F6— Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 10,1954 Brockett’s Ag Advice Hl&n By John E. Brockett Farm Management Agent JES Lewistown Extension Office Most farmers could reduce costs in relation to returns. Do you believe that? Could you? How? Those are the three logical questions that follow a seemingly wild statement such as the one with' which I started. Do I believe it? After over 25 years of working with farm records, my answer is an unqualified yes. When I see some of the ranges in costs among similar farms, I am positive that farmers are often cost inefficient. Can I prove that? For the most part, I can prove it if you would listen. Let me just take one factor - the percentage of cash income it takes to pay operating expenses not including interest. Here I am comparing a farmer’s operating expenses not including interest. Here I am comparing a farmer’s operating costs no matter when he started in business. Interest is removed as a factor for this comparison. Last year the most efficient operators used 45% of their cash income to pay operating expenses. Average was about 60% and some farmers were using over 80% of cash income to pay operating expenses. Those who were the most concerned about reducing operating expenses were those who were already below 50%. Is that why they were already there? Could you reduce your cost of production? The answer is probably yes. There are cir cumstances beyond your control. However these should be viewed as a challenge not an excuse. Let’s look at some how to’s: Soil Test - then use a balanced fertility program. The most amazing thing to me is that every farmer in Pennsylvania does not use soil testing as a routine tool. Some use the worn out excuse “it is not very accurate”. Others cite a time factor. Others talk about a lot of other reasons. It all adds up to the fact that farmers who do not use soil testing are really not in terested in operating a farm. They are just farming for exercise, fun, or habit. Are you limited on fertilizer dollars? Use your soil tests to make the best use of them. Set priorities on each field. Example: Priority 1 - new seedings, corn or other high return crop; already high in nutrient value; good pH; easy working: Priority 2 - first or second year alfalfa stands, com after sod; good nutrient value: Priority 3 - good alfalfa - grass stand, com after com; fair nutrient value: Etc. Each priority would get balanced treatment such as: Priority 1 - 80 to 100 percent of recommendation including lime; Priority 2 - 70 to 80 percent of recommendation with possible cheating on some P and K for com if necessary to fulfill lime requirements; Priority 3 - 60 to 70 percent of recommendations for corn with possible further reduction in P and K but not for lime and 60 percent of recom mendation for alfalfa. Are you limited on pesticide dollars? Quick now go back to last year - what were your major pest problems? Could you handle them less expensively with a more timely application. Sweep survey for insects on a regular basis can really reduce insecticide costs in many years. Don’t be impetuous though - it does not make sense to spray to control an insect that is already on its way out (thru parasites, natural life cycle, or a minor infestation). Maintain Equipment - main tenance is always less expensive than repairing. Check oil levels in motors on’ a legm.u To lubricate moving pails umtinely, check belts and chains, replace worn parts before they break. Two dollars worth of oil last summer would have saved us a $349 repair bill. How many of you who had a tractor “blow up” or a forage harvester “break down” could have saved that $2500 to $4500 repair bill with regular main tenance? Now don’t say “not me”. Remember I have been there too. You are an hour late because (you put in the reason-they are all good including the alarm clock malfunction). The weatherman is predicting a weather change. You have to get that field planted or hay mowed or haylage chopped. It won’t hurt to forget to check the oil this once. Zoom off you go. The day becomes hot, the work load heavier than expected, you’re on a hillside, suddenly something in that tractor engine is moving without lubrication. The rest you know - right? Do you want more? Remember the adage; For lack of a nail the horse was lost, for lack of a horse the king was lost, for lack of a leader a battle was lost, end result was a lost kingdom. Maintenance is a must if you want to cut costs. Most major equipment problems can be traced to two things (1) lack of maintenance and (2) rough han dling. • Prices Subject To Change Without Notice • Delivery Available At Extra Charge Treated Timbers 4x6 6x6 1 » - ■ • Dimension 1 I I ACCOM WINDOWS Lumber 16’ 18’ f/# Heavy Alum. 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The top varieties produce about one ton more hay per acres than Pennscott red clover, the old standard variety still grown widely by farmers. Cleveland and colleagues in agronomy at Penn State tested the new varieties over 10 years at locations in Centre and Lancaster counties. There are usually no significant differences in yield among several superior , varieties in any given test. I Improved yields of the superior varieties are at last partly due to 1 better disease resistance than Pennscott, Cleveland observed, f For example, the variety Arlington RED ROSE DELIVERS 10’ 12’ 14’ *12.10 *ll.OO *B.BO *17.60 Build Bigger & Stn Doors! Plus... Track v Also Available. RED ROSE «MWM6 SUPPLY CO. P.O. Box 56, Ephrata, Pa. 17522 Call Collect - 717-738-2401 was very resistant to northern anthracnose that sometimes was severe in Centre County trials. In some trials, red clover yields compared favorably with yields of alfalfa grown at the same locations. Usually shorter lived than alfalfa, red clover is easier to manage and tolerates higher soil acidity than alfalfa. Occasional severe infestations of northern anthracnose were noted in the Centre County plots. Arlington was highly resistant to the disease, as mentioned earlier, while Pennscott was very susceptible. Anthracnose causes injury to the stems and leaves often entering the crown and killing the plants. “Despite some claims, other wise, we found that red clover varieties seldom live beyond two productive years, counting the year of planting,” Cleveland stated. “We tested some varieties repeatedly and found persistence beyond two years to be highly variable." THII Read Futi S & BUILDING SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTOR For former Kaiser weatherstrong roofing and siding now rolled by'McElroy Metal Mill. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers