B2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 1,1981 UllClflACG j? driu jjUbiiivijh Pioneer keeping ‘Queen Alfalfa’ on throne BY DICK ANGLESTEIN MOUNTVILLE - Alfalfa is still queen of the forages. And Pioneer aims to keep her on that throne. That was the gist of a field day held Tuesday at the alfalfa research center of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. on the Guy Gshelman farm southeast of Mountville. Pioneer research and sales personnel outlined the company’s all-out commitment to a continuing nationwide effort at genetic im provement that literally stretches from coast to coast. The Lancaster County research center, opened in 1979, is just one of seven such facilities across the country which are working toward some of the greatest plant breeding improvements since early European colonists brought the plant to this .country under the name of lucerne. “We’ve been in the alfalafa seed business for 20 years, but it’s only been in the past three or four that Pioneer has embarked on this all out commitment,” Vance York, coordinator for alfalfa and wheat research at the Tipton, Ind. headquarters for Pioneer, said. “We’ve not only established these seven research facilities in different parts of the country, but Pioneer has increased its seed production capacity, too.” York went on to explain the importance of genetic im provement to boost forage yield by showing that just one more bale of SIONEE? near Mountviile, discusses results of anthracnose studies conducted in clone plant nursery. News hay per acre per cutting can amount to $l2O for the alfalfa grower. On display at the field day were two mobile forage comparison scales which can pull into a far mer’s field, cut a short swath and in a matter of minutes show what the yield will be m tons per acre. “These machines can really help the farmer in comparing the performance of one variety against another and showing how much better a yield can be ex pected,” York said. One of the machines is being used at the Lancaster County research center. Following introductory remarks and the showing of a movie ex plaining Pioneer alfalfa seed research, visiting farmers, ex tension personnel and vo-ag teachers toured the research plots. In the clone nursery area, Ed Pointer, research station manager, explained how in dividual plants are deliberately subjected to various diseases to determine their individual degree of resistance. “One of the disease studies here isanthracnose,” Pointer said. "Each of these plants have been injected in the stem with an thracnose mnoculant. We’re deliberately giving the plant the disease to see if it will survive.” Plants that come through the disease tests are then sent to California for seed yield tests. “We look for forage yield here,” Pomter said. JSS> •^Bl With variety test plots in foreground, Vance alfalfa field day. York cited #531 as the top York, of the Pioneer headquarters in Tipton, finisher in Michigan State and Ohio State Ind., explains continuing work with approved tests, as well as the leading variety averaged varieties being marketed and those still in among three Pennsylvania locations. experimental stage to group of farmers at .JsS forage q .... -ip This mobile Forage Comparison Scales, into a field, cut a short swath and within which is being used at the Pioneer alfalfa minutes tell the expected yield in tons per research center in Lancaster County, can pull acre. "Out West, we check the seed yield and then plants which combine a good yield for both are selected. Bacteria wilt and crown rot are other diseases which are studied, too. In progeny row tests, the plants’ capability to produce good off spring is studied. “We want alfalfa that’s tall, wide and dark green,” Pointer said. Each of the progeny rows are cut separately to be checked not only for yield, but disease response and insect damage. Both fast and slow recovery types are studied. In the variety test plots, York explained that current research efforts are directed at bringing the fast and slow recovery or early maturing and longer term varieties closer together con cerning how long thev will last. One experimental variety, which is some three or tour years down the road before commercial in troduction, is being developed tor resistance to verticillium wilt, which is a problem in the West. Three varieties now on the market continue to be studied in Lancaster County. Number 531 has emerged in the top spot m Michigan State and Ohio State tests and an average of three Pennsylvania locations also puts it on top. "It is an outstanding yielder with resistance to anthracnose,” York said. Numbel 024, a slow recovery variety, has excellent tolerance to leat hopper, York said. A new variety tor next year will be Number 526, a fall dormant, which has the potential tor higher yield but not as good tolerance to the leat hoppet M. Khizobia tests, involving Pioneer’s seed mnoculant, are also under way near Mountvilie. The mnoculant is being produced just tor Pioneer seed and it has been found that one strain works on Wayne introduces mUk replacer CHICAGO, IL. - "4th Day Milk Keplacer,” a high tat feed product tor newborn dairy calves, has been introduced by Wayne Feeds. The product is ted alter the calt receives colostrum milk from its dam tor the tirst three days of the call’s hte. New “4th Day Milk Keplacer” contains 20% tat, 20% all-milk protein and an effective antibiotic combination. "More and more ot our dairy feed customers are asking tor a higher tat content product,” ex plained Gary Hartnell, Wayne’s Dairy Research Specialist who developed the new milk replacer. The combination ot ingredients used resulted in tewer treatment days in newborn calves. The new milk replacer is recommended tor use in dairy herds that have had problems with baby calt scours and tor calves ted outside ui calt hutches during the winter, accorduig to David Fox, Wayne Marketing Mana ger/Dairy. Neomycin base and oxytelracyclme, * the two active drug ingredients, aid in the prevention ot bacterial diarrhea, or scums. iii addition, "4th Day - a « I ison different varieties. Yield tests, using the m-field forage comparison scales, are being conducted over a three-year period at the research station. Milk Replacer” contains not less than 15,000JU/lb. of vitamin A and not less than 3,000 IU/lb. of vitamin D 3. In research conducted by Wayne Feeds, newborn calves ted "4th Day Milk Replacer” tor five weeks had 23% fewer treatment days than those ted a non-medicated all milk protein milk replacer, Hartnell reported. "A new manufacturing process makes '4th Day' easier to mix, dissolve more quickly and com pletely, and stay in suspension longer,” he added. ~ To introduce "4th Day Milk Replacer,” thousands ot dairy families are being mailed packages containing (1> a cigar labeled “It’s a girl,” announcing the “birth” ot a new product to be used atter the birth ot a heifer call; (2) a silk rose (another symbol ot a birth) plus a redemption offer tor an additional II roses, and (3) discount coupons tor a purchase ot "4th Day Milk Replacer.” "4th Day Milk Heplacer” as marketed by the Wayne Keed Division of Continental Gram Company through Wayne Dealers ui the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. '.lit - -
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