VOL. 30 No. 6 Pa. markets 3 million Yule trees BY SUZANNE KEENE LANCASTER Just under three million Pennsylvania grown Christmas trees will bolster the holiday spirit in living rooms across the state this year. This year’s crop of trees is a par ticularly good one due to nearly ideal weather conditions throughout the growing season. “It was a good crop and an ample supply,” said Fred Strathmeyer, vice-president of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers’ Association. The Christmas tree industry in Pennsylvania is healthy and has been growing for a number of years, Strathmeyer said. He at tributes that growth in part to ample markets throughout the state, particularly in the heavily populated areas of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Most of Pennsylvania grown trees are marketed within ,-the state, but some do go into metropolitan areas of New York. Baltimore, and Washington *■ The close proximity of the markets is especially beneficial to Pennsylvania growers because of rising transportation costs. By marketing their trees close to where they are raised and har vested, growers are able to save money and keep prices down for the customer. (Tyrn to Page A 35) Pennsylvania's healthy and abundant Christmas tree crop is now being harvested. Here, Lancaster County growers Hershey and Jean Ressler work together to bore a hole in this tree's trunk so it will be sure to stand straight. Four Sections Polar Porker prefers ‘Hi-Roctane ’ feed Photo by Dick Anglestein Sure, it's been mild lately for mid-December, but this porker is really perplexed. I've heard of midwinter swims by Polar Bear Cubs, but never by any Polar Porkers. But this brood sow on the Lloyd Burkholder farm at R 2 Lancaster County, prefers the chilly Cocalico Creek adjacent range pasture of her herd-mates. All day long she stands in the middle of the stream and roots and eats. The family believes she eating the small moss- More than 1500 expected for No-Till Conference YORK More than 1500 no tillers from a five-state area are expected at the 11th Annual Mid- Atlantic No-Till Conference on Lancaster Farming, Sotartay, Doeoator 15,1984 Wednesday at mo Main and Memorial Hall at the York Fairgrounds. A day-long program of educational presentations by Extension no-till experts will be combined with an opportunity to visit the commercial exhibits of 33 industry sponsors. And again, farmers will have an opportunity to “Quiz the Experts” in a question and answer session designed to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about no-till. Chairman of this year’s con ference is John F. Shearer, Franklin County agent, who will preside over the morning program of presentations. The morning propgram, which begins at 9:30 a.m., will get un derway with a presentation on “Farmers and the Chesapeake Bay” by Tony Mazzaccaro, of the University of Maryland. Other presentations: “Potential Disease Problems in No-Till Corn and Alfalfa - John Get in Xmas mood, turn to B Section The countdown is on. There are only ten more days until Christmas and to help you get in the spirit, Lancaster Farming has some holiday features for you. Home economist Pheobe Bitler has some Christmas craft ideas to share on page B 2 and Home on the Range features holiday recipes. George Eyth has created a farm village as a tribute to farmers at Christmastime (pages B 18,19) and Christmas tree growers Hershey and Jean Ressler have been busily harvesting and selling their crops (pageßl4). covered pebbles on the stream’s bottom. Look out Purina, we got a home-grown Lancaster County Hog Chow called “Hi- Roctane.” The big, old white brood sow, who often get the nickname of the “mortgage payers" on many a farm, seems none the worse for her u swim, except for her snout which is a lot redder than usual from continual immersion in the cold water. Ayers, of Penn State and Erik Strombergof VPI. “Differing No-Till Alfalfa Systems That Work” - Lester Vough, moderator from the University of Maryland; and farmer panel of David E. Brower, Marshall, Va.; and Wayne Harp ster, Spruce Creek. “Cover Crops for No-Till” - A. Morris Decker, University of Maryland. “No-Till and Other Tillage Empty ring brings biggest price In these days of "hi-tech" dairy breeding, the empty sales rings are bringing the biggest prices. That happened again Thursday at the Guernsey Pavilion when “a choice of female pregnancies" out of Galen Crouse's Excellent cow “Diamond-S Wapa Classy" by the Bova bull brought $12,700 at the Golden Harvest Sale - the annual Bachus pre-holiday windup to the sales year. Systems Effect on Yield, 50i15...” - - Donald Griffith, Purdue. “Controlling Perennial Weeds in No-Till Corn” - Nathan Hartwig, Penn State. “Starter Fertilizers for No-Till Corn” - Douglas Beedle, Penn State. After a luncheon break, there will be an opportunity to visit the commercial exhibits in Memorial Hall. The exhibits can also be (Turn to PageA3s) (Turn to Page A 35) f 7.50 per Tear
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