A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 21,1985 T» 1 . 1 jr , • I patterns hamper the linkages. ie between researcher and tarmer questioned Human nutrition research directions may be weakening the UNIVERSITY PARK - The going to suffer unless strong links agricultural research and tatives of related public and ties between the research future effectiveness and scope of are maintained between the two cooperative extension are private organizations in the course priorities and those involved in the American agricultural components. responding to new developments in of the study. developing programs based on new technology delivery system hinges The study also describes science," he said. The study cites human nutrition research findings on how well publicly-funded changes under way in several land- The study also addressed how as one area where organizational research reaches the public, ac- grant universities and within these organizations relate to cording to a Penn State study. USDA-Science and Education that private industry as it increases its Grubb hearings “The American system of are designed to foster closer activity in agricultural research ® publicly-funded agricultural linkages between research and and technology transfer. It also research and cooperative ex- extension programs. focused on the relationship of these tension has contributed Feller directed the national groups to other research significantly to long-term in- three-year study, awarded by the organizations, creases in agricultural produc- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Feller, along with Dr. J. Patrick tivity and has yielded high social Science and Education Ad- Madden, professor of agricultural rates of return,” the national ministration to Penn State. It was economics; Dr. Dan Moore, three-year study states. “designed to answer congressional associate professor of rural However, the scientific vitality questions on the organization of sociology extension; Dr. Laura of the system has, in the last fifteen agricultural research and Sims, associate professor of years, been questioned, says Dr. technology transfer by the USDA, nutrition in public health; and D. Irwin Feller, professor of land-grant universities, state Lynne Kaltreider, research economics and director of Penn experiment stations and assistant for the institute, com- State’s Institute for Policy cooperative extension services,” prised the interdisciplinary team. Research and Evaluation. he says. The institute’s research team As the agricultural research The study was also designed to interviewed federal officials, system has moved to strengthen its provide a foundation for guiding representatives of colleges of basic research orientation, the future food and agricultural agriculture, state agricultural linkages that connect the research technology policies, including research experiment stations and lab and the farm are being intergovernmental policies. cooperative extension service strained, says Feller. “We looked at how the histone personnel at 1862 and 1890 land- He and a team of Penn State partnerships of the USDA and the grant universities in nine states, researchers learned that the land-grant universities in They also interviewed represen linkages connecting the technology delivery system are being weakened because the agricultural research system is trying to achieve expertise in “two dissimilar directions-basic research and technology tran sfer ” “Similarly, the land-grant system is trying to maintain ar ticulation between experiment station and cooperative extension programs as each organization seeks to respond to multiple and at times divergent pressures,” the study states. The future of public sector research and extension organizations, Feller maintains, is Aer * Wav The AER-P/AY is an utility implement that relieves compaction, aerates, cultivates and renovates. It can function as a rotary hoe, a disc, a roller and a harrow. If saves fuel, time and fertilizer. It increases water percolation, bacterial life and roof growth, it is an implement for pasfureland, grassland, horse paddocks, general field crops, vegetable production, orchards, vineyards and fut f M *' V *% * DOUGLAS SHELMIDINE, Sheland Farms Belleville NY Owned by Donald and Douglas Shelmidine “We just bought our Aerway but we saw what it could do for us this spring when we rented one We saw that our heavier soils worked much better if we made one pass early before discing We plan to use it to incorporate manure on our corn and hay crops It will help us get the solids from the slurred manure into the soil " "We’ve owned our Aer way a little over a year now We bought it for incorporating manure on our hay crop stands We ended up using it this spring to incorporate and do spring time tillage on corn ground We found the tool very effective low cost and it eliminated a great deal of wet soil compaction which other tools always gave us We have recently started using the Aer way tine harrow in combination with aeration of alfalfa It is removing seedling dandelions and seems to do minimal injury to the alfalfa " I FOR A FREE FRCTSHEET On Alfalfa, Corn or Pasture, Mail This | i Coupon To: | NORTHCOUNTRY AG-GRO CONSULTING ADDRESS RD 2. Box 324-B Carthage. NY 13619 Or Call: (315) 688-4452 only to determine classifications of particular lands as to their soils, but also must adopt a methodology which considers evidence demonstrating the productivity of the land devoted to a particular use. “This methodology was used in establishing the initial use values in 1976 when the program was instituted in Dauphin County. It was clearly not used in the 1985 reassessment.” Cassel noted in his appeal that The AER-WAYwill increase Dauphin farmer appeals (Continued from Page Al) to Remix mem and incrsusc mo lower costs and higher yields. 