014—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, June 23,1984 Alternative (Continued from Page 012) growth implants. Microbials substances that supposedly work with the naturally occurring microbes in the animal are used in the organic dairy herd when problems such as mastitis crop up. “We need to develop a national agricultural policy,” Harding said, “one that is conducive to sustainable agriculture.” Crop Management A former research associate of Buckminster Fuller rounded out the alternative agriculture con ference program with his own views on the worldwide agricultural situation and prac tical advice on organic soil, pest and disease management. Bill Wolf, president of The Necessary Trading Company, an organic fanning supply business, has been working with sustainable food systems (agricultural systems that have sustainable yields without relying on chemical fer tilizer or pesticides) since 1968. Wolf believes synergy a word coined by futurist Buckminster Fuller meaning synthesis of energy, or doing more with less as the major principle of sustainable agriculture. A self proclaimed generalist. Wolf ADAPTABLE TO MANY USES Move your processing and manufacturing materials with Patz systems The Patz chain and flites fit gutters in floors or ste t 1 troughs above floor U vel Pat/ systems move material uounci corners up iru lines am) level out Load into trucks or drop material on piU s or into other material move rs Custonn/f your system with many options to fit your needs EASY CHAIN MAINTENANCE You don t ne< d tools to remove Pat/ links or to chamje flit* s m seconds The Pat/ hook and eyt link is footed sh ('I with no mov inq parts no holts no nvtts and no bushings or sleeves to rust nr break t... 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Stressing prevention as the key to effective disease and pest management, Wolf outlined steps in producing a healthy crop: keeping moisture level constant a wet/dry, wet/dry situation will reduce pore space and decrease microbial activity, two highly unfavorable conditions; and in tercropping. Also increasing and quality improvement of organic matter (greater than 3.5 percent, 5 per cent or more organic matter by volume is best); cover cropping green manures; regular soil NI«N CAPACITY Pdtz material moving systems provide capacities from 19 to 53 bushels per minute Choose from two fhte sizes depending on th* bulk and volume* of m itenal To learn more about Patz material moving systems, contact your local Patz dealer. Patz Performance strong as steel HAMBURG SHARTLESVILLE TERRE HILL FARM SERVICE SILO CO INC 215-488-1025 LEBANON AUTOMATIC FARM SYSTEMS 717-274-5333 PIPbRSYiLLfc TRI-STATE MOYER FARM AUTOMATION FARM SERVICE 301-790-3698 215-766-8675 FINDER SERVICE CO UNICORN FARM 301-348-5263 SERVICE JAMES E LANDIS NEW WINDSOR. MD 717-786-4158 STONEBORO testing, balancing and correcting of mineral deficiences; increased cation exchange capacity of the soil; selecting appropriate crops for available climate/location; and realizing the interrelationship of plants, soil, etc., and working within it. Wolf foresees a “crisis in agriculture” due largely in part to air, water and land pollution created by conventional fanning methods. He believes, however, that this dilemma can be rectified but only through a joint, group effort of all those in agriculture. Brian Hoave, who studied under John Jeavens and learned his method of bio-intensive mini farming, demonstrated for the conference group the basic technique of the method, that of double digging, during the af ternoon session. Using a sharpened Smith & Hawkins spade, Hoave, a graduate of Emerson College in Sussex, England, skimmed off the grass/weed layer of the demon stration plot. Then, following Jeavens’ method (except for the instruction to wet the soil to a certain degree as outlined in Jeavens’ book. Grow More Vegetables, he dug up the first 12 inches with the spade, afterward loosening the next 12 inches down with a garden fork. 31 TERRE HILL 215-445-6736 MARYLAND DEALERS HAGERS T OWN MD KENNEDYVILLE. MD ROOP FERTILIZER & CHEMICAL 301-775-7678 Bio-intensive Method GOODpYEAR sge. mp~OM*nnM rim* sutvice MLjOt / When you need On-The-Farm Tire Service in a hurry, just call us. We can cut your downtime down to size... CALL 1062 Manheim Pike, Lancaster, PA After aerating the sample 5 foot x 20 foot plot and raking it smooth, Hoave added compost. Barbara Crawford, Lewis county high school vocational agriculture instructor, took over and sprinkled on the organic fertilizer com ponents-bone meal, kelp meal, leather meal, green sand, etc. Explaining that it takes two hours to dig a 100 square foot bed, and 11 hours work from start of a bed to harvest of the crop, Rioch said that on a space basis the cost is 1/10 of conventional means and returns run an average of $350 per 100 square foot. Barbara Crawford completed the demonstration on double digging by explaining hexagonal center, the spacing technique used in the beds. With this method of spacing plants, requirements are met while at the same time plants are spaced closely enough together to create their own microen vironment. A large volume of information was conveyed to those in at tendance at the Alternative Agriculture conference. During the panel discussion period held at the end of the day, the dissemination of information on the subject of alternative NEED MORE ROOM? Read The Classified £6,«\e On Kjl, c,v>i &V€r/ Real Estate Ads m 299-3794 agriculture/ organic fanning was raised as on of the most important considerations. Organizations such as Ecology Action, the Institute for Alternative Agriculture, the Organic Crop Improvement Association and university research groups were indicated and challenged to provide the network through which the in formation could be distributed to the general public. Marketing, also, was of major concern to those in the audience. Benjamin Brown, from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, summed it up early in the day when he said “marketing is just as, or more important than any other production step the farmer practices, yet sometimes it is virtually ignored. ’ ’ In reference to marketing, Tom Harding stated that in the last three to four years, a multi-million dollar market for organically grown foods has been created, and that he could find buyers for any West Virginia-grown organic produce. A good example of market planning was set by Rioch. For example, to save time this year he pre-sold his entire crop to a wholesaler, Organic Farms, Beltsville, Md. k-C «*!• wS^////
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers