A24—Lancaster Farwing, Saturday, July 16,1983
Legume overseeding builds soil 9 lowers N costs
BY IRISH WILLIAMS
KUTZTOWN - The term
organic farming to moot com
mercial farmers does not connote
a viable way to make a living in
agriculture, as Jerry Webb points
out in his column this week (see O
7), But as Webb also points out
some commercial farmers are
beginning to take a more serious
look at organic cultural fanning
practices.
Rodale Research Center in
Maxatawny, just northeast of
Kutztown, has been involved in
developing organic cultural far
ming practices since the 1930’5.
The original research center was
started by J.I. Rodale, in Em
ma us, and focused primarily on
organic gardening. In 1970, a 305
acre farm was purchased in
Maxatawny to allow demon
stration of the organic method in
commercial production of crops.
In 1974, the Rodale Research
Center was established on the
Maxatawny farm, and soon after
the term regenerative agriculture
was coined to give a more postive
description to the organic fanning
practices. The research farm is
modeled after a university ex
periment station, and welcomes
visitors to tour the research farm.
To accomodate the ever in
creasing number of visitors to the
center, a self-guided tour through
the garden and field plots was
established. According'to Martin
Culik, research agronomist,
commercial farmers are taking
more interest in the research he
and his co-workers are conducting.
The concept of regenerative
agriculture, of growing food
without depleting the soil, without
depending so heavily on per
tochemical-based products, and
without endangering wildlife or
human health, certainly has alot of
appeal to consumers.
Regenerative practices can help
cut production costs, by
decreasing the need for nitrogen
levels as well as other nutrient
costs, and eliminating the costs of
pesticides.
Of particular interest to com
mercial farmers is a three-year
study that is presently being
conducted on overseeding legumes
into corn and and soybeans.
U.S. Agriculture Department
official Richard Siegel, on tour of
southeast Pennsylvania, visited
the Lancaster county Farm and
Home Center and met with
members of the extension and soil
conservation services.
Siegel, deputy assistant
secretary for natural resources
and environment, met with con
servation leaders at an informal
lunch and then toured two con
servation projects in Ephrata. On
a tour which will end in a meeting
with the Pa. Association of Con
servation Districts in State
College, Siegel said he likes to see
Deputy assistant secretary for natural resources and environment Richard O. Siegel,
second from right, met with conservation leaders at the Farm and Home Center, Lan
caster, on Thursday, during a tour of southeast Pennsylvania. Pictured, from the left, are
Jay Irwin, county extension agent; Amos H. Funk, vice chairman Lancaster Co. Con
servation District; James H. Olsen, state conservation department; Aaron Z. Stauffer,
chairman Lancaster Co. Conservation'district; Siegel; and James E. Huber, d rector and
county commissioner.
Bob Hofstetter is the project
leader for the overseeding study
that began in the spring of 1962.
According to Hofstetter, there are
several reasons for the research
with legumes.
“All species of overseed sods
provide a living mulch, thus
reducing soil erosion and poten
tially increasing the water bolding
capacity of the soil," states Hof
stetter. “Legume sods, in addition
to the above mentioned
capabilities may supply sufficient
amounts of nitrogen for corn and
soybeans. The simultaneous
growing of a legume sod and a
grain crop could reduce the need
for off-the-farm nitrogen for
succeeding crops”
Hofstetter has concentrated
most of his research on corn, but
also is working with overseeding
legumes into soybeans. The
nitrogen requirement for soybeans
is not as great as for com, and
soybeans form a dense canopy
when in full leaf that dramatically
limits the growth of the legume.
Hofstetter sees more potential
benefit of overseeding in com than
in soybeans.
Because no chemical herbicides
or pesticides are used on the
Rodale research farm, Hofstetter
must control weeds by cultivating
prior to seeding the legume. The
idea being that after the legume is
established it will control weeds by
its own growth.
Fields are plowed, disked and
cultipacked prior to com planting.
Hofstetter, with cooperation of the
weather, plants the com plots
between May 5-15. He plants at a
rate of approximately 23,000 seeds
per acre, with a desired population
of about 20,000 plants per acre.
There are a minimum of two
cultivations, but as many as
needed must be done before
overseeding.
The overseed species is drilled at
first or second cultivation. The
overseed species is planted at its
recommended rate.
Hofstetter and the farm
mechanic adapted a three-point
hitch cultivator with a seed box
from a drill. Now he is able to
perform both the second
cultivation and the legume seeding
m one pass through the row.
USDA
official visits Lancaster
different projects and learn about
their applications.
The two farm Siegel visited were
Dandi-Lee Farms and Indian Run
Farm. Dandi-Lee, owned by
Daniel W. Fox, Springville Road,
Ephrata, consists of 74 acres and
65 head of dairy cattle. Con
servation measures practiced
there are grass waterways and an
agricultural waste storage facility.
Future conservation practices will
include stream bank management
and the use of contour farming in
planting crops.
At the Indian Run FArm, owned
by Aaron Z. and Elva J. Stauffer,
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Bob Hofstetter drives the cultivator that he adapted with a seed box from a John
Deere drill. This ingenious piece of equipment allows Hofstetter to cultivate and plant
the overseeded species in one passthrough the row.
“Sod species selection should
complement your cropping system
and not hinder management and
production,” saysHofstetter.
Hofstetter is working with the
following overseed species in his
research: hairy vetch (winter
annual), medium red clover
(biennial performance), Mam
moth red clover, Austrian winter
pea - var. Certified Melrose
(summer annual in the North),
Ladino white clover, and White
Dutch clover.
Hofstetter says, "Factors to
consider in selecting the proper
legume sod for crop overseeding or
interplant systems are: varietal
adaptability to your region,
(Turn to Page A 39)
Stevens Road, Ephrata, Siegel saw
the use of Terraces, piped outlet
terraces and grass waterways.
The Stauffers, who farm 69 acres
and raise 32,000 broilers, 120
farrow to finish sows and 100 beef
cattle, plan to build an agricultural
waste system and additional
terraces.
The two projects are planned to
help limit soil erosion. Of projects
such at this, Siegel said that soil
conservation is a main priority and
plans are underway to deliver
services more efficiently and
target efforts to areas in greater
need of conservation practices.
,jr
jndy .tieger, _
overseed species of legume by hand into the smaller research
plots.
The Center is studing the effects of converting a neigh
boring, rental farm from chemicat methods of farming to
organic methods over a five year period.
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