'ofHs fhm * V jm mm , > /Si. NAME PHONE f ) use values have not risen in agriculture since 1976, and, in fact, net farm income has dropped by 57 percent, according to the Penn sylvania Dairy Farm Business Analysis Yearly Financial Sum maries. He also provided information on expenses for farm operations, with additional data on farm prices. The Dauphin County Board of Assessment Appeals is expected to act on Cassel’s appeal by the end of October. • THE BETTER WAY (Continued from Page Al) expected to be confirmed. He added that he did not think the nomination was a personal attack, but rather reflected PFA’s com mitment to its own guidelines for a secretary of agriculture. He has looked on the con firmation process, he said, “as someone else’s job. My job is to run the department, and that’s what I’ve been doing,” he said. Most observers expected the acting scretary to be confirmed, barring introduction of any damaging testimony or revelations at Monday’s hearings. “While PFA is highly respected, most Senators seem to support a governor’s right to pick his own cabinet,” a Senate source said. Richard Newpher, secretary treasurer of PFA, said his organization’s opposition was based on criteria that have been a part of the PFA’s bylaws for more than a decade. The three points of opposition, he noted, paraphrase those provisions. He noted that PFA had suggested several other possible nominees, including several within the department as well as a few experienced legislators. “He must be a very good per son,” Newpher said of Grubb, “especially considering the responsible position he held at Penn State.” However, he noted, considering the size and complexity of the IMPROVING PASTURELANDS How To Do It Suggestions Since the old plants have not fared very well getting the job done, it wouldn't make much sense to “send a small boy to do a grown man’s job" (Quoted from Peter Bannan, Inventor of the AerWay™, Dairyman, New Zealand ) That’s how Peter characterizes no-till pasture seeding It is necessary to prepare the soil to receive and nuture a root system that will support a mature, highly productive plant The tine on the AerWay™ will penetrate and loosen to seven inches in depth By adjusting the offset of the rollers of the AerWay™ and using multiple passes it is possible to loosen 90% of the soil in as few as two passes with optimal soil moisture conditions. The application of lime and potash fertilizer before plants require calcium, magnesium and potassium is always advisable. Adding nitrogen (especially if there is significant crop residue including roots of old plants) will enhance decomposition. Phosphorus will stimulate early root growth Always use reliable soil test results as your guide. Applying seed can be as expensive and sophisticated as a no-till seeder or drill, or as simple and low-cost as a broadcaster The Aer-Way™ can be equipped with a simple, yet effective, gravity-flow seeder or a precision seeder The precisiom seeder can band fertilizer with the grass seed These attachments when combined with proper seeding timing are very effective; weather conditions for grasses and legumes, of course, being very different. The standard rear hitch attachment also allows using other seeding equipment in tandem with the AerWay™ department and the issues facing agriculture today, “It’s very difficult to walk in there from the outside and have everybody pulling together.” Newpher added that reports of recent dissention and staff unrest within the department are con firmation of PFA’s misgivings about Grubb. He said he thought it would take a year for an “out sider” like Grubb to become familiar with the ways of Harrisburg. “We need a strong Department of Agriculture,” he said, “and I’m not sure a newcomer can keep things going without missing a step.” Grubb, a former vice president and professor at Penn State University, has been the acting ag secretary since June 10. He replaced Penrose Hallowed, who resigned this spring after serving in Thornburgh’s cabinet for six years. The Senate has 25 legislative days to act on the nomination, or it will be considered approved. Because of the summer recess, that time period will not expire until Oct. 8, committee sources said. Individuals or groups who would like to offer testimony relevant to the nomination are asked to notify the Senate Ag Committee by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, and deliver 20 copies of written testimony by 4 p.m. Friday. For More litformoHon & Demo, Coll: GEORGE HEATH 472 Woodcrest Dr , Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (717)737-0002 TOLL FREE: 1-800-437-5200 Ask For Operator 104 INMD: 1-800-638-8890 Ask For Operator 104
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