Drip Irrigation Program Makes Money For Produce Growers
" NEWARK, Del. Equipment to
lay black plastic mulch and drip
irrigation tubing for vegetable
crop production costs between $BOO
and $l,OOO. The expense has
limited adoption of this yield
CUSTOM WORK
ROUND BALE SILAGE BAGS
Two Round Bale Sizes To Choose From:
Small Size - 51” Diameter x 126” - Fits 42” to 48” Bales
Large Size - 70” Diameter x 148” - Fits 54” to 60” Bales
NOW IS THE TIME TO SWITCH
ANNOUNCING
BUILT IN PROTECTION
Three ply plastic silage bags, 9
mills silage bags. Life up to two
years. 42” alfalfa bale will weigh
between 1200 to 1300 lbs. at
50% moisture. 58” bale will weigh
1600 to 1800 lbs.
FAMILY TIME RESTAURANT
RT. 322 EPHRATA
LINCOLN. PA.
DUTCH SMORGASBORD
AND PLATTERS
HOME STYLE COOKING
-IBag 150 Tonsf
? 6 Bags 900 Tons B
.. 512 Bags 1800 Tons i
CLIP COUPON -> ■24 Bags 3600 Tons B
AG BAG EQUIPMENT i "48 Bags 7200 Tons B
HOSTS FAMILY TIME 1 ! 96 Bags 14400T0ns B
RESTAURANT |
10% OFF EACH MEAL | g..........--0..
OPEN 6 DAYS jl □ Want to know more about I
“ - J Ag-Bag System I
mm . . u I Afl-Bpg Equipment Co.*;
Model Hl9O PTO Hyd. B Phone: 717-626-7596 !
Model G 200 PTO ■ If no answer, 717-665-4868 .
nonn j B Address: In care of L.G. Eckert Z
Model M3OO Monetized B 210 E. 28th oiv. Hwy. J
Unit I Lititz, PA 17543 J
Gas or Diesel Units ■ Name 1
Side Conveyor . Z"L j
Dump Tables ■ state ZiP ■
HODDer SldeS * * Due t 0 errors - please be sure the name B
| Equipment Co. is on the envelope. _
improving technology, especially
by small or part-time fanners.
University of Delaware Ex
tension vegetable specialist Ed
Kee recently completed a three
year demonstration project on
ARE HERE!
Farmer, the tool you need is
the Ag-Bagger. No. other silage
storer can you profit from by
doing custom work Ag Bag
Machine more than pays for
itself. Look around and talk to
your neighbors. Farmers with
more than one farm having the
Ag-Bagger do not have to haul
feed back and forth from farm
to farm. Place bags anywhere
you please.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm m
Z Ag Bag Silage Capacity ■
cooperating farms which was
designed to show growers bow
these matenals can significantly
increase yields.
Using a university-owned
machine, he taught 18 farmers how
Ag-Bag
System
Ag-Bag Equipment
Y our reputable dealer
has affordable and rea
sonable prices. All
equipment and
materials are under
warranty. Our farm
management plan gives
the farmer profit
through greater prod
uction and gains.
to install and use the plastic and
dnp tubing. Some who already
owned conventional irrigation
equipment used only the plastic
mulch. .
Last summer the project in
volved 45 acres and a variety of
crops including cantaloupes,
squash, cucumbers, peppers,
tomatoes, eggplants and water
melons. Yields often increased by
50 to 100 percent over ummgated
crops, with drip tubing out
performing even sprinkler
watered plantings. Kee said
cantaloupes were the most com
mon crop, with yields reaching
10,000 fruits sold per acre com
pared to an average of 6,000
without the tubing and- mulch.
Produce grown on plastic often
matured earlier, permitting
growers to sell at premium pnces.
Even at a moderate seasonal
average of 90 cents per melon, the
specialist said gross income under
this production system in 1982 was
$9,000 cnmnared to $l,BOO on hare
INDEPENDENCE
DAT
The Declaration of independ
ence marked the start of a brand
new nation, based on liberty and
equality for all. Throughout the
course of history, we’ve been
able to uphold these ideals. Now,
as we celebrate the birth of
America let’s show our pride in
the nation we’ve become.
THE FARMERS NATIONAL BANK OF QUARRYVILLE
SMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU
LARGE ENOUGH TO SERVE YOU
TWO CONVENIENT SOUTHERN UNCASTER COUNTY LOCATIONS
★ QUARRYVILLE Phone: (717) 786-7337 * PENN HILL
An Equal Opportunity Lender • Member F.D.I.C. •
Each Account Insured To $lOO,OOO
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 2,1983—P1T
ground without irrigation. Such a
return more than offset the $325 an
acre investment in plastic and drip
tubing.
The few production problems
which did occur were related to
grower errors in system design
and implementation, demon
strating the importance of
following recommendations
carefully.
Because of increased farmer
interest in raising vegetables
under this improved cropping
system, Kee says two local
equipment firms now offer a
custom application service or rent
the plastic-laying equipment.
Though the demonstration
project has been terminated, Kee
is still available to answer
questions on installing and
operating drip irrigation systems.
He may be reached at the
University of Delaware
Georgetown , substation. The
number to call is 856-5250.