MO—lancastar Fanning, Saturday, Fabraaiy 9,1980
Penn State agronomy specialists say with no-till, many unproductive pastures
will support healthy forage crops. They warn, however, that no-till requires top
management.
(Continued from Page C3B)
can and should be applied
well m advance of seeding,
McClellan notes that
nitrogen should not be added
prior to sod-seeding
legumes.
“For no-till seedmgs, no
prior nitrogen application is
recommended,” McClellan
says.
“Nitrogen applied just
prior to or at the time of
seeding will stimulate
existing grass, promoting
excessive competition for
the new seeding. Nitrogen
may be added after
establishment, however, for
promoting growth of rye or
sudan x sorghum hybrid "
Consider grazing or
clipping existing sod, he
adds
Though overgrazing is
normally considered a poor
management technique, this
is one time when it’s
beneficial. Not only does
overgrazing nd the area of
excess topgrowth (reducing
competition for the new
forage crop), it improves the
effectiveness of herbicide
applications.
“When grazing or close
clipping are not feasible, an
application of Paraquat two
or three weeks before
seeding is recommended,”
McClellan says. “A second
B . ■ ■
No-till
application of Paraquat will
be required at tune of
planting.”
McClellan emphasizes
that the Paraquat ap
plications are vitally im-
portant to the overall her
bicide program. And without
a well-constructed plan of
herbicide use, no-till forage
production is almost im
possible.
“These chemicals are
expensive in terms of cost
per gallon,” he says, “but
their cost per acre can be far
less expensive and lower m
energy consumption than the
numerous operations
necessary to prepare and
seed a field conventionally,”
With the herbicides
properly applied, it’s time to
seed.
McClellan notes that field
condition, seed being sown,
and existing species
determine when that seeding
should be done.
“If the field tends to be
wet,” he says, “then the
seeding should probably be
scheduled for mid-summer.
The flush of spring growth
can be pastured several
tunes before seeding, or one
or more cuttings of the hay
crop can be taken off.”
Regardless of field con
dition, this is often a good
tune for seeding because
existing sod will be at its
lowest vigor then.
Throughout most Nor
theastern states, there will
still be tune for new
seedlings to gam sufficient
growth to be winter-hardy
provided the seeding is made
prior to August 15.
McClellan notes that all
species of grasses and
legumes have individual
characteristics that need to
be understood if these
species are to be used ef
fectively.
For example, alfalfa, red
clover and ladmo clover can
all be seeded early because
they sprout quickly and can
grow in cooler weather.
Birdsfoot trefoil and
crownvetch, on the other
hand, should not be seeded in
early spring because they
germinate slowly and cannot
withstand the competition of
recovering sod.
The final step in the
operation is post-seeding
management. That includes
pest management - such as
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Hypotherma is silent 'killer
MEDIA Tf been
labeled a Winter hazard for
the old and a silent killer and
it could affect a large
number of elderly Penn
syvlanians this winter. It’s
accidential hypothermia-a
state of low deep body
temperature and its primary
victims are the aged.
Accidental hypothermia
occurs when a person’s body
temperature drops below
95°F. The term “ac
cidental” is used to
distinguish this condition
from induced hypothermia,
used during certain surgical
procedures. Mortality for
this condition is estimated at
80 percent for the elderly, as
compared with 10 percent in
the young. Mortality is also
high for infants under one
year of age.
Most young and middle
age people who suffer from
accidential hypothermia are
rescued victims of cold
water accidents. Most of
these victims initially shiver
violently-an important
stage in their recovery
process. Shivering is the
body’s natural or in
voluntary response to cold
and is a natural rewarming
leafhopper control - and
continued weed control.
“Within one month after
seeding, it may be necessary
to spray with 2,4-DB or Di-
Nitro to overcome the
common broadleaved an
nuals that invade any new
seeding,” McClellan says.
Manage grazing and
harvesting with care, and
fertilize annually to keep soil
nutrients at a proper level.
The bottom line,
to McClellan, is
management.
“There is still no sub
stitute for good
management,” he warns. “A
no-till seeding can be
destroyed by poor
management. Part of the
time saved by no-till seeding
should be used for proper
management of all forage
stands.”
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technique. Many elderly
people can’t shiver. Often,
the aged have an impaired
response to cold. Their body
heat regulating mechanism
is faulty either because of
their age or because of the
effect of some prescribed
medication. With no
shivering, elderly victims
may not be aware they are
cold, and thus may be
unreliable reporters of what
is happening to them.
Accidential hypothermia
may occur in individuals of
any age who are exposed to
very cold temperatures
without any protection.
However, there are a
significant number of
elderly people who can
become victims of
hypothermia even from mild
cold.
Medical problems,
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combined with the fact that
many live alone, are isolated
and unable to afford
adequate heating, housing
and food, make Penn
syvlaxua’s elderly highly at
risk this Winter.
Educating emergency
health providers to the
problem and treatment,
educating communities to
identify possible victims and
see that they receive help
during cold winter months,
and educating the elderly
themselves to take proper
precautions and measures to
stay warm, will reduce the
hazard of hypothermia.
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