—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 24, 1973
14
Tests Show Soil Nutrient
Reductions from Agnes Minimal
Tropical Storm Agnes affected
crop production in all parts of the
state, however, in most cases,
changes in fertility programs will
not be necessary to restore the
soil to its former yield potential,
an Extension agronomist at The
Pennsylvania State University
stated
Dr W Wayne Hmish, speaking
at the annual Vegetable Growers
and Food Processors Conference
last week, pointed out that test
reports indicate that most soils
retained their nutrients in spite of
the severe flood conditions
“The most important thing a
farmer can do is have a complete
soil test taken of all flooded
areas,” Dr Hmish said “If the
topsoil was eroded but a
workable subsoil exists, an ap
plication of the needed elements
following test recommendations
can bring this soil back to a
productive capacity.”
Organic matter, he said, is
essential in rebuilding flood
ravaged soil Animal manures at
a rate of 15 to 30 tons per acre
should be plowed down He
cautioned that when manure is
used, less chemical fertilizer is
needed because it contains many
of the needed soil elements.
Plowing down roots, stalks, and
whole plants is probably the most
feasible method of adding the lost
organic matter.
“In severly damaged fields,
there are three steps to follow to
return the soil to a productive
potential,” the agronomist
emphasized “These are removal
of debris, control of new weeds
introduced into the area, and
restoration of the sand, silt, and
clay complex.”
Dr. Hinish noted that a major
problem encountered this past
growing season was the lack of
air in the soil. Flooded soils had
the air forced out as they became
saturated
Another serious situation took
Sec. Butz Explains
Rise in Food Price
Agriculture Secretary Earl L.
Butz said Tuesday that the cost of
eating jumped 2 to 3 per cent in
January for the sharpest monthly
gain in 20 to 25 years.
“Consumers are being misled
about farm prices by big city
newspapers and the urban
press,” he told an agricultural
outlook conference.
place when flood waters forced
nitrogen from the soil into the
atmosphere is a gaseous state.
This caused crop yellowing and
stunted growth.
’The agronomist also noted that
following Agnes, many crops
began to curl. This was a result of
a lack of oxygen in the soil which
prohibited plants from receiving
calcium.
“I want to emphasize that the
elements vital to crop growth
probably were not lost by
leaching, however, a soil test is
essential in determining whether
damage to the soil structure
occurred,” Dr. Hinish said.
Butz said the January rise, to
be disclosed in a forthcoming
report by the Labor Department,
will be interpreted by some
reporters as an annual rate of 24
to 36 percent in consumer food
bills.
Such a projection, Butz said,
“is grossly unfair,” and does not
take into account seasonal
variations and volatility of farm
prices
“That use of statistics is like
saying if you have a cold this
week it is at the annual rate of 52
colds a year,” Butz said. “This
kind of arithmetic is
preposterous, and the urban
newspapers ought to know bet
ter.”
' A new Consumer Price Index,
to be issued soon by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, will probably
show an increase in January food
prices of “2 to 3 percent or
something like that,” Butz said.
The Agriculture Department
has predicted that retail food
prices will rise about 6 percent
for all of 1973, the most in 22
years, compared with a 4.3
percent gain in 1972.
“During the last two months we
had seasonal winter time rises in
farm prices, largely due to
weather and transportation
shortages,” Butz said.
UDIA Unveils New Brochure
“A United Dairy Industry
Action” is the title of a new
brochure published by the United
Dairy Industry Association
(UDIA) which was unveiled for
the first time at the Association’s
Annual Meeting in Las Vegas
February 13. The publication is
intended for wide circulation to
dairy industry leaders
throughout the country to inform
them about UDIA and its ac
tivities.
UDIA is a dairy farmers’
organization. It’s purpose is “to
increase the income of dairy
farmers through the most ef
fective and efficient use of their
investment in the coordinated
promotion of U.S.-produced milk
and milk products.”
It is supported and governed by
dairy farmers through their
leaders who represent the
regional and local organizations
on the Association’s Board of
Directors. The direct concern of
these leaders for UDIA programs
assures dairy farmers that they
will receive the greatest market
building effort for their in
vestment, says the brochure.
Copies of the new brochure
may be obtained free of charge
by writing UDIA at 6300 North
River Road, Rosemont, Illinois
60018.