READ LANCASTER FARMING
FOR FULL MARKET REPORTS
Crownvetch fits into no-till program
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.
- Using crownvetch as a
cover crop for no-tillage com
can help solve the age-old
problems of soil erosion and
weeds, a plant scientist at
The Pennsylvania State
University declared
recently.
Dr. Nathan L. Hartwig
indicated experiments at
Penn State and elsewhere
found that crownvetch
reduces surface water runoff
and improves water storage
in the soil. And he reminded
farmers that every farm in
Pennsylvania must have a
soil conservation plan this
year to prevent the polluting
of streams with silt, plant
nutrients, and pesticides
carried in surface water
runoff.
“Crownvetch in no-tillage
cornfields could provide the
dollar’s worth of prevention
needed for a water runoff
problem that now is treated
with millions of dollars in
cures,” Hartwig affirmed.
He claimed a cover crop of
crownvetch also improves
the nitrogen fertility of soil,
since crownvetch “fixes”
nitrogren from the air when
inoculated with the right
bacteria. And he said
research shows that 100
bushels per acre corn yields
are possible for no-tillage
com planted into a three to
five year old stand of
crownvetch, without being
given any additional
nitrogen.
By using herbicides in the
spring, growth of crown
vetch is slowed down suf
ficiently to allow the
emerging com plants to
become established. During
the Summer, the crownvetch
forms a cover to keep out
weeds. By Fall this legume
has formed a dense cover for
Winter and a living mulch
for next year’s com crop.
The Penn State weed
scientist said established
crownvetch will not be wiped
out by any of the presently
recommended herbicides
used with no-tillage com.
Once the crownvetch is
growing actively in late
May, it takes only 1-10 pound
per acre of active dicamba
or 2,4-D to suppress
crownvetch enough to
release the com.
“Crownvetch that has
been established for two
years or more will tolerate
atrazine, simazine (Prin
cep), cyanazine (Bladex),
alachlor (Lasso), or
penoxalin (Prowl) in
amounts suggested on the
label for specific soil types
when treating annual weeds
Lancaster Farming. Saturday. Feb. 12.1977
or quackgrass in no-tillage
com,” Hartwig stated.
He believes simazine is
“too hot” to use on one-year
old crownvetch. However,
atrazine can be used at a
rate not to exceed 1 pound
per acre. If weeds such as
fall panicum, witchgrass, or
crabgrass are problems, use
a mixture of atrazine and
cyanazine (Gladex) at the
lowest rate recommended on
the label for a particular soil
type. Another method, he
said, is to use Prowl or
Bladex plus - Prowl at
recommended rates for the
soil type.
“Always be ready to come
back with one-tenth pound
per acre of 2,4-D or dicamba
if the crownvetch appears to
be getting ahead of the
com,” he advised.
And he said the best
control for quackgrass in
crownvetch seed fields is two
pounds of atrazine per acre
in early spring - March or
April - before planting com.
As long as the corwnvetch is
not growing, it will not be
injured by this treatment,
Hartwig noted.
If there is a lot of green
quackgrass or weed growth
at com planting time, he
suggests applying a pint of
paraquat per acre with a
wetting agent in the mixture
Barn
meeting
scheduled
The Lancaster County
Holstein Association is
sponsoring a barn meeting at
the home of Jay E. Landis,
Lancaster R 6, on Friday,
February 25. Farm
visitation will begin at 1:00
p.m., with the meeting
getting underway at 1:30
p.m.
Clarence Stauffer, HFAA
program director, will
discuss the grade iden
tification program. Refresh
ments will be served.
Traveling south from
Millersville on the Miller
svQle Road, the Landis farm
is located on Short Lane
which is the first road to the
with atrazine and simazine.
Hartwig cautioned farmers
to follow carefully the
directions on product labels.
Part-time
farming
studied
Approximately 25 per cent
of the farms in Pennsylvania
with sales over $2500 are
operated by part-time far
mers, farmers who have
income from off-the-farm
sources. Successful
operations are usually
dependent on the families,
because it takes similar
values and goals to make
them work.
Penn State’s popular
course on “Farm
Management for Part-Time
Farmers” explores the pros
and cons of this arrangement
for individual farm families.
Land, labor, management,
capital, and market
requirements and the ad
vantages of 18 livestock and
IB crop enterprises are
discussed. Lessons on record
keeping, tax considerations,
budgeting, and insurance
needs are geared to the part
time farm business.
If you would like a copy of
this course, either as a
reference or to enroll as a
correspondence course
student, write to “Part-time
farmers,” Box 5000,
University Park, Pa. 16802.
Make your check for $5.50
payable to Penn State.
right after passing Circle M
Ranch.
Traveling north from New
Danville on the Millersville
Road, the farm is located to
the left on Short Lane.
Bam Meeting chairman is
Nelson Wenger with com
mittee members J. Robert
Kendig and Roger Mills. For
further information contact
any committee member.
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