A34—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 16,19*1 (Continued from Page Al) introduced and were quite ef fective in controlling the pest.” But as the parasites significantly reduced the gypsy moth population, they literally ate themselves right out of existence. A collapse in the parasite numbers followed the reduction m the population of the gypsy moth. “Now, nature will need to rebuild the parasite numbers,” Nichols said. “There’s always a year or two of lag tune between the two. “There will likely be another significant problem next year and by 1983 it should be reduced significantly.” Actually, the gypsy moth hatch began about the 10th of April, but cool weather retarded their developement along with leaf growth on which they feed. It’s only been in the last week or so that they started to become evident and will feed during the next eight weeks. When they reach full size and really put their appetites to work later in June, an area of forest can be defoliated seemingly overnight. The state spraying program, which is being conducted in cooperation with counties, was launched about a week ago. It is being confined to forest residential areas m which homes are located or recreational sites. Some 175,000 acres across the state are due to be sprayed by mid- June. Block launches drive WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block announced an intensified campaign to expand gram exports to five target countries believed to represent a growing market potential. The five countries, which already take 12 million tons of U.S. wheat and feed grams annually, are Algeria, Brazil, Chile, China and Morocco. Block said the new program will be extended to other markets when plans are developed. The first step will be several high-level consultations with of ficials of the target countries, Block said. Names of team members and a schedule of meeting places and dates will be available within a few days. Expanding export initiatives will help counter the competitive threat generated by the recent embargo on U.S. agricultural exports, he said. “Other countries have increased production, causing greater competition for U.S. gram m world markets,” he said. “We are seeking to restore our competitive position and enhance our reputation as the world’s most dependable supplier. ” Block said the visits should result in specific plans for ex panding trade servicing, im proving credit programs, and determining quantities of U.S. grain to be purchased in the 1981-82 marketing year. The expected large supplies of U.S. grams this year “make it essential we explore every promising avenue for expanded exports,” Block said. "Only by exporting to the maximum can we raise the level of farm income.” He said stepped-up high level contacts with foreign countries also would involve personal in vitations to ministers and other officials to meet personally with Block and his staff in Washington. Gypsy moth Out of that total, approximately 100,000 acres are found in Pike and Monroe counties and the remainder is spread out among 25 other counties. For example, only about 800 acres are due to be sprayed in Lancaster County. The state is utilizing Dylox in its spraying program. But homeowners wishing to spray would likely need to utilize Sevm, which is also injurious to honey bees. LANCASTER Approval has been granted for additional use of Ridomil in tobacco seedbeds to provide increased protection against blue mold disease. Announcement of state label approval for the expanded use in seedbeds was made this week by John Yocum, superintendent of the Penn State Southeast Research Lab at Landisville; Lancaster County Agent Arnold Lueck and representatives of the Ridomil manufacturer, the Ciba-Geigy Company. The supplemental labeling of Ridomil 2E provides for the foliar application to be made only after 70 days following the first treat ment made at the tune of the seeding of the tobacco beds. The dosage rate of the additional Ridomil calls for one tablespoon to be put on 150 square yards of bed area, or 350 square feet. This rate figures out to one teaspoonful for e&ch 450 square feet of seedbed. Apply in enough water for even distribution over the seedbed. - - Growers are also advised to continue use of the regular seedbed fungicides-Ferban, Maneb, Zmeb or Mancozeb - on their seedbeds. This extra precaution, plus the Ridomil, should provide adequate seedbed protection against both blue mold and anthracnose. It is important to keep the regular fungicides m the spraying program, the agronomists recommended. The new local needs labeling permits applying the extra Ridomil every seven days until field transplanting is completed. “Growers have been displaying excellent cooperation in the efforts agamst blue mold,” County Agent Lueck said. “But we want to stress that this is not a time to relax the guard against the disease. “Weather conditions will largely determine how much a factor the disease will become a gam this year. We’ve been getting some damp, rainy weather and should be careful not to ease up on the protection.” The special state labeling now Extra Ridomil use approved for seedbeds expands the Ridonui protection time of seeding, but the protection throughout the seedbed phase of from this application did not ex the tobacco plant’s development. tend through the entire seedbed Previously, a single soil ap- phase until the plants are plication had been approved at the scheduled to be transplanted. I'M NOT L10N... The Classified Livestock Section Has Beastly Selections! Ag Area bill economy and < Pennsylvania citizens. “The establishment of an area by farmers and local government officials would give the farmers reasonable assurance that they would continue to farm without undue harassment. ’ ’ The summary continues to define the limits of the Agricultural Area Bill. “no municipality or political subdivision shall enact any laws or , 'rdinance<! which would (Continued from Page At) unreasonably restrict or regulate the operation of a farm located in the area; “the policy of state agencies shall be to encourage the main* tenance of farming in the area; "land in the area shall be protected from condemnation by public agencies, unless approved by a Agricultural Lands Con demnation Approval Board; and "counties may purchase development easements within an agricultural area." These voluntary ag areas are not necessarily permanent, the summary points out. It notes local governments can terminate the area after seven years and a land owner can withdraw from an area after a like tune period. “The continued existence of an agricultural area would be up for review every seven years. Lan downers who want their land withdrawn or included in the area must notify the governing body at least 120 days before the end of the seventh year. The review procedures would include recommendations from the planning commission and the Advisory Committee, and a public hearing. The governing body could then either continue the area as is, modify it, or terminate it. Aggrieved parties would have the right to appeal the decision within 30 days. “This legislation can be beneficial to farmers,” Wenger concluded, “but I don’t expect there’ll be a stampede to sign up for ag areas.”
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