Al6—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 23,1984 Penn State Agronomy Field Day (Continued from Page Al) pastures contained 53 percent more alfalfa plants than or chardgrass pastures after twe years of grazing,” Bosworth said. Ryegrass mixtures are a little less weedy. And they adapt to intense frequent cuttings - 4 to 5 a year. But what about disadvantages: Ryegrass is not as winter hardy as orchardgrass, but ac ceptable for Pa. And, when the ryegrass is higher in proportion to the alfalfa in the mixture, it doesn’t clip as well. Presently in the early stages of the research, Penn State is recommending a seeding rate of 10 lbs. of alfalfa with 10 lbs. of ryegrass to the acre. But tests currently in progress hope to fine-tune the seeding rate more closely with the particular variety of ryegrass being used. The Penn State plots currently include four varieties of ryegrass - Reveille, Taptoe, Bastion and Citadel - in 6, 12 and 18-pound seeding rates with alfalfa in rates of 3,6, and 12 pounds to the acre. “In a couple of years, we hope to have better data on seeding rates based on the growth habits of the various varieties of ryegrass,” Bosworth said. Both the cutting and fertilization management for the alfalfa ryegrass mistures are geared to the alfalfa. For example, if more cuttings are made, 4-5, it’s better now to use Grimaldi ryegrass; but if the first cutting is made at bloom stage and less frequent cuttings are made, it is better to stick to Reveille. Ryegrass mixtures are an ex cellent pasture mix, very palatible, and is the favorite grazing in places like Europe and New Zealand. The ryegrass doesn’t take over a Sid Bosworth examines alfalfa-ryegrass plots at Field Day at Penn State. stand as readily as orchard-grass and a seven-year-old stand - while showing signs that other grasses were moving in, did not show the takeover that orchardgrass would have shown. The ryegrass studies are being done at Penn State by G.A. Jung of the USDA Pasture Research Lab. And, in other forage news: Developments A new Reed Canarygrass is under development which is low in alkaloids. In tall fescue, a new variety is under development with low tissue fungus levels, which has been a problem affecting summer quality. It would be a certified fungus-free variety and could not be transmitted since the fungus is seed-transmitted. “Thus far, we’ve not been able to re-mfect clean plants,” explained William Stringer. Anthracnose Anthracnose is the main disease at which Penn State Red clover breeding efforts are being directed. Breeding trials are being directed at both the Northern and Southern types and it doesn’t hurt to use varieties resistant to both - no matter where you plant in the state. Seven varieties of Red Clover are now listed in the Agronomy Guide and next year the list will likely be updated to about 10. Verticillium Wilt While there are resistant alfalfa varieties, all of them - if inoculated in the lab - will not show signs of the disease but will carry the fungus. The Penn State research hunt is being con centrated on plants that don’t support the fungus, but so far the hunt has been discouraging. But never disregard Verticillium Wilt in picking an alfalfa variety. Also, look for resistance to An thracnose, Fusarium Wilt and Hook up Tye s big 120 planting width and narrow transportable design make it a whole lot easier (or a small tractor to perform large planting jobs Tye s 10 No Till Drill is equipped with the same performance proven planting system that is standard on Tye Stubble