42
—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 18,1978
Stormwater runoff takes toll in crops
LANCASTER - Aaron Z.
Stauffer, Chairman of the
Lancaster Conservation
District alerted farmers to
losses in crop yields, crop
quality and farm income
that are caused by un
controlled stormwater
runoff from farm fields. The
official stated that the
amount of rainfall is the
deciding factor -as to the
crops that can be grown in
the area. The crop must
draw from water stored in
the soil to maintain growth
between rains. When rain
water is allowed to run from
farm fields instead of per
colating into the soil, the
water is lost to the growing
crop. Li the times between
rains, these crops can ex
perience drought stresses.
Quality and yield will be
DER committee meets
HARRISBURG - The
Agriculture Advisory
Committee of the Depart
ment of Environmental
Resources heard at its
March 2 meeting of plans for
stormwater management
legislation sponsored by
Rep. Frank J. O’Connell.
O’Connell explained his
desire to have control over
stormwater management
vested in local governments
with advice and guidance
from counties and Con
servation Districts.
Local governments would
be encouraged to accept
their responsibilities and
would face withdrawal of
various forms of state funds
if they did not.
Committee members and
O’Connell engaged in a wide
ranging discussion of the.
problem and O’Connell
promised to supply Com
mittee members with copies
of the draft legislation.
The Committee’s Sewage
Sludge Work Group reported
it has completed half of its
assignment with develop
ment of a manual on sep
tage, suggested revisions to
State regulations on land
Grain advisors to meet
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
The next meeting of the
Federal Grain Standards
Act Advisory Committee will
be held here April 4 at 9 a.m.
in Room 206, South Building,
USDA.
Leland E. Bartelt, ad
ministrator of USDA’s
Federal Grain Inspection
Service (FGIS), said the
purpose of the meeting is for
members to make recom
mendations on issues di
scussed at the first meeting
of the advisory group on
Dec. 14.
The meeting is open to the
public. However, par
ticipation by persons other
than committee members
will be limited to written
statements, unless their
participation is otherwise
requested by the chairman.
Persons who wish to ad
dress the committee at the
meeting should contact Dr.
Bartelt, Administrator,
&
&
A
reduced unless water is
applied by artified means
through irrigation. The costs
in labor, equipment and
energy to irrigate a crop can
be substantial and many
farmers accept reduced
yields and quality rather
than incur the added costs.
Other considerations noted
by the Conservation District
Chairman were the nutrients
and presticides \that are
absorbed by rainwater and
are carried froia the field
with runoff.
Nitrates, particularly, other
crop nutrients, chemicals for
crop disease control,
pesticides, herbicides and
soil additives are water
soluble and will disappear
down the slopes with the
runoff. These elements,
vitally needed for crop
application of the septic and
holding tank wastes and a
revised set of Interim
Guidelines for Sewage,
Septic Tank and Holding
Tank Waste Use on A
gricultural Lands.
Christopher H. Allen, of
the Pennsylvania Farmers
Association, Work Group
Chairman, said the draft
manual is an explanation of
the Interim Guidelines
document with simplified
language and additional
information for the far
mer/user.
It will be submitted to the
Department for its use along
with the Guidelines. The
proposed regulation change
will be given to DER for.
consideration for presen
tation to the Environmental
Quality Board.
The Education and
Training Work Group
completed a slide serits on
the Manure Management
Manual prepared by the
Advisory Committee and
will use it to train fanners
and government agency
personnel in the recom
mended techniques for
manure management.
FGIS, USDA, Washington,
DC 20250; phone (202) 447-
9170.
ATTENTION FARMERS AND TRUCKERS
GO
Standard Livestock Trailer as Shown is 20'x6’ with Metal Top and Front,
• LIVESTOCK TRAILER TRAILER
• UTILITY TRAILER • TILT-BED TRAILER
• FLATBED TRAILER
ALL SIZE HORSE TRAILERS BUMPER AND NECKOVER
STOLTZFUS AND FISHER TRAILER SALES
R. 1, Box 346, Gap, Pa. 17526
Call 717-768-3832 or 717-354-0723
Losses in crop yields, crop quality, and farm
income are caused by uncontrolled stormwater
runoff from farm fields.
production, are lost to the
crop but the cost of applying
them must be deducted from
the gross farm income.
The conservationist
cautioned all landowners
about the toxic properties of
some of the pesticides that
are applied to crops and
home gardens and or
namentals. When these
chemicals are washed into
Streams , they can retain
much-of their toxicity and
create hazards downstream.
In addition the official
stressed soil loss, the main
concern farmers should
have in controlling the
stormwater runoff from
fields that are plowed and
tilled for crop production.
