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.”