DlG—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 3,1982 Is there a place for NEWARK, Del - More no-till com was planted in Delaware this spring than ever before, and full season no-till soybean production also appears to be on an increase, reports University of Delaware Extension crops specialist Frank Webb. Based on current acreage and grower interest, he expects no tillage systems to enjoy even wider use on the Delmarva peninsula as time goes on. Besides com and soybeans, Webb says it looks as though small grains may be another good candidate for no-till. He’s in the process right now of evaluating results of the third year of small grain no-tillage trials on several demonstration plots around the state. As the problems are worked out of these systems, does this mean there’ll be a place on some Delaware farms for an all no-tiU, three crop rotation program? It’s an idea the specialist plans to explore, but at the same time, there are still plenty of questions to be answered about the effects of long-term on-tillage fanning. “At present,” he says, “we know very little about the problems such as insect and disease buildups that may be encountered with continuous no-till." For example, given certain weather conditions, some crop HAY WAGONS FOR SALE with or without running gear • Also will fit sides onto your flat wagon Compare the Stoltxffus Woodwork Calf Hatch Lifting Hook for easy handling One Sheet Rear Vent fOption) > Galvanized (Option) \ Metal Rocl I V Sturdy 2x4 construction Treated skids exterior p,ywBV£* chain to ceiling of hutch Dealers: (Calf Hutches Only) Berks County: Maryland: joe ruTH LEROY HILDEBRAN RD #4133 Fleetwood, Pa. 19522 Woodsboro, Md. 215-944-7571 301-845-8929 Lebanon County; UMBERGER'S MILL Rt 322. RD#4 Lebanon, Pa 717-867-5161 STOLTZFUS MFD. BY: pests such as slugs may be more of a problem. Wet, humid weather this season favored slug outbreaks which have seriously damaged some New Castle County no-till com plantings. “We don’t know where this is going to leave no-tillage com,” says Webb, “since the pest is mainly a problem under this practice and right now there are no chemical controls for slugs which are commercially acceptable.” As no-till acreage increases, some problems are bound to occur, just because of the variety of growing conditions around the state and the number of acres involved. Though no-till com has been grown commercially in Delaware for nearly a decade, it’s only within the last three or four years that most growers have begun to adopt the practice. The system isn’t for everyone, nor for every field condition. “We’re still experimenting with it under different conditions, even though we’ve already studied it for nearly 15 years at the University,” he says. Conventional com production practices still have plenty of ad vocates and are an important part of many operations. But no-till can play a part in the com acreage on many farms, giving crrowprs time Tilt Out Feeder for/ easy access. RD 2, Box 2280, Gap, PA 17527 717-442-8972 Simple, efficient eyebolt and pin ■ connector 36” or 50” high wire ition) Chester County; ZOOK'S FARM STORE Honey Brook, Pa. 215-273-2943 WOODWORK all no-till, three-crop rotation? for other jobs, making better use of available labor and even helping hold down production costs, in some cases. Webb says he would like to see more full-season soybeans go into no-till. He says this cropping system makes it possible to plant soybeans early in the season generally from May 20 through mid June when small grains start to come off. After working with full-season, no-till soybeans for nearly five years, he reports there’s enough information available now to provide at least a partial “recipe” for the process, in terms of production guidelines. The availability of such a recipe for no till com has speeded up the adoption of that cultural practice on farms. “It appears that no-till may be as viable a production system for full season soybeans on Delmarva as it is for corn,” says Webb. “We don’t have all the answers yet, but at least the basics have been worked out as far as the general herbicide combination needed for getting vegetative bumdown, and the combinations of residual chemicals. It looks as though narrow rows are almost a necessity for successful full-season no-till soybeans.” Another important part of the AWESOME6O 60” DUAL-PURPOSE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL FAN Customers tell us the Awesome 60 outperforms any comparable size fan they have used. Call us for customer reference. Dealerships Available production package is a cover crop of some type, both to control weeds and conserve moisture. Looking ahead, he predicts that full-season, no-till soybean production will find wide ac ceptance among growers. “Changes come relatively slowly in agriculture especially when it comes to technological changes involving chemical use and better machinery design,” he says. The most recent adaptation of no-tillage on Delmarva is in the 'area of small grain production. Webb has been comparing notill versus conventional practices on wheat and barley for die past three years and expects to publish results from the third year’s trials later this summer. This in formation should make it possible to determine whether or not no tillage has a place in small grain production locally. Yields from a number of commercial plantings FEATURING: Designed exclusively for heavy duty commercial application. Provides up to 23,000 C.F.M. (high speed setting). 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Some form of land preparation or tillage ought be called for at some stages of the rotation in order to accommodate the following crop. - \ >1 CHEESE ON BURGERS a picnic delight LEBANON FA. A fQU I^MfNT