Every year fanners must make decisions about how much pesti cides and fertilizer to apply to their fields, when and how to do it, and what to use as a source of nitrogen. A new special topics tour this year at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days will explain the latest research in the effects of these agricultural practices on water quality. Excess nitrogen, pesticides and heavy metals in fertilizer tend to leach out of the soil and into streams and groundwater, creating problems for humans and aquatic life. Penn State’s College of Agri Grassland Management, A New HARRISBURG A grassland management demonstration will be a new feature of the conserva tion programs at this year’s Ag Progress Days. Tom Calvert, Grassland Management Specialist with the USDA Soil Conservation Service, will conduct the demon stration each day at 1:30 p.m. Topics such as rotational graz ing, intensive (short duration) grazing, fencing and warm season grasses will be covered in the one hour program. The demonstration will be held at the grassland plots on the soil and water conservation tour route. According to Calvert, livestock farmers have been finding increased value in pastures to ADJUSTABLE TOP-SUPPORT BAR FOR BELT & P," TYPE THROWERS FOLD DOWN FRONT GATE, "YS ON “PULL-OUT-BARS' I U chains). NON-SLIP STEE GRATING IS NOW STANDARI 8 TON GEAR, ADJ. TONG lILxIS TIRES & TUBES Joßo Farmer Holstein Farm Equipment John Hess • Suddlv JffSSiSL Alrvi "' PA 717-334-8953 717-862-3967 Water Quality Focus Of Ag Progress Tour culture is working with Pennsylva nia’s farmers to reduce water pollution. The water quality tour will be given on August 17 at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., departing from the com crib at the Ag Progress Days site near Slate College. Tickets are available free at the com crib before the tours. A bus will take participants to research fields at the site. Five faculty members will dis cuss ongoing research projects at Rock Springs, including nitrate leaching, nitrogen recovery in Feature improve profits. “Farmers who had good pasture management sys tems found that they paid real dividends during this year’s drought,” said Calvert. “Those farmers do not need to feed next winter’s hay to their cattle this summer.” The bus to the grassland man agement demonstration will leave from the conservation lent at the west end of Eleventh Street each day at 1:30 p.m. Free tickets for the tour arc available in the conserva tion lent anytime before the demonstration. Ag Progress Days is August 16-18 at the Penn Slate Research Farms, Rock Springs. These wagons are designed to meet the needs of each farmer in quality and in ease of unloading annual grass forage systems, the timing and means of applying nit rogen, the application of sewage sludge and the fate of pesticides in soils. In order to find out how much agricultural practices arc contri buting to nitrate pollution, scien tists need belter information about how much nitrate actually leaches from fields. In one study, they have placed large pan-like lysimclcrs four feel underground in com fields to monitor chemicals in water seeping through the ground. This will give more precise esti mates than other methods com monly used. Livestock farmers in particular will be interested in another study looking at nitrogen recovery in annual grass forage systems. Researchers have found that rye grown in the winter can lake up nit rogen remaining in the soil after summer annual crops are harvested. All crops are harvested as whole-plant forage to feed to livestock. On the farm, manure from that livestock can be used to fertilize the fields. The system in progress at the site can be inte grated into livestock farms. A thud project looks at efficient ways to manage and apply nitro gen. By delaying nitrogen applica tions until the time the crop needs it most, the farmer will see more profits and reduce pollution. Sci entists also are looking at pollut ants other than nitrogen. Long term research on sewage sludge as fertilizer at Rock Springs has shown that it shouldn’t be used if it is high in heavy metals, which can have negative effects on the food BQIHIMIi BBQ. m. 717-665-6259 STEEL BALE WAGON Compare These Features SIZES: 18* Long, 8’ Wide, 8’ High 20’ Long, 8’ Wide, 8’ High Call and Order Your Wagon Today! G & D Repair Manheim, PA 717-664-2207 DEALERS Clearview Farms Slatington, PA 215-767-2049 chain Pesticides are also a concern when it comes to water quality, and research has shown that there are significant differences in the movement of water and pesticide movement under different tillage systems in com. Those will be reviewed on the tour. The special topic research tours are new this year. Also scheduled arc 90-minute tours with research- Are Your Sheep, ning is greater for sheep and goals when breeding occurs on the sec ond heat of the season. Therefore, a leaser male or hand mating is beneficial when using synchroni zation. Synchronization of heats is very useful when artificial insemi nation is utilized. It is important to be sure that the rams (bucks) you use arc able to handle the number of ewes (does) you want bred. Generally speak ing, younger males can handle less females than mature breeders. A general rule to follow for sheep is a fertile ram lamb can handle approximately 20 ewes, a yearling approximately 35 ewes and a mature breeder 50 to 60 ewes. This varies with individual sperm pro ducing capacity. Over working a ram (buck) may result in a reduced lamb (kid) crop. A desirable part of any breeding program for sheep and goals is selection for multiple births. As previously discussed, the inci dence of twinning can be increased with flushing and maintaining good body condition; however. ■ Main • Cross be. • Oak Floor ers on raspberries Tuesday, Aug, 16 at 10 a.m. and on apples and peaches Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.; and a two-hour lour on dairy forage Thursday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. These are in addition to the general research tours that give an over view of current research in agro nomy, horticulture, entomology and plant pathology. Visitors also will be able to take lours of conser vation areas and forests. (Continued from Page El 4) genetics also plays an important role. Offspring from ewes (does) that h tve had twins or triplets arc more likely to bear twins or triplets themselves. So when selecting replacement stock it is important to select animals which were bom twin. Also, some breeds of sheep have higher lambing rates and may be used for cross breeding in your program to increase your lamb crop. The future productivity of your flock or herd can be improved by preparing for your next crop of offspring before they are even a twinkle in the sire or dam's eye. No matter if you arc a large pro ducer or a hobby farmer who just enjoys having sheep and goats, fol lowing a few management tips before breeding your animals can make your lambing or kidding sea son more piofiiable and more enjoyable. Work with a veterina rian and/or extension agent to help plan a breeding program for your flock or herd which best meets your management situation and production goals. SQUARE STEEL TUBING. HINGED REAR GATE AND SWINGS / AROUND TO EITHER X SIDE CHAINED OPENINGS ONE HOOK RELEASES THE 3 LOWER CHAINS. >w Features ims ims, formed steel Messick Farm Equip, Inc. • E-Town, PA 717-367-1439 717-367-1319 717-653-8867 1-800-222-3373 Goats RMED STEEL RUB RAILS.
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