Farm Group Leaders Back Rendell Plan To Cut Property Taxes DAVE LEFEYER Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Pennsylvania Farm Bu reau, State Grange, and PennAg Industries stand behind the key provisions of Gov. Ed Rendell’s plan to cut property taxes, in crease education funding, and stimulate economic growth for agriculture. Joining Rendell and Agricul ture Secretary Dennis Wolff at a press conference Tuesday in the Governor’s Reception Room at the Capitol were Guy Donaldson, Marketing Workshop Set At Simple Gifts Farm MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) Producers and beginning fanners who would like to improve their marketing and production skills. are invited to attend a Pennsylva nia Farm Link sponsored meet ing at Simple Gifts Farm June 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. Jonathan Weaver-Kreider, the operator of a 70-member Com munity Supported Agriculture (CSA) will provide information on how to start a CSA, marketing strategies and production prac tices he uses, and a tour of the farm. CSA or Subscription farming is essentially grower contracting and can be applied to any type of farm. The producer “contracts” with the consumer to provide a specific type of product during a specific time period, and with a specific delivery date. Weaver-Kreider completed a master degree in agroecology, worked as an integrated pest management scout, and did in ternships on other organic vege table operations before starting his own farm on rented ground. He continued to grow the opera tion to its current three acres size and hopes to purchase his own Congressman To Speak At Farm Bureau Picnic CAMP HILL (Cumberland Co.) FARMER, the Pennsylva nia Farm Bureau’s political ac tion committee will host a picnic Sunday, June 22, at Indian Echo Caverns, Hummelstown. Congressman Tim Holden will be speaking at 2:00 p.m. Holden will address the US farm econo my and what is being done in Washington to boost farm profit ability. Quality hay production is the focus of the July >2 edition of the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council's Foraging Around newsletter in Lancaster Farming. Also scheduled: Project Vp-sr? Grass youth contest coverage, conservation updates, reports \fe»7 on forage preservation, and a calendar of events. \Cty HEATMOR OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACES Wood-Oil & Corn-Burning Options Outback Heating Inc. 888-763-8617 800-743-5883 Stainless Steel Jamestown, NY Staunton,VA Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) president; Bob Gueldner, president of PennAg Industries; and Betsy Huber, Pennsylvania Grange master. Calling the state’s property tax system an “inequitable burden for our members,” Donaldson said Rendell’s plan to reduce property taxes is the beginning of a fairer tax system for the state’s farmers. “Although Governor Rendell’s plan affects only a portion of farm property, it’s an important first step,” Donaldson said. farm in the near future. Informa tion on marketing trends and tips for developing subscription/CSA markets will be included. To get to Simple Gifts Farm, take the Columbia Exit (Rt. 441) off of Rt. 30. Travel south on Rt. 441 through Columbia. Watch for signs for 441 in Columbia be cause it makes two turns. Travel South about 3 miles to Washing ton Boro where Rt. 441 intersects Rt. 999. Pass straight through this intersection and continue about 500 feet and go straight into the farm lane. A small Sim ple Gifts sign is at the entrance. There is a stone bam and white house. Contact Farm Link at (717) 664-7077 or email at pafarm link@redrose.net by June 23 to let them know of your planned attendance and for additional in formation on other marketing events. The meeting is offered free of charge. Farm Link will sponsor anoth er marketing meeting on value added marketing on September 13,2003 in Kutztown to assist be ginners and others who want to improve their marketing ability. The event is open to the public. There is a pig roast and barbeque lunch at 1:00 p.m. The cost to at tend is $25.00 per person or $40.00 per couple. Children ages 2-17 are $lO.OO. A group rate will be offered to any Farm Bureau member who wishes to tour the caves. Deadline to purchase tick ets is June 15. To reserve a place at the picnic, call Keith Oellig at (717) 469-0180 or Allen Shissler at (717) 944-3690. 