100 —Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 16,1978 DeKalb By JOYCE JBUPP Staff Correspondent DALLASTOWN - “Dig that cultivator out from under the apple tree; and if you haven’t been doing any cultivating in com, try a small block of it in the field next year,” advocated Ken Miller. Miller is the Eastern regional agronomist for Dekalb, Inc. He made the above observation during the firm’s area Field Day, held September 7 at the Charles Hess farm. This was the second consecutive year that Hess and the nationally-known seed firm teamed up to plant several acres in carefully monitored test plots. The trial areas, planted in four, eight and sixteen row sec tions, represented a broad scope of currently popular, and some not so popular, cultural practices. Recommendations on returning to the almost forgotten practice of cultivating field com were stressed by Miller as “the one thing to remember if you don’t remember anything else today.” The agronomist noted that the heavy use of herbicides, such as the well-known Atrazme, has almost put cultivation tools out of business. Now pest grasses and other weeds formerly controlled by chemical applications threaten to build up resistance to the sprays. Citing studies done at the University of Delaware, Miller suggested that yield increases of 12 to 18 bushels of corn to the acre may be gained from just one well timed cultivating trip. “Does it pay?” he questoned. “It it’s done when the com is fairly small, not over 18 inches tall, and does not tear out the plant root systems by going too deep, a lot of people are saying ‘yes, it does pay’.” For farmers who intend to continue com cropping using no-tillage methods, Miller introducing new seed corn varieties But what will happen to corn-on-the-cob? Dekalb personnel Ed Wilson, left, and Herb Ayres examine a genetic-trait corn plant in which the seed kernels develop within the tassel. Eventually, corn stalks with “heads” of this type will probably be harvested much like fields of small grains also had a few suggestions for cleaning up weals that threaten to become her bicide resistant, Acidity levels greatly determine the success of herbicide applications; when soil acidity falls below recommended levels, grass and weed killers simply will not work. Miller noted that some no-till growers are routinely spreading a half ton of lime per acre an nually, to maintain soil acidity at peak herbicide efficiency levels. Running two soil tests for no-tillage was also recom mended by the agronomist.- Acidity tests should be taken at a depth of about three inches, while fertilizer and mineral needs are most accurately sample at seven or eight inches underground. One weed that came in for a special warning at the field day was pigweed. This pest appears to be moving north from Maryland fields in unprecendented numbers, turning up in some spots with populations as large as one hundred plants to the square foot. ~ ' ■ -a , ■ “ To us, agriculture is still the backbone of America. At National Central Bank one of our With the value of farm production in primary objectives is to serve, and our area increasing every year, the J\J AnQ|\|/VL help preserve, the family farm. need for capital continues to rise We still believe that agriculture is the along with it We are here, and will CENTRA! backbone of America, and the family continue to be here, to help you 11 1 farm is the cornerstone of agriculture meet that need. RANK in our area When we work together, through a That’s why we have developed a relationship of mutual trust, we can A complete tange of financing, credit, 3,1 continue to move ahead. We can V trust and estate services - all designed continue to keep agriculture strong. 3 to help you - the family farmer - Contact your local office for complete IhhJ fulfill your obligations details on National Central Agri- Finance Programs Darvm E. Boyd, Agri-Finance Dept., Jerry L. Rutter and William G. McCoy, McCoy Cattle Co. at the Jerry L. Rutter farm near Dover, York County. 0T- ►> A fairly new tillage tool that’s won high acclaim by the researchers is the subsoiler. Miller credits the heavy-toothed implement with loosening the subsoil crust as deep as 14 to 16 inches, allowing air, moisture and tiny com roots to penetrate to greater depths. Results from the 1977 trials at the same spot on the Hess farm showed that the highest yields from the entire plot came from the rows where the subsoiler had been used. “Bigger and bigger moldboard plows for corn have seen their best days,” insists the agronomist. “The larger the moldboard, the greater pressure on the plow point itself. That constant oressure compacts, (Turn to Page H 4) Member FDIC/Federal Reserve System
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