Dl4-Lancastar Farming Saturday, March 22,1986 Tri-Valley farmers discuss no-till HARRISBURG Speakers at the recent Tri-Valley No-Till meeting reported many benefits of no-till planting. Based on their own experiences and recent technology, no-till planting of all commonly grown crops can be successful. According to Jeff McClellan of Chevron Chemical Company successful no-till planting requires careful planning and management. Adequate lime, fertilization and weed control programs are a must McClellan added that labor and fuel savings are very important benefits. Labor savings can result in reduced labor costs as well as improved timeliness of planting. He also explained that moisture con servation is improved with no-till plantings in adequate residue. Moisture conservation can greatly improve yields, especially on the more shallow droughty shale soils of our area. Lynn Hoffman, manager of the Penn State Agronomy Farm at Rode Springs emphasized that no till itself is not normally the cause for weed control problems. In some cases, Hoffman explained that he could do a better job of controlling weeds under no-till conditions. However, he added that a high level of management is essential and should include the following: 1. Proper lime fertilization. 2. Use of crop rotations. 3. The use of cover crops. 4. Utilizing the proper chemical at the proper time. 5. Use of special herbicide program to cure existing weed problems. In general Hoffman indicated that prior commonly accepted weed control programs are not always effective today. The use of new and varied herbicide SMTSi-WM I MID-MOUNTS j Compare any other mid-mount with Arts-Way and see why these mowers have led the field since 1839. Arts-Way uses a separate power belt between tractor PTO and the mower’s drive pulley, with a second belt to drive the three blades This 2-belt system eliminates the need for belt twisting, prolongs belt life, makes tension adjustments and belt changing easy. (Compare with some makes that use a single belt turning and twisting around as many as 7 pulleys and PTO ) Other features: 7-gauge steel decks ■ High-auction, drop-design blades for a smoother cut ■ Pull 1” diameter machined spindles with Timken roller bearings top and bottom ■ Sealed bearings on PTO Idler pulleys ■ Pnnctnre-proof semi-pneumatic tires ■ Designed for side, rear or front-PTO drive tractors up to 4t HP ■ Cutting height adjustable from 1” to 5" ■ One-Year limited Warranty. And Arts-Way mid-mounts fit a wide range of tractors from the newest models (including imports) to old farm favorites See your dealer for a complete list Price an Arts-Way Before You Buy See How Much Mower You Can Buy For Less! 2 MODELS AVAILABLE w/CUTTING WIDTHS OF 60” & 72” COME IN TODAY FOR A DEMONSTRATION PRI MILTON R. ANDERSON, INC PO Box 6126, Harrisburg, PA 17112 (717) 652-6043 or (800) 543-3000, Ext 2002 ... ROME, PA LEBANON, PA ( RISING SUN, MD HistandsFarm WAYNESBORO, PA Evergreen Tractor Co. Z Ben Haines Centers B Equipment, Inc. Inc. I * 717 ; 762-3193 717-272-4641 programs can be more effective than changes in tillage programs that are commonly thought to be a cure for weed control. Soil compaction has been found to have significant reductions in crop yields according to William Fleet, Eastern Regional Agronomist of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Fleet indicated that in many instances the effects of compaction are masked by improved management. This would be especially true where moderate compaction is occurring. In general, he pointed out that compaction commonly results from; 1. Early planting. 2. Repetitive unnecessary tillage (especially overuse of a disk). 3. No rotation or the lack of hay in a rotation. 4. Harvesting under adverse conditions. 5. Spreading manure, fertilizer and lime. 6. Larger and heavier equip ment. (more times does not reduce compaction but distributes it) Fleet indicated that soils with mixed textures (sands, silts or clays) were more subject to compaction than soils with a predominant single texture. Also soils higher in organic matter are less subject to compaction. A concept not realized by many farmers is the effect of soil com paction on the ability of a soil to withstand drought. Compaction also results in reduced nutrient uptake, including nitrogen. Fleet explained that reduced plant root growth, and decreased available moisture capacity in compacted soils is primarily responsible for increased drought stress in compacted soils. He added that in our soils in the Northeast, this is especially true. ITATIVI Soil Compaction Common symptoms of soil compaction, other than obvious ruts left in a field would include: 1. Standing water. 2. Surface crusting. 3. Shallow rooting systems. No-till Economics The economics of no-till was discussed by Vernon Brose of the Cooperative Extension Service in Sunbury. Brose explained that one of the major benefits of no-till was the reduction in size of tractors and other equipment. Fuel efficiency, overhead costs and reduction in potential compaction would result in direct savings and increased profitability of crop production. Decreased time spent in the field would improve timeliness, reduce fuel and labor costs and also could increase net income for a given crop. The Cooperative Extension Service, upon request, can provide economic inputs to help farmers evaluate how no-till could affect their specific farm operation. Meeting co-chairmen Jim Welshans and Joel Myers noted that more than 75 individuals at tended the event. Anyone requiring no-till assistance this spring should contact their agricultural agencies in Dauphin, Northumberland or Schuylkill Counties. ATTENTION FARMEI Call deck’s for quick removal of dead & disabled animals. Free of charge. Located in Miffiintown, PA 717-436-8272 Also Serving Carlisle, York Millersburg areas. WATER WATER WATER fl* ui < 5 WATER FILTERATION Countertops, under counter, portable, home unit, reverse osmosis, farm units. Removes nitrates, sulfates, bacteria, oil, sand, chemicals & more. oc 111 H < OC 111 < OREGON SALES 111 < WATER WATER Farm Bureau calls for equitable spending cuts WASHINGTON - Farmers and ranchers realize that federal spending must be cut, but they want it done fairly and equitably, according to the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. AFBF President Dean Kleckner, in letters to all U.S. represen tatives and senators, said that cutting federal spending is never a popular idea, but it must be done, and done equitably. Under the Gramm-Rudman- Hollings Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit control Act of 1985, Kleckner said, “Some en titlement programs such as farm price support programs will be reduced sharply in the 1986 fiscal year, but eight other entitlement programs, ranging from Social Security to food stamps, have been exempted.” Agriculture’s reduction of $1.3 billion is about 22% of the total domestic spending cuts under Gramm-Rudman-Hollings in fiscal 1986, Kleckner said. If the other programs were not exempt from cuts, “agriculture would not hove AQUARIUS 3890 Oregon Pike Leola, PA 717-656-8380 or Crider’s Daily Equipment ShippensDurg, PA 717-532-2196 WATER WATER been hit so hard.” Kleckner made four points in fa letter calling for action to reduce the size of fa federal deficit. First, he asked fa a “fair” reduction in federal spending by placing all govern, ment programs “on the table 11 “Exempting certain programs from reductions only makes it harder on other areas that are cat (such as agriculture).” Second, Kleckner called for j freeze in cost-of-living (g, justments in all federal « titlement programs for three years. Third, Kleckner called for Congress to enact a constitutional amendment to balance the budget His final point; “Do not increase taxes to balance the budget or |g pay for tax reform. An oil import fee, a gasoline tax or a value-added tax will only add to a farmer’s cost of doing business.” Kleckner urged Congress to “take responsible actions to reduce federal spending” ty making all federal programs subject to the Gramm-Rudman Rollings reductions. FRANK A. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers