■ I
t 1
How to beat alfalfa
t
LEBANON Sweeping
bids with an insect net is
[coming an established
[actice for air increasing
fiber of Pennsylvania
timers who monitor pest
filiations and spray
falfa only when there is
fed.
Us one grower remarked,
[t saves energy and spray
hterials. This m turn gives
[ a better- image with
ople who are concerned
out the use of too much
by material.”
Need...
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PEANUT HULLS
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Phone Area Code 717-«87-7631
ESBEMSHADE TURKEY FARM
PARADISE, PA.
Last year, 20 farmers is
Lebanon County used the
alfalfa insect management
program developed by Penn
State entomologists. They
were trained to monitor
fields and evaluate damage
from alfalfa weevil and
potato leafhopper. Farmers
found damage and
populations varied among
farms.
Lebanon County Extension
Agents Newton J. Bair and
Denis W. Hoke estimated at
least $6OOO worth of pesticide
insect oats
was eliminated because it
was not needed.
In Adams County, seven
farmers used insect nets to
' monitor populations of
potato leafhopper in alfalfa
during the 1979 crop season.
Extension Agricultural
Agent John H. Schwartz says
these fanners reduced by
two the number of sprays
that normally would have
been applied.
Schwartz notes, “The first
three cuttings did not
require spraying for this
insect.”
Other Adams County
growers were advised by
Schwartz about the best time
to spray for alfalfa weevil.
This increased the ef
fectiveness of the spray. He
says, “The advice was based
on tabulation of degree
days.” For some farmers
the information eliminated
one spray application.
Bair and Hoke report the
alfalfa weevil management
program used by Lebanon
County farmers put the
pesticide on the crop at
optimum times and saved
many more dollars by giving
better control.
Farmers and university
personnel report that some
effects of the program are
hard to evaluate. They can’t
put a figure on reduced
damage to plants due to
fewer trips over fields. Nor
is it easy to put a value on
improved management of
the crop by a farmer who
periodically walks over his
fields.
Extension Entomology
Specialist Stanley Gesell
says that across the state in
1979 both alfalfa weevil and
potato leafhopper
populations were below the
economic threshold in most
fields.
About 200 farmers
following the program cut
back on the usual number of
sprays for weevil or
leafhopper. About 90 percent
of the farmers saved three
spray applications. Another
10 percent avoided two
applications, Gesell said.
He estimates time in
volved in monitoring a 20
acre field for weevils and
leafhoppers required about
two hours. That’s about six
minutes and 50 cents per
acres, at $5 per hour for
labor.
Gesell says the average
savings per grower was
about $2O per acre during the
1979 crop year. -
Another measure of the
program is interest shown
by those not participating.
Around the state the
neighbors of farmers in the
1979 program noticed the
results and are asking for
information this year.
Alfalfa growers interested
in using the Penn State in
sect management program
this spring should' contact
the agricultural agent at the
office of extension service
located m the county where
the growers resides.
Hunterdon 4-H
FLEMINGTON, N. J. - At
the March meeting of the
Hunterdon County 4-H Horse
Council, it was announced
that the mare for the
Quarter Horse Breeding
Project will not be available
this year.
However, there is a free
t 1
write MOWING KTTHI
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 29,1980—C45
Estate Planning
NEW DANVILLE - The
importance of good estate
planning was outlined by
Richard Denison, of the staff
of the Pennsylvania Far
mers’ Association, at the
Spring Banquet of the
Lancaster County Farmers’
Association Tuesday night.
“Estate planning involves
some of the most important
farm financial decisions to
be made,” Denison said.
The four major objectives
of estate planning were
outlined by Denison. These
include providing for the
surviving spouse, minor
children and disabled
dependents, movement of
the farm to the next
generation, equitable
distribution to heirs and
keeping tax liability to a
minimum.
He defined a will and use
of a trust as two basic ef
fective tools to use in estate
planning.
Denison heads both the
PFA Legal Staff and Farm
Western riding clinic held
CLE MENTON Rocky
Dare, professional horse
trainer from Salem, N.J.
conducted a western nding
clinic for 4-H members at the
Camden County 4-H Center
last Saturday.
“4-H’ers gamed practical
experience at the clinic”,
said Joan Podosek, 4-H
leader with the Silver Spurs
Club and secretary
treasurer with the Camden
County 4-H Equine Advisory
Board. “Rocky covered
western equitation, western
Horse Council
stud service at Doll House
Farm to a grey thorough
bred, 15.3 hands.
The Equestrian Contest
will be held June 26.
The mandatory rules
meeting for qualifying shows
has been set for Apnl 24.
Members must attend this
meeting and bring their up-
S wed«lday.s
W DAIRY
SIT day
AT NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC.
New Holland, PA
If you need 1 cow or a truck load, we have
from 100 to 200 cows to sell every week at your
price. Mostly fresh and close springing hols
teins.
Cows from local farmers and our regular ship
pers include Marvin Eshleman, Glenn Fite,
Kelly Boser, Bill Lang, Blaine Hotter, Dale
Hostetter, H.D. Matz, and Jerry Miller.
SALE STARTS - 12:00 SHARP
Also Every Wednesday,
Hay, Straw & Ear Corn Sale -12:00 Noon
All Dairy & Heifers must be
eligible for Pennsylvania Health Charts.
For arrangements for special sales or herd
dispersals at our barn or on your farm, contact:
Abram Diffenbach, Mgr.
717-354-4341
Norman Kolb
717-397-5538
Stressed
Management Business
Analysis.
Reports on their at
tendance at tiie' Youth
Conference were given by
Nelson Shaiebly and Owen
Hartz. This year’s con
ference will be held at
Elizabethtown College June
24 - 27. Names of candidates
to attend the conference, a
male and a female student
who have completed their
junior or senior high school
years, are now being ac
cepted.
In his president’s
message, Earl Newcomer
reported that the county’s
membership goal of 1,301
had been topped by two
members.
The evening’s program
also included a slide
program of displays at
Farm-City Week at Park
City and a humorous skit by
Mowery Frey and Marty
Armstrong based on the
Abbott-Costello “Who’s on
First” routine.
pleasure riding and nding
and reigning categories,”
Podosek concluded.
All participants attended
the clinic with their horses
and were evaluated on their
riding habits.
The experience the 4-H’ers
received at the clinic will
assist them as they prepare
for the Camden County
Western Qualifying shows,
May 10, June 7 and 28, all
held at the 4-H Center at
Lakeland.
busy schedule
to-date record books with
them in order to show at the
qualifying shows.
Other coming events in
clude: the treasure hunt,
May 17; two work days,
Apnl 26 and May 4; and the
State 4-H Horse Show,
August 23. Reported by
Nancy Funkhouser.