16 —Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 3, 1975 Increasing Profits With Total By Edward Stroube Ohio State University Weeda coat the farmers of our state untold millions of dollars annually. Con* servative estimates are that weeds cause an average yield reduction of 4 to 5 bushels per acre in soybeans and 2 to 3 bushels per acre in com. At today's prices, this adds up to more than |I2S million. Add to this the value of yield reductions of wheat, sugarbeets, hay crops, IN STOCK NOW A FULL LINE OF GARDEN SEEDS ond SUPPLIES ORDERS TAKEN FOR SEEP POTATOES DINER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS - VANILLA - GLOVES - GREAT FIND - BOOTS - COUGH SYRUP - RUBBERS - COLD TABLETS - BUCKETS - PINE OIL . HANDCREAM - GENT-L-KLEEN SOAP GARDEN TOOLS SHOVELS RAKES FORKS HOES AARON S. GROFF t SON ’ FARM & DAIRY STORE R. 0.3, Ephrala, Pa. 175221 Hmkfeiownf Phone 354-0744 Store Hours 7 A M. to 9 P M Closed lues & Sat at 5 30 PM pastures, and other crops and the total loss approaches $2OO million. Don’t stop at this point! Now add the machinery wear caused by running the tons of extra material through harvesting equip ment, the reduction in the quality of produce, and the marketing dockage of contaminated product. The total loss turns out to be in excess of |2SO million annually. All of this loss b in addition to what U now being done for controlling weeda such aa the application of herblcidea, pre- and post-planting tillage, mowing, and in aome cases, hand weeding. Cost to the fanner? Not entirely! Weeda cost the producer and the consumer. Any cost of production is ultimately partially reflected in a cost to the consumer. Therefore weeds are expensive to each of us. As indicated, weeds compete with all and con taminate most crops. Even though much effort is ex pended for the control of weeds, seldom is maximum effort given to control of weeds throughout the rotation and on the entire farm and surroundings. This maximum effort is a necessity if total weed control is to be achieved. Not only must the farmer be concerned, but the high way departments, the utility companies, the ditch maintenance supervisors, and all others responsible for the maintenance of non cropland areas must present a unified effort to approach a zero weed loss environment. And this does not mean for only one or two years. It must be continued in definitely. If no weeds were allowed to reach maturity and none introduced for five or six consecutive years in a relatively large area, the weed problems would be greatly diminished. To approach the zero mark, 10 to 20 years will be required, depending on the weed species present and the cropping and tillage prac tices used. ' The fanner must utilize every available tool in combatting weeds if he is to succeed in the total weed control approach. This will have to be with all crops Farm Weed Control each year and even in his fencerows, waterways and other non-crop areas. On the non-crop areas, there is a choice of several materials to control annual and perennial broadleaf weeds and brush species. Seme of these are Banvel, 2, 4-0, Amitrole, Pramitol, Tordon, Tandex, Hyvar, AmmateX, Silvex, 2,4, 5-T, 2,4-DP, Roundup and others. Do not use materials for total vegetation control (soil sterilants) if grasses are desired in the non-crop areas. In fact, one good control for the foxtails in fencerows is to seed a desireable grass such as bromegrass. Eventually the seeded species will crowd out the foxtails. Herbicide Makes the Difference Well-managed pastures; 1. proper species, good fertilization, rotational grazing, clipping on schedule, etc., often do not need a herbicide to control weeds. However, on anything less than well managed grass pastures, a herbicide such as Banvel or 2, 4-D usually is required to w* »r ' ' new 9 CON Greater capaci; ... Operates with less Requires less adjustment ' .. 3S than other mower Eonditianir lS any Operate in heavy hay or sudax a gear faster. Full-width conditioning rolls eliminatedead spots that waste power. And you'llfind there’sno powerless due to side draft on hillsides or on the level. You get increased capacity because larger diameter 44-inch reel is less affected by changing crop conditions. And, the unique position of the reel bats holds the crop flat so it feeds through the conditioning rolls, without hesitation. What’s more, controlled platform float and self-compensating roil pressure lets you move from field to field, crop to crop and rarely ever readjust the 990. Call us for a demonstration MESSICK FARM EQUIP. p c unm-wi ® mu ELIZABETHTOWN 367-1319 •• nUUlnaol « OUR COPE 8 WEAVER CO. ™» £ mmv raino «i> new providence 786 7351 ERB * HENRY EQUIMNC. 22-26 Henry Ave., New Berlinvilfe, Pa. 1 Mile North of Boyertown Phone:2ls - 367-2169 C. B. HOOBER & SON INTERCOURSE HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL, INC. 1054 S. Stale St Ephrata.PA 717-733-2283 eliminate broadleaf weeda. Much research has been conducted in Ohio and ad jacent states on controlling weeds in crop rotations. In most Instances, a com bination of Ullage practices and herbicides is the most successful approach. Tillage operations, such as plowing, disking, cultivating, rotary hoeing, etc., all are effective weed control practices if done in time and properly, but in most instances do not result in total control. Other crop management practices such as fertility programs, rate of seeding, time of planting, and selection of varieties, alter ihe weed situation. The selection of a her bicide for a particular situation is no easy task. Consider the weed species, the degree of infestation, the desirable species within the target area and in the ad jacent areas, the crop rotation, the soil type, and any other factors which may alter the selection possibilities. Use only the materials and rates approved for the situation and follow ex MOUNTVILLE, PA 786-8231 plidtty the UM on method and timing of application. Know the strengU * and the limitation! of each herbicide which Is a candidate for the situation. In many situations, a combination of two or more herbicides is required to result In the best weed control. Again, timely operations are essential for good weed control. Don’t Program failures - prevent them! If a producer is doing a good job of total weed control and the highway and utility rights-of-way, or even an adjacent landowner’s acreage are consistent sources of re infestation, use influence - political, legal, "charm” or otherwise - to eliminate these sources. For a total weed control concept to be successful, it must be operated on an area or regional basis and everyone must realize the cost of weeds. Anything short of this will revert back to somewhere near the $250 million loss in crops in Ohio due to weeds. (Edward W. Stroabe, if a professor of agronomy and extension weed control specialist at Oblo State University where he is responsible for extension and research activities of weed control in field crops and tnrf.i MARK EQUIPMENT INC. 101 Rosehill Ave., West Grove, Pa [2ls] 869-2474 285-4538
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