AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 24, 2003
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OPINION
Agriculture: Cornerstone Of
The Fair Industry
Agriculture is the cornerstone of the fair industry. It is the one main
attraction that makes fairs different from other entertainment venues.
All people have a little “country” in their souls and each of our fairs
“play up” agriculture to the city folks who come to visit.
In 1790, at about the time the U.S. was founded, 90 percent of its
citizens were “gainfully employed” in agriculture, according to esti
mates from the USDA. As of 2002, the USDA estimates only 1.9 per
cent of Americans are farmers.
With these shrinking numbers, agriculture is promoted in a slightly
different light than it was years ago. Even though we have fewer peo
ple in the production of agriculture products, we are all still eating
and still clothed better than ever.
Education is an important way to maintain the viability of Pennsyl
vania agriculture. Informing the consumer where their food and fiber
comes from, and how it gets to them, is critical if Pennsylvania agri
culture is to prosper.
Because rules, regulations, and laws are passed by the nonfarming
majority, the farmer is governed by people not involved in and often
not educated about the industry. This situation is irreversible. Never
again will farmers be the major audience in society.
Anti-agriculture groups have amassed huge amounts of resources
and their propaganda is effective and far-reaching. They are impact
ing farming by way of negative public opinion. The farmer is at the
mercy of legislators, who, for the most part, are uninformed or misin
formed. They often vote according to the current mood and opinions
of their constituents. Thus, agriculture’s future depends on educating
the nonfarming public.
The fair industry is one of many venues that can play a role in edu
cating the public about agriculture. Fairs throughout history have
Memorial Day.
Lancaster Farming office closed.
Tuesday, May 27
XIV Global Wanning Interna
tional Conference and Expo,
Boston, Mass., thru May 29,
(630) 910-1551.
CWT Meetings, Holiday Inn,
Editor:
Greetings from the secretary of
agriculture.
As a farmer, I understand the
needs of agriculture and I am ex-
How To Reach Us
To address a letter to the editor:
• By fax: (717) 733-6058
j,By regular mail:
Editor, Lancaster Farming
P.O. Box 609,1 E. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
• By e-mail:
farming @ lancasterfarming.com
Please note: Include your full
name, return address, and
phone number on the letter.
Lancaster Farming reserves the
right to edit the letter to fit and
is not responsible for returning
unsolicited mail.
(Turn to Page ASS)
Maine St., Concord, N.H., 7:30
p.m.; Best Western, Washing
ton St., Watertown, N.Y., 7:30
p.m.; Bart Fire Hall, George
town, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 28
Lancaster County Pasture Walk,
Garber Dairy Farm, Eliza
bethtown, 10 a.m.-l:30 p.m.,
(717) 367-2141.
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tremely excited about the oppor
tunity to represent the agricul
ture community. As secretary,
my goal is to ensure that Pennsyl
vania is a welcome environment
for agriculture all agriculture
both large and small, and tra
ditional and nontraditional agri
culture entities.
With more than $4 billion in
cash receipts last year and as our
leading economic enterprise, ag
riculture is important to Pennsyl
vania. Gov. Rendell recognizes
that a strong agricultural econo
my is important to a strong state
economy. We all know that
growing is something agriculture
does well and as a result, agricul
ture and agribusiness will have
an integral role in jump-starting
the economy.
Economic development and
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To Practice Careful
Biosecurity On
Your Dairy Farm
The government of Canada
confirmed on Tuesday that the
brain tissue from an 8-year-old
cow in Alberta, Canada has
tested positive for Bovine Spongi
form Encephalopathy (BSE, also
called “Mad Cow Disease”). The
Canadian government has em
phasized that the meat from the
animal did not enter the food or
feed supply. The herd of origin is
being destroyed after tissue sam
ples are taken, even though BSE
is not necessarily transmitted
among cows in a herd.
