Lancaster Farming, Saturday,, Februa 8 Quality Soybean Seed Is Reported in Short Supply Delmarva soybean growers and seedsmen are faced with a small supply of high-quality seed for this year’s crop. Rain, high humidity and un seasonably warm weather last September and October in creased disease problems in soybeans and resulted in damage to many seed lots, according to Dr. William H. Mitchell and Dr. Robert B. Carroll, Extension plant specialists at the University of Delaware. The problem is widespread and growers are urged to start early in lining up an adequate supply of seed for spring planting. Germination Tests In cooperation with the State Seed Testing Laboratory, ger mination tests were conducted on samples from 72 lots of soybean seed in the University’s greenhouse. The lots represented about 50,000 bushels of seed or enough seed to plant nearly 25 per cent of the state’s soybean acreage. Half of the seed in each sample For good production next lactation, FEED PURINA DAIRY CONDITIONER As a dairyman, you know that good milk production doesn’t just happen. It’s something you plan for by establishing a herd with the genetic potential for good production, then managing and feeding your cows so they’ll produce up to their bred-in ability Many successful local dairymen also plan for good pro duction with a proven program of dry cow feeding. They need Purina Dairy Conditioner, a research proven ration to help give dry cows body condition they need for good production after they freshen. Purina Dairy Conditioner is an extra-palatable 12% percent protein ration. It’s fortified with vitamins A and D plus extra phosphorus to help guard against milk fever. Purina Dairy Conditioner is low-cost, too, because the amounts you feed depend on your cows’ condition and on the quality of the roughages you feed. For example, a cow dried off in good condition being fed high-quality roughages would require less Dairy Conditioner than a cow in only fair condition being fed fair quality roughages. Drop in soon and get your free copy of the Purina Dry Cow Program folder. We’ll be glad to show you how Purina Dairy Conditioner can help you prepare your dry cows,for good pro duction next lactation. John J. Hess, 11, Inc. Ph; 442-4632 Paradise West Willow Farmers Assn., Inc. Ph; 464-3431 West Willow John B. Kurtz Ph: 354-9251 R. D. 3, Ephrata was treated with a recommended fungicide, while the remaining seed was used in an untreated check. The soybeans were planted at a uniform depth in a sandy-loam soil and germination readings were obtained after nine days. Mitchell and Carroll point out that the quality of most seed lots tested was improved greatly with the fungicide treatment. Treated seed averaged 76 per cent ger mination compared to 53.5 per cent for the untreated soybeans— an increase of 22.5 per cent. But seed appearance was a poor indicator of quality, Mitchell adds. Some of the best looking seed lots had the lowest rate of germination. Pod and stem blight had an obvious effect on germination. Purple stain, on the other hand, caused little damage to seed quality. Some crop specialists are predicting a substantial increase in the number of soybean acres planted on Delmarva in 1972. Ira B. Landis Ph: 394-7912 1912 Creek Hill Rd., Lane. James High & Sons Ph: 354-0301 GordonviUe Wenger's Feed Mill Inc. Ph: 367-1195 Rheems Many growers, however, will be planting seed that normally would be considered sub standard. Mitchell offers the following suggestions for growers: 1. Plant certified seed. 2. Treat seed with a fungicide. Growers can use either a slurry or seed box treatment. 3. Have all seed tested for ger mination. Weaver Will Expand Frozen Fried Chicken Operation Victor F. Weaver, Inc. recently announced plans to increase its prepared foods production by opening an additional frozen fried chicken operation at the com pany’s New Holland facility. The decision to open an ad ditional shift, scheduled to begin March 6, will create 60 new jobs. Weaver, a national leader of prepared poultry products, initially began production of its frozen fried chicken line seven year ago. It was the first com pany to successfully market such a product on a retail sales level. Central Tractor Organizes The first meeting of the Central 4-H Tractor Club was held Tuesday, February 1, at Landis Brothers, Inc., Manheim Pike, Lancaster. The following officers were fleeted: Darryl Bollinger, president; Dennis Landis, vice president; Dudley Rohrer, secretary, Darwin Nissley, treasurer, and Jere Swarr, news reporter A film on “Farm Safety” was shown. The next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. February 8. Those interested are invited to attend. News Reporter, Jere Swarr A "LITTLE LITTER” HURTS ...in fact & too many Little Litters , can put you out of When used with exclusive Big Dutchman electric heat mats, properly placed Alum inum slatted floor and controlled ventila tion, this unit provides an ideal farrowing arrangement and a disease-free environ ment. If you are concerned about today's litter problem, see us. We’ll help you “solve” the litter problem. LET US HELP YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER 4. Prepare a good seedbed before planting. 5. Wait until the soil tem perature reaches at least 65 degrees F. before planting. For most growers this may mean delaying planting until the last week in May. 6. If the soil is dry, wait for a rain. And, avoid planting seed deeper than inches. Currently, the company is conducting an intensive ad vertising-marketing campaign throughout the eastern United States west to the Missippi River. The program is aimed at promoting chicken during what is usually recognized as a seasonally slow sales period. The advertising campaign has reversed this trend and created wide spread demand for frozen fried chicken. BUSINESS 7. Use 10 per cent more seed than recommended. 8. If crusting occurs after planting, use a rotary hoe to loosen the soil. 9. Use herbicides carefully. Although herbicides are im portant for good weed control, improperly used they can cause costly damage to young seedlings. According to a company spokesman, “The additional Frozen Fried Chicken Operation, tentatively scheduled to begin operation March 6, will operate on a nine hour shift four nighte per week”. Weaver is one of the 10 largest employers in Lancaster County and the largest independent frozen fried chicken producer in the nation. BIG DUTCHMAN SOLVES THE “LITTER” PROBLEM. Mortality rates due to scours and accidental crushing have been sig nificantly reduced by the farm test ed and farm proven Big Dutchman farrowing system; a complete sys tem designed and built by people who understand the sow and her needs. The farrowing unit construc tion features embossed draft panels, heavy galvanized side walls, adjust able bottom rails, welded steel tub ing joints, doors that open at either end, welded steel bars, 17-gauge square steel tubes, feeder adaptable to either dry or liquid feeding and a back up bar adjustable to the size of the sow. BIG DUTCHMAN A Division of U.S. Industries, Inc. EASTERN BRANCH 215 Dlller Ave., New Holland, P*. 17557 Ph. 354-5168