—Lancaster Farming. Saturday, Dec. 18. 1976 22 CHisel plowing [Continued from Page 1) Garden Spot High School on Wednesday. The meeting was sponsored by the Garden Spot Young Farmers, and presided over by Don Robinson, vo-ag instructor. Wright was one of four panelists to par ticipate in the program, which drew a capacity crowd and left some visitors standing. The others who made presen tations were; Art Good, representing ABC Groff, a farm equipment dealership; Don Dodson of Organic Plant Food, and Lan caster District Conservationist, Warren Archibald. In addition to the speakers, the program also included several displays of tillage equipment. Chisel plowing was the main topic discussed, in view of the fact that this tillage tool is becoming more and more popular among area fanners. A show of hands in dicated that about one-fifth of the audience is using the chisel plow to some degree. It was pointed out that the proper depth for chisel plowing is between 12 and 16 in dies, depending on the type of soil. Power requirements are thought to be a minimum of 10 horsepower per tooth, Good told the group, but 15 horsepower per tooth would be far better. The higher horsepower rating was readily accepted by those who practice chisel plowing since proper speed and depth are hard to maintain with insufficient power. Proper speeds are around six to seven miles per hour, with some variation allowable for the types of soil. Problems cited by farmers who use chisel plows in clude slippage and the turning up of rocks. ammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm WHAT YOU GET ON CASE LOW PROFILE TRACTORS YOU CAN T GET ON MAJOR COMPETITORS’ AT ANY PRICE ' if * *■ • ~ LOWER FUEL , CONSUMPTION (1410 LOWEST IN 80/90 HP CLASS*) MORE H.P. FOR EACH CUBE HUSKY MAIN FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR STRENGTH AND WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION >*Ni « / * ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL PTO AND DRAWBAR TESTS 4 GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BUY YOUR SPRING ★ 1 FACTORY DISCOUNTS ★ 2 WAIVER OF CARRYING CHARGES ★ 4 AVOID PRICE INCREASES [££l3 BINKLEY & HURST BROS. Neither of these problems was considered to be great, however, and advantages of chiseling, including soil conservation practices, were shown to be far greater than disadvantages. Although Archibald expressed a few reservations about the chisel’s value in erosion control, the farmers defended their views on this subject. Good, who handles several makes of chisel plows, cited strong points of each and explained functions of various designs and attachments - such as a-straight set of discs running before the chisels. He called this particular model “the Cadillac of the in dustry” and admitted that it had a price tag to live up to that reputation. Dodson concentrated his talk on the availability of soil nutrients, stressing the importance of taking soil samples at proper depths. He noted that with minimum tillage practices the soil is not turned over and soil nutrients are therefore concentrated in the top four to five inches. Consequently, soil tests should be taken from no deeper than that. “Everything has to be in proper balance,” the soil specialist continued, since various minerals are either tied up or released depending on concentrations of other minerals. With everything on the farm rising in cost, and land selling at a premium, the complex principles of soil chemistry have to be heeded even more closely than ever before if maximum profits are to be realized under today’s economic conditions. The challenges for food, fibre, and feed production are there, and principles of good soil stewart ship must be followed. Aside from proper BINKLEY OUTBOARD REDUCTION UNITS & PUT WEIGHT WHERE IT IS MOST g NEEDED-EASILY CONVERTED T ' TO HIGH CLEARANCE OR, LOW ■" - CLEARANCE (885/1210) * STANDARD 12F & 4R SPEEDS I'}* 9 IN FIELD WORKING RANGE 4« 4 UNDER 7 MPH (8 IN 1410) WL '-A TRACTOR & HURST ★ 3 10% TAX INVESTMENT CREDIT 133 Rothsville Station Road Lititz, PA. Phone 717-626-4705 fertilization, in terms of quantity, quality, and method of application, Dodson also " cited benefitsofgoodpest control,'a-sobject which was otherwise dominated by Wright. Wright noted thajt pest problems in no-till fields are different from those encountered under more conventional farming practices.. One of the keys to successfully overcoming' potential problems is to break up the har boring places for insects, he pointed out. Archibald spoke briefly on relationships between soil conservation and minimum tillage practices. Soil compaction was explained during the meeting with special emphasis being given to effects on crop yields. Sizes of harvests are reduced, not surprisingly. Draft and the flow of -heat are increased when soil is compacted, While aeration and water infiltration are reduced. None of these results of compaction are in any way beneficial to plant growth. The processes of freezing and thawing offset some of-the detrimental effects of BE ALERT SYNCHROMESH SHIFT MULTI-SPEED PTO 885/1210 540 @ 1100 ENGINE FOR LIGHT WORK 540 @ 1800 ENGINE FOR HEAVY WORK I • NOW FROM BROS. Know Where the Activities Will Be? Read the Farm Women Calendar. Dowr actio that last! Generation II Riding Tractor Rugged, easily steerable, pedal driven Matching 2-wheel trailer ( fe. Real action toys from John Deere made to take the rough and tumble . pleasing both kids and parents since 1930' See the fuU line of great new toys and old favorites at your John Deere dealer’s; pedal-driven tractors, 1/16 _____ scale models, and 2-mch miniatures. ASIB| For those special gift-giving occasions and real down-to- Landis Bros. Inc. A.B.C. Groff, Inc. Lancaster 717-393-3906 New Holland 717-354-4191 Adamstown Equipment Inc. Mohnton,RD2, PA 19540 (near Adamstown] 215-484-4391 M. S. Yeaisley Neuhaus’es, Inc. o o nnc Glen Rock, PA « aons 717-235-1306 Westchester 215-696-2990 Agway, Inc. Chapman Equipment Center Chapman, PA 215-398-2553 Shotzberger's Equipment Elm, PA 717-665-2141 compaction, it was pointed out. It was also noted that equipment - while unquestionably a does not stand alone,in._causing compaction. Sheep are notorious soil compactors, according to information provided by die Case tractor people. A man walking across a field exerts an average pressure of 23-28 pounds per square inch of soil surface. Even falling rain is responsible for causing soil compaction, as many hard crusts after a rainfall would prove. But the most significant factor involved in deter ,mining compactability of soil is the type of soil itself. Soils in the southeastern part of the U.S., a film strip pointed out, are most notorious for compaction. One method farmers have at their disposal to bring compaction to a minimum is to use wider tires on tractors and equipment. Another procedure is to keep out of fields when conditions are too wet. That applies to no-till, mini-till, and all other kinds of tillage, it was pointed out. Pikeville Equipment Inc. Oyster Dale Road Oley RD2, PA 215-987-6277 Stanley A. Klopp, Inc. Kermit K. Kistler Lynnport, PA 215-298-3270 Ty sred imobile < moves, (light is 12 is long 1-1/2 inches long Generation II Sound-Idea Tractor All new and just like ‘ real 1 7 by 9-3/4 inches Bernville, PA 215-488-1510 I. G.’s Ag Sales Silverdale, PA 18962 215-257-5136
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers