A32-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 14, 2003 OPINION I believe it is time for a change in tactics before it is too late. Almost every producer in Maryland farms less than three hours from a major metropolitan area. This should give us a huge advantage, but to this point it has not. This is the time for agriculture to look outside its nor mal comfort zone and shift the political focus to the development of economically sustainable highly diversified agriculture. Many of the current issues faced by the state, county, and munici pal governments regarding sprawl, development pressure, impact fees, tax increases, and needs for more and larger roads can be significantly reduced if agricultural land, communities, and farmers are preserved, because they can continue to make a living from the land. The inter ests of agriculture and all the residents of the state have never been so close. It is time to develop policies, procedures, and programs that en courage grocery stores, restaurants, and schools to use more locally produced food. Concepts such as a Maryland cheese factory that would provide producers with the opportunity to develop value-added markets for their milk could be a first step. Maryland and its counties have pro vided incentives for industry to come into the state and to renovate old abandoned sites and add jobs in their communities. It is time that we focus these dollars and incentives on an industry that is already here and is considered the preferred land use by many counties in cen tral and western Maryland. Maryland is an egg deficit state, but producers are not even paid enough by processors per dozen to cover the cost of production. If gro cery stores could be offered some type of incentives by the state such as some kind of tax break to carry a certain percentage of Mary land-produced eggs, and if program money could be spent to educate consumers as to the benefits of local production these eggs could be sold at a premium price, which would be returned to the producer. I have spoken to producers that would modify their current produc tion systems to suit market demands if there is a price premium. This is only one example of an alternative idea to current policies, which spend money to preserve land instead of preserving viable producers. This type of effort could prevent vastly more sprawl and land devel opment at a lower cost to the taxpayer than any development rights purchase that could ever be done. The possibilities for other crops such as vegetables, fruit, meat, and even grain products are limited only by how much the citizens of the state care about the condition which they live in. When agricultural issues can be couched in a way that the consum ers of the state can relate to such as preventing tax increases, reliev ing congestion, reducing pressure on school systems, reducing fuel consumption, food security, maintenance of Maryland’s rural vistas, and improved environmental quality the foundation for under standing of common interest and cooperation between urban and rural can be achieved. All this could be done while providing a wide variety of high quality food for Maryland consumers and giving pro ducers a much better chance of survival and even of thriving. In an effort to accomplish this, dialogue has begun, and I believe that an agricultural component of the smart growth package that fo cuses on increased economic sustainability of farms and incentives for markets to handle local food will be the lowest cost solution to sprawl in Maryland, allowing other funds to be used for urban projects. Lancaster Farming Check o«t Qlir \sebsite www.lancaBterfarminQ.con A lesson well learned. Lancaster Farming's classified ads get results! (Continued from Page A 10) 4- -4-, Some Models Cut and Mix Hay Mahoning Outdoor Furnaces Cut Heating Cost With An Outdoor Furnace By&nr fluAs/ Standard Models Burn Wood, Coal Multi-Fuel Models Burn Wood, Coal, Oil, Propane, Gas or Waste Oil “Adapts To All Existing Systems” www.mahoningoutdoorfurnace.com Dealerships Available In Some Are**. Models from 55 to 490 cu. ft. mixing capacity... m o ■ stationary Building TM.R. Mixers M'XERS Since 1981 *“R/SSLER m j ■»MIXERS A FEEDERS 800-436-5623 717-484-0551 Auction To Benefit Therapeutic Riding Program LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Saturday, June 21, Lancaster County Therapeutic Riding, Inc., will conduct its 7th Annual Bene fit Auction at the Bareville Fire Hall (Route 23) beginning at S p.m. According to Barry Handwerg er, chairman of fundraising for the program, “Last year’s auction was our best ever. There were ap proximately 700 items that went up for bid, all donated by gener ous area businesses and individu als. Committee members, volun teers, riders, and their families are all working hard to make this year’s auction even more success ful.” Among the items featured this year will be plants, baked goods, automotive supplies, Suk Shuglie print and poster, four Good Year tires, handmade crafts and items, collectibles, Smucker’s Bells, theme baskets, pictures, furni ture, gift certificates/services, SO/SO cash raffle, and so much more. All proceeds from the auction will directly benefit Lancaster County Therapeutic Riding, Inc., a non-profit organization which provides healing for children and adults with a variety of physical, mental, and emotional disabili ties. Therapeutic horseback rid ing offers many benefits to the riders, including improvement in their balance, strength, range of motion, coordination, and self confidence. The program operates out of Greystone Manor Stables near Leola and runs from March through December.- Sessions are taught by riding instruc tors and therapists. Riders are assisted by a person leading the horse and two sidewalkers initially. For more information on the program or to donate items for the auction, you may call (717) 615-9222. • PROVEN RUGGED • PROVEN EFFICIENT • PROVEN ECONOMICAL Barry Handwerger, fundraising chairman, and Bobbin Flegal (left) show just a few of the many items that will go up for bid at the Annual Benefit Auction for Lancaster County Therapeutic Riding, Inc., Saturday, June 21, be ginning at 5 p.m. at Bareville Fire Hall. Pesticide Twilight Meeting June 26 NEW HOLLAND (Lancas- Speakers include Bob An ter Co.) Eastern Lancaster derson, extension agent, on County Young Farmers Asso- pesticide storage and safety, ciation’s annual Summer Pes- and young farmer adviser Jeff ticide Twilight Meeting is Stoltzfus on sprayer calibration scheduled here at the Sylvan and maintenance and com Blank Farm June 26 from 7 herbicide comparisons. Visitors p.m.-9 p.m. can also visit test plots. The farm is located one mile For more information, con south of New Holland on Cus- tact Stoltzfus at (717) ter Avenue. Watch for signs. 354-1522. | POWER STROKE FUEL INJECTORS $ | “HEUI Injection System” | Ford 7.3 L Trucks *IH DT-466 * T-444E * Caterpillar f f t > I Miller Diesel, Inc. Offers Complete Service, Rebuilding & Exchange POWER STROKE INJECTORS <> On Site Rebuilding Exchange in Stock Testing & Calibration O On Vehicle Diagnosis Removal & Installation V ❖ Excellent Pricing - $$ Save $$ V ■O Quick Turn Around Time ■ Free Pick up & Delivery (ioo Mile Radius Hbg.) OR Daily UPS M. 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