The last confirmed case of BSE
in Canada was in 1993, from a
cow that had been imported from
the U.K. There have been no
cases in the U.S ever confirmed,
even with extensive testing.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary
Ann M. Veneman announced
that, “The USDA is placing Can
ada under its BSE restriction
guidelines and will not accept
any ruminants or ruminant prod
ucts from Canada pending fur
ther investigation.”
Although this isolated incident
Background Scripture:
Mark 10:32-52.
Devotional Reading:
John 20:24-31
Lots of people come to God in
order to use him. Early in our lives
we may come to God so that we can
pass an exam or make the team.
Later, it may be an attempt to meet a
crisis or find release from an “impos
sible situation.”
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Some people come because they
are seeking to be healed of something
that has baffled or resisted their phy
sicians or for help in coping with a
family member, friend, or foe. Or it
may represent an attempt to extri
cate ourselves from something we’ve
gotten ourselves into.
There’s nothing wrong in coming
to God that way. Lots of people in
the Bible started that way. But, al
though it is a suitable entry level, it is
not where we are intended to stay.
God wants to help us in our trials
and tribulations, but he also wants to
use us to accomplish his will and
purpose in the world.
In Mark 8:32-33, we see that, when
Jesus foretells the passion that awaits
Lancaster Farming
An Award-Winning Farm Newspaper
• PDA Friend of Agriculture Award, 2003
• Keystone Awards 1993,1995 • PennAg Industries 1992
• PACD Media Award 1996 • Berks Ag-Business Council 2000
• Recognized for photo excellence throughout the years by the
Northeast Farm Communicators
ARE YOU
ABLE?
should not alarm local farmers,
Lancaster County Dairy Agent
Beth Grove reminds us we should
always keep in mind good biose
curity practices on the farm.
The first step is to identify
your risk areas. Where is your
farm vulnerable? Viruses and
bacteria can enter your livestock
facility on animals including live
stock, wild animals, pets, and in
sects. People, including visitors,
employees, and yourself can
carry pathogens onto your opera
tion. Disease organisms can also
be carried in livestock feed,
water, bedding, and soil as well
as in the air via dust and aero
sols. Additionally equipment and
vehicles can transport diseases on
tires, floorboards, mud, and road
dirt.
It is critical that you take sev
eral steps to prevent introduction
of diseases. If you must purchase
animals, buy from a “clean
source” test new cattle for
mastitis, Johne’s Disease, BVD,
and Leukosis. Isolate new cattle
and calves wherever possible and
milk the new cows last for 3-4
weeks following purchase. Keep
cattle haulers and their trucks
away from livestock areas and
bring bull calves or cull animals
to the truck rather than having
the hauler enter your barns. Post
a sign asking visitors not to enter
dairy bam without permission.
Ask neighbors and visitors to
wear clean boots in the bam.
Limit access to sick and calving
pens. Don’t be embarrassed to
ask folks to follow this routine.
Feed and care for the youngest
animals before handling older an
imals. Limit heifer and calf ac
cess to cow facilities and feed to
E revent the spread of Johne’s
•isease. Don’t allow heifers to
“clean up” cow feed; minimize
feed contamination by rodents,
animals, etc.; keep livestock feed
stored in a clean, dry place; and
keep dogs and cats away from
feed bunks and water troughs.
Finally, if you haven’t already
done so, develop a plan for your
farm. Work with your veterinar
ian, nutritionist, extension agent,
etc., to develop a plan to reduce
the chances of spreading or im
porting new infections. Talk to
him, Peter fails to understand him
and he earns Jesus’ rebuke: “Get be
hind me, Satan! For you are not on
the side of God, but of men.” Peter
misunderstood the essence of who
Jesus is and what he will do. Then, in
Mark 10:33-34, Jesus again pro
claims the passion awaiting him in
Jerusalem and, once again, the disci
ples or at least -two of them, James
and John- misunderstand.
Whatever We Ask
We cannot help but wonder at the
audacity of the request by James and
John: “Teacher, we want you to do
for us whatever we ask of you” (Mk.
10:35). If, for nothing else, we need to
give them an “A” for sheer honesty.
Many of us feel that way but know
better than to verbalize it. The sincer
ity, if immaturity, of their request in
dicates that they really don’t under
stand what following Jesus is all
about. It is not so much that they are
asking something from Jesus, but the
manner in which they ask it, as if
Jesus was indebted to them, as if
they were Sinbad the Sailor releasing
a genie from a bottle
Perhaps even Jesus is a bit stunned
and he responds: “What do you want
me to do for you?” Their reply is
even more shocking: “Grant us to sit,
one at your right hand and one at
your left, in your glory.” They as
sumed that, when they got to Jerusa
lem, that Jesus would be acclaimed
the Messiah king and begin his reign.
Since the seats directly to the right
and left of the throne were always
places or highest royal authority,
they were seeking places of privilege
in a coming earthly kingdom. They
still didn’t have a clue as to who and
what Jesus is
Jesus knows this; “You do not
know what you are asking. Are you
able to drink the cup that I drink, or
your family and employees about
biosecurity. This is too important
an issue to take lightly!
To Scout For
Asparagus Aphids
Asparagus aphids are powdery
pale green to fluorescent green in
color and only l/16th of an inch
in length. They have six legs, two
prominent antennae, and a. pair
of tailpipe-like appendages on
their abdomen. When disturbed
they scurry away and hide in
cracks in the soil or under trash.
Damage from this pest has been
reported in Pennsylvania and in
New Jersey this year.
The asparagus aphid is native
to Eastern Europe and the Medi
terranean area. The first infesta
tion in North America was no
ticed in New York in 1969. Since
that time, the aphid has been re-
K' d in New Jersey, Delaware,
e Island, Maryland, Penn
sylvania. Virginia, North Caroli
na, and Washington. Asparagus
is the only known food plant of
this aphid.
Asparagus aphids feed on cla
dophylls (modified leaves) and
under bracts. They extract sap
through their needile-like mouth
parts. Heavily infested seedlings
may form rosettes or shrivel and
die. Similar infestations on older
plants may cause severe dwarf
ing. While most of the time the
feeding is done on the fem stage
of asparagus, this aphid can feed
on the spears and cause a
twisted, bent appearance. The af
fected spears can turn pale yel
low green and grow slowly.
In most years, predators, para
sites, and diseases have kept this
aphid from becoming a serious
Eest in most areas. However, it
as been reported that the aphid
population is worse following a
dry year in the previous season.
If you have a problem, the
aphids can be controlled with 1
quart per acre of Malathion
57EC. u you choose to spray, re
member there is a 12-hour re
entry interval and a one-day-to
harvest limitation.
Quote Of The Week:
“Vision is the art of seeing
things invisible. ”
Jonathan Swift
to be baptized with the baptism with
which I am baptized?" (10:38). The
“cup” and “baptism” here are sym
bolic of the passion that lies before
him. When they reply, “We are
able,” we may assume that they are
sincere but wrong, just as often we
are wrong when we make similar
pledges. Theirs are words of opti
mism, not faith. Optimism may re
sult from underestimating the threat
or challenge that faces us. Faith sees
clearly the danger, but looks beyond
it to trust in God’s presence and
help.
The Nerve!
When they heard this exchange
between Jesus, James and John, they
are furious with them. Could it be
that their anger resulted from their
own expectations of prominence or
precedence in the Messianic King
dom?
I think so, because the next words
of Jesus see directed at all the disci
ples, not just James and John: “You
know that those who are supposed to
rule over the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great men exercise
authority over them. But is shall not
be so among you; but whoever would
be great among you must be your
servant, and whoever would be first
among you must be slave of all”
(10:42-44).
Once again we find Jesus not as a
repairman who comes to make little
repairs and adjustments in our lives,
but a revolutionary who comes to
turn us and the world upside down.
How different that is from the tame
and unobtrusive faith lived out by
most of us including me.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
—by—
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Stemman Enterprise
William J. Burgess General Manager
Andy Andrews, Editor
Copyright 2003 by Lancaster Farming