94—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Jan. 29, 1977 York Co. By JOYCE BUPP York Co. Reporter YORK, Pa. - York County com growers turned out m full force on January 20 for the annual countywide com clinic, sponsored by the Penn State Extension Service. Meeting at the 4-H Center at Bair, over 300 county farmers congregated to question experts from Penn State, swap growing ex periences, and learn the newest planting and growing practices. Ralph McGregor, East Berlin Rl, hosted the mor ning session. First speaker was Bill McClellan, weed researcher from the University, whose topic questioned, “What Went Wrong With Weed Control?” McClellan touched on several key areas that make the difference between “mediocre control and beautiful control.” Timing was given a strong em phasis. “Certain new herbicides, if applied at planting time, can kill the corn if the seed is not buried beneath the soil about an inch. It must be used exactly according to directions,” emphasized the herbicide expert. He also suggested that, while application at planting time may save an extra trip across the field, it is not always a wise management decision. Pointing out that weeds are often best killed at six to eight inches growth, McClellan reminded the growers that they may be able to use smaller amounts of spray materials to obtain satisfactory weed control. “But do not sacrifice early planting to cut down on herbicide use,” McClellan added. “The increased yield will probably pay.” He also reminded fanners that even the best spray materials will not work if soil pH is not at proper levels. hold commodity on Emphasis was put on soil sampling throughout the various subjects covered in the day’s program and was highly recommended by all the University represen tatives. The weed control expert also urged the com growers to be aware of the im portance of using spray equipment adequate for the job. “Very often the value ol the herbicide alone bypasses the value of the sprayer,” McClellan reminded his listeners. “Make sure you have a pump that will provide more agitation than you need to do a thorough job of mixing that spray.” A number of questions were posed to McClellan by the audience about the mounting problem of Johnsongrass. There ap pears to be the possibility of a statewide eradication program on the pest in the future, but chemical controls so far have offered only mediocre help in destroying the grass. “If you have Johnsongrass - you have a problem,” concluded McClellan. A panel of four progressive York County corn farmers, moderated by Extension Agent John Smith, shared their com growing practices in a question and answer session. Taking part on the panel were: Gary Hunt sberger, Etters; Bernard Gardner, Spring Grove; David Evans, East Prospect; and Hughes Manifold, Stewartstown. Donald Lott, representing the Department of Agriculture, briefly updated the group on pesticide ap plication licensing. “There will be no further extensions for pesticide licensing in Pennsylvania,” announced Lott. ‘‘After October 21, 1977, all pur chasers of restricted comgrowers powwow materials will need a cer tification number.” A restricted materials list has not yet been released from the Environmental Protection Agency. However, any material carrying the skull-and crossbones warning will need a permit to be pur chased within the Com monwealth. Lott emphasized that a farmer may not in turn sell any restricted pesticides to a neighbor who “needs the gallon you have left over.” Only licensed dealers may legally sell, under any unlicensed exchange, buyer and seller both may be subject to court prosecution. Only one person per farm is required to be certified to apply or supervise ap plication of the restricted materials. Lott recom mended certifying additional employees or family members for back-up supervision coverage. The afternoon session was chaired by V. Kyle Trout, Airville Rl, and featured two specialists from Penn State. “Control Corn Insects” was a slide presentation given by entomologist Stan Gesell. Symptoms of com pest infestations were illustrated and controls VKT CONQUERS ANTHRACNO First proprietary alfalfa with resistance to anthracnose now available. • High yielding alfalfa with anthracnose resistance • Eliminates “summer decline” caused by anthracnose • Outyields many other varieties even when anthracnose isn’t a problem • Adequate winterhardtness for the entire anthracnose zone • Early matunty, fast re-growth • Good bactenal wilt-resistance • Pre-moculated with RIZOPOWR for extra yields Your RP Seed Dealer has all the fad on VICTOR vanety alfalfa See him today And order early One Of The Uncommon Forages. Developed by North American Plant Breeders. explained. Flea beetles, northern com root worms, root maggots, and army worms were some of the insect problems covered by Gesell Joe McGahen, corn specialist, compared com hybrids, based on results of Extension test plot research. He emphasized the relationshp of the number of leaves developed by various hybrids to the population per acre at which the variety will best perform. McGahen’s 1976 test plots included trials comparing hybrids with open pollinated seed. Several long season hybrid varieties harvested an average of 153 bushels of shelled com per acre. In contrast, comparable open pollinated seed plots averaged 103 bushels. The specialist also pointed out that many of the open pollinated varieties went down about a month before the October harvest of the plots. Concluding the day-long program was the presen tation of awards in the NEW VARIETY ALFALFA York County Five-Acre Corn Contest winners for 1976 were awarded ribbons during the annual corn clinic. They are, left to right: James Quesenberry, Jr., Hughes Manifold, Leroy Bupp, and Ray Orner. Charles Hess, extreme right, president of the Pennsylvania Corn Growers Association which sponsored the competition, presented the ribbons. countywide Five-Acre Corn Contest. James Quesenberry, Jr., Stewartstown Rl, won the first-place ribbon with a yield of 192.6 bushels. Second place went to Leroy Bupp, Seven Valleys R 2, on a plot yielding 184.9 bushels. Eugene Kilgore, Airville R 2, placed third with a yield weighing out at 182.4 bushels. Several other corn growers had yields placing over 160 bushels per acre. They were: Donald £. Meckley, Glenville, 180.1 bushels; Ellsworth Lehman, York Rl, 174.5 bushels; Ray Omer, Dillsburg R 2, 167.0 bushels; Hughes Manifold, Stewartstown R 3, 165.6 bushels; William McKinley, 164.0 bushels; Richard Luckenbaugh, Porters Sideling, 161.0 bushels; and Merle Omer, Dillsburg R 2, 161.0 bushesl. | ATTENTIONI SIGN GUARD * COW TRAINERS With breeding record holder YELLOW JACKET COW TRAINERS LOW CURRENT SHOCKERS TINGLEY FOOTWEAR Work Rubbers And Boots Compare Our Prices Work Shoes • •••••••••• •"•••••••••••• AUTOMATIC HEATED CATTLE WATERERS SPECIAL MAES INFLATIONS BUY 10 INFLATIONS —GET 2 FREE ALL THE WAY Flameless Catalytic Heaters For Pigs LP- Gas 5000 & 8000 BTU Models 4 Position Dial Hgat Control. Why Not Try Our Livestock Medication Program & Special Prices Today. ZIMMERMAN’S ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLY RD4,Lititz, PA 17543 Home Store Ph. 717-733-4466 Also Available At David Good’s Farm Machinery Sale, Wed. Feb. 2, 1977 Weather Permitting.
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