Sulfur may boost livestock output
HOPEWELL, VA. - Sulfur
fertilization of forage crops may
lead to improved nitrogen
utilization by ruminants, ac
cording to research conducted at
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University.
In a two-year study co-sponsored
by Allied Corporation in Hopewell,
VA, and The Sulphur Institute in
Washington, D.C., sheep fed corn
silage fertilized with ammonium
sulfate (2WM)-245) “showed a
dramatic improvement in N
utilization,’’ reports Dr. Vivien
Allen, a researcher with VPI and
coordinator of the study. Ad
ditionally, fertilization with am
monium sulfate increased com
yields by seven percent.
Allen explains that adding sulfur
fertilizer to forage crops can in
crease protein and may improve
dry matter digestibility, which
helps animals digest feed and
utilize nitrogen.
“Even if a farmer doesn’t get
yield increases, it may be wor
thwhile for him to add sulfur to his
crops if it improves protein content
and digestability,” die comments.
Metabolism trials with sheep
revealed that animals used
nitrogen more effectively when
their feed supplied the dietary
sulfur compared to direct sulfur
supplementation as sodium
sulfate.
According to Allen, feeding
livestock a sulfur supplement may
not produce the same benefit as
feeding livestock forage fertilized
with sulfur.
The Virginia Tech research
group also found that making split
applications of sulfur did not in
crease protein content or
digestability any more than single
applications.
A large number of the corn
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silage samples from throughout
the state of Virginia have been
found to be low in sulfur, indicating
a widespread sulfur deficiency,
according to research previously
—conducted in Virginia.
“We can create a deficiency with
high intensity farming,” says
Allen, explaining that higher crop
- yields remove more of all nutrients
from the soil. But while many
farmers replenish their land with
nitrogen, phosphate, and potash,
many unintentionally neglect
sulfur.
This may be due in large part to
the replacement of traditional
plant-food sources like single
superphosphate (0-20-0-12 S) with
high-analysis sources such as
triple superphosphate (0-46-0) that
contain little or no S and to less use
of sulfur-containing insecticides
and fungicides.
To counteract sulfur shortages,
Allen recommends determining
sulfur levels in the soil through soil
testing and augmenting with plant
analyses.
This year, the Virginia Tech
group is testing the effects of sulfur
fertilization and supplementation
on growing beef steers. They plan
to give the steers both supplements
and com forage fertilized with
sulfur.
ASCS to send deficiency checks
WASHINGTON - Under
Secretary of Agriculture Daniel
Amstutz announced that he had
instructed the Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation
Service to inform their county
offices to release deficiency
payment checks for wheat, barley
and oats immediately.
Amstutz said the checks had
been held up in ASCS county of
fices until Congress completed
Pennsylvania Farm Show
LEHI6H VALLEY POWER SERVICE KENNETH PORTER
Box 122, RD HI RDI, 80x269
HHlertown, PA 18055 Centre Hall. PA 16828
215-838-7822 814-364-9116
JOHN SWEENEY
Box 1563
Front Royal. VA 22630
703-635-5916
LEATHERWOOD, INC.
Jeff Bradley
Myler Road
RO2-80x399
Bloomsburg, NJ 08804
201-479-4800
“The dairy industry, as well as
beef and sheep producers, should
be quite interested in improved
digestability and N utilization
because it can have important
effects on milk production and feed
efficiency,” comments Allen.
When choosing a sulfur fer
tilizer, growers should first con
sider other nutrient needs. Many
sulfur sources available today also
contain nitrogen or potassium.
Examples are ammonium sulfate
(21-0-0-245) and potassium
magnesium sulfate (0-0-22-22S
HMg).
“If you need both nitrogen and
sulfur, a fertilizer like ammonium
sulfate would probably be your
best buy,” says Tom Hemphill,
agronomist with Allied Cor
poration. Ammonium sulfate can
be used in either dry or liquid
fertilizer programs.
Hemphill points out that am
monium sulfate contains sulfur in
the sulfate form, the only form that
crop roots can take up and utilize.
As a result, the sulfur found in
ammonium sulfate can be taken up
by the crop more quickly than the
elemental form, which needs up to
- several weeks-or even months-to
convert into the sulfate form for
uptake.
action on legislation making
continuing appropriations through
September 30, 1986, which con
tained funds for the deficiency
payments.
