10—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 17,1971,
Why Weed Control Is Necessary
We think this photo is a self-contained
editorial.
In the center is a row of corn in a local
field which was accidentally skipped by
herbicide.
In the skipped row, the weeds are near
ly as tall as the corn. The corn averages
more than a foot shorter in the weedy row
than treated rows on either side. The plant
population is not as high in the weedy row,
indicating some com plants were killed by
the competing weeds.
The weedy corn is also several days
later in stage of maturity. While the treated
com is near full tassel, the weedy corn has
not even begun to tassel.
Looking ahead, it is easy to project that
the treated rows will produce an earlier and
much better yielding crop. Depending on
how severe the weeds and how high the
treated corn crop yield, we would anticipate
a yield of as much as twice as good in the
treated rows.
Fortunately, our reports indicate local
farmers are increasingly aware of how
much loss can result from weeds and grass
in corn. Weeds and grass rob the corn of
sunlight, moisture and nutrients.
Despite the losses that weeds and grass
cause, we observed a couple of corn fields
last year in which the weeds were com
pletely out of control.
Much more common, observation shoves
and reports confirm, is the field in which
partial control is achieved. While partial
control is better than none, the degree to
Check Your
Farmers should continue to pay very
close attention to the progress of their corn
from day to day. This should include close
examination for both disease and insects.
The Southern Corn Blight has already
received much attention. If it strikes, the
farmer may be able to minimize his losses
LANCASTER FARMING
Lancaster County’s Own Farm Weekly
P. O. Box 266 - Lititz, Pa. 17543
Office: 22 E, Main St., Lititz, Pa. 17543
Phone: Lancaster 394-3047 or Lititz 626-2191
Robert G. Campbell, Advertising Directoi
Zane Wilson, Managing Editor
Subscription price: $2 per year in Lancaster
County: S 3 elsewhere
Established November 4,1955
Published every Saturday by Lancaster
Farming, Lititz, Pa.
Second Class Postage paid at Lititz, Pa
17543.
Member of Newspaper Farm Editors Assn.
Pa. Newspaper Publishers Association, and
National Newspaper Association
which weeds and grass go unchecked is the
degree to which they will cut down on pro
duction.
■While farmers who are content to pro
duce 100 to 125 bushels of corn on good
ground may have some leeway with weeds
and management practices, the growing
numbers of farmers who are aiming for 150-
plus bushels per acre must do everything
just right. That includes good weed and
grass contrdl.
In our diverse farm community, farmers
use many different methods to get the job
done. Any of them can be very successful
if the farmer knows what he is doing, why
he is doing it and does it.
'Occasionally, we hear about a farmer _
who felt he couldn’t afford to buy the herbi
cide with which to control his weeds and so
ended up with a very poor crop. Since' vari
ous research shows that the farmer likely
will have to grow 75 bushels per acre or
more just to meet costs, it’s apparent that
the profit in corn is in high yields.
The farmer who can’t get weed control
and therefore can’t get a good crop
without herbicides, we suggest, can’t afford
not to use herbicides. While the value of
herbicides will vary considerably from
farm to farm, depending on management
practices, the individual farmer may easily
get a return of five to one for his herbicide
investment.
No matter how it’s done, weed control is
essential. Examine our photo again to see
why.
Corn Often
by harvesting the crop as com silage at an
early date.
There have also been reports of pests
in many fields. In particular, the army
worm was an early problem.
Now it’s time for first signs of the corn
rootworm. We understand some adult root
worms have already been spotted in a few
fields.
Last year, it was reported that the root
worm had reached large numbers in some
fields with continuous corn and farmers
were advised to take remedial action this
year if the rootworm existed in large num
bers last year.
As the com crop matures, farmers this
year need to watch for the rootworm to see
if the control program they used has been
successful or to be aware if the pest be
comes well established in new areas.
A few minutes a day spent checking the
progress and condition of the corn crop, we
believe, in the long run will be time very
profitably spent.
NOW IS
THE TIME..
By Max Smith
Lancaster County Agent
To Control Japanese Beetle
For a time we thought the
Japanses beetle was fading away
and that we would not be bother
ed with them. However, in th»
past two years we are aware of
an increase in number of this
nest and they are feeding on
flowers, ornamentals, fruit trees,
and shade trees. In past years
they consumed soybean nlants
■and reduced pollination of corn
because they ate the silk as fast
as it grew. All folks are urged
to control them now in order to
prevent a bui'M-up. Lawns and
turf may be treated in spring or
fail to kill the grub of the beetle
and adults may now be killed by
soraying with Sevin, Methoxy
chlor, or Malathion.
To Soil Test For Fall Seedings
August seedlings of alfalfa, as intake. Also, the mulching of
■well as all seedings of winter *uch plants us tomatoes, egg
grain this fall, should be pre- plants, and peppers will con
ceded by a complete sold test on serve moisture and control
the area. This will reveal the weeds. This should 'be done soon
lime and fertilizer needs. These In order to protect the plants
materials should he incorporated during the heat of the summer,
into the topsoil while the ground In garden soil that is not' high
is being tilled rather than top- in fertility, it might be beneficial
dress on the growing cron. Alfal- to side-dress such crops as corn,
fa is a heavy feeder of lime and tomatoes, and cucumbers with a
will not survive in a sour soil, complete garden fertilizer. Place
Most farm crops respond best'it along the row about three
when soils are nearly neutral inches from the plants and work
(ph of 6.4 to 6.8) and winter into the .topsoil; fertilize before
grains are no exception. mulching.
FOLLOWING 'ORDERS’
Lesson for July 18,1971
■eckpraund Scripture: Deuteronomy 14;
It-20; 17:1-11; Daniel 6, Acts 4:13-
20; 1 Peter 2-13-17.
Oevetienel Reeding: 1 Peter 4.12-IP.
At the Nuremburg War Trials
following the Second World War
some of the defendants sought to
justify their ‘war crimes” by pro
testing that they had “only been
following orders.” They had been
obedient to the laws of the Third
Reich; surely they
shouldn’t be con
demned for obey
ing the law? The
Allies, however,
said that they
should have been
obedient to a
higher law than
that of the state.
Rev. Althouse o^ers” 0 ' 10 ™" 9
Several months ago an Ameri
can soldier was on trial for a
similar “war crime.” He too pro
tested that he had “only been
following orders.” Ironically, the
same American public which
called for the prosecution of Ger
mans at Nuremburg now found
itself confused and upset by the
very same issue. Instead of in
sisting that -he too should have
been obedient to a higher author
ity, many exalted his unquestion
ing obedience of the military au
thority."
We have had to realize that
this problem of God and state is
not so easy as we might have
thought. On the one hand we are
counseled by Paul: “Let every
person be subject to the govern-
To Manage Dry Cows
The incidence of twisted stom
achs in dairy cows seems to be
on the increase. A release from
our Dr. Sam Guss at Penn State
reminds dairymen that dry cows
need liberal amounts of coarse
roughage during the dry period
and 'limited amounts of energy
feeds Roughage keeps the ru
men active and prevents the sev
eral stomachs from getting out
of proportion and out of place.
Silage may be fed to dry cows,
but hay, or other dry matter,
should be included daily in the
ration. '
Garden Crops
Most garden crops will respond
to special care at this time of
tiie year; I refer to frequent shal
low cultivation to kill the weed*
and open the soil for faster water
ig authorities . > Therefore J he
;ho resists the authorities resists
what God has appointed . . . ”
f ßomans 13:1,2). There is also
*eter: “Be subject for the Lord’s
ike to every human institution
. (1 Peter 2:13).
These early Christian leaders
icognized the value of govern-
tent, law, and order, even when
the, rulers were not inclined to
' the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For
all its faults, it brought order and
peace where it prevailed. Be
cause man is a sinner and not
perfectly good, and because in his
rebelliousness against God he-is
1 capable of causing much harm
_ and misery to others, he needs
some source of authority to help
him live -a productive life. We
wish men would always want to
do the right thing, but they do
not and so we need government
and governors to help us along
that line.
Right in the sight of God
Yet, having said this, we can
not forget that Jesus was unfairly
tried and put to death as a sub
versive of the state. There is Pet
er and John standing before the
Jewish court and protesting that
they would have to obey God
rather than men and there is also
a long history of struggle be
tween Christians and their states:
John Hus, Martin Luther, Thomas
More, Johnathan Edwards, etc.
How can we put these two
seemingly paradoxical ideas to
gether? Perhaps we must say, for
one thing, that we must be sub
ject to the state and its officials
so long as our loyalty to God is
not in danger. Order, even the
imperfect order of a struggling
government, is a blessing that
must not be regarded lightly.
Secondly, however, when we feel
that our loyalty to our govern
ment is in conflict with our loyal
ty to God, we have no choice but
to carefully and prayerfully steel
ourselves to follow the highest
“orders” of all.
(Based on outlines copyrighted by the
Division of Christian Education, National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Released by Community Press Service.)