ilO-Lancastw Farming, Saturday, February 22,1986 a: NOW IS THE TIME To Be Aware of Alkaline Water for Pesticides If your water is alkaline, especially if the pH is 8 or greater, you may have trouble getting good results from the pesticide spray material you are using on cropland. Water supplies in many areas have sufficient natural alkalinity to cause a “breakdown” of certain pesticides. This means pest control may be somewhat less than desirable, or even non-existent, because the ingredient will be rendered inactive before it even reaches the plant or pest. If the spray is allowed to stand several hours before spraying, as much as 50 percent or more of the active ingredient may be decomposed. Our Extension pesticide specialist tells us that pH in the range of 4 to 6 is recommended for most pesticide sprays. You can adjust spray solutions to this range by buffering agents. In general, the insecticides are affected more severely by alkaline water than fungicides or herbicides. To Consider Topdressing Wheat At this time, we are not certain how our wheat crop will survive the winter elements because we still have March to contend with. And March, with its freezing and thawing conditions, is one of the Hi Farm Calendar Saturday, February 22 Annual Meeting, Pa. Holstein Association, Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh. Simmental Association Annual Meeting, 3:15 p.m., Allenberry Resort, Boiling Springs. Monday, February 24 Game Bird Conference, University Park; continues throqgh tomorrow. Bucks-Montgomery Dairy Day, 10 a.m., R and S Diner, Hatfield. Cumberland Cooperative Wool Growers, S. Middleton Fireball, Boiling Springs. Milker’s School; York County 4-H Center, 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.; continues through tomorrow. Tuesday, February 25 W. Pa. Turf Conference and Trade Show, Pa. Turfgass Council, Monroeville Expo Mart. Berks County Extension Dairy Day, 9 a.m., Berks County Ag Center. Lebanon County 4-H Livestock Banquet, 7 p.m., Shaefferstown Fireball. Mastitis Control and Prevention, 7 30 p m , Blue Ball Elemen tary School 5 MORNINGS TN By Jay Irwin Lancaster County Agriculture Agent Phone 717-394-6851 hardest months on wheat. In any event, topdressing wheat with nitrogen will generally result in an extra 10 to 12 bushels per acre. This can result in extra profit to the grower. The ideal time to topdress wheat is just when it begins to “green up” in the spring. This will generally occur in the middle to latter part of March. However, wheat can successfully be top dressed earlier in March when the ground is “honeycombed ” Be cautious of highly fertile land that has received a lot of manure in the past This kind of land does not need additional nitrogen. Most wheat varieties can use between 40 and 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre. There are few activities around the farm that can return more profit, with less input, then topdressing wheat with nitrogen. Many people are making plans for the 1986 growing season. In these plans, we should be preparing to use the very best quality seeds possible. Leftover seeds may be satisfactory if properly stored. If they are certified or top quality seed to start with, it would be a good idea to run a germination test to be certain they will grow. Wednesday, February 26 McKean County dairy buyout program, 1:30 p.m., Extension Center. Multi-County Small Grain Meeting, Crawford County Courthouse, 1:30 p.m., Mercer County Extension Center, 7:30 p.m. Franklin, Cumberland County vegetable growers’ meeting, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Leinbach Farm Market. Farm Transferrals and Part nership Meeting, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., York County Ex tension office meeting room. Thursday, February 27 Agronomy Day, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fayette County Fairgrounds. Estate Planning meeting, Lan caster Farm and Home Center, 7:30 p.m. Lancaster County Conservation Tillage Conference, Farm and Home Center. Cumberland County Dairy Clinic, Penn Township Fireball, Huntsdale, 9:15 a.m. S. Jersey Tree Fruit Growers To Use Quality Seed This can be done with the old, but still effective, “Rag Doll” method (wrapping seeds in rolled-up moist rags or by placing seeds in a dish on wet paper towels, cover with plastic, and keep in a warm place for at least 10 days.) If these seeds do not grow under either of these tests, don’t rely on them for your crop Certified seed may cost o little more in the beginning, but usually is worth the difference. To Store Supplies Properly Many farmers have purchased and accepted early delivery on seeds, fertilizers and other sup plies. It is very important that these supplies are stored properly I have seen bags of fertilizer stored too close to a barn door or an open window where the rain and snow blow in; also seeds in similar condition Extra moisture on these materials, or under them on a damp floor, can seriously affect quality. It’s also very important to keep seeds away from weed killer chemicals. These herbicides may reduce or kill the germination of the seed. Be sure to store all farm chemicals out of reach of children, pets and livestock. All of these materials become more expensive each year so it’s only good com mon sense to store them carefully Meeting, Silver Lake Inn, Clementon, NJ. Contact Leslie MiUer at 609-784-1099. Friday, February 28 Cumberland County Crops Day, Cumberland County Extension office, Carlisle. Saturday, March 1 Nut Tree Grafting workshop, Dauphin High School, 9 a.m. Monday, March 3 N.W. Cattlemen’s Beef Meeting, Steese’s Restaurant, Mercer, 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 DHIA Director’s Meeting, 8 p.m., Fayette County Extension Office. Lancaster County Dairy Days, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Farm and Home Center. Swine Management Seminar, Blain Fireball, Blain Swine Artificial Insemination short course, Penn State University, 11 a.m. Juniata-Perry Swine Management Seminar, Blain Fire Company, EXCUSE ME fax*?, Bur I MADE AN ERROR A MOMENT AGO... 5 - Background Scripture: Mark 8:34-35; 9:33-37;' 10:34-35 Devotional Reading: Hebrews 12:1,2. In the second-to-last decade of the 19th century, two men were bom in Italian hill towns in the most humble of homes. One of these men enjoyed a meteoric rise in political power, becoming, perhaps, the most powerful Italian political leader since the days of the Roman emperors. The other became a Capuchin friar and spent practically his whole life in the obscure mountain village of San Giovanni Rotondo. During the five decades during which these two men pursued their concurrent vocations, their courses led in two different directions. The one man, Benito Mussolini, became the absolute dictator of Italy and for 23 years he held the fate of millions of people in his hands. At the time of his ignoble execution, April 28, 1945, the other man, Francesco Forgione, known as Padre Pio, was just beginning to be known in Italy and elsewhere as “the Monk with the Wounds of Christ,” a miracle healer and holy man. TO BE GREAT What a contrast between these two men. Benito Mussolini was an arrogant man who seized power and was prodigal in his use of it. Padre Pio, on the other hand, was Biain, 9:30 a.m. Cedar Crest FFA Banquet, 7 p.m., Cedar Crest Middle School cafeteria. Lancaster Conservation District board meeting. Pa. Potato Grower’s Institute, Toftrees Country Club, State College: continues through March 6. Commercial pesticide applictor’s meeting, University of Maryland Adult Education Center, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 6 Lancaster County Poultry Progress Day, Farm and Home Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Southeast District DHIA meeting, Midway Diner. Annual meeting of CU co-op today SHIPPENSBURG - Plans have been made for 800 people who are expected to attend the 56th Annual Meeting of the Cumberland Valley Cooperative today at the Ship pensburg Area Senior High School The program will open with an informal luncheon in the school Cafeteria at 11:30 a.m and will conclude at 3 00 p.m Henry A Zajac of the Cooperative management said Monday that plans for the popular midwinter event have been completed Featured on the af- ternoon program will be m-