—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 22,1979 128 GEORGETOWN, Del. - There are a number of reasons for the problem of down corn many farmers faced as we approached harvest season, according to Delaware extension crops specialist Frank Webb. By looking into the causes of the past season’s problem now, farmers can plan changes in production practices and varieties to reduce the problem in 1980. A major contributing factor was the large amount of rainfall we experienced throughout the season. This resulted in some of the most severe nitrogen deficiency symptoms Webb has ever seen on corn. Tissue formation was affected and plants were less sturdy than usual. Though this problem occurred on various farms all over the state, the lighter soils of lower Kent and Sussex counties were particularly hard-hit. Some farmers caught the problem earlier in the Farm (Continued from Page 127) thriving enterprise throughout the peninsula. There are a few beef cattle, virtually no sheep, and a few poultrymen produce eggs. But looking at the area’s farm income figures, it becomes quite apparent that broilers, com and soybeans are our agricultural base. All the rest, including vegetables crops, specialty crops, a variety of livestock enterprises, just add to an already impressive agricultural success story. But picture the Delmarva peninsula without its broiler industry and you get a ALASKA KODIAK WOODBURNEES FIREPLACE INSERT • Fits into your existing fireplace complete with all parts, including blower and instruc tions for easy installation. • Specifications (Large) Burning time 10 to 12 hours. Heating ca pacity with blower, 2,500 Sq. ft., without blower 2,000 Sq. ft. Fireplace minimum opening 23 1 /2" high x 32W’ wide x IS 3 //’ deep. MANY OTHER MODELS AVAILABLE CHESTER B. NOLI 30 S. Hershey Ave., Bareville Leola, Pa. 17540 717-656-6898 STORE HOURS: Closed Mon. & lues. Open Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10 to 8 Sat. 10 to 4 Other hours by appointment Rainfall, leaf diseases blamed for down corn season and applied sup plemental nitrogen. In some cases this special attention was enough to prevent lodging. For next year, therefore, Webb suggests that an automatic late season sidedress application of nitrogen could prove beneficial for those who are growing com on light, sandy soils. Another major factor was the incidence of leaf diseases, which devastated much of the green foliage on many varieties of corn in late August and September. The three diseases that caused the most problems in 1979 were northern com leaf blight: southern com leaf blight; race 0; and an thracnose. AH are familiar diseases, each causing a greater or lesser amount of damage every year depending on such factors as the weather, the lushness of the corn, and the number of disease spores present. Unfortunately, Talk feeling of what economist Dovnng is talking about when he says that if the proportions of crop farming and animal husbandry had remained as they were in the early 1950’5, Illinois’s share of the annual national product would be about 300 million dollars greater than it is today. He’s not blaming in dividual farmers, for he feels they must do what’s best for them, but he says public officials must take a long look at the situation and formulate policies that favor a more diversified economy. conditions were such that 1979 was a peak year for destruction by all three diseases. These diseases cause the premature death of the com foliage. Affected corn cannot mature properly. The ear moisture is still much greater than normal at the time the plant is desiccated or appears to reach maturity. Such com may look like it’s drying down in readiness for harvest; however, what we’re seeing is not natural maturation. It’s the disease that’s killing the leaf tissue and drying the plant down, Webb said. t |r Come visit our Show Cattle at the 1980 Farm Show. Herdsman, Randy Becker and our crew will be pleased to visit with you. We have had a very successful year at the Shows and with Sales, and wish to thank all of you for making this possible. Polled Hereford and Shropshire Sheep Buyers Russell Bryant Pa Paul Heffner Pa Scott Mickey W Va George Romano Pa N Carlyle Stull Md William Acker Pa Craig Peterson Pa John Paxson Pa Harry Hartman Pa Gary Flickrnger Pa Walter Biddle Saul High School Pa Becky LeFeaver Pa David Hamilton Pa Matt Young Pa Wind t Widows Farm NY LeoMcDermitt Pa Tirawa Farms Pa * Philßauh Md JeanAlaimo NY Glen Cary Farm Md Peters Mountain Farm Pa RamtreeFarm Pa McGmley Mountain Farm Pa Si Jo Farm NY David Shultz Pa Bastten Family Pa 1979 Polled Hereford Show Winnings Junior Champion Bull Virginia State Fair Reserve Grand Champion Delaware Stale Fair Reserve Grand Champion Heifer Pennsylvania Farm Show Reserve Junior Champion Maryland State Fair Grand Champion Heifer Grand Champion Bull Reserve Grand Champion Heifer Reserve Junior Champion Heifer Reserve Bull Calf Champion Grand Champion Heifer Reserve Grand Champion Heifer Grand Champion Heifer Heifer Calf Champion Heifer Calf Champion Best Six Head Reserve Grand Champion Heifer 2nd Best Steer 2nd Best Six Head Reserve Junior Champion Bull Grand Champion Heifer - Grand Champion Bull Come by the farm and visit - Visitors always welcome (717)334-1903 Route 2 Box 39, Fairfield, Pennsylvania 17320 Follow Signs from Business Route 15 South When this happens, the stalk must stand for a longer time to allow the ear to dry down, providing the op portunity for many other diseases to enter the plant. Various types of stalk rot weaken the plant so much that the least amount of wind or adverse weather could cause lodging. Several other factors contribute to the problem of down com. Continuous com in a field can result in root problems or increased in cidence of disease, either of which could contribute to the lodging problem, he said. A fertility imbalance in the soil could also be the culprit. Bottom Wish All of You A Very Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year Shippensburg Fair Cumberland Fair Maryland State Fair Pennsylvania Farm Show Maryland Polled Hereford Assoc Summer Show Cumberland Fair Eastern National Livestock Exhibition Keystone International livestock Exhibition York Fair Pennsylvania Polled Hereford Assoc Summer Show York Fair Cumberland Fair Maryland Polled Hereford Assoc Fall Sale Kevstone International Livestock Exhibition Maryland State Fair Delaware State Fair York Fair 'r .I'tj'ia ’ amount of potash in relation to nitrogen can cause serious lodging, so it’s important to have the soil tested and pay attention to the fertility balance. Plant population can also be a factor. Generally speaking, the denser the plant population, the smaller the stalks, creating thinner rinds and less sturdy plants. Therefore, plants ordinarily won’t stand quite as well at higher populations. Insects, too, can weaken plant stalks in many in stances. Insect damage probably contributed to the lodging problem in some parts of the stats. 1979 Polled Hereford Show Winnings (Cont) Reserve Grand Champion Heifer South Mountain Fair Reserve Junior Champion Heifer Virginia State Fair Reserve Grand Champion Heifer Delaware State Fair Reserve Heifer Cal' Champion Pennsylvania Farm Show Grand Champion Heifer York Fair Reserve Grand Champion Bull Cumberland Fair Reserve Grand Champion Heifer Pennsylvania Polled Hereford Assoc Summer Show Shippensburg Fair Eastern National Lives f ock Exhibition York Fair Keystone International Livestock Exhibition New York Hereford Assoc Fall Sale 4th Annual Freedom of Choice Calf Sale New York Hereford Assoc Fall Sale Cumberland Fair Premier Breeder Junior Champion Heifer Junior Champion Heifer Junior Champion Heifer Champion Steer Champion Steer Champion Heifer Best Six Head 1979 Shropshire Sheep Winnings Grand Champion Ewe Grand Champion Ram Champion Get of Sire Grand Champion Ram Grand Champion Ram Champion Get of Sire Grand Champion Ewe Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Best Pair of Ewe Lambs Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Reserve Grand Champion Fwr Grand Champion Ewe Reserve Grand Champion Fwp Champion Get of Sire Champion Get of Sire Reserve Grand Champion Ew« Reserve Grand Champion F we Best Pair of Ewe Lambs Hurricane David caused a great deal of lodging damage. However, some of the damage attributed to the hurricane was not really due to the storm itself, but to other factors that caused premature plant death or weakened stalks so that the plants were unable to withstand adverse weather. Certain hybrids show more resistance to lodging than others. Therefore, farmers should look into University field trial results before selecting varieties for next year, the specialist recommends. Such efforts should help prevent lodging problems in 1980. South Mountain Fair Bedford Fair Montgomery County (Gaithersburg) Fair Carlisle Fair Shippensburg Fair Shippensburg Fair Shippensburg Fair Bedford Fair Eastern National Livestock Exhibition Montgomery County (Gaithersburg) h nr South Mount im I nr Bedford I nr Carli le I mi Boillonl 1 in ( nil Jo I in llmlloid I on Mn|Hi«oMun fin Mont(.(iinrr v ( minty ((lidhor lungl I in
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers