the Amish of Lancaster County by Donald B. Kraybill

Author:Donald B. Kraybill
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780811768160
Publisher: STACKPOLE BOOKS
Published: 2019-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

Stewards of the Soil

Amish life is rooted in the soil. Ever since European persecution pushed them into rural areas, the Amish have been tillers of the soil—and good ones, too. The land has nurtured their common life and robust families. “It’s been a long-standing tradition,” says one leader, “that Amish families live on the farm, attached closely to the soil, and a good father provides a farm for each of his boys.”

About 30 percent of Lancaster’s Amish families still earn their living by tilling the soil. Some farmers raise tobacco, which is considered family-friendly because it’s a labor-intense cash crop that provides work throughout much of the year. The harvesting and processing of tobacco has never been mechanized.

Dairy herds continue to generate the primary income for most traditional farmers. To qualify for the best milk prices, Amish farmers chill their milk in bulk tanks with refrigeration units powered by diesel engines instead of public electricity. They also use automatic vacuum milkers to milk their cows. Up-to-date veterinary services, vaccinations, medications, and commercial feed supplements enhance the productivity of Amish dairies. Agricultural consultants advise Amish farmers on the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and preservatives. Although modern in many appearances, Amish farms differ from non-Amish operations in several ways. Trying to cap the size of dairy herds in order to keep them family operations, the Ordnung prohibits milking parlors, silo unloaders, automatic gutter cleaners, and glass pipelines for pumping milk from cows to chilling tanks. These measures keep Amish herds much smaller than non-Amish ones. Feed and manure handling are often powered by hydraulic or air-driven pumps and elevators.

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