NEWARK, Del. - The East
Coast, including Delaware, has a
long history of abundant water.
But competition for water has
increased in recent years. Supply
in some areas has become un
certain because of frequent
drought. In others, pollution has
reduced the amount of available
water.
As a result, residents of
Delaware and other eastern states
can expect to see changes in water
allocation policies during the next
few years, predicts University of
Delaware extension economist
Gerald Vaughn. A specialist in
community and resource
economics, he is also vice chair
NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC. - THE ACTION AUCTION
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EARLY BIRD HOG SALE
Ag has stake in Del. water policy
man of Governor DuPont’s
Comprehensive Water Resources
Management Committee and a
member of its water allocation
subcommittee, which is proposing
refinements of Delaware’s current
water management policies.
“Agricultural water users—
especially farmers who irrigate—
have an important stake in future
water use decisions,’’ says
Vaughn. “Rights to use water are
nearly as vital to Delaware’s
agricultural industry as rights to
use land.”
He says irrigation has the
greatest potential of any
technology for increasing the
state’s food production capacity in
MONDAY
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
HAY
STRAW
1:30 PM
BEEF SALE
CALF, SHEEP,
GOATS
Market your livestock thru New Holland Sales, your neighbor does
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POULTRY HOUSES
AND VEAL PENS
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M Beetle Cental
MAYNARD L BEITXU.
Witmer, PA 1758 S 717-392-7227
tin* 1961.
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GRAIN
Pick-up your check before you leave
the 1980 s. “Inadequate rainfall at
critical periods of plant growth,
soils somewhat low in
waterholding capacity, and in
creasing financial pressures make
the risk of crop failure or low
yields a heavy burden on First
State farmers,” Vaughn says. To
protect yields, each year more
cropland is irrigated.
Irrigation also increases yields
and improves product quality in
times of normal rainfall. For
irrigators, double-cropping
becomes a common practice. Even
triple-cropping is sometimes
possible, thus further boosting
Delaware’s capacity to produce
food.
Sprinkler irrigation of com,
using water pumped from on-farm
supplies, is the most rapidly
growing irrigation practice, both
nationally and in Delaware. But,
cautions Vaughn, irrigation is *
expensive and may not be a
profitable investment on all farms.
WEDNESDAY
12:00 NOON
HEIFERS. BULLS
NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, Inc.
12 Miles East of Lancaster
on Route 23, New Holland, Penna
The Action Auction
717-354-4341
Mgr. - Abe Diffenbach - 717-3934464
Norman Kolb -717-397-5538
Field Representatives
Alan Diffenbach 717-656-9806
Luke Eberly 215-267-6608 - 738-1865
WEDNESDAY
FEEDER PIG SALE
1:30 P.M.
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, February 19,1983—05
Irrigation systems can be difficult
to manage and many farmers have
trouble getting optimum results.
“Irrigation hasn’t consumed
undue amounts of water in
Delaware,’’ the economist says.
“With few exceptions, it shouldn’t
in the future. The cost gives
irrigators an automatic incentive
to be as efficient as possible in
their use of water. However,
steady increases in irrigation and
other water demands to create the
potential for conflict among water
users.’’
Last spring public meetings
were held in each county to discuss
water allocation issues and
possible changes in state allocation
policies. Vaughn feels more in
formational meetings and,
eventually, public hearings will be
needed before the revised
proposals become regulations.
He says the Extension service’s
goal in participating in the state’s
effort to clarify its water use
policies is to help people better
understand the water
management issues invob« M ’ and
Wood stove program Tuesday
EPHRATA A program on
wood stove installation and safety
sponsored Tuesday in the senior
high school auditorium by the
Ephrata Young Fanners will be
open to the public.
Participating in the program
will be Chris McGee, of Mutual In-
BULLS - H
■ N ■ viiSi
STEERS -
BEEF COWS
CALVES
f
the likely consequences of alter
native policy decisions.
“From previous public meetings
it is clear that many Delaware
residents, including farmers, are
unaware of or don’t understand
existing Delaware water law as it
has evolved from common law
concepts to the present ad
ministrative permit system,”
Vaughn says.
He encourages farmers who
irrigate, or who may irrigate in the
future, to read the Extension
circular ‘‘Agricultural Irrigation
and Delaware Water Law.”
“This will help them understand
our present water law and put
them in a better position to make
their views known on proposed
changes during public meetings
later this year,” he says.
Free copies of the 12-page
booklet are available at Extension
offices in Newark, 302/738-2506;
Dover, 302/736-1448; and
Georgetown 302/856-5250. Copies
may also be obtained by calling
Vaughn at 302/738-25W.
surance Inspection Bureau and
Lester Bowman, of Bowman’s
Stove Shop, R 3 Ephrata. The two
will also join in a panel discussion
with a representative of the
Firemen's Association to answer
questions from the audience.
THURSDAY
11:00 AM
3:30 P.M.
SHEEP
GOATS