Raver (Continued from Page C 2) >n his farm in Kentucky. The con* liiions there were so similar to ;onditions here and I thought we mi do that,too. At that time there vere no soybeans grown west of he Chesapeake Bay. We rotated he soybean crop with com and hat worked beautifully,” said Bob. “Soybeans are a legume and put litorogen into the soil. This increased com yields by five to ten jushels an acre. They have such a vigorous root system that helps to mellow the soil. Also, the bacteria in soybeans ravages a field of sod or weeds and feeds off the com fodder left in the field and incorpo rates all that as part of the soil,” explained Raver. Although farmers were hesitant. Raver said in his county farmers were somewhat progressive and anxious to make chagnes for improvements. Many farmers SPECIAL ALFALFA FOR YOUR AREA For More Information: Contact Your Local Cargill Hybrid Seeds Dealer Bill Adams Shoemakersville, PA Henry F. Barley Lancaster, PA Brown & Rea Atglen, PA M. David Brubaker Mount Joy, PA Dennis A. Cunfer Lehighton, PA Fred Frey Quarryville, PA were unsure where they could market their soybean crop. But whether it was Bob’s willingness to plant 100 acres of soybeans on his own far or finding several buy ers for the crop, he convinced sev eral farmers to plant soybeans that year. “The same people who were buying the com bought the soy beans so we really didn’t have a problem,” said Bob. “Now soy beans and wheat are Montgomery County’s biggest selling crops.” Raver tetired in October after 30 years as Montgomery County’s cooperative extension agent. He brought no-till to his county and as a result was instrumental in its spread not only throughout Mary land, but also to the surrounding mid-atlantic states. However, he was also a key figure in some other developments which shaped the future of Montgomery County. In 1971 Bob took county offi cials on a tour of the farms using no-till. Besides initiating the ic Arlin K. Haiteman Harleysville, PA James A. Keiper Elizabethtown, PA Paul B. Kline Lititz, PA Tim Licbtenwalner Schnecksville, PA Miller Equipment Bechtelsville, PA Spring City, PA M. Lamar Miller Wllmer W. Rush Manheim, PA Pcrkasie, PA spread of no-till methods, this tour had some surprising results. “What happended was that these county executives realized how valuable our agriculture is in this county. But the problem was that the county council was elected by the majority vote and the agricul tural population made up such a small part of the voting segment The council decided what was needed was an ag advisory com mittee to act as a conduit for farm ing issues. It was established and they hired an ag economist to head the committee and they have done some great things with that” explained Bob. Montgomery County was one of the fust counties to petition for an agricultural district which led to their farmland preservation prog ram. 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Nolt Ephrata, PA Melvin Nolt Richland, PA Reynold Reinert Fogeisville, PA Chester H. Soltys Jr. Roy Shull PipersviUe, PA Robert Kreider Quarryville, PA Homer B. 801 l Lebanon, PA Hoober’s Mill Intercourse, PA Stan Bucher Lebanon, PA Lancaster Arming, Saturday, December 12, 1987-C3 ■*/ * Bob Raver, now retired after serving as Montgomery County’s cooperative extension agent, Introduced no tlllage farming methods to his county In 1968. farmland. ‘Thirty years ago we thought Montgomery County was at the edge of urban fringe. It is not that way anymore. The urbanization is dispersed throughout our county. We are in the midst of it. Now Car rol County is on the urban fringe. And this is going to change farming.” “When I came here in 1957 there were 350 commercial dairy farms. Today there are approxi mately three dozen and we are shipping as much milk as we woe with 350. We continue to have an excellent nucleus of farmers,” said Raver.” Raver, one of nine children, lived near Hampstead, Carroll County, where his parents farmed. Raver was able to graduate from high school after 11 years and at the encouragement from his 4-H leader. Bob Shavinger, Raver enrolled in college. He graduated SUPER HYBRIDS SUPER PRICES Seeds One Of Our Star Performers... CHEMGRO 8086 CORN 1987 SHELLING TRIALS Grower Varieties Moisture Yield Phares Newswanger Chemgro 8086 24.2 18.91 Newmanstown, Pa Pioneer 3358 24.7 172.7 Pioneer 33352 22.4 . 153-0 Melvin Burkholder Chemgro 8086 30.7 128.8 Ephrata, Pa. Pioneer 3358 30.8 128.6 Funks G 4626 32.4 119.0 Leon Musser Chemgro 8086 18.2 124.7 Manheim, Pa. Pioneer 3378 18.1 128.1 Pioneer 3358 18.6 .. U7.3_ John Good Chemgro 8086 22.4 169.7 Narvon, Pa. Funks G 4543 23.2 142.7 I Dekalb 689 25.6 I. 142.0 Example of Chemgro Corn Paid By Dec. 31.1987 Single Cross (All 80,000 Kernels) BUY 9, GET 1 FREE 10 Units MF = 535.68 = $53.57 Each TOP QUALITY SEED CORN AT A REASONABLE PRICE Dealerships Available For Chemgro Seed Com vsS MID ATLANTIC NO-TIL CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16. 1987 K'- Tlmonlum, MD just a few months after he turned 20. After graduation he returned to work on his parents’ farm. With three years on the farm. Raver decided to take the position as extension agent He has seen many changes since he took the position 30 years ago. He changed the way farmers tilled the land for hundreds of years. By introducing no-till farm ing Raver preserved and protected thousands of acres from ruin by soil erosion. The fruit of his labor is there for this generation of far mers and it will be there for the next generation. Of his accom plishments Raver said. “It makes me feel humble and yet very proud. I know it will endure and it has been a worth while endeavor. To do something, to make a contribution, well, I feel very satisfied. I have no regrets and I make no apologies.” Grow With CHEMGRO Box 218 East Petersburg, PA 17520 (717) 569-3296 TOLL FREE: (800) 346-GROW
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers