetic quality of participating sheep. Once they are entered in the test, all sheep are treated the same for the duration of the 84 day performance test. Through out the test the sheep are weighed, measured and ultrason ically scanned to evaluate their progress. Penn State Report Focuses On Pa, Nutrient Managemetn Policy UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Are you aware that Penn sylvania’s Nutrient Management Act policies are under review? As the State Conservation Commission considers changes in state nutrient management rules, researchers in Penn State’s Col- THE MILKING SYSTEM THEY ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT hjb-'-x 111 KEYSTONE FARM SHOW BUILDING #3 BOOTH 302 & 303 OR CALL 1 877-340-MILK (6455) TO TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR REQUIREMENTS Test Yields A Winner For Binkley The resulting quality index, which offers buyers an objective standard by which to judge their purchase, reflects a range of eco nomically superior genetic traits, including the average weight gain throughout the life of the sheep, the average weight gain during the test, and fat thickness. At the conclusion of the test the sheep are auctioned off for breeding, with sheep being sold to flocks in eight different states. After three months of dining on cracked com, rolled oats, and other delights, Double R had munched his way to first place, posting an 83 pound weight gain an average of just under a pound a day. “Double R was a fall lamb,” noted Eberly, “and his perform ance was exceptional for a fall lamb.” From the beginning Kelsey knew from the regular updates that her ram had surged into the lead, a position that he never for feited. But even she was sur prised by how well Double R had performed. “I didn’t expect Double R to win,” she recalled. “We entered the test to learn about it, so we could be ready to enter other sheep in the future. “We knew he ate well, and was large, but you never know how much more weight they can gain.” And this seems to be a pattern of Kelsey’s sheep showing career. lege of Agricultural Sciences have issued a report that will help citi zens and public decision-makers deliberate the issues, options and future policy directions for nutri ent management in the Com monwealth. The report, “Nutrient Manage* VISIT OUR BOOTH AT The Conestoga resident entered her first show at the age of nine, surprising her family and herself by walking home with several blue ribbons. And she hasn’t stopped since, having won the su preme champion breed four times, and the grand champion market lamb once. “My goal,” she says with a smile, “is to win at the National Sheep Show in Louisville, Ken tucky.” That show is the Super Bowl of sheep competition, so this is no small ambition, requiring train ing and steady improvement. Winning requires a combination of skill, knowledge, position, poise and appearance. Contestants must also learn to recognize and respond to the in dividual preferences and style of the judges. Even though tending her flock takes a lot of time and effort, es pecially when fair season is full swing, Kelsey finds time to de vote to other interests. A home schooler in the seventh grade, she divides her time between school work, 4-H meetings and events, piano and violin lessons, and is active in her church youth group and the Hempfield Homeschool Group. Her long term plans are to raise sheep to show and sell. But it doesn’t stop there: she has de cided she likes pigs. “They’re easier to prep for shows,” she observed. ment Policy: Pennsylvania Stake holders’ Views About Progress, Challenges, and Future Direc tions,” was written by Charles Abdalla, associate professor of agricultural economics, and Alys sa Dodd, extension associate in agricultural environmental poli cy. “This is the first major review of Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Man agement Act regulations, since the rules were implemented in 1997,” Dodd said. “While de tailed proposals for regulatory cTj Lra . *v . \ » • * ’* Kelsey Binkley with Double R, agriculture secretary Samuel Hayes, and Lauren Ferringer, the Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen. changes are not known at this time, it is important for farmers and others who will be affected by the changes to stay informed about the discussions taking place at the state level and active ly participate in the deliberations when opportunities arise.” “The publication is based on information collected from 28 in terviews with knowledgeable peo ple from an array of agencies and organizations,” Abdalla said. “Our goal was to identify per spectives about critical nutrient management issues in the Com monwealth and provide a report that contributes to more in- Agricultural Generators Detroit Deisel Spectrum Automatic PTO Generators L.P. Gas, Diesel 25 to 135 KW Units Natural Gas Generators In Stock! 5 to 2,000 KW Service - Rental - New & Used Units In Stock! _____ ntteMsnew Jan. 13,14lt8» Farmer Payt - ptewlEitpo Ha» s Power Generation Systems Specialists 330 Founderwhite Road, Lebanon, PA 17042 Call Leonard Martin 717-273-4544 Fax: 717-273-5186 •-mall: lmartln9p*nnpow»rsyat«ms.com formed discussions and policy de- cisions.” “Audiences that will find the report useful include people in volved in animal agriculture, such as farmers, agribusiness, and related businesses, rural resi dents, public decision-makers and elected officials, and anyone interested in water quality and the environment,” Abdalla says. The report is available on the Penn State Nutrient and Water Policy Update Web site at http:// agenvpolicy.aers.psu.edu. The re port is also available from Dr. Abdalla at (814) 86S-2562.
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