Congress recently passed a
continuing resolution making
funds available for a number of
federal agencies, including USDA.
President Reagan signed it im
mediately making almost (1 billion
in payments available to farmers.
Meet Your Dealers For
POWER FENCE SYSTEMS
DON DORN
ROTH EQUIPMENT A LEASING star Rt.. Box 476
RD 1, Box 5 Sheffield, PA 16347
Fairfield, PA 17320 814-968-5759
717-642-5242
RIE6ELE FARMS
Henry R. Walls
P.O. Box 55
Hartty, DE 19953
302-492-8338
TEJAS FARMS
RD I, Box 185
Rochester Mills, PA 15771
412-286-9804
Shaver wins
CHICAGO - J. Lyle Shaver,
manager. Engineering, Deutz-
Allis Corporation, was named 1965
winner of the Farm and Industrial
Equipment Institute (FIEI)
Engineering Merit Award, FIEI
President Emmett Barker an
nounced today.
Shaver received a plaque
symbolizing the prestigious award,
presented annually since 1957, in
air awards luncheon at the Hyatt
Regency Illinois Center in
Chicago. The award, presented by
Robert B. Skromme, vice
president of engineering, New Idea
Farm Equipment Corp. for FIEI,
was announced at the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers’
(ASAE) winter meeting held here
December 17-20.
The FIEI award recognizes a
company’s engineer’s con
tributions and dedication to the
Institute and the industry it
represents. Selection, by a com
mittee of the engineer’s peers, is
based on leadership, involvement
Upjohn taps exec
KALAMAZOO, Mi. - John A.
Studebaker, has been appointed
Executive Director and Division
Manager of the Animal Health
Division, Upjohn International,
Inc., in Kalamazoo.
Formerly Executive Director,
Asgrow Marketing and Production
in The Upjohn Company
Agricultural Division, Studebaker
served nearly 15 years in animal
health marketing, including five
years with the international
division, prior to the Asgrow ap
pointment. He now reports to Dr.
Thomas G. Schalk, who is in
charge of Worldwide Animal
Health.
The International Animal Health
Division handles sales, marketing,
production and distribution of a
SprinqTiqhL
MU A JEAN BEAM
ROB, Box 15
Washington, PA 15301
412-228-1453
JOHN A SUKEY JAMISON
RD 2, Box 402
Latrobe, PA 15650
412-834-7424
CALEB WILLIAMS
RD 3, Box 182 A
Wellsboro, PA 16901
717-724-3959
Uncaster Farming, Saturday, January 11,1985-E23
merit award
and achievements in the industry,
according to Barker.
Shaver has been active in FIEI
engineering activities for more
than a decade. Currently, he
serves as chairman of the In
stitute’s Farm Equipment
Division’s engineering committee
and participates as a member of
the Institute’s Engineering Policy
Advisory Committee. In addition,
he has taken an active role in
ASAE administrative and stan
dards committees, winning the
1974 Missouri ASAE Young
Engineer of the Year Award.
Since joining AUis-Chalmers
Corporation, Deutz-Allis’
precursor, in 1967, Shaver has been
closely involved with the com
pany’s product engineering.
Initially, a project engineer
responsible for developing the
company’s first rotary combines,
Shaver was promoted to chief
engineer, combine development, in
1967. He attained his current
position in 1967.
for animal health
comprehensive line of veterinary
pharmaceuticals and over-the
counter products. The product line
includes injectable antibiotics,
antibiotic feed additives, water
soluble products, prostaglandins,
steroids and other specialty
products. Such Upjohn-developed
antibiotics as lincomycin, spec
tinomycin, neomycin and
novobiocin are offered worldwide
in different formulations in these
products.
A native of Miami County, Ohio,
Studebaker received his bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in
agriculture from Ohio State
University, in 1953 and 1956,
respectively. He joined The Up
john Company in 1958 as Manager
of The Upjohn Research Farm.
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Paul Dotterer
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717-726-3471
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Ronks, PA 17572
717-656-3322
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717-786-2173
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Route 522, South
Kreamer, PA 17833
717-374-8148
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RD 3, Box 369
Kutztown, PA 19530
215-683-3825
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