New Group Sharpens Focus on Lancaster Agriculture

www.lancasterfarming.com
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 19, 2011 - New Group Sharpens Focus on Lancaster Agriculture
Dick Wanner
11 farmers and 11 representatives
from the agribusiness community,
LITITZ, Pa. — Daniel Heller each of whom will have a vote on
matters brought before the board.
believes environmental regulation
In addition there are 11 nonvoting
is the single most important issue
members.
facing the Lancaster County farmHeller is also a full-time farmer.
ing community, a community that
As president of Flint Rock Farms,
generates $4 billion in economic he oversees an enterprise that proactivity.
duces a million-and-a-half broilers
“We feel the EPA has made annually at the Lititz location. The
Lancaster County ground zero in business also owns a broiler facilwatershed management,” Heller ity in Delmarva.
said in his office here at Flint Rock
Flint Rock Stables, which startFarm. “But farmers are not sure of ed with 12 horse stalls in 2001, has
what they should and should not grown to include an indoor riding
be doing.
arena and a total of 40 stalls for
“All of us want clean water. But boarding horses. Like the broiler
there is the risk of putting some houses, the stables are on the farm
farmers out of business without where Heller was born and grew
really solving any environmental up, and where he continues the
problems. We’d like to come up farming legacy of his grandfather
with solutions that do work, that and father.
make sense and that can be fundScott Sheely, executive director
ed,” he said.
of the Lancaster County WorkHeller’s thoughts carry some force Investment Board, is one
weight. Heller is chairman of the of the nonvoting members but a
Lancaster County Agriculture key figure in the development of
Council, a group formed in Janu- the Ag Council. The local WIB is
ary of this year to deal with cur- providing funding and some staff
rent and future issues affecting to get the council started, Sheely
the county’s farmers and agribusi- said, with the goal of having it become a stand-alone entity in the
nesses.
The council board consists of near future.
“It has been
more than five
PENNFIELD – GRAIN BANK
years since the
Blue
Ribbon
Prices may vary by feed mill location.
Commission on
Prices Week Of 2/20/11
Lancaster County
Agriculture issued
Corn
$7.34 Bu.
its report,” Sheely
Soybeans
$13.55 Bu.
said.
Some of the
Barley
$5.35 Bu.
suggestions in the
• Use Grain “Same As Cash’’ • Yearly Statement of
report have been
Grain Transactions
• Grain Back-Hauling
Available
implemented, he
• Prices Updated Weekly
said, but there
John’s Weekly Special
has been a growStature Milk Replacer
ing feeling that
leaders in the
$ 00
Per Bag Discount
farm community
Reporter
1
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Photo by Dick Wanner
Dan Heller and Silver, a permanent resident of Flint Rock Stables. Heller, Flint Rock’s president, is chairman of the newly formed Lancaster
County Agriculture Council.
— farmers themselves, the businesses that work with them and
the organizations that serve them
— need to come together, focus on
1-800-995-0333
the issues and unite in creating an
atmosphere that will help agriculture flourish in the county.
Sheely said the Center of Excel-
lence in Production Agriculture
will be absorbed in the new council. The website developed by the
Center of Excellence will become
part of the council. The website
is at www.keeplancastercountyfarming.com. Sheely said people
who want to follow the work of
the council will be able to keep up
with the news on the website.
Here are board members of the
Lancaster County Agriculture
Council:
• Producers — Rob Barley,
Star Rock Farms; Jack Coleman,
Cherry Crest Farm; Lisa Graybeal,
Graywood Farms; Dan Heller;
Steve Hershey; George Hurst, Oregon Dairy; J. Kevin Rohrer; Jeff
Balmer, Stoney Path Farm; and a
representative from the Plain Sect
community.
• Agribusiness — Jim Adams,
Wenger Feeds; Derek Baucom,
Tyson Foods; Dave Dell, Wenger
Feeds; Mary Henry, Mid-Atlantic
Farm Credit; Dale Hershey, Hometown Heritage Bank; Don Hoover,
Binkley and Hurst; Greg Kirkham,
Westfield Insurance; Michael
Peachey, Acuity Advisors; and Lamar King, Fulton Bank.
• Nonvoting members — Tom
Baldrige, Lancaster Chamber of
Commerce and Industry; James
Cowhey, Lancaster County Planning Commission; Chris Herr,
PennAg Industries; Lyle Hosler,
Economic Development Company
of Lancaster County; Matt Knepper, Lancaster County Agriculture
Preservation Board; Karen Martenyk, Lancaster Farmland Trust;
Don McNutt, Lancaster County Conservation District; Leon
Ressler, Lancaster County Cooperative Extension; Scott Sheely;
Dennis Stuckey, Lancaster County
commissioners; a representative
from Lancaster County agriculture
educators.
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