Modem agriculture is doing
some tremendous things,
producing at levels not even
dreamed of a few years ago.
Average yields continue to in
crease and more and more acres
are brought into our modem
system of intensive cropping. Over
the past few decades, small farms
have given way to larger, more
efficient units and the old ways
have yielded to modern
mechanization.
Prior to World War 11, the
typical farm included quite a few
animals such as beef and dairy
cows, draft horses, hogs, and
maybe even some sheep.
But then came the era of bigness
and specialization and those little
farms were merged into larger
units. That meant fence rows and
pastureland disappeared. And
rolling hills once suited only for
grazing and hay production came
under the plow.
As this kind of intensive
agriculture continues* some
conservationists are starting to
worry about the future, and they’re
asking some pretty serious
questions.
Former Secretary of Agriculture
Bob Berglan says we are on a
collision course with disaster. Our
FfIUqRITE
FfIUORITE
FAVORITE EQUIPMENT and SUPPLY CO.
Farm
Talk
Jerry Webb
water supplies are being reduced,
we have whole watersheds where
the ground water resources are
being depleted, and we have mined
our soil.
In fact, he says,, the erosion of
America’s farmland is probably at
a record rate and this simply
cannot go on.
Knowlegeable experts agree
with Bergland, pointing to major
changes that need to be made in
the way we farm our soil. And yet
other knowledgeable observers
point to new yield and productivity
levels across the country and say
that the conservation collision talk
is a bunch of baloney.
No mater which side of this
conservation issue youJme up on,
it’s hard not to recognize that there
is a growing national concern
about soil erosion. Maybe they’re
ill-mformed, but a lot of folks are
wondering about increased erosion
that’s polluting our streams and
lakes with silt, fertilizers and
chemicals. And they’re wondermg
whether this erosion, if left un
checked, will eventually reduce
the nation’s ability to produce food.
Knowledgeable or not, these
concerned citizens know that soil
erosion reduces agricultural
productivity while at the same
Announce
NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557
FOR SALES AND SERVICE CALL 717-354-4466
EMERGENCY SERVICE AFTER 5 PM & WEEKENDS - CALL 717-354-4460
tune polluting water and air. And
those factors have senous con
squences for our future security
and well being
Locally, soil erosion may not be
a big deal, although I suspect it’s a
bigger factor than most farm
people want to admit. Nationally,
there are some downright
disgraces going on. I’ve seen land
being farmed, m lowa for exam
ple, that had no business being
tilled. Fields that once provided
excellent pasture and hay crops
have been plowed and planted to
corn and soybeans, and theei..m .
was obvious to passing motorists
on the interstate.
But the push is on to get
maximum yields per acre and to
use every acre that’s available.
Former Secretary of Agriculture
Earl Bute urged farmers to plow
then: ground right to the fence
rows. That was his way of saying
we needed an all-out push to in
crease food output to meet
domestic and foreign demands.
Some farmers took him literally,
plowing land that should have been
left m grass.
A little erosion here and a little
there adds up to one gigantic
erosion problem, one that may
require government action.
It took the government and its
many programs to stop the erosion
abuses of the 1920’s and 30’s, and
that may be just what will be
required again. When farm prices
were low, land relatively cheap,
government incentives strong, and
when there was a surplus of farm
products, it was fairly easy to
change farming habits and em
phasize soil conservation.
Programs that encouraged
farmers to terrace, plant cover
crops, provide drainage systems,
and build waterways were ef
fective. But can that be done again
when farmers are anxious to till
every possible inch of ground and
not be worried with man-made
obstacles that stand in the way of
large tillage equipment?
FAVORITE “LIFESTYLE”
POULTRY SYSTEMS
Are Now Sold and Serviced By:
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 7,1981-03
Those in the forefront of the
current soil conservation
movement feel that farmers and
landowners aren’t apt to bite the
conservation bullet on their own,
and they're calling for some
completely new approaches to
promote better conservation.
That includes.
Direct government ftles and
regulations on how land can be
fanned.
More government incentives to
use conservation practices.
Cross-compliance with com
modity programs wherein a far
mer not using apnroved practices
would not qualify fo r government
loans.
Some of the really radical
thinkers are saying farm exports
should be restricted because
current high commodity prices are
encouraging fanners to plant
marginal acres.
There are two key points that
must be dealt with in an national
dialogue on conservation. First, is
erosion really increasing
significantly; and second, if
erosion is increasing, what’s the
best way to deal with it?
The most widely quoted
NEWARK, Del. - The 1981
edition of “Commercial Vegetable
Production Recommendations” is
now available to Delaware farmer.
The guide was prepared by the
Extension Service and is intended
to help commercial growers make
the many managerial decisions
they’re faced with over the
growing season.
The publication contains in
formation on soil management,
testing, liming and fertilizing;
production of transplants;
irrur ? p 0 p : -ur nniintion injury;
menr
statistics on soil erosibn come out
of a study conducted by the Sod
Conservation Service following
passage of the Soil and Water
Resource Conservation Act of 1977.
That study points out that of the
nation’s 413 million acres of
cropland, only two-thirds or 272
million acres are considered at a
safe level of erosion, meaning that
those acres are losing less than
five tons of soil per acre per year.
Conservationists believe on those
acres, soil is being rebuilt about as
fast as it’s being lost.
That means that another third of
our cropland is losing sod faster
than it’s gaming and eventually it
will be worn out.
Of course, these are only
estimates and there is con
siderable room for error. And you
can find experts on both sides of
the sod conservation issue.
It’s ray guess that soil con
servation will be an important
item on the national agricultural
agenda during this decade and that
farmers will see some new
restrictions and new incentives
aimed at cutting down the level of
erosion whether it be considered
excessive or not.
Del. veg guide
now available
pesticide formulation and ap
plication; detection and control of
sod pests; pesticide safety; as well
as specific recommendations
regarding many commercial
vegetable crops.
It is not for use by home gar
deners.
Commercial growers interested
in obtaining a copy should contact
their county extension office m
Newark 302/738-2506, Dover
302/736-1675, or Georgetown
302/856-5250.
FfIUORITE
B