A34-Lancaster harming, Saturday December 6, 2003 Young Farmers Surveyed About Needs, Concerns PHILADELPHIA Re search shows that Pennsylva nia farmers are getting older and that fewer young people are interested in becoming farmers. A project entitled “The Fu ture of Farming in Pennsylva nia: An Investigation into the Needs and Concerns of Penn sylvania’s Young Farmers” is a 14-month study that began in January 2003. As a part of the study, a full-scale survey was mailed to young farmers throughout the state beginning Oct. 31. Dr. Dianne Phillips, associ ate professor and chair of the Department of Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University, and Dr. Jason Phillips, assistant professor of marketing at West Chester University, were awarded a $50,000 research grant from The Center for Rural Pennsylvania to under stand the needs and concerns of young Pennsylvania farm ers. “We believe that if the state of Pennsylvania is to maintain its heritage as a rural state, it must find ways to encourage young farmers to continue Lancaster County Plans Youth Dairy Day LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) A Lancaster Youth Dairy Day will be conducted on Friday, Jan. 2 for all y oung folks in Lancaster C ounty interested in learning more about dairy cows and our dairy industry. The program will be conducted at the Farm and Home Center at 1383 Arcadia Road in Lancaster, from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The work shop is for any Lancaster youth ages 8-18 who would like to at tend. The day will be a fun day fdled with dairy activities and games, including: Fun With Dairy Foods, Feeds, Grains, and Forages, A Look at the Dairy Cow Reproductive Tract, and Dairy Games and Fun Prizes. TIRED OF WINTER? We Have Many Sizes of r »>«> 11. ln St°Gk Ladder Style For The Followin CHAIN Paul B * 50 Woodcorner Rd., Lititz, PA 17543 1 Miles West of Ephrata ♦ (717)738-7350 I # • HARDWARE • FARM SUPPLIES • CRANE SERVICE [ cfr I ups farming, as well as promote farming as a personally and financially rewarding occupa tion to other young people,” said Phillips. The input of every young farmer (18-35 years of age) in Pennsylvania is considered critical to the success of the project, whose findings will be provided to The Center for Rural Pennsylvania to be dis tributed to key audiences such as state legislators, nonprofit organizations, and farm advo cates. Young farmers can provide necessary information to the researchers who can then offer practical recommendations for policies and programs for farming. Dr. Phillips said, “Our poli cy recommendations will focus on access to capital, the use of direct marketing opportuni ties, and responses to increas ing land values in Pennsylva nia that make it difficult to buy land.” Farmers who have not yet received their survey should contact Dr. Diane Phillips at (610) 660-3232 or via e-mail; dphillip@sju.edu. A pizza lunch and drinks will be provided. You must register to attend, and space is limited. The cost will be $6 per person to cover materials and lunch. Please make checks payable to the 4-H Devel opment Fund. To register, send your name, address, phone, and ages along with a check to the Lancaster County Extension Office, Attn: Lori Little Dairy Youth Day, 1383 Arcadia Road, Room 1, Lancaster, PA 17601. Please reg ister by Tuesday, Dec. 23. You may also call the Lancaster County Extension Office at (717) 394-6851 to register, but you must send the registration fee to the office before the event. Every one is welcome. • Tractors • Pick-ups • Cars • Garden Tractors 8l—"% f—% f—V DDCDEFIiIiIOD People working in a family business are members of both a family and a business system. Generally these two systems sup port each other, but there are times when it is unclear which system should take precedence. Is the farm designed to meet the needs of the family, or do busi ness needs come first? The family-first or business first question could be viewed as a continuum rather than an abso lute. In some areas of the busi ness, perhaps the family comes first, in other areas the business may come first. If you are family-first, perhaps you pay family members more than they would earn on the open market and you are doing this because you believe that it is im portant to nurture and support family members. If you're business first, family I members get paid the same ! as any other employee: sal- | ary is based on education, i experience, and job per- | 1 formance. Combining a family and a business blurs the lines between one system, the family, and the other sys tem, the farm. Family farms are strongly influ enced by the patterns of the family that created them, making it impossible to understand the business without understanding the family. On the other hand, hard-nosed business deci sions are made with the bottom line in mind, and the business structure is designed to make money. No rule says one ap proach is better than the Duo Grip Quik-Gnp HOURS Mon Thurs Fn 7 8 M) Tues Wed 7 5 W Sat 7 4 (K) FAMILY FIRST OR FARM FIRST? ORDER NOW FOR SPRING & SAVE! • 200, 300, 500 and 750 Gallon Trailer Sprayers • 25, 55, 110, 200 and 300 Gallon 3PT Hitch Sprayers • Order by Dec. 19 th • 2003 year Prices • Additional Discounts Up To $400.00 Paul B. Zimmerman, Inc. * 50 Woodcorner Rd. * Lititz PA 17543 * (717) 738-7350 »••*• J » JJ 1J <• J ,*J t J .'J.f J * * I.J JJ I<IJ i 11 »•> •MiUki ff 11 New Farmers, New Generation M avion Bowlan Pennsylvania Farm Link other it depends on your fami ly and your values. Whichever approach you use will have long term implications. Keep in mind however current research indi- Considci the follow checklist to see whcie you fall in the family or business first continuum Family first 1 hcic is a place lor all family mcmbcis Kimily mcmhcis are paid mote than going laic Pay determined by responsibilities and pei formance I^cadeiship/lillc bestowed by buthnght Business lesourccs used foi family perks Outside experience less valuable than years of scivicc m the lamilv Sometimes decisions based on emotional Decisions based moie on needs of lamilv mcmhcis productivity, task onenlalion YEAR-END SPRAYER SALE 12, 20, 30', 35' & 40' Manual Fold Booms 30', 45' & 60' Hydraulic Fold Booms Tee Jet Automatic Rate Controllers Manual or Electric Boom Controls Tee Jet Valves & Nozzles Tank Rinse System Chemical Induction System Power wash with Jug Rinse 5 Gal or 15 Gal Foamer Markers Hypro Roller, Centrifugal or Diaphragm Pumps cates that family farms that use the business-first end of the con tinuum tend to support the chances of the business lasting into the next generation. Businesses that operate pri marily to provide wealth and em ployment to family members often do so at the expense of the business’ long-term sustainabili ty- If you would like to learn more business planning for your farm, consider taking Pennsylvania Farm Link’s “Tilling the Soil of Opportunity” course starting Jan. 6 at the Manheim Central High School. Deadline for regis tration for this course is Dec. 15. Call (717) 664-7077 for more in formation. Business hrst You must be qualified to Jo the job Leadership is earned Resources are used tot business purposes Outside service more important than >ears in the tamil> >tions
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