More erosion control still remains NEWARK, Del. “Fifty years if erosion control work has helped shape Delaware agriculture, hut there’s still too much muddy water leaving our fields. And there’s still too much dust and sand riding the winds, headed for the Delaware Bay,” says William H. Mitchell, retired University of Delaware agronomist and professor emeritus. The muddy water and dust represent the life of the soil - its precious topsoil, which is being lost on Delmarva and all over America at an alarming rate. “A society that lets its soil erode » ft SEE YOUR LOCAL BUSH HOG DEALER BINKLEY & HURST GEORGE N. GROSS, INC. BROS. INC. 5261 Davidsburg Rd. 133 Rothsville Station Rd. Dover, PA 17315 Lltitz, PA 717-292-1673 717-626-4705 CUPPER FARM EQUIPMENT *" x"™ ° S " RDI Quarryville, PA 17566 Alexandria, PA 16611 717-786-3521 814-669-4465 THOMAS L. DUNLAP JuSnSan "SS RD 1 Box 105 mnvnmtii i, ini#. Jersey Shore, PA 17740 116 R'Chlandtown Pike 717-398-1391 215-536-4046 FARMERSVILLE EQUIPMENT, INC. RD4 Ephratt, PA 17522 717-SM-4271 and deteriorate is headed downhill,” the agronomist warns, “Here on the peninsula, we’re too often lulled by the flatness of our coastal plain. But our flat sandy soil has all the ingredients of a first-rate wind erosion disaster. Forests are being turned into fields and hedgerows are being bulldozed in the interest of production ef ficiency, giving the winds a bigger playground.” Economics have pushed growers to the brink, and to get by, some have turned to short-range solutions. In response to the PETERMAN FARM LEHIGH AG EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT, INC. RD #2 225 York Rd. Wescosville, PA Carlisle, PA 17013 215-398-2553 717-249-5338 crimson clover are adding financial squeeze, some have n , fr . no-tillage system, dropped cover crops and rotations thus helping solve our energy in favor of intensive cultivation, problems in addition to boosting Mitchell says. Soybean acreage yields.” continues to rise, making this the Mitchell credits private industry most commonly grown crop in the as we ii as SO ii conservation district state. It’s also the crop that con- workers for helping convince tributes most to soil erosion. farmers to adopt conservation Looking on the brighter side of tillage. But he says it’s too soon to this picture, the agronomist points relax the effort. “Not enough out that Delaware now has the people, urban or rural, understand highest percentage of cropland in the seriousness of the erosion no-tillage of any state in the U.S. problem. They don’t see it as the “No-till mulch cover crops are blanketing the land, shutting down the erosion process,” he says MILLER SALES & SERVICE INC. Stewartstown, PA 17363 717-993-2470 NEUHAUS’ES INC. RD2 York, PA 17403 717 428 1954 STRALEY FARM SUPPLY INC. Dover, PA 17315 717-292-4443 PEOPLES SALES & SERVICE Oakland Mills, PA 717-463-2735 “Legumes like hairy vetch and O STANLEY'S FARM SERVICE RD Box 46 Klingerstown, PA 717-648-2088 STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE Cochranville, PA 19330 215-593-2407 UMBERGERS MILL RD 4 Box 132 Lebanon, PA 17042 717-867-5161 C.J. WONSIDLER BROS. Quakertown, PA 215-536-1935 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 5,1984—D15 concern of society - of all of us - that is really is.” Most people close to the issue agree that more emphasis should be put on education. “Action projects are needed,” says the agronomist, “to show what erosion is, what it’s costing us, and how to go about cdrrecting it.” The technology is in place to reduce critical soil losses from agricultural land. But to succeed, the effort must have the full cooperation of farmers and their city cousins in both the public and private sectors. wrap around protection Featuring; • 190 MPH Air Stream • Rotating Head (3 Ft. Hitch or Pull-Type) Sprays With The Wind • Low Volume Efficiency Reduces Chemical & Fuel Cost Lancaster County's Only Dealer Specializing In Sprayer Sales & Service LESTER A. SINGER RONKS PA PH (717) 687*6712 Mon Fn stos Sat 9to 12 _ PROWL. GUARANTEED CONTROL OF TRIAZINE RESISTANT LAMBSQUARTERS. PROWL® herbicide gives you control of lambsquarters, includ ing those that have become resis tant to some other herbicides And you can get PROWL right now at the lowest cost ever See us and get guaranteed control of grasses and major broadleaf weeds, including triazine-resis tant lambsquarters DO NOT incorporate PROWL in corn Always read and follow label directions carefully fmm cvMNJkMiD Afftcußoral DlvlWon PROWL. YOUR BEST HERBICIDE VALUE. SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER
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