BELTSVILLE, Md. - A dose of gram alcohol has proven to be a promising potion in USDA attempts to force dormant weed seeds to germinate research that might some day drastically reduce the crop weed problem. Using ethanol, a USDA weed scientist has forced several annual weedy grasses and a few broadleaf weeds to germinate before their time. Although ethanol has not been tested m field conditions, it has stimulated a wider range of weed seeds YES, • PORCELAIN TUB CERAMIC \\ WALL TILE X vOvf • SINK for information call (717) 665-9191 You cm hava ■ bright sparkling tub without tha asptnat ind incomanianca of replacing your prastm tub. In ont day our axparts can gwa your tub a Niue High Glass, scour (rts finish and this Pnrcdaincota* aurfaca is GUARANTEED liks a naw tab Wa also offar tsptrt tab claanng/suin ctmaval/ racaalkng. PERMA-CERAM OF PA. RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL Springtime Special NEW JOHN DEERE 1630 PLOWING DISC lift. V*" Blades No Trade $ 5,750.00 USED TRACTORS IHC Super C, fast hitch w/2 bottom plow MF 165 Tractor and Loader USED SPREADERS JD 40 w/hydrauhc end gate NH 510 single beater USED HARVESTER SPECIALS NH 880 2-row narrow row head MF 620 s SOLD/ & pickup NH-717 w/1 row head NH 717 Fox 1000 RPM PTO w/2 row corn hd & Pk up attach USED BALER SPECIALS JD24T w/#3O thrower John Deere 14T John Deere 14T w/ejector New Holland 68 USED GRAIN DRILLS Co op 15x7f-ert Gram Drill w/grass seed attach J 750 00 Ontario 15x7 650 00 USED MOWER CONDITIONERS HAYBINES New Holland 1495, SPl2’ w/partial cao, real sharp New Holland 479, as is Mower Conditioners NH 469 i Evergreen Tractor Co. Inc. I 30 EVERGREEN RD„ LEBANON, PA 17042 1 PHONE (717) 2724641 A shot of alcohol awakens dormant seed than most other chemicals tested in the laboratory or the field, says R. B. Taylorson of USDA’s Science and Education Administration. The earth’s reservoir of dormant seeds is the mainstay of the weed problems that plague far mers year after year. “If most of these seeds could be forced t 5 germinate at one time, they could be killed with herbicides before a crop was planted. And weed problems would be under control for many we can resurface your... JN PURE WHITE OR ANY COLOR years to come,” says Taylorson. Some weed seeds can remain dormant in soil for as long as 100 years. Cultivated land usually contains about 10 million weed seeds per acre in the top six inches of soil. Some land may contain 100 million or more seeds. Taylorson has had most success (100 percent ger mination) in forcing fall pamcum-one of the prin cipal weeds of com and soybean acreage in the Northeast and Midwest., Witchgrass, crabgrass, and bamyardgrass seeds responded at better than 50 percent germination, a rate Taylorson sees as the cutoff point for any seed eradication program to be cost effective. Fall panicum and wit chgrass germinated m complete darkness, but Red Lion FFA holds awards BY PATRICIA GREEK Staff Correspondent RED LION The annual Parent-Member Banquet of the Red Lion FFA Chapter was held recently at the Red Lion Area Senior High School. An Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree was presented to K. Loren Mc- Cleary. McCleary was awarded this honor Toi his support of the FFA Program. He has done much USED PLANTER SPECIALS John Deere 1250 6R Plateless John Deere 494 A Oliver 4-row Plate $1,675.00 3,950.00 $1.050 00 850 00 USED TILLAGE SPECIALS Ford 4-16" Plow JD KBA 32x18 Wheel Carrier Disc $3,650.00 2,450 00 2,195 00 1,175 00 Cockshutt 427 w/Power Steering & 10'Platform $1,450.00 JD 55 Corn Soybean Special 12' head 9,700 00 JD 55 Diesel w/cab, 12' platform 7,500 00 1,495.00 MISCELLANEOUS John Deere #5B Loader A 1 Shape John Deere #lB 1 row Corn Picker New Set 18 4x30 Snap on Duals w/New Goodyear 6 Ply T ires Used NH #8 Crop carrier 52,450.00 750.00 450 00 550 00 $14,75000 2,150 00 2,550 00 USED COMBINE SPECIALS PARTS SPECIAL USED AC SUITCASE WEIGHTS $ 30.00 Each Limited Quantity crabgrass and bar nyardgrass needed red irradiation to induce ger mination. Wild oat and johnsongrass have been impervious to ethanol and several other anesthetics Taylorson tested. So far, broadleaf ger mination has been under 50 percent. Getting seeds to germinate in the absence of tight is most important to any future weed-seed eradication program, says Taylorson. Many weed seeds require exposure to the red band of the spectrum which