—Lancaster Farming. Saturday. May 27, 1972
10
Editor’s Note; The guest editorial for
this week was submitted by J. B. Shaffer,
farm specialist with PP&L.
Electric Check-Up Pays Off for Farmers
With the intensified livestock operations
in Southeastern Pennsylvania, farmers are
using more electricity than ever before. In
fact, most farmers are finding they have
increased their electric consumption faster
than they thought possible just a few years
ago. Because of this growth, farmstead
wiring can be inadequate within several
years.
One symptom of an overworked and-or
inadequate electric system is fuse blowing.
Fuses or circuit breakers act like a safety
valve. They shut off electricity when the
flow of current is too great. When a fuse
blows, disconnect all electric attachments
to that circuit Replace the fuse or set the
breaker. If the circuit is again broken, there
is a good chance that there is trouble in the
wiring that will require an electrician.
When fuses blow or circuit breakers trip
time after time, while equipment is in use,
it probably means that too many ap
pliances are connected to the same circuit.
Connect some of the load to a different
circuit, or install heavier wiring. Above all,
warn safety expertts, don’t replace a blown
fuse with a larger one. This only creates a
fire hazard
Another sign that some adjustments are
needed in the electric system is the dim
ming of lights. Most electric motors draw
several times as much current when they
start as when they are running, so some
light dimming is to be expected when
starting a motor. However, if the lights stay
dim while the motor is m use, heavier
wiring is probably needed.
There may also be too much distance
electr point and
the equipment. Long runs need heavier
wiring. In some cases, it may even be
worthwhile to relocate the point of electric
distribution closer to larger motors
Proper Grounding of Buildings is a Must
Proper grounding of farm electric
systems protects lives - safeguards
animals and poultry and assures depen
dable operation of the system.
One of the big trends in farm con
struction is the all metal building. Its
durability and convenience features give
the all metal building broad application in
agriculture The dairy farmer, for example,
can use them in nealy every phase of his
program and the same is true in beef,
poultry, and swine operations Gram
farmers, too, use metal buildings to store
their harvest and machinery
For the safe use, the all metal building
must be given special attention when it
comes to grounding When other types of
buildings obviously contain metal parts,
none conduct uncontrolled electric energy
as efficiently as the all metal building
Farmers who are thinking about con
structing an all metal building should make
sure that plans call for adequate groun
ding Those who have recently constructed
metal buildings, and are uncertain about
the grounding systems should have their
electrical contractor check the system
thoroughly
One system of grounding that is being
used on many farms is bonding - or the
tying together of all electric equipment and
metal parts to one ground circuit
By bonding the building and equipment,
any fault current automatically has an easy
exit to the ground Also, the chance of
voltage build-up in any single piece of
equipment or in metal is minimized.
Even so, for added safety, individually
Rumors, even false ones, often force us
to look more closely at the obvious. Such a
false rumor is the one about closing the
Guest Editorial
We Need the Labs
J. B. Shaffer
PP&L Farm Specialist
grounding certain items such as gutter
cleaners and other equipment that is likely
to be used under damp or wet conditions is
necessary.
Portable Power Tools Great if Used Safely
Power tools are great time savers and
you can do so many things with them
There is an important safety factor to
observe and that is the grounding of all
power tools.
This safety feature is the reason
manufacturers supply three-pronged
grounding type plugs with most portable
tools and appliances. The ground wire
“siphons-off fault current that may be
caused by a short, poor insulators or
dampness. If the tool has no ground, then
the operator becomes the conductor of a
current and he receives a shock.
For those receptacles accepting only
two-pronged plugs, there are adaptors
which permit use of power equipment with
a three-pronged plug. The pig tail wire on
the adaptor should be grounded to the
metal cover plate screw which connects to
the already grounded wall outlet box. In
older buildings, a third wire from the
ground box to the receptacle will have to
be added to make this work.
Another kind of “shock proofing" is
double insulation. Tools that have this
safety feature have two layers of insulation.
The top layer or outer covering of the tool
is made of high impact plastic, which is a
poor conductor of electric current. Double
insulation is generally more expensive than
the three-prong plug ground. Users should
remeber that only the tool, not the cord, is
protected with double insulation.
A third, and the newest kind of shock
protecting device is called a circuit in
terrupter. This device stops the current
flow. If the tool or appliance plugged into it
develops a shock causing fault, the circuit
interrupter detects an electric shock by the
imbalance of currents in the two wires
supplying power to the tools.
Another factor in safe use of power tools
is proper use and handling Manufacturers
are required by law to make a safe tool.
Never use tools when safety shields are out
of place or the tool’s cover is missing,
broken or cracked. Take time to read
manufacturers’ instructions.
Safety experts say that common sense is
also an important factor in use of tools and
appliances For instance, never stand in
water while using an electric tool. Keep
tools in good repair. Always have spare
grounding adaptors and finally, make sure
tht the electrical wiring in your building
and on your farmstead meets safety
standards
State's Animal Industry Laboratories. The
rumor has made a lot of people realize just
(Continued On Page 16)
NOW IS
THE TIME . .
By Max Smith
Lancaster County Agent
To Control Alfalfa Weevil
We have often heard of
“comebacks" and it seems that
the old alfalfa weevil might just
have done this in some areas of
the southeast. We have reports of
very serious eating of the alfalfa
plants before they get to the bud
stage. The decision must be made
whether or not to spray and wait
the seven to 14 days before
harvest, or cut as soon as possible
without any spray. We are ad
vised that it is practical to spray
a field if at least 75 per cent of the
plants are being eaten before it
matures to the bud stage. Less
infestation would mean to let it
get more mature, then harvest
the crop and spray the stubble;
growers will have to keep a close
watch on their fields; hot weather
will develop the buds and
blossoms rapidly and soon the
alfalfa may be cut. Materials to
be used are the same as in the
last two former years; parathion,
or a mixture of parathion and
malathion or methoxychlor are
recommended.
To Wait for Blosoms
New stands of alfalfa should
not be harvested until at least 10
to 20 per cent of the plants are in
blosom; we have had several
phone calls on this subject and
feel that the new stand should be
a bit more mature for this first
cutting. If it is cut in the bud
stage, the plants may be
weakened resulting in lower
yields for the remainder of this
year and weaker plants this
winter.
To Beware of Soybean Seed
We continue to get warnings
IS CHRIST
SPECIAL?
Lesson for May 28,1972
Background Scripture: Colossians 30-17,
Peter 4 12-19, Revelation 2 1-7,
3 14-22
Devatianal Beading 1 Peter 2 1-6
“God I believe in,” said a par
ishoner candidly, “but I’ve never
understood why we make such a
fuss over Jesus ”
The statement bothered me;
not that I thought she shouldn’t
have said it—l was glad she had
—but that the
church had some
how failed to con
vey its fundamen
tal truth about
Christ If she had
been the only one
ever to have said,
that, I wouldn’t
she wasn’t. I have heard many
ask the same question or state
the same belief m one way or
another
On things above
Strangely, this was the same
question that occasioned Paul’s
letter to the church at Colossae
People in the church there were
being beseiged by strange re
ligious teachings that tended to
combine Christianity with other
religious faiths The end result
was a watered-down version of
the gospel and a Christ who was
but one of a number of divine
revelations.
So Paul wrote his letter to help
from our Agronomy Extension
Office at Penn State regarding
the poor quality of soybean seed
this year. Growers are urged to
use only Certified seed from a
dependable dealer; we get
reports of germination being as
low as only 14 per cent on some
samples with unknow*,
background. All seeds should be
treated with a recommended
“fungicide such as Arasan 70 R in
order to prevent various
diseases. Soybean planting time
is at hand and growers are urged
to give some attention to seed
quality The beans should be
inoculated and the fertilizer
should be drilled into the ground
prior to seeding unless the drill or
planter has a special fertilizer
attachment that keeps the fer
tilizer and the seed separated.
The use of some herbicide for
weed control is suggested; the
1972 Agronomy Guide gives
additional information.
To Manage Forage Harvesting
The harvesting of a forage crop
for either hay or silage is worthy
of considerable planning and
attention. The feed nutrients in
the crop are very important if
they get harvested and not lost in
the field. The proper stage of
maturity, the right amount of
wilting, and the careful har
vesting to avoid field losses are
all important. Careful
management of the harvest will
reduce feed costs this winter.
Quality forage does not come
easy and takes planning
throughout the entire year in
order to make the most of it.
the Christians at Colossae to find
an answer to the question; “Is
Christ one Lord among many, or
is he unique?” Paul’s response
was unambiguous; “He is the
image of the invisible God, the
first-born of creation; for in him
all things were created, in heaven
and on earth ... He is before all
things and in him all things hold
together . . . For in him all the
fullness of God was pleased to
dwell . . (1:15, 17, 19).
But Paul was concerned, not
only that they resist erroneous
beliefs, but that they also resist
the practical results of those be
liefs as well. Among those prac
tical results of a watered-down
Christian faith were the practice
of useless rituals and regulations.
“Why do you submit to regula
tions’” Paul wanted to know
“These have indeed an appear
ance of wisdom in promoting rig
or of devotion and self-abasement
and seventy to the body, but they
are of no value in checking the
indulgence of the flesh” (2 23).
And whatever you do ...
This brings us to another prac
tical consequence of their water
eddown faith: immoral behavior.
Because their practice of the
faith was diluted by many pagan
practices, the moral life of the
church had suffered. Strange ideas
had produced strange behavior.
So Paul gives them a standard
by which they can sort out con
fusing beliefs and practices. “If
then you have been raised with
Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is . . - Set
your mind on things that are
above, not on things that are on
the earth . . . And whatever you
do, in word or deed, do every
thing in the name of the Lord
Jesus ..” (31, 2, 17).
It is Christ, then, who makes
the difference.
(ftosed on outlines copyrighted by_ the
Division of Christian Education, National
Council of the Church** of Christ In tho U S.A.
Released by Community Pross Service.)