A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 8,1986 Scranton MILLERSVILLE - Citing the need for continued funding for conservation measures to control soil and nutrient loss from Penn sylvania’s farmland, Lieutenant Governor William Scranton 111 today announced that Penn sylvania’s proposed 1986-67 budget contains an additional $2 million for Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay program, bringing the total state and federal commitment over the past three years to more than $8 million. Scranton, who was accompanied by Environmental Resources Secretary Nicholas Deßenedictis, made the announcement following a tour of the Wilmer and Arlene Rohrer farm in Lancaster County on Wednesday. The Rohrer’s, who recently received an initial payment of $lO,OOO, were the first landowners in Lancaster County to receive funds through the cost sharing program to install nutrient management practices on farm land in the lower Susquehanna River Basin. When all aspects of the management contract are completed, the Rohrers are ex pected to receive a total of $30,000. “Pennsylvania is committed to the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay,” Scranton said, “but, more importantly, we are dedicated to the support of agriculture, the Commonwealth’s number one industry, and our farmers’ efforts to improve production and preserve our natural resources for future generations.” Scranton noted that the Rohrer’s 356-acre dairy farm is an excellent example of effective conservation practices. Through the Chesapeake Bay program, the Rohrers are installing 23,000 feet of terracing to control soil and nutrient loss from their rolling farmland. The terracing installed under the cost-sharing program will complement more than 7,000 feet of terracing which was in stituted over the past five years. In 1972, the Rohrers constructed a 184,000 gallon underground manure storage system, which permits the storage of mapure until field application is required, thereby eliminating the possibility of overfertilization. To control runoff and erosion, the farm’s entire acreage is covered with a rye grass cover crop. In addition to the terracing work underway through the Chesapeake Bay cost-sharing program, the GIGANTIC £ ? 9 SILKCTION .*• j Loncoster Farming's CLASSIFIEDS I FINEST QUALITY „ I AT BEST PRICES ALFALFAS WL 316 Big Ten Vernal WL 320 Magnum Buffalo Cimarron CLOVERS Arlington Medium Red OATS Larry Porter VORIS SEED CORN reaffirms commitment to Chesapeake cleanup farm has also developed a con servation tillage, strip cropping and contour farming system and a fertilizer management program. The Lancaster County Con servation District, which is locally responsible for the implementation of the cost-sharing program, estimates that conservation methods instituted on the Rohrer farm have reduced annual soil loss from 27 tons-per-acre to 4 tons-per acre, substantially lower than the Lancaster County annual soil loss average of 9 tons-per-acre. “Although the Rohrer’s con servation practices have resulted in a substantial reduction in soil loss, the most impressive figures involve the farm’s substantial crop yields,” Scranton noted. Over the past several years, the farm has averaged 180 bushels per-acre for com, compared to 130 bushels-per-acre average for all Lancaster County farms. In 1984 and 1985, the Rohrer farm has been UDIDIIy ranked second and fourth in the state, respectively, in alfalfa yield per acre. The cost-sharing program was initiated in 1984-85 with $1 million from the state’s initial $2 million Chesapeake Bay program. This year, an additional $2 million was allocated for the cost-sharing program as part of the Com monwealth’s current $4 million program. The program is administered by the Department of Environmental Resources, in conjunction with the State Conservation Commission and county conservation districts. Under the cost-sharing program, farmers may receive 80 percent of the cost of implementng an ap proved nutrient management program, up to $30,000. Approved practices include reduced tillage systems, animal waste handling and storage facilities, contour farming and stream protection measures. By helping the 4-H and ITA, we’re helping all of us. In the Agri-Finance Department of Hamilton Bank we finance projects for active 4 -H and FFA members That’s because we believe that helping preserve the family farm is one of the best ways to insure a better future for us all And that involves working with our young people It's important to give them guidance, instill the proper values, and help them acquire the skills they need to be successful farmers I races I andis with her steer and Oehra Martin with her tamh both which were purchased h\ Hamilton Bank at the Southeast District a H Babe Beef Show in \os ember I9HS and donated to the lancaster ( ount\ Red Rose a H Babe Beet and Sheep C lub Banquet held at the Farm and Home ( enter on Kbruan 6 Vt ith Traces is Damn T Bind Vice- President and Director of the Hamilton Bank Agn Finance Department Iraees is the daughter of Mr and Mrs lames fc I andis R D #2 ( edar Hill Road Quarrssille D-hra is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Mels in H Martin R D #1 Box SBO C onestoga Glenn Rohrer explains the soil conservation measures currently in place on the Rohrer dairy farm to Lt. Gov. William Scranton 111. The 4 -H and FFA are working toward these goals And so. we support their efforts If you, or someone in your family needs money for a project, stop by and see us It just might help us all Hamilton Bank A CoraStatas Bank Mwntwr FOIC
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