5 Sizes - 19 Colors - Wood or Coal Grates Forced Draft - Ash Auger Clean Out COMPARISON WITH OTHER OUTDOOR UNITS • Burns up to 1/2 less wood • Emits up to 1/2 less smoke • Corrosion Warranty up to 10 times longer Donaldson’s approval was off set by his concern that funds for rural school will continue to be shortchanged under the new plan. “Many rural school districts do not have the tax base to support adequate operations,” he said. “Farm Bureau has advocated in creasing the state’s portion of public school funding to 50 per cent. “We also welcome an econom ic stimulus plan that targets in vestment in rural Pennsylvania,” Donaldson said. “The new pro Dairy Technology Society Honors O’Hara WESTMINSTER, Md. The Dairy Technology Society of Maryland and the District of Co lumbia recently recognized long time member Allen O’Hara with its Distinguished Service Award. The award is the society’s highest honor and was estab lished in 1972 to recognize a per son who has made significant contributions to the dairy indus try. O’Hara is the 19th honoree and was recognized for his more than 25 years of service and dedi cation to Maryland’s dairy indus try. O’Hara is the assistant general manager for Maryland & Virgin ia Milk Producers, where he has worked for more than 25 years. O’Hara is responsible for all member service functions, includ ing field and administrative serv ices and communications. His area of responsibility also in cludes Maryland & Virginia’s Over-Order Premium Increased To $1.65 HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Pennsylvania Milk Mar keting Board Chairman Boyd E. Wolff recently announced that board members voted to increase the current over-order premium of $1.55 to $1.65 per one hundred pounds of milk. The over-order premium is paid on Class I (bot tled) milk produced, processed, and sold within the common wealth. The $1.65 will be in effect from July 1 through Dec. 31. The We Salute Our Faming Industry WATERLESS TOILETS We Perform Septic Inspections & Certifications ECO-TECH Call Today 717-337-9325 posal to make more low-interest loans available will help farmers update or expand their opera tions to remain competitive.” Gueldner and Huber also en dorsed the plan to cut taxes for farm and homeowners. According to Huber, the pro posed property tax cuts will mean an average saving of $387 per property owner across the state, including homesteads and farmsteads. Property taxes have increased 55 percent in the past ten years, she noted. Allen O’Hara manufacturing plant in Laurel, Md., and the equipment supply warehouse in Frederick, Md. Throughout his career, O’Hara has been involved in a number of current over-order premium of $1.55 is due to expire June 30, 2003. This action is the result of a hearing conducted May 22. The hearing took place in response to a petition submitted to the board by the Pennsylvania Farm Bu reau, and a petition submitted by Dairylea Cooperative, Dairy Marketing Services, and the Northeast Council of Dairy Farmers of America. Testimony presented at the Gueldner spoke of the chal lenges faced by farmers across the state, including low commod ity prices and recent drought. “Agriculture will follow (the decline) of the steel and coal in dustries if not given an economic boost,” Gueldner said. He suggested that the Pennsyl vania Department of Agriculture work together with the Depart ment of Community and Eco nomic Development to create economic incentives. “As the number one industry (agriculture) goes, so goes the state,” he said. dairy and agricultural organiza tions. He was active in the Mary land Council of Farmer Coopera tives for about 20 years and served as president of both the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and the Dairy Tech nology Society of Maryland and the District of Columbia. O’Hara is a graduate of the University of Maryland and was raised on a dairy farm in Freder ick, Md. O’Hara and his wife, Janice, have four children and are active in their church. Founded in 1938 by Dr. Walter England, the Dairy Technology Society of Maryland and the Dis trict of Columbia promotes good fellowship and mutual under standing among dairy industry professionals, and provides an open forum for dairy science re lated information and topics of interest to members and students, pursuing careers within the in dustry. hearing recommended varying levels of the over-order premium and varying lengths of times the premium should be effective. The board determined that the dis parity in the recommended over order premium levels and the dis parity in the recommended time the premium should be effective were indicative of a certain amount of flux or uncertainty in the market. Generator Systems Diesel or Propane, 10-500 KW, Agricultural and Industrial. New, Used or Reconditioned Martin Diesel Services Shop (570) 658-5303 Office (570) 922-4494 PIT POWER Farmers and composters - Here is a breakdown for compost and manure pits and manure piles! Pit Power is bacteria and bacteria feeders that break down solids in manure pits and septic tanks and breakdown compost faster. Clean out your pit with ease, use Pit Power! One gallon of Pit Power per 10,000 to 20,000 gal. of pit volume Should be repeated approx. 2 times a year 1 If aeration of the pit is possible, it will help the bacteria to grow and work faster to break down solids Pst Power’s pur pose is to add life (bacteria) in the manure, which then is returned to the soil where a bacteria is working. The smell of pit manure is not so strong. Pit Power is a non toxic product - Life to Feed Life! Pnce is $58.00 per gallon (6 gal or more - $55 per gallon) Full UPS fee will be charged if payment is not with order Send orders to Pleasant Valley Country Store 429 Sprout Rd. Kirkwood, PA 17536
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