Tomato growers discuss a variety of concerns By JOAN LIESAU HERSHEY - Three dif ferent aspects to tomato and vegetable growing were presented to several hun dred people at tomato day, held m conjunction with the Vegetable Growers Con vention recently at the Hershey Convention Center, Hershey. Dr. Lyle Forer spoke on different diseases carried from out of state through tomato transplants. ' Dr. Cyril Smith compared the benefits, and detriments of liming and fertilizing; Hydrogeologist Earl Meiser discussed the disposal of organic wastes on the farm, Livestock market and auction news Lancaster Weekly (Continued from Page 2) BULLS; Yield grade 1 1100-2100 lb. 63.75-67.50, few 67.50-69.25, individual 1685 15. 72.00; yield grade 2 1000- 1350 lb. 60.50-64.50, few 58.00- 60.00. VEAL CALVES: Vealers mostly steady, instances 5.00 higher on high Good and low Choice 70-120 lb. VEALERS: Prime 280-350 lb. 100.00-116.00; Choice 160- 300 lb. 105.00-116.00, 10 head 123.00-133.00; Choice 120-160 lb. 98.00-112.00; high Good and low Choice 120-240 lb. I BIG FARM POWER AND EQUIPMENT i ■„ ■■■■ s STEIGER DELIVERS MORE OF THE HORSEPOWER YOU PAY FOR. Steiger’s 4WD tractors consistently transfer more engine horsepower to the drawbar where you need it. In recent independent tests, Steiger 4WD tractors delivered the highest percentage of engine horsepower to the drawbar pin. By comparing each model's, ad vertised gross engine horsepower to the highest drawbar horsepower attained in the tests, Steiger tractors placed above all others. Steigers delivered an average 84.08% of the engine’s power to the drawbar pin. The competition averaged only 75.81 %. Check the horsepower where it coynts . drawbar. Steigers work harder. dealing with soil types and amounts of disposal ac cording to the soil types. Forer, who is with the Bureau of Plant Industry, said that early blight and root rot nematode blight have been the growers biggest problems in the last 10 years. He said their department looks at 50 to 60 million plants in a three to four week period. “Many of the plants are apparently clean when they arrive” to be examined for disease he said. The plants don’t show signs of the disease because they need an mcubation period before the disease becomes evident. 90.00- 90-120 lb. 85.00- 97.00, 70-90 lb. 75.00-90.00, few 60-75 lb. 60.00-76.00. RETURNED TO FARM: Bulk 100-115 lb. Holstein bulls 108.00-126.00, several 126.00- 12 head 120-125 lb. 108.00, bulk 85-100 lb. 92.00- 25 head 100-115 lb. Holstein heifers 112.00- 118.00, few 80-100 lb. 90.00- 105.00, Market courtesy of USDA. Lancaster Feeder Cattle Lancaster, Pa. Fri., February 9,1979 Feeder Cattle 213 108 Today Last Friday ALL 4WD TRACTORS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL Sto Forer said they have in cubated soirife of the out of state plants in their lab. The testing showed up the Southern Blight disease. Plants with this disease are already being established m Pennsylvama he stated. The researchers were concerned that this disease would over- Winter in Pennsylvania but “the limited work we did on it suggested it would not over-Winter” Forer said. Bacterial spec-psuedom onus, is an outward symp tom which causes specks on the fruit. “Even when the skin comes off the tomato, the specks at are still there” he said. Even though the Last Year TREND: Insufficient volume for a market test, as bulk of supply sold m lots of three or less in clean up trade. FEEDER STEERS: One lot mixed Good and Choice 650 lbs. 70.50, few lots mixed Good and Choice 835-1030 lbs. 64.85-66.50. Market courtesy of USD A. Cool Gravy Because gravy and meat broth are both highly perishable” they should be cooled quickly. Don’t keep in the refrigerator for more than two days. '" '* HSTEIGER. time end line u Dr. Lyle Forer plants are inspected, Forer ■ stated there are diseases being introduced through field groivn transplants. ‘I have seen some very serious stand losses associated with this pathogens” he said “but we have found very little loss from the use of seedlings.” Forer suggested that seed be treated this year to avoid this problem, primarily from the stand point of transplanting. Forer added that leaf spot has been mtroduced into Pennsylvania. “Black rot can also accompany a transplant ” he continued. Black rot is seed bom, so hot water seed treatment will take care of the problem. “If plants could speak, it would be amazing what they could tell us” said Dr. Cyril Smith, professor of plant 262 nutrition at the Penn sylvania State University. Smith said much research has been done on the lime conditions of soil, but not on the plant itself. Smith stated that “dolmitic lime will supply magnesium very well but not calcium. Since calcium forms building stones, this can be a problem.” “If the soild pH is 7.0, it doesn’t guarantee the plant is get ting a good calcium supply. Smith concluded that dolmitic lime should only be used when the magnesium is low. When dolmitic lime was applied at a rate of two tons per acre, the leaf magnesium of sweet com increased 50 per cent m 60 days. Crops were different in their response to hme Smith a demonstration. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 17,1979 Dr! Cyril Smith Earl Meiser' reported. Magnesium toxicity and lowered calcium levels in a test, killed beets but there was no response from cabbage. Smith said research has been done on what role ' fertilizer plays in vegetable production. Out of 110 ex periments over a 20 year period, 35 per cent of the tests showed no response to fertilizer. A good response was shown with sweet com and snap beans when 25 pounds of NP was banded per acre. “One rule that should remain” Smith said “is that you don’t use more fertilizer than is recommended in a soil test.” Smith said that “any fertilizer that will give you an economical return (Turn to Page 17) 15