D6—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 15,1984
BY JACK HUBLEY
LEOLA “I’m really excited
about the large number of hybrids
we have to offer you this year,”
Pioneer Hi-Bred’s district sales
manager Tim Markovits told a
group of 170 farmers who turned
out for Pioneer’s Field Day on
Sept. 8.
This year’s Field Day was
staged on the Leola farm of
Pioneer dealer Aaron Hurst, where
farmers had the opportunity to
inspect the progress of a dozen
Pioneer varieties, including six
new hybrids available for the first
time this year.
Other Pioneer representatives
taking part in the event were
Martin Snyder of Ephrata, Hess
Farm Supply of New Holland, and
Harvey Homing of Denver.
Following a complimentary
lunch, four speakers covered
topics ranging from the newest
Pioneer releases, to this year’s
corn crop nationwide, to farming
practices at the local level.
Leading off the presentations
was the event’s manager, Tim
Markovits, who noted that the 36
inches of precipitation received
from January to August equals the
PI
BUSINESS NE
Take a revealing look at future of ag
DENVER, Colo. A research
report released by the Farm Credit
System predicts that U.S.
agriculture will continue to face
difficulties over the next 10 years.
The report noted, however, that
there will be profit opportunities
for innovative and progressive
IH plans Red Power Progress Days
Farmers from across the country will be checking out International Harvester
equipment this fall during the annual Red Power Progress Days sponsored by IH
dealers. Since 1978, IH Red Power Progress Days have brought farmers together to
learn about equipment from product information specialists and through hands-on field
demonstrations. Again this year, agricultural machinery will be displayed and demon
strated.
Farmers will have the opportunity to view a special arena show, test drive equipment,
enjoy refreshments and win door prizes. The 1984 Red Power Progress Days will feature
a sweepstakes for free IH plant tours. The sweepstakes will be open to persons 18 and
older who are actively engaged in agriculture.
oneer showcases new
normal total received in an entire
year.
“The IVz inches we got in July
was a real blessing,” Markovits
remarked, adding that despite
high humidity, leaf blight seems to
be relatively low overall.
He pointed out, however, that the
European corn borer has been
feeding quite heavily and may
have an effect on standability in
some fields. Markovitz also said
that the northern com rootworm
has been a problem this year, and
he advised treatment for next year
if the population of beetles reaches
two or more per ear.
Markovits then turned the
microphone over to regional sales
manager John Weidman, who
remarked that through his travels,
he estimates the com crop to be
about two weeks behind schedule
from the corn belt, and east. He
assured everyone that Pioneer’s
seed crop appears to be in ex
cellent shape, contrasting sharply
with last year when drought
created shortages of some
varieties.
Weidman pointed out that seven
years of development is required
for one hybrid, with today’s
operators who manage risk well.
These conclusions were the
result of a study conducted by
selected senior officers of the 37
banks and other agencies of the
nation-wide Farm Credit System.
The study, called Project 1995,
forms the basis of fact and analysis
• ••
hybrids remaining on the market
for only about 3M> years.
Next on the agenda was Lan
caster County extension
agronomist Arnold Lueck, who
voiced his concern over soil fer
tility and erosion. Lueck noted that
the excess application of animal
manures is causing water
problems from the homeowner’s
well to the Chesapeake Bay.
“You can meet your fertilizer
requirements with nothing but
animal manures,” Lueck
said,“but your phosphorus and
potassium levels get too high. And
all this excess fertility results in
high levels of soluble salts.”
Lueck advised using manures on
those fields with the lowest soil
tests, and avoiding application on
established alfalfa and clover.
Don Robinson, the Eastern
Lancaster County School District’s
Young Farmer advisor then
touched on the problem of soil
compaction, noting that the
unusually wet spring has made
compaction especially serious this
year. He also advised farmers that
a final alfalfa cutting during the
first two weeks of September
would not be harmful to the crop as
long as 5M> to 6 weeks have elapsed
since the last cutting.
Following the presentations,
farmers adjourned to the field for
discussions of the Pioneer hybrid
plot led by Tim Markovits and
John Weidman.
Markovits stated that this year’s
hybrids may increase yields by as
much as eight to 18 bushels over
older varieties. New entries for
this year include 3378, 3358, 3389,
3192, 3055 and 3352. Varieties
especially suited for no-till plan
ting are 3358,3378 and 3747, he said.
on which the Farm Credit System
will base its strategic planning.
The project is directed by a
leadership group headed by
Thomas N, Farr, president of the
Louisville Bank for Cooperatives.
Other members of the leadership
group are Burgee Amdahl, chief
corn varieties
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Pioneer district sales manager Tim Markovits acquaints
farmers with one of the company's new hybrids.
Pioneer’s Field Day on Sept. 8, attracted 170 Lancaster
County farmers to Aaron Hurst's Leola farm for a look at the
new varieties available for next spring’s planting.
executive officer, Farm Credit
Services of St. Paul; Art Buf
fington, president; Federal Land
Bank of Omaha; and C.T.
Fredrickson, senior deputy
governor, Farm Credit Ad
ministration.
“To carry out the study,” Farr
said, “we assembled more than 50
of the system’s top officers. We
divided them into six work groups,
each assigned to study a key issue
area which will shape agriculture
and financial markets in the
coming decade.”
Much Change
Key issue areas identified by the
leadership group are: production
agriculture; cooperatives and
agribusinesses; the financial in
dustry; the political environment
and government policy; business
technology; and human resource
trends.
“Our research in each of the six
key areas produced many
forecasts for change in the
agriculture industry,” Farr said.
“All institutions serving
agriculture need to recognize these
changes and be prepared to deal
with them,” he added.
The Farm Credit System study
predicts increasing segmentation
in agriculture, Amdahl noted.
“Our research indicates an ac
celerating movement toward a bi
modal structure in agriculture,”
he said. “This means relatively
few large farms are going to ac
count for most of the farm output
and income. On the other hand,
many smafi farmers will in
creasingly need to supplement
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I
Farm
their incomes through off-farm
employment.”
“Agriculture’s financial outlook
is less optimistic than during most
of the 19705,” Buffington said.
"There will be increased pressure
on liquidity and incomes. The need
for capital, though it will continue
to grow in the next decade, will not
increase as rapidly as in the 705,”
he said.
The study predicts that total
farm assets will increase at about
6.5 percent per year with non-real
estate assets growing faster than
real property assets. Total
agricultural debt is expected to
grow at 7.5 percent annually and
reach $465 billion by 1995.
Farr noted that agricultural
cooperatives face a number of
challenges in the 1980 s and 19905.
Capital needs
‘‘Obtaining sufficient equity
capital will be the most important
challenge cooperatives face,”
Farr said. “Agricultural
producers will expect good service
and definite economic benefit
before investing in their
cooperatives.”
The Project 1995 report notes
that the trend toward con
solidations, mergers and
restructuring of cooperatives will
continue. The report anticipates
fewer local and regional
cooperatives, but some will
become larger through mergers.
The 1995 study also forecasts
continued change in financial
markets and institutions.
The private savings rate in the
(Turn to Page D 8)
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