When soil on sloping farm
fields is unprotected because
surface vegetation has been
removed the soil is subject to
the bombing action of
raindrops. The raindrops
loosen the soil particles, lift
them above the surface,
place the clay and silt
CHECK OUR PRICES BEFORE YOU BUY
particles in suspension and
then the collected rainwater
and soil washes from the
fields and off of the farm.
This process in Penn
sylvania has removed over
60 per cent of the topsoil
from our farms, and, where
it continues, will eventually
destroy the source of every
farmer’s livelihood. .-'
The Conservation District
official offered
of technicians, wnu work
with the District, to fahners
and other landowners to
assist them in developing a
soil and water conservation
plan. Persons who have
noticed excessive storm
water runoff, muddy water
or erosion gullies on their
farm or property should
contact the Conservation
District at the Farm & Home
Center, Room 6, 1383 Ar
cadia Road, Lancaster, PA
17601, telephone: 717: 299-
5361, to learn how they can
improve or correct their soil
and water conditions.
HOLLAIVD
Dealer for
Dependable Equipment and
Dependable Service:
Airville. PA
Airville Farm Service
Airville, PA
717-862-3358
Alexandria. PA
Clapper Farm Equipment
R.D 1
814-669-4465
Annville, PA
B H.M Farm Equipment, Inc
RD 1
717-867-2211
lavertown. PA
BenH Walter
Beavertown, PA
717-658-7024
Bernville. PA
Stanley A Klopp, Inc.
Bernville, PA
215-488-1510
Bigterville, PA
Wolff Farm Supply Co
Biglerville, PA
717-677-8144
Carlisle. PA
Paul Shovers, Inc.
35East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Catawissa, PA
Abraczmskas Farm
Equipment, Inc.
R.D 1
717-356-7409
Chambersburg, PA
Clugston Implement, Inc
RD 1
717-263-4103
Chester Springs. PA
Pitman, PA
_ , MarlmW Schreffler
Nevin N Myer & Sons, Inc Pttm an, PA
s!'!l t ® r , S -P r ' n . gSI PA 717-648-1120
215-827-7414
_ ... Quarryville,PA
Davidsburg, PA - 1 —
George N Gross, inc
R.D 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc
2750 North Market St
717-367-1319
Gettysburg, PA
Yingling Implements
R.D 9
717-359-4848
Halifax, PA
Sweigard Bros
R.D 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
Hanover. PA
Sheets Bros, Inc
Carlisle Street
717-632-3660
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co
East Mam Street
215-273-3131
Honey Grove. PA
Norman D Clark & Son, Inc
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Hughesville, PA
F th Farm
/arnsworti M S Yearsley & Son
SuPPl'® s, ' nc 114-116 East MarketStr
103 Cemetery Street 215-696-2990
717-584-2106
Lancaster, PA
L.H Brubaker, Inc
350 Strasburg Pike
717-397-5179
Lebanon. PA
Evergreen Tractor Co , Inc
30 Evergreen Road
717-272 4641
Lititz, PA
Roy A Brubaker
700 Woodcrest Avenue
717-626-7766
Loysville, PA
P* Shr Inc
> aui lovers,
Loysville, PA
717 789 3117
See your nearest
Kermit K Kistler, Inc
Lynnport. PA
215-298-3270
McEwensville, PA
Don's Service Shop
Box 97
717-538-1362
Milt Hall. PA
Paul A Dotterer
RD.I
717-726-3471
Millville. PA
W.O. Diehl & Sons
RD 1
717-458-6421
New Holland, PA
ABCGroff, Inc
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Oley, PA
A J Noss & Son, Inc
RD.2
215-987-6257
Orwigsburg. PA
Paul J. Eichert & Son
RD 1
717-943-2304
Palm. PA
Wentz Farm Supplies, Inc
Rt. 29
215-679-7164
C.E. Wiley & Son, Inc > ,
101 South Lime Street
717-786-2895
Reedsville, PA
Big Valley Sales & Service,
Inc
PO. Box 548
717-607-3944
Ringtown, PA
Ringtown Farm Equipmen
Ringtown, PA
717-889-3184
Shippensburg, PA
R.B. Miller, Inc
Shippensburg, PA
717-532-4178
Silverdale, PA
I G 'sAgSales
Box 149
215-257-5135
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S Snyder, Inc
RD 3
717-386-5945
Waynesboro. PA
Blue Ridge Fruit Exchang
Inc
Waynesboro, PA
717-762-3117
Westchester. PA
West Grove, PA
S G. Lewis & Son, Inc
R.D 2, Box 66
215-859-2214
Churchville. MD
Walter G. Coale, Inc
2849-53 Churchville Rd
301-734-7722
Rising Sun, MD
Ag -Inti Equipment Co,
R D 2, Route 273 East
301-398-6132
301-658-5568
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co
Broad Street & East Avei
609-769-0308
'import, PA