Drill'" and Pasture Pleaser* models I. Heavy duty spring swivel coulters 2. Internally fluted seeders 3. Front seed delivery double-disc openers and 4. Press depth control wheels Bacterial Wilt. The present important need in disease research for alfalfa is a better lab test that reflects more exactly what happens in the field. Weed Control “Our current thinking con cerning weed control in alfalfa,” according to Nathan Hartwig,” is like that for com and soybeans - an annual treatment (except first year) that controls the weeds coming right from seed. Hartwig also favors the lowest labeled application rates for herbicides like Sinbar and Velpar because the higher rates can cause alfalfa damage. A new herbicide - Fusilade - is not yet labeled for alfalfa, but looks like it will take out the grasses and not harm the alfalfa. It may be labeled in the next couple of years. But it doesn’t affect dandelion and other dicods. It could be used pre-emergence to take the annual grasses out of a no till alfalfa seeding. Brassicas The Brassicas - designed to provide late summer and fall pasture - like nitrogen, according to Penn State research, and about 75 lbs. to the acre gets them off to a good start and helps suppress weeds. Also, the best method for Brassica establishment is no-till sod-seeding. It reduces erosion, permits grazing under all kinds of weather conditions and reduces loss due to flea beetles. Corn production also was in cluded in the field day program. One of the major areas of study over the past four years has cerjtered on manure management in com. The study, which includes the 1981 through 1983 harvests, shows a definite advantage for in corporating the manure. In corporation by disc or injection showed yield advantages of 12 to 30 bushels an acre over non incorporation. But no appreciable difference was noted in either fall or spring application if both were in corporated. Compaction was also studied in the tests involving liquid dairy manure. The tractor, spreader and manure weighed a total of 23 tons and no yield loss was noted due to compaction. In weed control, no difference was found between herbicide application before or after manuring. A longer look will be taken at this phase of the study to determine if weeds are due to the manure being applied or due to the to a 10 foot Stubble Drill mg and features similar to the pop. ye Pasture Pleaser* The convenient 120 plant ing width complements the Tye No Till line of 80 Pasture Pleasers and the 160 Stubble Drills Options include * Choice of coulter blades ♦ Wide variety of press/depth con trol wheels and ■* Legume bluestem and fertilizer attachments continuous growing of com. Another phase of the study showed the value of manure analysis. Good data can be gotten from analysis of liquid manure that is well agitated. Analysis permits better manure management and prevents high nutrient buildups in soils. These studies will also provide better averages that will help other farmers throughout the state in evaluating the value of their manure. Carlisle Livestock Auction Carlisle, Pa. Tuesday, June 19 Report supplied by auction CATTLE: Steers: Mostly Holsteins, Medium to Good 49.50- 56.25. Heifers: Medium 48.00-53.50. Cows: 1.00 lower. High Yield 44.00 45.85; Average 40.00-44.00; Big Middle 38.00-43.00; Shelly 37.00 down. Fat Bulls; Good 52.00-55.00; Medium 46.85-52.00. FEEDER CATTLE: Steers (300 550 lb.)- Few dairy type 41.00-49.00. Steers (600-850 lb.)- Few Medium Holsteins 46.00-51.00. Heifers (all weights) Good run; steady. Choice 55.00-57.00; Good 50.40-55.00; Medium 38.0049.00. Bulls (all weights)- Few Medium 45.0049.00. VEAL CALVES: Choice 80.00 95.00; Good 65.00-80.00; Medium 50.00-65.00; Light/weak 50.00- down. Farm Bulls- 85.00-100.00. HOGS; Barrows & Gilts strong demand, very active. 210-250 lbs. 52.60-53.25; over 260 lb. 49.75-52.00. SOWS: Steady to .50 lower. Over 450 lb. 37.5042.10; under 450 37.50 44.75. Boars Heavy 35.25-35.75; Light 45.7548.00. FEEDER PIGS (by the hd): 2.00 higher; (20-25 lbs. 20.00-24.00 hd) (3040 lbs. 25.00-36.00 hd) (47-55 lbs. 31.00-39.00). Shoats (by the lb.) to 48.00. SHEEP: Lambs- Individual 100.00 (large run) Choice 63.00 74.00; Good 57.0063.00; Medium 55.00 down. Ewes-16.0022.00 lb. GOATS: (Lg) 29.0038.00 (hd); Sm./Med. 8.0027.00 (hd); Family 52.50. Sale every Tues. evening 7:00 p.m. Chambersburg Auction Chambersburg, Pa. Thursday, June 21 Report supplied by PDA CATTLE: 282. Compared with last Thursday’s market: SI. cows 1.50-2.50 lower; few Choice 1200- 1480 lbs. 57.60-60.85, Good 54.75- 57.85 few to 61.50; few Good and choice Holsteins 1200-1500 lbs. 52.85-57.85; few Standard 47.00- 55.00; few Utility and low Stan dard 42.25-46.00. SI. heifers: few Choice 58.75-60.60; few Good 48.35- 30.25; few Standard 42.00-49.00; SI. cows: Breaking Utility & Com mercial 42.10-45.35 few to 47.25 low dressing 36.00-41.60; Cutter and Boning Utility 38.60-43.60; Canner & L. Cutter 36.85-39.60; Shells down to 29.50. SI. bullocks: few Standard 45.50-47.85; SI. bulls: Yield Grade Vo. 1, 1260-1900 lbs. 48.00-55.75 Individual at 60.85. FEEDER CATTLE: Steers, few Medium Frame No. 1, 450-750 lbs. '2.00-63.00. Heifers, few Medium '■’rame No. 1, 400-600 lbs. 38.00 >O.OO. CALVES: 460. Vealers 3.006.00 lower. Few Choice 64.0068.00; few Good 52.0060.00, Standard & Good 90-115 lbs. 53.0058.50; 7090 lbs. 46.0054.00; Utility 90120 lbs. 41.00 50.00; 5065 lbs. 30.00-45.00. FARM CALVES: Active Hoi. Bulls 85-135 lbs. 80.00-103.00, some down to 57.00; Hoi. Heifers 90-110 lbs. 59.0064.00 Beef cross calves 80225 lbs. 57.0072.00, individual at 80.00. HOGS: 19. No. 1-3 220-230 lbs. 52.75-53.35. Sows few US No. 1-3 350-450 lbs. 38.00-41.50. FEEDER PIGS: 7. 1 lot of US No. 1-3 40 at 29.00. SHEEP: 32 few Choice 50.00- 70.00. Spring si. lambs 57.00-59.00. Stock Ewes: 1 lot 19.50 per hundred weight. GOATS; 8.15.00-34.00 per head. G&M Livestock Monday, June 18 D uncans ville, Pa. Report supplied by auction SLAUGHTER CATTLE: Steers- Choice 64.00-66.50; Good 58.00- 64.00; Standard 50.00-58.00; Utility 42.00- Heifers- Choice 64.00- 66.40; Good 56.0064.00; Standard 48.00- Utility 40.00-48.00. Cows- Choice 48.00-50.00, few to 55.00; Good 44.00-48.00; Standard 42.00- Utility 40.00-42.00; Cutters 38.00-40.00; Canners down to 36.00. Bulls 1200-2260 lbs. 44.00- 58.10; 900-1100 lbs. 42.00-52.00. FEEDER CATTLE: Steers- Choice 300-600 lbs. 50.00-60.00. Heifers- Choice 300-600 lbs. 46.00- 56.00. CALVES; Vealers- Prime and High Choice 75.00-90.00; Good and Choice 60.00-75.00; Standard 45.00- 60.00; Utility down to 35.00. Farm Calves- Holstein bulls 90-120 lbs. 75.00- Heifers 90-120 lbs. 60.0082.50. HOGS: Barrows and Gilts 210- 250 lbs. 49.50-53.60; 170-300 lbs. 45.00- Sows 300650 lbs. 40.00- 47.75. FEEDER PIGS: 25-35 lbs. 22.00- 32.00 per head; 35-50 lbs. 32.00- 42.00. SHEEP; Slaughter lambs 70-90 lbs. 50.00-66.00; Ewes 12.00-32.00. GOATS: 10.00-44.00. "For your nearest dealer, please contact —" ' HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, INC. Wholesale Distributors 567 South Reading Road P 0. Box 478, Ephrata, PA 17522 PHONE: 717/733-7951