Maryland Researchers Look At Solar Power for Farms In grandfather’s day on the farm, poultry houses were often built in half monitor fashion, permitting a row of high windows facing south to take advantage of winter sunshine for sanitation purposes. Pork producers also followed this practice to a lesser extent - sometimes trying for solar inputs from two sides of a building by means of either a monitor or gambrel roof. But commercial broiler growing and egg-laying operations, with their fac tory-like emphasis on mass production in a windowless environment, changed all that. So did modern-day confinement houses for swine. And the “sunshine” farm buildings of grand father’s era became largely strange-looking, abandoned relics in the wake of urban development or farm con solidations. Agricultural engineers at the nation’s land-grant universities aren’t forecasting a return to the old-fashioned buildings and New Ideals NEW "Hay Thing” ] Makes hay that cattle like better Introducing New Idea's advanced 7-foot Cut/ditioner — a field-proven machine that makes quality hay m rank, heavy first cutting, or thinner later cuttings It cuts clean ly and conditions gently Makes soft, palatable hay with rich, protein-filled leaves and tender tops that cattle pre fer Won't plug—even in long, rank and down hay This new "Hay Thing” can also be used as a tedder or to turn windrows And it does a lot of other jobs, such as clipping, cutting and shredding All this, plus low first cost and trouble-free operation. New Idea’s advanced Cut/ditioner the new “Hay Thing.” We make your job a little easier. ROYH SUCH, INC Ephrata R D 2 717-859 2441 A L HERR & BRO Quarryville 717-786 3521 CHAS. i McCOMSEY & SONS SUPPLY Hickory Hill Pa 717-367 3590 215-932-2615 b3U N G HERSHEY I SON STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE Manheim Cochranville Pa 717-665 2271 215-593 5280 ABC. GROFF, INC. New Holland 717-354-4191 outmoded production systems of an earlier age. But they concede that current concern with the nation’s energy situation merits a re-examination of those once-popular energy thrifty concepts. Their thinking, of course, has been motivated by the fact that petroleum, natural gas and electrical power have been teetering on the brink of scarcity for the past two years. This at a time when U.S. .farmers are facing increased challenges to help stave off worldwide starvation. Illustrating this concern is a bellwether project just under way in Maryland. It involves a small group of agricultural engineers and economists at the University of Maryland in College Park and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) national program staff at neighboring Beltsville (Prince Georges County). This multi-discipline team has embarked on a nationwide study to assess LANDIS BROS, INC. Lancaster 717-393 3906 the feasibility of solar energy applications for a wide array of agricultural operations in major production areas throughout the nation. The six-month project is being funded by a grant of $98,678 from the National Science Foundation, headquartered in nearby Washington, D.C. It was approved on Jan. 24 by the board of regents of the University of Maryland. Project manager and principal investigator is Dr. Andrew M. Cowan, associate professor of agricultural engineering and also ex tension food processing engineer at the University of Maryland in College Park. Associate investigator is Dr. Filmore E. Bender, professor of agricultural and resource economics at the College Park campus. Dr. Bender’s chief role will be to conduct a cost-effectiveness study relating to the over-all program objectives. Consultant and advisor for the project will be Dr. W. Lamar Hams, department chairman for agricultural engineering at the University of Maryland. Other representatives from the College Park campus working on the project team are Mrs. Teri H. Tracy of Ithaca, N.Y., a graduate student, and Richard W. Dillon, a research assistant, both in the department of agricultural and resource economics, and J. Douglas Hansford, a research assistant in the department of agricultural engineering. The University of Maryland team’s efforts are being monitored by Drr Landy B. Altman, Jr., staff scientist for agricultural structures and elec trification on the USDA-ARS national program staff at Beltsville. Dr. Altman serves as a pass-through coordinator for ad ministration of the National TSC I- TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC W Tractor Supply PHONE 717-393-3149 s Check These Prices for your lawn & Garden Needs I « BUY NOW AND SAVE " in-., . hi tn co 3 VsH.P. Big Job Power Vertical £ Tiller SICQOO Reg 109 219.95 Hardened ground steel worm gear, bronze drive gear, 26" swath Rewind start, auto choke 44-0301 - ~ n™ *.. TRA ctor supply 2217 Lincoln Hwy. E, Lancaster, Pa. Harrisburg, Pa. York, Pa. g ISC ISC ISC ISC ISC TSC ISC TSC TSC ISC ISC TSC TSC TSC TSC ISC TSC IS Science Foundation grant. Major purpose of the study project is to gather in formation which can be used to direct an over-all ex perimental research program on agricultural applications of substituting solar energy for fossil fuels such as liquified petroleum (LP-gas), diesel oil and natural gas. Its scope will cover a wide range of farm-related operations, including grain drying, greenhouse heating and cooling, and heating for chick brooders, hog farrowing pens and other types of livestock and poultry shelters. Also, drying of peanuts, forage and tobacco; irrigation water pumping, and generation of steam and power for feed processing in commercial livestock feedlot operations. The project team began functioning on Feb. 14; cut off date is Aug. 13, Dr. Cowan reported. In line with a PERT schedule (Planning, Evaluation, Review Technique), criteria have been developed for assessing solar energy applications in specific farm-related operations? The team con siders it important that broad contacts be established with people interested and knowledgeable with all agricultural operations and in all sectors of the country. Such contacts will be developed by telephone conversations and follow-up letters. Additional follow-up will involve a nationwide tour to permit personal interviews, firsthand observations and evaluation by members of the Maryland team. Paralleling these engineering investigations will be an ongoing study to estimate the magnitude of fuel replacement which could be possible if some or all of the solar energy ap- GREEN STAR 5 H.P. TILLER Without Reverse Reg 269.99 NOW 22995 26” Cutting Width 44 0333 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 29,1975 plications arc tound to be practical. Slightly past midpoint in the study, a national con ference is planned in the Maryland area - possibly in late May at the Center of Adult Education on the University of Maryland campus in College Park. This conference would provide an evaluation of the initial survey results and firsthand investigations. Those in attendance should have an opportunity to nrnvide additional ideas on TSC TSC TSC TSC TSC GREEN STAR 5 H.P. TILLER With Reverse Reg 279 99 NOW 239* 26” Cutting Width 44-0325 1818 N. Cameron methodology and strategy. All of these inputs will then be considered in preparing a final report by the project’s end in late summer. This report will contain recom mendations for a nationwide experimental research program which allocates limited funds in a manner to achieve greatest return. Maximum scrutiny will be on those sectors where the greatest substitution of solar energy can be made for fossil fuels. TSC TSC TSC ' TSC Co. ; o Professionally Grown* —H Quality o Rose Busnes 99* 8 LIMITED QUANTITY $ Htalthy and v^orous 1 They are machine packed to pre , vent damage 61-6264 ¥1 GOOD SELECTION OF GARDEN SEED w NOW ON HAND ° CO. 2400 W. Market 53 3-29-75 H o
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