A3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 2, 2003 Empire Farm Days (Continued from Page A 29) State Thruway, follow the signs put up by the Seneca County Sheriffs Department to the Em pire Farm Days site. Getting through the village, visitors will be assisted by the Seneca Falls Village Police Department. Once at the site, the New York State Police Department and Seneca County Sheriffs Department handle the thousands of cars looking to get in, get parked, and get started seeing the show. Seneca County continues to be an area filled with beauty and economic opportunities. Agricul ture is by far the most important economic sector in the county, contributing a value production in excess of $35 million. It reflects the diversity of Northeast agri culture with the production of milk, field crops, fruits, vege tables, grapes, horses, poultry, eggs and meat animals. The Finger Lakes area hold a mystery all its own with its scenic lakes, state parks, historic sites, wine trails, restaurants, and a hospitality as warm as its sum mer days. Visitors are invited to plan their vacation around Em pire Farm Days and spend some Pennsylvania’s July 1 Crop Forecast HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Based on July 1 forecast for yield and production, the Keystone state’s farmers expect to produce more oats and peaches this year, while production of wheat and barley is expected to decline. Pennsylvania’s year 2003 planted potato acre age is estimated at 14,500 acres. The harvested potato acreage is estimated at 14,000 acres, the harvested acreage is estimated to be the same as last year. Oats acreage for harvest, at 115,000, is un changed from last year’s harvested acres. The July 1, oats yield forecast is set at 67 bushels per acre, 6 bushels above 2002. The resulting oats production of 7.71 million bushels will be up 10 percent from last year. Winter wheat acres to be harvested will total 160,000, down 25,000 acres from last year. The July 1 winter wheat yield forecast is set at 50.0 bushels per acre, which is down 3.0 bushel from the June 1 projected yield and down 4.0 bushels from last year’s 54.0 bushels. The resulting win ter wheat production of 8.00 million bushels will be down 20 percent from last year’s production of 9.99 million bushels. Barley acreage for harvest, at 65,000, is up 5,000 acres from 2002. Barley yield is expected to be 64 bushels per acre this year from 65,000 acres for an expected production of 4.16 million bushels, which is down 6 percent from last year’s production. Based on July 1 conditions, the state’s peach production is forecast at 70.0 million pounds, up 17 percent from-last year’s-production. - -- time enjoying the area. For more information, contact Moe Koch at (315) 539-1759. Rodman Lott And Son Farms Host 2003 EFD From Aug. 5-7, the Rodman Lott and Son Farms will host more than 75,000 farmers at their family farm; no small feat for a family that farms more than 4,300 acres. But for the 16th year they will host the Empire State Potato Growers’ Empire Farm Days. In 2003 more than 600 exhibi tors will participate in Empire farm Days representing more than 3,000 companies. Empire Farm Days provides farmers with a chance to see the latest ad vances in Northeast agriculture in a relaxing atmosphere. One of the biggest assets Sene ca County and the Northeast ag ricultural community has is the Lott family and its business. Ralph Lott, his wife Shirley, and their children Nicole, Rodman, and Benjamin are the owners and operators of the Rodman Lott and Son Farms. Continuing with the tradition started by his par ents, Ralph and Shirley became sole operators upon Rodman’s NEW And USED SPRAYERS & SPREADERS FIELD EQUIPMENT SCHEDULE Forage Chopping & Handling 10 am Daily Hay Mowing 11 am Daily Tillage/GPS Ipm Daily Hay (Raking. Baling. Processing Handling) 2 pm Daily Power “retirement” a few years ago. However, both Rodman & his wife Ellen are still active and in volved in the farm operation. The family history of farming began when Rodman and Ellen Lott set up a crop operation in Pennsylvania from 1954-1968. In 1960 they also operated a 400-acre soybean operation in Delaware. In 1968 they moved to the panhandle of Florida and raised peanuts, beef cattle, and pigs. Twelve years later the Lotts found themselves settled in Sene ca Falls. Rodman and Ellen have four grown children: Ralph, Ginny, Mark, and Lisle. As far back as 1931 there has been an agricultural show spon sored by the Empire State Potato Growers, Inc. which was hosted by New York State farmers and was committed to bringing to farmers in the Northeast the newest techniques and equipment available to agriculture. Since then, this annual event has undergone many changes in cluding name, location and size, but its sponsor and purpose have remained constant. It brings the farmer and agribusiness commu nities together, all in one place, all at one time, at a high quality agricultural trade show. Today Empire Farm Days has grown to be the largest, outdoor, three-day trade show in the Northeast, with more than 600 exhibitors. The event originated as Potato Look For EMPIRE Corner of Empire Blvd. & East Shade Tree Ave. GVM Double Duty , Wi mm? EFD Rich In History August 5, 6 & 7 Field Days in 1931. In 1964 the show was called the Potato Field Day and Farm Materials Exhibi tion and was hosted by Hum phreys Farm, Hartford; 1965 co hosts McCormick Farms and William Gozelski, Gainsville; 1966 co-hosts Russell Mathews and Monroe County Department of Parks, Mendon. In 1967 the show had grown to such a magnitude that another name change was required to re flect the scope of the event. Em pire Farm Days was bom. Since then following farms have hosted the annual event: 1967 Lucian Hills; 1968 co-hosts Smith, Coult er, Lincoln Knolls and Harold Pa. Couple Honored With Young Jersey Breeder Award COLUMBUS, Ohio Joe and Melinda Vanderfeltz, Rushville, were recently named by the American Jersey Cattle Associa tion (AJCA) as recipients of its Young Jersey Breeder Award. They were recognized for their accomplishments on June 27, during the annual meeting of the AJCA and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) in Columbus, Ohio. The Vanderfeltzes have been involved in the dairy industry since their youth. The steps to full ownership of Vanderfeltz Jerseys have been small but sure. Joe grew up on a registered Hol stein farm in Jefferson City, Mo., and Melinda on a registered Jer sey farm in Rushville. In 1996, they joined Melinda’s parents in GVM AT THE FARM SHOW Tanks Pumps Hose Valves And More 374 Heidlersburg Road Biglerville, PA 17307 866-677-4510 www.gvminc.com Rice, Canastota; 1969 Selden Farm, Greigsville; 1970 King Brothers, Layfayette; 1971 John P. Halpin and Sons, Avon; 1972-73 NYS CoUege of Agricul ture and Life Sciences at Cornell, Dryden; 1974-75 Neenan Broth ers, Holcomb; 1976-77 John P. Halpin and Sons, Seneca Castle; 1978-80 N. Palladino and Son, Pompey; 1981-82 NYS College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell, Dryden; 1983-85 Brock Acres, Holcomb; 1986-87 N. Palladino and Sons, Pompey and 1988-Present Rodman Lott and Son Farms, Seneca Falls. Get up-to-date Information on the Website at www.empirefarm days.com. partnership of the Jersey herd, but still maintained full-time em ployment off the farm. In 1999, Melinda’s father passed away and they bought out the partner ship and took over full-time man agement of the dairy herd. The 80-cow Vanderfeltz herd ended 2002 with a rolling herd average of 16,203 lbs. milk, 764 lbs. fat and 580 lbs. protein. The most recent type appraisal ended with 18 Excellent and 48 Very Good cows. Joe and Melinda are actively involved in a variety of dairy or ganizations, including the Penn sylvania Jersey Cattle Club. In 2002, they were named recipients of the Pennsylvania Young Jer sey Breeder Award. is* ■% • * Norwesco Tanks
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers