A22—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 31,1980
Mushroom growers to seek
HARRISBURG - A
Pennsylvania Farmers
Union sponsored bus-in to
Washington D.C. will help
growers tell Congress how it
feels to be growing
American mushrooms while
foreign imports have risen to
account for more than 50
percent of consumption.
About 40 growers are
expected to leave Oxford
Shopping Mall June 3, at 6
p.m., to promote the idea of
Mixing hybrids
LANCASTER - A field
mixture of two corn hybrids
that differ in maturity in
sometimes suggested as a
way oT improving
pollination. While there are
logical reasons pro and con,
there isn’t much research
data that directly supports
the theory.
When you boil it all down,
the only time the practice
can beneficial is when stress
growing conditions cause
silking delay and, even then,
only the early hybrid in the
mixture can benefit. It is.
conceivable that the late
hybrid in a mixture could be
hurt more than if in a pure
stand.
It is normal for pollen
shedding to commence a
couple of days before
receptive silks emerge on an
individual com plant. This
biologic principle makes
hybrid seed production
feasible.
Under moderate heat
and/or drought stress, silk
emergence is delayed but
pollen shedding is not. The
spread may stretch to
several days and the result
may be poor seed set due to
scarcity of viable pollen.
A later hybrid starts
shedding pollen later; if
-
federal legislation limiting
imports.
Richard King, a Not
tingham grower and local
chairman of the bus-in, said,
“Over the past several years
we have found Ad
ministrations unresponsive
to limiting import quotas to
save domestic growers and
processors. It’s about time
we try the Congress. We can
only tighten our belts so
far.”
timed just right, it might
enhance seed set df the
earlier hybrid in a mixture.
There would be nothing to
help the later hybrid if it
experienced delayed silking.
In fact, in a 50:50 mixture
where there would be only
half the number of late
hybrid plants, the total
pollen available to pollinate
each late bybnd ear would
be reduced by half, says
DeKalb Agronomist Wayne
Fowler.
It is sometimes suggested
that single crosses are more
vulnerable to poor
pollination than three or
four-way hybrids. Ob
servation and experience
does not support that
position.
In detailed notes taken on
plant development by
DeKaib’s com research
center, all three hybrid types
exhibited the same amount
of delay (1.3 day average)
between first pollen shed and
first silk appearance.
Three-way hydrids shed
pollen an average of 4.8
days, single crosses 5.2, and
four-ways 6.0. Three-way
and four-way hybrids went
from first silk to full silk in
5.0 days; single crosses
averaged 5.2. There was not
The bus-m idea was the
suggestion of Chester County
Farmers Union President
John Kimble. He called a
meeting six weeks ago at the
request of growers being
forced to sell local
mushrooms at less than they
cost to produce. A
Washington office Farmers
Union lobbyist was on hand
to provide advice.
“The bus has been nearly
filled in less than three
may hurt
enough difference is normal
tassel and silk development
to distinguish between
hybrid types.
The usual experience
where hybrids are mixed is
that the performance of the
mixture equals the average
performance of its com
ponent hybrids. Purstands
of the best hybrid in a pair
almost invariably out
perform the mixture. Part of
this may be due to com
petition for light, space, or
nutrients.
If one hybrid is taller,
Heart of Penn
goat co-op to meet
DORNSIFE - Heart of
Penn Dairy Goat Breeders’
coop will meet on Saturday,
June 7 at 8 p.m. at the Binetti
home near Wapwallopen.
After the business
meeting, which will deal
mainly with arrangements
for the group’s June 15 fun
show, the group discussion
will center on “Spring
Considerations.” Those
attending are asked to bring
a list of their questions,
ideas, problems and
suggestions to share.
- JS*
congressional import relief
weeks,” said Leonard
Zemaitis, Administrative
Director of the Pennsylvania
Farmers Union.
“We have arranged the
trip to provide an op
portunity for these Chester
County growers and
processors to tell their plight
to House and Senate leaders.
Each grower will become a
full tune lobbyist for two
days.”
June 4 will begin with a
yield
more vigorous, or faster
growing than the other, it
will reduce performance of
the other one in a mixture.
Practical considerations
lead us to suggest a
recommendation: always
use hybrids of three or more
distinct maturities but plant
each one separately, either
in different fields or in large,
solid blocks making up
portions of each field.
This way, each hybrid can
be planted at its optimum
rate and harvested at its
optimum time.
Refreshments will be ser
ved.
Anyone interested in dairy
goats is invited to attend.
You do not need to be a
member.
For information or
directions contact Roberto
Molaro 717/758-8359.
CUMMINGS & BRICKER, INC.
Distributors of Farm & Irrigation Equipment
RDI, Claremont Rd. (Stover Drive)
Carlisle, PA 17013
717-249-6720
Serving Farmers Through Farm Equipment Dealers
bnefmg session conducted
by the Washington staff of
the National Fanners Union.
The group then will hear and
have an opportunity to
question speakers from the
President’s Office of Special
Trade Negotiator and from
the President’s * Domestic
Staff.
At lunch they will be
greeted by NFU President,
George Stone, who already
has committed the National
Farmers Union to helping
solve the mushroom import
problem.
That afternoon will be
spent calling on members of
the Subcommittee on In
ternational Trade of the
Senate Finance Committee.
Senators Heinz and Scb
weiker will meet the entire
delegation in late afternoon.
Thursday will be spent on
the House side, again in
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Distributed by:
teams of growers, calling on
the 21 members qf the House
Ways and Means Sub
committee on Trade.
Following this, certain
teams will call on selected
members from Penn
sylvania as well as others in
a position to help the import
limiting legislation. The bus
will return to Oxford the
evening of Junes.
On June 9 the Farmers
Union organization will
formally testify before the
International Trade Com
mission to further document
the harm rising mushroom
import quotas are causing
American producers.
Growers or others in
terested in accompanying
this bus-in to Washington
should contact the Penn
sylvania Farmers Union.
The phone number is 717-
232-9648.