Del. soybean growers face poor seed quality
DOVER, Del. - Delaware
soybean seed growers
normally produce over
100,000 bushels of certified
“blue tag” seed each year.
This is enough seed to plant
well over half the soybean
acreage in the state. But this
will not be the case in 1978.
according to University of
Save
Energy
and get
HOT
WATER...
with the
revolutionary...
FRE-HEATE3R"
375 gal. DeLaval
350 gal. Esco
425 gal. Esco
625 gal. Esco
650 gal. Esco
500 gal. Mueller
QUEEN ROAD REFRIGERATION
Box 67, Intercourse, Pa. 17534
After 5 P.M.
JOHN D. WEAVER 768-8355
GID DIENNER 768-8521 SAM STOLTZFUS 768-3594
OR Answering Service 354*4374 24 HOUR SERVICE
We Stock Hess's Farm Supplies, Check Our Prices on Animal Medications
Delaware agronomist Dr.
William H. Mitchell.
Growers are finding that
seed is in short supply and
prices are high. There isn’t
nearly enough locally
produced certified seed to
meet the demand, and the
low quality of on-farm
soybeans that might
USED TANKS
300 gal. Mojonnier
400 gal. Mojonnier
800 gal. Mojonnier
D-2 500 gal. Girton
300 gal. Girton
otherwise be used to meet
fanners’ needs adds to the
problem.
Harvesting delays, caused
by heavy rainfall last Oc
tober and November, are
largely responsible for the
drop in seed germination
this year, explains Mitchell.
There were numerous cases
last Fall where a two-week
delay in harvest made the
difference between high
quality seed and that which
was unsuitable for planting.
In the Harrington area, for
example, a field of Kent
soybeans ready to harvest on
October 25 had a ger
mination rate of 96 per cent.
Heavy rains caused a three
week delay in harvesting
part of the field, however,
and by then germination had
dropped to 59 per cent. This
experience was repeated on
numerous farms, reports the
agronomist.
It is impossible to tell by
the apearance of seed
whether its germination has
been reduced by a delay in
harvest. This causes a
potential problem, since
many growers use their own
seed and may be taking
-j6oogal. Girton
400 gal. Dari-Kool
500 gal. Milkeeper
D-2 400 gal. Girton
comfort in the fact that it
looks good. Unfortunately,
appearances may be
deceptive.
The seed may actually be
unsuitable for planting, so
there should be no delay in
having germination tests
made on it. The state
Department of Agriculture
maintains a seed laboratory
in Dover where samples
may be tested.
Whereas controlled,
laboratory conditions are
essential for making precise
tests of germination and
seedling vigor, a simple do
it-yourself, window-sun test
can be of some value in
determining the quality of
seed, says Mitchell.
A farmer can spread 100
randomly chosen seeds on a
double thickness of paper
towels. Then he should
carefully roll the towels and
secure with several rubber
bands. Next, one thoroughly
soaks the towels and then
places the roll in a jar on the
window sill. After about one
week, the toweling should be
opened and the normal
sprouts or young seedlings
counted.
''O&a
-w V ~
**r
USED DIESEL
1-Cyl. Deutz
(2) SR2 Lister-1 Sold
Phone 717-768-7111
This is where the ex
perienced eye of the seed
analyst comes into play. A
farmer may not agree on
what is a normal sprout. He
should be critical and ask
himself, “Will this make a
normal, healthy plant, or
does it have a broken crook
and is it slow to germinate?
He may find it difficult to
repeat the test with the same
results. The state seed lab
will have the same problem,
which is why more than one
sample is needed for a good
test.
If germination tests are
low, one should consider
applying a fungicide. Many
low values are disease
associated and the quality of
the seed can be improved
dramatically by such
treatment. The fungicide
can be applied by a seed
sman. or one may want to
Cumberland County DHIA
Ashcombe Dover Dairy
84 sm
Rl2B 3 6-9
R 156 3 6-2
R 238 3 3-3
R 242 3 3-1
Leroy Showaker & Son
Podge 3 7-4
Hazel 3 3-6
JohnF. Stamyin
61
Robert H. Jamison
„ '
A__
Amy 3
Mark E. Leinaweaver
Bess 3
Pat 3
Amos F. King
June 3
Carl M. Haas
Bessie 3
Charm 3
Hestia 3
Harold E. Weaver Jr.
2 3
10
Douglas S. Cope
Gerkhiemer Farms
71 5
NevinShughart
Blackie 3
M. Thomas Sheaffer
Ormsby 3
Daisy 3
Alicia 3
Ruthann 3
Melvin E.Stoltzfus
Tracy 3
This new Calumet lagoon pump elim
inates the high cost of docks and ramps.
Deliyers up to 4,500 gallons of crust
busting agitation per minute. Completely
portable. Hydraulic controls. 20” or 25”
ff ss impeller.
HD3 -
Your complete liquid manure equipment dealer
F. ERNEST SNOOK
Calumet and Nesseth Distributor
Penna., New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia
R.D. 3 Mifflinburg, Pa. 17844
Phone 717-966-2736 Day or Night
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 4,1978
(Continued from Page 124)
5-
4-5
6-
2-11
9-11
7-0
6-11
4-0
for down to earth prices
consider making a treat
ment in the seed box of the
planter.
Now is the time to evaluate
the seed supply, keeping in
mind that seed quality
rarely improves with time.
It is realistic to expect
germination values to drop
at least slightly, between
now and planting time.
A farmer can make some
compensation for low ger
mination by increasing the
seeding rate. One should
remember that seeds that
don’t germinate are little
more than very expensive
fertilizer. On the other hand,
they could return $5.30 a
bushel at the elevator.
To keep seed and plant
heavy, or sell and buy new
seed is a judgement each
farmer will have to make for
himself.
16,779
19,960
20,314
17,423
19,825
305
305
305
305
305
21,653
17,619
305
305
16,625
305
18,566
305
18,843
20,827
305
305
19,426
3.3
4.1
3.8
20,327
16,898
18,335
304
305
305
16,636
16,409
305
305
21,600
20,726
14,774
3.7
4.3
3.7
3.8
21,135
20,953
23,650
22,826
305
305
305
305
19.702
304
125
677
603
710
687
659
730
669
679
702
787
672
677
699
691
678
629
774
758
647
785
911
872
878
678