24—La neuter Farming, Saturday, March 8, 1975
Lebanon-Dauphin Com
Growers Conduct Clinic
by Newton Bair,
Auoclate Lebanon County
Agent
Thursday's bright sun and
mild breezes provided Just
the right atmosphere for
corn growers from the
Dauphln-Lcbnnon area to
discuss their production
strategy for the coming
season. The two-county
meeting, held in Halifax,
was sponsored by the
Cooperative Extension
Service. John Hams,
Associate Dauphin County
Agent, served as host and
chairman.
Information on the latest
research and field trials was
reported by Dr. Jospeh
McGahen, corn specialist
with the Cooperative Ex
tension Service of Penn State
University. Dr. Willis Mc-
Clellan, Penn State
agronomist, brought the
corn growers up to date on
chemical weed control and
Dr. Robert Tetrault, ex
tension entomologist, talked
From left, John H. Herr, Lebanon
R 4, Richard Elliott, Lebanon R 4, and
Galen Boyd, Lebanon Rl, receive
Master Corn Growers Awards from
Associate Lebanon County Agent
about the most serious corn
insects and how to subdue
them. Six master corn
growers were honored by
County Agents John Harris,
Dauphin County and Newton
Bair, I/cbanon County, who
supervised the yield checks
in their respective counties.
Noting that the average
cost of producing corn was in
excess of $2OO per acre last
year, McGahen expressed
his concern that corn
producers use every trick
possible this year to reduce
their costs and maximize
yields of gram. He urged the
use of planter box seed
treatment, even though the
purchased seed was
previously treated. Soil
insecticides applied at
planting time have been
shown to increase yields as
much as 15 percent. “Many
corn growers overlook the
minor details that often add
up to major yield reduc
tions," McGahen said.
McGahen listed some of
Newton Bair. Each grower produced
official yields in excess of 150 bushels
shelled corn per acre. Average yield
in the state contest was 126 bushels
per acre.
the more important of these
oft-ncgicctcd items: mutch
planter plates to seed size •
sizes vary between com
mcrical varieties and from
year to year. Planting depth
and seed coverage should be
checked frequently, as field
conditions vary and planters
change adjustment. Corn
fields should not be worked
too finely, which often in
creases the chance of
crusting following a rain. He
also recommends applying
no more than a total of 45
pounds of nitrogen plus
potassium as a starter
fertilizer to avoid seed in
jury. Two hundred eighty
pounds of 5-10-10 would
provide 14 pounds of nitrogen
and 23 pounds of potassium,
nearly the maximum
allowable for planter ap
plication.
Dr. McClellan stressed the
importance of identifying the
major weed problem in each
field and then selecting the
best herbicide to properly
John Harris (third from left), Awards to Thomas Williams, Mid-
Associate Dauphin County Agent, dletown: Donald Miller, Millersburg
presents Master Corn Growers a™ l David Coble. Hershey.
control it. Farmers were
urged to read the label on all
herbicide containers before
applying them on crop fields.
Many formulations have
been changed this year and
will require different dilution
rates from those used in
previous years.
Com insects will again be
a problem, according to Dr.
Tetrault. The three con
secutive mild winters have
increased the chances that
large numbers of insects will
survive and be ready to
attack the com crop this
year. Tetrault listed the six
major com msect pests in
order of importance as the
seed com magget, slugs, flea
bettle, Armyworm,
European com borer and the
garden symphylan.
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