C2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 6,1982 ♦. j This is the Micro-Program Unit of the Micro-Tronic automatic feeding system. Feeding system serves 10 to 60-cow herds SHERIDAN, Wy. Farmtronlx has introduced Micro-Tronic to its expanding line of electronic, automatic feeding systems and components. Specifically designed for automatic feeding of dairy herds of 10 to 60 cows, Micro-Tronic gives the moderate-sized dairy operation nutrition control for improved milk production and ease of rebreeding. Highly adaptable, the system can be put to work with existing feeders, hoppers and feed delivery systems, including Northco and Hoyn of Plenty magnetic type feeding systems. It is a complete system con sisting of a portable Micro program Unit, a Cow In dentifier/Control Unit at the feeder, and the Cow Identification Tag worn by each cow on the feed program. The system provides a way to upgrade the operation of existing Northco and Horn of Plenty magnetic feed stations, as well as the DeLaval Challenger, to allow feed control for each cow in the herd. Any dairyman who has one of these systems can leave all the existing hoppers, feed delivery stations, and feeders in place and simply add cow identifier tags and program unit. The heart of the system is the Micro-Program Unit. Lightweight and highly portable, it is used by the dairyman to instruct and collect cow data at the feed station. The Micro-Program Unit is carried to the feed station where it is plugged into the Cow Iden tifier/Control Unit mounted on the feeder. At this time the dairyman CYC hires sales manager CARLISLE Cumberland Valley Cooperative has hired James A. Bear of Newville as sales manager for the Cooperative. Jim will be responsible for sales of fertilizer, chemicals, feed and farm supplies. Bom and raised on a dairy farm in Cumberland County, he at tended Boiling Springs High School and was involved in many ac tivities including State and National FFA, bands, PAFC and AIC Summer Institutes. Jim graduated from the Elevator and Farm Supply Management Course at Michigan State University in 1972. During college, he was vice president and president of Associated Students of Ag Technology and was selected outstanding students of Ag Tech in 1972. enters each individual cow number using the key pad. He may review the status of consumption for each cow on the visual display, issue new instructions and request a ' printed record of consumption for die day, week or month-to-date from the optional printer. Mounted at the front of the feeder, the Cow Identifier/Control Unit identifies each cow as she puts her head into the lt stores the feeding instructions for each cow and activates the feeder to deliver feed according to the allocation program established. Micro-Tronic requires no wiring between the Micro-Program Unit and the feed stations, allowing use with stand-alone or field feeders. The feeders require regular 60 cycle, 115 volt AC power. Each Cow Identification Tag is factory pre-coded, requiring no setup or programming by the dairyman. Both visual and con trolled feeding identification are provided with the tag worn on the cow’s neck using a standard neck chain. Once on the animal the neck tag never needs to be removed or replaced and requires no batteries or power devices. The cow placing her head in the feeder brings the Cow Iden tification Tag within range of the Cow Identifier/Control Unit mounted on the feeder, .activating the feeder within planned allocation and feed cycle. The correct ration is dispensed at a controlled rate which is slower than the cow’s normal rate of consumption. Should the cow move or be pushed away from the feeder, feed delivery stops. There is no wasted feed with this system. In 1970, Jim was hired by CVC as a fieldman covering Cumberland County. In 1973, B & W Co-op of < , James A. Bear DeKalb HEHSHEY - Two York Countians who farm within five miles of each other and a i Lan caster County dairyman were among the top corn growers honored on Friday, Jan. 29, at a recognition meeting of the DeKalb Yieldmasters Club at the Hershey Convention Center. Archie Vaught, of Stewartstown, had the top yield among the 63 growers from Pennsylvania and New Jersey honored at the meeting. His one-acre yield with DeKalb XL-71 was 206.76 bushels. Michael D. Wright, of New Freedom, finished first from Pennsylvania in the 25-acre National Corn Growers Association competition with a yield of 196.16 bushels from DeKalb XL-61. He was also fourth in the Yieldmaster competition* with a one-acre yield of 196.46 bushels per acre. Tops in the Yieldmaster silage competition was Irwin W. Engle, of Marietta, with a yield of 29.57 tons per acre. He grew DeKalb XL-61. Among the speakers at the recognition meeting were Elmer Hepschlaeger, Eastern Sales Manager for DeKalb; Doug Roberts, alfalfa product manager; Wayne Fowler, agronomic education director; and Bruce Maunder, vice president and director of research. Among the points made by Maunder in a lengthy talk on research was that 85 percent ot the difference between average and record yields in corn is due to stress placed on the plant by various weather conditions and only 15 percent is due to the effects of disease or insects. The Yieldmaster Club plaques were distributed by District Sales Managers Chns Chamberlain and Jack Utzelman. Growers honored by Cham berlain, along with their hybrids grown and their yields: Jack and Jerry Kanach, Flermngton, * N.J., XL-71,, 198.60; Scott Shoop, MUton, XL-71,194.10; Gary L. Donaldson, Uacketstown, N.J., XL-71, 189.04, (Donaldson was also first in New Jersey in the National Corn Growers com petition with a yield ot 189.14; Probasco Farms, Wnghtstown, N.J., XL-57, 187.32; Lapp Bros., Cochranville, XL-61, 183.93; Gerald L. Shoop, Milton, XL-57, 183.24; 1. Glen Engle, Cochran ville,, XD6I, 181.09; John H. Kanach, Flemington, N.J., XL-71, 180.59; Jeff Mitchell, Honey Brook, XL-61, 179,29; Irvin G.‘ Engle, Cochranville, XL-72b, 178.80; Merle J. King, Cochranville, XL -61,174.37. ' Tom Williams, Oxford, XL-55a, 171.44; Samuel L. Mast, Oley, XL -57, i7t1.79; Frank and Hubert Stoltzfus, Elverson, XL-71, 169.58; Williams heads fertiliser group CARLISLE Members of The Pennsylvania Inland Fertilizer Association have elected George F. Williams, Codorus Fertilizer Service, Inc., as president for 1982. Also elected for 1982 terms were vice president, Arthur E. McAlister, York Stone & Supply Company, York; secretary, Wayne Baker, Cumberland Valley Co-op, Shippensburg; and treasurer, William E. Angstadt, Reading Bone Fertilizer Company, Reading. Breckenridge, Ml hired Jim as Safety Director, Quality Control Manager, and Seedman. Jim went to St. Johns Co-op in St. Johns, MI in 1977 as grain manager and seedman. He also worked in sales of fertilizer, chemicals, and feed. Jim and his wife,'Lynda Gutshall Bear of Carlisle Springs, have 3 children. The Bears have been involved in many activities which include attending and workmg in many of tfieir church activities. ip gi _ jt the DeKalb Yieldmasters Club meeting at Hershey are, front to rear, Irwin W. Engle, Marietta, yield of 29.57 tons per acre of silage with XL-61; A Archie Vaught, Stewartstown, 206.76 bushels, with XL-7I; w and Michael D. Wright, New Freedom, who was tops from Pennsylvania in the National Corn Growers Association competition with XL-61. Simonson Farms, Cranbury, N.J., XL-61, 169.14; T. Clyde Williams, Oxford, XL6I, 165.31; Melvin H. Horst, Atglen, XL-57, 162.73; William Ferrell, Uwchland, XL-57, 162.69; C. Ivan Stoltzfus, Honey Brook, XL-71, 162.58; Hiistin Farms, Trenton, N.J., XL-25a, 160.93; William H. Kanach, Flemington, N.J., .XL-57, 159.82; Meadowoode Farms, Elverson, XL-61, 158.78; Donald C. Ferrell, Eagle, XL-72b, 157.51; Harlan Burkholder, Cochranville, .XL-71, 156.59. Ralph Ferrell, X- L-25a, 156.42; Ernest Kuster Jr., Hmgoes, N.J., XL-71, 155.58; William 1. Smith, Woods to wn,, N.J., XL-71, 154.90; S. Michael Mowrer, Spring City, XL-61, 154.90; Irwin Seidel, Bremigsville, XL-61, 149.87; Jefferson Yoder, Elverson, XL-61, 149.82; David Colson, Woodstown, N.J., XL-57; 149.00; Dan E. Mast, Oley, XL-71, 148.21; Lame Farms, Flemington, N.J.,XL-71, 145.23; Dvoor Bros., Inc., Flemington, N.J., XL-71, 141.77; Brookrest Farms, Marlboro, N.J., XL-25a, 137.09; Marwell Dairy Farm, Cooper sburg, XL-61,135.16; Etsch Farms, Inc., Jamesburg, N.J., XL-64a, 134.76; Donald L. Miller, Miller sburg, XL6I, 122.16; J and L Farms, Cream Kidge, N.J., XL-61, 106.60. Elwood Funk, Chemgro Fer tilizer, East Petersburg, reported on activities of the Fertilizer Advisory Committee, a committee appointed by the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture to act in an advisory capacity to him concerning the existing fertilizer law. The committee includes personnel front Penn State, several farmers’ groups, the Department of Agriculture and the fertilizer industry. After a series of investigative sessions, the Committee, ac cording to Funk, established a list of considerations for needed changes m the current Act. These changes include (1) the elimination of the registration of brands and grades of fertilizer; the producing company would be responsible to the State for label requirements; (2j deficiency apartments should not be more than the dollar value of the deficiency; the present penalty factor has resulted in over formulation by the Industry, Growers honored by Litzelman: Archie Vaught, Stewartstown, XL-71,206.76; George Strawbndge Jr., Cochranvilie, XL-55a, 197.34; Michael D. Wnght, New Freedom, XL-61, 196.46; Robert S. Pierce, Kirkwood, XL-25a, 181.28; Brian A. ' Utz, Hanover, XL-57, 175.90;. Hoy Parks, Stewartstown, XL-25a, 173.02; Gerald G. Hotter, Annville, XL-55a, 167.98; Kloyd Moore, Lancaster, XL-61, 166.48; Harold Brubaker and Son, Strasburg, XL - 61, 159.80; Robert Stewartstown, XL-71, 158,5* ■■ iNevm L., Garyick,, Westnpmster, Md., XL-71, 154.61; Karl M. Hess, Lancaster, XL6I, 150.61; Druck Farms, York, XL-bl, 146.82. J. Wilraer Conrad, Lititz, XL-71, 144.42; Frey Bros., Marietta,, XL -55a, 137.38; Charles .A. Hess, Ualiastown, XL-72, 136.94; Nevm G. Rice, Blaih, XL-55a, 126.70; Stone-Hart Farms, St. Thomas, XL-71, 124.44; Ken Witmer, Lititz, XL-61, 123.66; Tussey View Farm, Inc., Centre Hall, XL-55a, 121.06; John Wernmg, Mt. Woll, XL-61, 115.26; Lynn M. Neer, Centre Hall, XLSS, 106.05; Eugene D. King, New Enterprise, XL-55a, 99.09; James Knaub, Red Lion, XL-55a, 99.01. , Second in the silage competition was Wilmer Conrad, Litilz, with r yield ot 25.53 tons per acre with XLr«l. thereby, increasing the cost of fertilizer to fanners; (3) the in clusion of a requirement that the product must maintain a 97% total commercial value. This was to allow for the innate sampling difficulties experienced with blended fertilizers, and (4) the inclusion of a civil penalty for flagrant violators of the Act up to a maximum of |lO,OOO on the third or subsequent violation. Don Parke, PennAg, reported that at least two of the major fanner organizations have en dorsed the recommendations of the Advisory Committee. The members of the P.I.F.A. j commended the Secretary or® Agriculture, Penrose Hallowell, for his formation of the Fertilizer Advisory Committee as an in dication of his positive interest in profitable agronomic agriculture m Pennsylvania. The summer meeting of The Pennsylvania Inland Fertilizer Association will be hosted by Amos Eby Company, Paradise, July 13.