Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, February 07, 1981, Image 24
A24—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 7,1981 Weekend rain is only drop in water deficit LANCASTER Sunday’s and Monday’s rainfall did little to appease southeast Pennsylvania farmland’s thirst for water According to state specialist, the area is averaging a 12 inch deficit in rainfall the teasing precipitation experienced here early in the week onl> put one inch in the more-than-ernpty rain barrel According to Jane Smith, en vironmental planner with the Bureau of Resources Program ming, Department of En vironmental Resources, that one inch of precipitation, falling as snow, sleet, and ram, piovided 4 million gallons of runoff water per square mile under the low soil moisture conditions existing in the state. Hydraulic engineer Steve Runkle explained the one inch ram produced 0 2 inch direct runoff In layman terms, Runkle stated this amount of runoff would provide “about four days worth of water in a good sized community, like the Hazleton area ” Current figures show the water shortage to be a regional problem DER reports Allentown has a 14- inch deficit, Harrisburg has a 9- mch deficit, Chester County comes in with a 10-inch shortage, while Selmsgrove has a 12-mch deficit “We’ve had two severe months of virtually no precipitation,” observed Runkle We’re still waj Sheep 9 wool growers to meet MECHANICSBURG - This Thursday, February 12, is the deadline for tickets for the annual meeting of the Cumberland Cooperative Sheep and Wool Growers meeting The 12th annual growers banquet will be held Monday evening, February 23 at 7 p m The location will be the First United Methodist Church, on the corner of Frederick and Simpson Ferry Roads, Mechanicsburg The directors decided that a banquet should be held in con- junction with the annual meeting again this year. Of course, the meal will feature lamb Tickets for the banquet will run $4 25 for adults with the cooperative making up the dif behind the norm, and it will take several months of above normal precipitation to catch up ” The DER hydrologist pomted out this water shortage is following a trend started last year in May We were behind in precipitation from last May on, he tmd Wc were ahead going into Mav But each month s shortage produced a (emulative effect, and now wc u; feeling it There was only one month with normal precipitation since last May ” Will we catch up in time to have a normal crop year' Said Runkle, It’s too early to predict ciop t .i „s Just looking at corn, of all the factors that affect production, water is most important From emergence to harvest, corn generally requires 16 to 26 inches of water, according to DeKalb agronomist Wayne Fowler Total water required for a successful corn crop varies from season to season and from area to area, he noted. Even in the corn plant’s growth cycle, water intake vanes "During the first 45 days when plants are growing to waist high, water consumption increases from essentially zero to about 0 15 inch per day “Then during the rapid plant growth state, moisture demand increases sharply to a maximum of abot 0 35 inch per day during the fernce Tickets for 4-H members who completed a sheep project in 1980 will be $2 25 Children under 10 also are welcome for $2 25 In addition to the banquet there will be a brief business session, the election of two directors and one auditor, the president’s report, and recognition of 4-H members Dr Lester Gnel, the veterinarian for the Penn State sheep flock, will be on hand to discuss “A health program for your flock ” Any grower who pooled wool at the 1980 Cumberland Cooperative wool pool automatically is a member of the Cooperative and is welcome to attend the annual meeting pollination period. Under hot, low humidity conditions, this maximum has been reported to be as much as half an inch per day Moisture demand tapers oft aftei pollination and is down to roughly 0 65 inch per day when giain 'caches physiologic maturity Any time these moisture demands cannot be met, plants suffer With corn, the most critical growth state is from a few days prior to tassehng to a few days alter pollination is completed This is a time ot extreme demand tor both water and nutrients ” A lot can happen precipitation wise between now and next fall’s corn harvest, but what about the small grains that are out there competing for survival now’ According to Arnold Lueck, Lancaster County Extension Agronomist, the 24 hour ram that fell on February 1 and 2 was a life saver for small grams “Things were just starting to get critical,” he said. “But after the ram, the picture changed drastically.” ‘ • PENN DUTCH FARM SYSTEMS, INC is dependable, locally owned and operated Their staff is honest, ambitious and dedicated to your service • No wasted overhead that costs you money • Properly equipped and trained to handle your most complex silo problems • We will work on your other bottom unloaders as well ■ ■■■§■ Please Clip & Mail Coupon to ■ Bi ■ Bi | PENN DUTCH FARM SYSTEMS, INC. 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Lueck predicted the small gram crop to "be all right” this summer It was a timely ram, he concluded Along with the small gram growers, several other Lancaster County farmers welcomed the ram Among them was Philip Crouse, 21, son of Galen Crouse, Ephrata. Since last September, the Crouses have been hauling water to their farm to supply the water for domestic needs as well as for THE COMPANY i Haylage or Corn Silage Storage Replacing my old or broken bottom unloader with the Laidig .STATE Why Buy SEALSTOR FOR HAYLAGE? THE STRUCTURE Domed Fiberglass Roof THE UNLOADER Rugged Bottom Unloader I' FARM SHOW PRICES NOW IN EFFECT Until Feb. 15,1981, CALL TODAY! PENN DUTCH FARM SYSTEMS, Inc. ZIP HOGS bucket their 100 milking Holsteins "Last November we buried a 12,000 gallon tank which has helped a little bit, but we still had to haul 5000 gallons of water two weeks ago,” Phil recalled The farm’s seven wells and spring started going dry last fall which necessitated hauling 1200 gallons of water every day to meet the livestock and human needs "We’re blaming the weak water supply on the weather,” said Phil “The wells have never gone dry before in my life tune, although Dad talks about it being dry one other time in the 1950’s ” Phil said the snow melt seems to have helped to revive the sluggish spring and wells. But even at best, two of the wells flow at only a half gallon-per-minute rate while the other three push only a gallon or two per minute, according to Phil ‘We’re not in the best place for water or well drilling,” he noted, revealing two additional wells had been dug which were both failures The Lancaster County Soil and (Turn to PageA^bi • Domed fiber-glass roof is standard, steel roof is $5OO less • Forage distributor gives you 10 15% more capacity • Larger sheets closer bolt spacing for added strength • Two year warranty • Laidig 98 simple to work on stand ard parts available from many local sources • No short arming or long arming • Low maintenance cost • Variable speed delivery THE PRICE • We are dedicated to bringing you the best structure available • We are pledged to hold down our costs and mark-ups so we can sell your structure for less • We know that you need a good structure and unloader but most of all you have to be able to attord the investment 1730 Highway 72 North Lebanon, PA 17042 PH: 717-273-9324