triggers a chemical called phytochrome to initiate the growth process. Those that do germinate each year are exposed to sunlight through cracks in the soil or are brought to the surface during cultivation. But the vast majority of weed seeds & * to advance agriculture and the FFA in the community. The coveted Star Greenhand Award went this year to Annette Walter, Airville. Annette maintains good grades in school. She has also participated in many FFA Livestock Shows and Judging Contests. Following right along, the Chapter Star Farmer Award, presented to the Outstanding Senior went to Todd Grove. Grove carries $2,450.00 1.250.00 1.250.00 950.00 875.00 $1,800.00 950 00 1,050 00 1150 00 PARTS and SERVICE Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 12,1980—87 rest m the darkness of the soil. Taylorson attributes his good results with fall pamcum to “hitting on the right set of conditions at the start.” He expects that further experimentation will produce similar results m other grasses and broadleaf weeds. The trick, he says, is to apply the right chemical m the correct dosage at the right time and temperature. Fall panicum probably responded best when in cubated in the laboratory at 95° because it is a naturally late germinating grass, explained Taylorson. There are several technical problems to be overcome before ethanol or other anesthetics could be tested in the field, he said. A method for keeping these highly volatile chemicals m projects of Swine Breeding and Finishing, Field Corn and Soybeans. He is currently serving as the Chapter Chaplain and has participated in many county and state contests. Upon graduation. Grove plans to return to the home farm and expand his livestock and cnps projects. Abbe Johnson, Airville, was this year’s recipient of the DeKalb Award. Selection for this award is based on Scholarship, Leadership, and Farming Program. Abbe is an honor roll student and currently President of the FFA Chapter. She has participated in both county and state Dairy Contests. Her farming program in cludes work experience as a DHIA Field Representative the soil for at least four hours would have to be developed. And the three percent solution of ethanol that was workable in the lab tran slates to a costly 120 to 160 gallons of ethanol per acre. Taylorson noticed that anesthetics stimulated seeds to germinate while studying how they affect the properties of seed mem branes. Exactly how anesthetics affect mem branes is still a question, but the fact that they do is probably what triggers germination, he said. He noted that several USDA and state agricultural scientists are exploring other germination stimulants for practical weed-seed eradication methods. banquet and her own dairy cows. Abbe has also received recognition for her project programs on both the county and state level. The Michael Spangler Memorial Award is given each year to the Outstanding Sophomore in memory of Michael Spangler who was active in FFA, school ac tivities, and had a high scholastic average. This year’s winner was Paul Gamer. He is an Honor Roll student and has been very active in FFA. Gamer also is a member of the school’s Marching and Symphonic Bands. The Chapter Quiz Contest winner was Aaron Growl, Aimlle. This contest is based on the participant’s knowledge of all aspects of theFFA. Foundation Award Win ners were: ag sales and service, Francine Lewis; ag mechanics, John Schott; beef production, Harry Sawmiller; crop production, David Warner; dairy production, Barb Kilgore; farm and home elec trification, Tom Craig; and home improvement, Glen Daugherty. Also, horse proficiency, Chris Rechard; fruit or vegetable production, Melvin Marks; placement in production, Robert Dehoff; poultry production, Mark Ebaugh; public speaking, Beth Holtzmger; soil and water management, Victor Spangler; and swine production, Jeff Grove. Lancaster 4-H Beef club meets The Lancaster County 4-H Beef Club held their April meeting in the basement of the Farm and Home Center. Guest speaker for the evening was Carroll Howes. His topic was 4-H work and its rewards. Special talent for the evening was Yvonne Eshelman, who played the piano. After the meeting, ground beef from the banquet in February, was auctioned. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, May 7. Reported by Michelle Dean.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers