Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, July 13, 1974, Image 43

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    Can Graded Furrows
Outperform Terraces?
Graded furrow systems outperform terraced systems.
Clarence W. Richardson, agricultural engineer at the ARS
Blackland Research Center, Temple, Tex', found this to be
true in research comparing runoff, soil loss, and farm tillage
efficiencies. His studies were conducted- on field-size plots
comparing a graded furrow system and a comparable area
utilizing a standard terrace system.
With the introduction of mechanized farming methods,
terracing, the traditional technique for controlling soil
erosion, has been found unsatifactory due to the difficulty of
employing present-day farm equipment to work these fields.
Richardson’s project was based on a 3-year crop rotation of
cotton, grain sorghum, and oats. The graded furrow system
was constructed on an 11-acre site near Riesel, Texas.
Each furrow was designed to carry only the runoff that
originated on the furrow iteself, therefore runoff from out
side sources would overtax the furrow capacity and overtop
the ridge of the furrow. For this reason diversion channels
were constructed above the top furrow of the field to convey
the runoff from the ungraded area above the graded furrow
field to a separate waterway.
During the test period there were 28 runoff-producing
storms. The average annual rainfall during the project was
32.76 inches.
Runoff from the terraced watershed (TW) generally ex
ceeded that from the graded furrow watershed (GFW)
during most storms. Reduced runoff on the GFW was
probably due to more unifrom distribution of excess water on
the GFW than on the TW, where the excess water was con-
LANCO BEDDING
FOR POULTRY & LIVESTOCK
WOOD SHAVINGS
BAGGED or BULK
WHITE PINE in BALES
, CALL 199-3541
Put your finger
on measurably
better combine
performance
Grumelli Form Service Nissley Farm Service
Quarryville, Pa. Washington Boro, Pa.
jChSI
ALLIS-CHALMERS
' * ’ *y w
BHM Form Equipment, Inc.
Annirille, R.D.I, Pa.
We're gonna open your eyes!
centrated in the terrace channels.
Although erosion was minor on both watersheds, it was
generally greater in the GFW than the TW, except during
small runoff-producing storms. During the 3-yeard period the
GFW averaged 1.38 tons of soil erosion per acre, whereas the
TW averaged 1.09 tons per acre.
The design of the graded furrow system was put to a severe
test during an intense storm when a total of 4.42 inches of rain
fell, with 1.06 inches falling within 20 minutes. This storm
caused extensive inter-terrace erosion and sediment
deposition in terrace channels. The graded furrow system,
however, conveyed runoff rainwater into the drainage
waterway without over-topping the ridges or causing serious
erosion problems
On the average, the GFW tillage rate was 21 percent faster
than the TW. Only the 1969 seedbed preparation and cotton
harvest tasks were accomplished more quickly in the
terraced area. This was due partially to additional initial bed
preparation and poorly adapted machinery in the graded
furrow area.
Fewer turns on the long parallel rows in the GFW area, as
compared to the many point rows in the TW area, resulted in
faster tillage of the fields. Also, the time-consuming tasks of
maintaining terrace channels and ridges were eliminated
with the graded furrow system.
Frey Holstein Has
Outstanding Record
Another official production
record exceeding a half ton
of butterfat has been com
pleted by Fultonway
Crisscross Regina 6334755
(VG), a Registered Holstein
cow owned by J. Mowery
Frey & Son, Lancaster. This
is the third time that
“Regina” has achieved the
1,000 lb. butterfat production
Get Allis-Chalmers Pushbutton
Harvesting... Big Capacity with a
Gleaner combine from Allis-
Chalmers.
L. H. Brubaker
Lancaster, Pa.
Roy H. Buch, Inc.
Pennsylvania State
University supervised the
weighing and sample testing
of her production in
cooperation with the Dairy
Herd Improvement Registry
program of the Holstein-
Friesian Association of
I America.
Ephrata, R.D.2
level in a single lactation.
This record ranks among
4,300 similarly completed by
Registered Holstein cows on
official test.
The Pennsylvania
Holstein’s official record of
production totalled 20,374
lbs. of milk and 1,030 lbs. of
butterfat in 365 days. She
started her lactation at the
age of 7 years 11 months and
was milked two times daily.
Fultonway Crisscross
Regina Was bred in the Frey
herd. She was sired by Gray
View Crisscross 1378594
(EK), a bull that has earned
Gold Metal Sire recognition.
THE
COOLER
THAT HAS 1
MILK
EVERYTHING,
” —HiPerForm
including
AUTOMATIC
WASHING
SYSTEM!
USED BULK TANKS GOOD USED DIESELS
425 gal. Esco 1 - s.R. 1 Lister Diesel Engine
500 gal. Mojonmer
800 gal. Esco
400 gal. Girton
500 gal. Esco
Transfer Station, used 6 months
QUEEN ROAD REPAIR
Box 67, Intercourse, Pa. 17534
After 5 P.M.
John D Weaver 656-9982 - Kenneth M. Groff 354-0473
OR Answering Service 354-5181
24 Hour Service
We Stock Hess' Farm Supplies, Check Our Prices on Animal Medications
t•(<«' a < « < |
mcaster Farming. Saturday, Jul
TRY A CLASSIFIED AD
PHONE 626-2191 or 394-3047
WHITE WASHING
with
DAIRY WHITE
- Dries White
- Does Not Rub Off Easily
- No Wet Floors
- Is Compatible With Disinfectant
Also BARN CLEANING SERVICE
Available With Compressed Air
MAYNARD L. BEITZEL
Spraying Since 1961
Witmer. Pa. 717-392-7227
HAVE YOUR BARN CLEANED
AND SPRAYED NOW.
The satisfaction that comes
from doing a good joh of farming
It’s a great feeling to know that you are the master of
your farmlands . that when you treat your soil right,
it will treat you right Liming is one of the most impor
tant factors in keeping your soil in the highest produc
tive range By raising the pH fiom a level below 6O to
6 5 or higher, you can expect to harvest as much as 5
more bushels of corn per acre, with similar increases
for all other forage and cash crops
1
BULK
The Mueller Mode! “OH" with HiPerForm cooling,
Mueller-Matic Automatic Washing System, and built
in freeze protection control is the most advanced bulk
milk cooler in the world. The nation’s most
progressive dairymen are using it. Shouldn't you be?
m
fSL
1&'
HESS FARM
SUPPLIES
13,1974—4:
• «J
Phone 717-768-7111
3