A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 22, 2003 PDA Secretary Reminds Farmers To Send In U.S. Census Of Agriculture Forms HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Acting Agriculture Secre tary Dennis Wolff has urged all Pennsylvania farmers, growers, and agribusinesses to participate in the 2002 Census of Agricul ture. The Feb. 3 deadline has passed and a large number of Pennsylva nia farmers, growers, and agribu sinesses have returned their forms to the USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). However, there are still some census forms outstanding. Pennsylvania’s agricultural community has a critical stake in this census of agriculture, stated Acting Secretary Wolff. All of ag riculture, whether a large dairy farm in Bradford County or a vegetable farm in Lancaster County, is critical to showing the importance and contribution of our farmers, understanding structural changes, and knowing how to meet the changing needs of our 21st Century agriculture industry. In December 2002, over 91,000 agriculture census forms were sent out across Pennsylvania. Secretary Wolff noted that Penn sylvania ranks in the top ten states in response to the 2002 Weak Economy Not Affecting Consumers’ Appetite For Beef NASHVILLE, Tenn. De mand for beef has increased more than three percent since 2000 and nearly 10 percent since its low in 1998, officials announced today from the 2003 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show. Preliminary year-end demand data indicate that consumers’ ap petite for beef remained strong through, despite record-high beef supplies, softened exports to key international mar kets, and a struggling economy. “We’ve seen substantial im provement in beef demand since 1998, which is largely due to the development of new high-quality beef products for consumers, said Dr. Wayne Purcell, an economist at Virginia Tech. Purcell also be lieves that the outlook for the U.S. beef industry is positive. MANADA CONSTRUCTION CO, I A i 1942 Camp Swatara Road • Myerstown, PA 17067 Ph: (717) 933-8853 • Fax:(717)933-8078 Census of Agriculture. However, to develop an accurate picture of Pennsylvania agriculture, it is vital that all farmers and growers who have not already returned their census forms take the time to submit them. An accurate report of farm op erations in Pennsylvania helps to formulate a complete, detailed picture of agriculture in Pennsyl vania and the nation. This is the 26th Census of Ag riculture conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in conjunction with the Pa. Agricultural Statis tics Service. Snapshots of U.S. Agriculture dating back to 1840 continue to be a valuable re source to farmers, growers, farm organizations, agribusiness, farm media, as well as county, state, and federal government. Examples of organizations using county-level results are: •Colleges and Universities: De velopment of new and improved methods to increase agriculture production. Cooperative Exten sion: Allocation of funding for county cooperative extension programs and services. •Farm Organizations: Evalua tion and proposal of agriculture policies and programs. “Although the economy is still struggling, I expect that the in dustry’s expansion of exports and the development of even more new beef products will increase beef demand in 2003. I’ll be very surprised if anything different happens.” Beef demand, which is a mea sure accounting for both per cap ita consumption and consumer spending for beef, has trended upward since 1998. And while it’s no surprise that beef demand was down 1.45 percent in 2002 com pared to 2001, Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) Chairman Dee Lacey is said the industry re mains well on track to meet its Long Range Plan goal of increas ing beef demand by six percent between 2001 and 2004. 9 i 9 m •Agribusiness: Meeting the farmers need for items such as fertilizer, seed, and equipment. •Congressional Staff: Changes in the U.S. Farm Bill and other farm-related legislation. •Farmers: Decision-making about potential new opportuni ties, efficiencies, and changes to their enterprises. •State Departments of Agri culture: Development of policy considerations during drought and emergency outbreaks of dis eases, as well as infestations of pests. ABC GROFF New Holland. PA 717-354-4191 CANN9-BELCO DIST. ' Alburtls. Pa 610-966-3733 GHAMBERSBURG FARM SERVICE Chambersburg, Pa 717-264-3533 CHARLES S. SNYDER, INC. Taraaqua, PA 570-386-5945 ERB ft HENRY EQUIP., INC. New Berllnville, PA 610-367-2169 FARMERS EQUIPMENT ft SUPPLY, INC. Airville, PA 717-862-3967 FIELD’S IMPLEMENT STORE Eighty Four. PA 724-222-1154 LEBANON VALLEY IMPLEMENT Richland. PA 717-866-7518 MBSSICK FARM EQUIPMENT CO. Abbottstown, PA 717-259-6617 LESLIE Q. FOQO, INC. Bridgeton. NJ 856-451-2727 9 •State and Federal Govern ment Officials: Draft legislation to help resolve agricultural prob lems and strengthen the agricul tural industry. By law, (Title 7, U.S. Code), data provided by individual farms is held in strictest confi dence. No information will be disclosed about any individual operation. For assistance in the comple tion of the census, a help line has been established at (888) 4AG-STAT. To learn more about the 2002 Census of Agriculture contact the Pennsylvania Agricultural Statis tics Service at (717) 787-3904, or visit the Pennsylvania Agricultur al Statistics Service homepage through the PA Power Port at www.state.pa.us PA Keyword ag riculture or directly through the PA Department of Agriculture homepage at www.pda.sta te.pa.us and go to the Commis sions and Laboratories side menu to access information on previous censuses of agriculture or current Pennsylvania agricultural statis tics. B(ISH HOC SOU Ed Each Squealer mi with a tough Busl that carries a 2-yi The 5 and 6-foot “in line” shear bol that can be replL slip clutch is availat 42 to 84-inches wide, BUSHHOC^^ DULLER EQUIPMENT CO. BechtelsvUle. PA 610-845-2911 NORTH-EAST DISTRIBUTORS A EQUIP. West Clifford, PA 570-222-9020 PEACH COUNTRY FORD TRACTOR Rlchwood, NJ 856-589-3953 RODIO TRACTOR SALES Hammonton, NJ 609-561-0141 ROVENDALB AG A BARN Eg Watsontown, PA 570-538-9564 SALTZOIVER TRACTOR REPAIR Hanover, PA 717-632-9119 eravnvt ii'iii iiimiim i SvUJVr IKu Ma Somerset, PA 814-445-6500 STANLEY’S FARM SERVICE Klingerstown. PA 570-648-2088 STOLTZPUS FARM SERVICE Cochranville, PA 610-593-2407 TAYLOR EQUIPMENT CO. Taneytown, MD 410-751-1500 UMBERQER’S OF FONTANA Lebanon. PA 717-867-5161
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers