BERKS COUNTY POMONA GRANGE #43                                                     FEBRUARY 2007

MASTER’S REPORT
by Charles Seidel

 

How many of you have considered using ethanol or biodiesel to fuel your vehicles?  Have you changed the way you heat your home?  More people are now using corn or wood stoves in the home.  The move to use “green fuels” (including agricultural products made from corn, soybeans, cotton and timber) is changing our society in a way that will allow the U.S. to be less dependent on foreign oil.

 

In 2007, Congress will be working on a new Farm Bill.  Support for “green fuels” research and development should now be considered rural economic development.  Traditional support programs for grain and dairy, world trade, and conservation projects will be debated. 

 

Representative Tim Holden of Schuylkill County (Dem—17th District) is now the 2nd ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee.  Our new Senator, Robert Casey, has been appointed to the Senate Agriculture Committee.  Hopefully, we will see a Farm Bill passed in 2007 that will improve farm profitability and encourage young people to enter farming.

Special Points of Interest:

 

 *  Meet Junior Grange Princess—5

 

 * Open House 2007 Schedule—1

 

 * Ohio State Tour/Pomona Trip—6

 

 * December Pomona Highlights—7

 

 * 2007 Farm Family Appreciation

    Celebration—insert

 

 * Eastern Regional Youth Conference—4

 

 * Haus Tournament/Game Night—5

 

 * ECHO on Website—1

 

 * Wernersville State Hospital—5

 

 * Pomona Sale—5

1

ECHO IS ON THE WEBSITE

 

Starting with this issue, the Pomona ECHO is now on the berkscountygrange.org website.  So, if you would like to help Pomona save postage and receive your newsletter in advance of regular mailings, please notify Fern Kulp (fkulp@schuylkillvalley.org) or Tom Wike (tom.wike@gmail.com)of your email address.  We will notify you when the ECHO is posted on the website instead of mailing you a copy.  In addition, if you have any suggestions on improving the website, please let us know.

2007 OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE

 

March 19  Bernville Grange, 7:30 p.m.

March 20  Marion Grange   7:30 p.m.

March 27  Ontelaunee Grange  7:30 p.m.

March 29  Kutztown Grange  7:30 p.m.

April 17    Gouglersville Grange  7:30 p.m.

April 19    Pioneer Grange  7:30 p.m.

April 26    Fleetwood Grange  7:30 p.m.

May 2       Virginville Grange  7:30 p.m.

May 9       Geigertown Grange  7:30 p.m.

May 15     Shartlesville Grange  7:00 p.m.

May 17    Alleghenyville Grange  7:30 p.m.