VOL. 35 NO. 36 Worm Devastates Corn Roots ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff LANDISVILLE (Lancaster Co.) Farmers could lose a lot of their com crops to western com root worm this year. And if precau tions arc not taken next spring by applying pesticides before or after seeding, according to several com specialists, farms could lose even more. Facts about infestation of the western com root worm, including the silk-consuming adult beetle and the root-eating larva, were pre sented at the 1990 Weed and Insect Control Field Day at the Penn State Southeastern Field Research Laboratory in Landisville. About 85 chemical dealers, county Hearing On Egg Refrigeration Bill Exposes Flaws, Strengths LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Concerned with the shadow cast on the egg industry from recent outbreaks of salmonellosis, many egg processors are pushing for legislation for mandatory egg refrigeration. However, smaller egg produc ers could be financially harmed by the legislation because it would Pork Producers Question Littering Campaign That Includes Swine VERNON ACHENBACH, JR. Lancaster Farming Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Al least one member of the Pen nsylvania Pork Producers Council wants to trash a PcnnDOT anti httenng campaign because the campaign includes a picture of a Pig- On Monday, the stale Depart Lancaster County Holstein Show: Quality Runs Deep At the Lancaster County Holstein show, Thursday, John and Susan Howard (left) won the premier exhibitor award and Paul and Matthew Welk (Welk-Crest Hoisteins) won the premier breeder award. See story Page A-24 500 Per Copy agents, consultants, seed sales men, and farmers attended the meeting on Monday, which included an overview of infesta tions of crops, including com, potatoes, soybeans, and tobacco. “We want to warn these people particularly the extension agents, consultants, and others that there’s a problem out there with western com root worm,” said John Yocum, head of the station. Initially, the station wasn’t aware the problem existed until several scouts identified the bug. “We didn’t know that the corn root worm problem was here,’’ said Yocum. “All of the work they did last year in this particular field require them to purchase refrigera tion equipment. While refrigeration docs not kill ententidis (SE), an organism that causes severe food poisoning when ingested, it docs reduce the chances of spreading the salmonella since the bacteria cannot grow in refrigerated temperatures. Diverse testimony was heard (Turn to Page A 25) ment of Transportation (Pcn nDOT) unveiled its $400,000 cam paign to eliminate rcadsidc litter ing. It is the very first paid advertising campaign undertaken by PennDOT. However, on Thursday, the secretary-treasurer of the Pennsyl vania Pork Producers Council (PPPC) announced his objections Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 21,1990 didn’t turn up any big numbers of adult insects. We had no idea that they were here.” Larva stage The root worm’s larva stage devastates the corn roots. The adult beetles cal the silks of the stalk and lay eggs. The following year, the eggs hatch and the larva burrows its way through the base roots, eating the roots. A telltale sign of com root worm feeding is a “goosenecking” of the stalk, which may resemble wind damage or tramping. The roots should be inspected for the white larva, measuring about 'A to 'A inch long with a black head. If there is sufficient rain throughout the growing season, the plant has a chance of surviving until harvest. If the dry patterns persist as they have been in sev eral counties, including Lancaster the plant may die. The infestation could result in huge losses lor many com growers in the area. v '><• about problem W Roth, Penn Slate com specialist, spoke about the root worm problem discovered at the Lan iis\ illc station. “Normally we haven’t had a probki,! with com root worm on (Turn to Page A3B) to the campaign because the theme of the anti-hltcring effort centers on comparisons between hogs and men who litter. The campaign features a slogan for billboards and bumper stickers, brochures, television and radio commercials, and print media advertisement. Print advertisements depict a Don Robinson, instructor with the Eastern Lancaster County Adult Farmer Program, shows "goosenecking” cornstalks caused by corn root worm infestation. man dropping some litter while standing next to a hog. Beneath the two is printed: “What’s the dilfcr cncc between the animal on the left (the hog) and the one on the right (the littering man)?” In smaller type below it: “The animal on the left doesn’t litter.” The bumper sticker and bill board slogan has the line; “Oink if you litter.” One of the television advertise ments reportedly shows a man talking about littering while gradu ally turning into a hog and then walking away. According to a PennDOT olli cial, the campaign started Monday with a television commercial that will run for a month. Other por Dairy Farm Youth To Sing National Anthem HANCOCK, Md. The 16-year-old daughter of a Washington County, Maryland dairy fanner will be singing the National Anthem a capella at Memorial Stadium as part of the Middle Atlantic Milk Marketing Association’s July 22 promotion with the Baltimore Orioles. Just before the umpire’s call to “Play Ball,” Shannon McKee of Hancock will be stepping up to the microphone before a crowd that could measure well over 40,000 people. Four Sections lions arc to continue with bro chures and bumper stickers to be dispersed on a county level and in schools. According to Herbert Schick, secretary-treasurer PPPC, the campaign is damaging to the image of the hog and ultimately the pork production industry. “We (the pork industry) spend millions of dollars promoting pork, trying to make a good image and here PennDOT spends $400,000 tearing it down and 1 doubt if the highways arc going to be any cleaner,” Schick said. He said that the connection between hogs and roadside gar bage could lead people to look (Turn to Page A 22) Although she has never per formed to a crowd of this size before, she is no newcomer to the stage. At the ripe old age of 12, Shannon began singing profes sionally. She performs regularly at the Appalachian Jubilee in Cham bersburg, Pennsylvania. She also sings at local fairs, weddings, and at Hancock Middle/Senior High where she will be a junior this fall. Shannon is also no newcomer when it comes to singing the National Anthem at baseball (Turn to Pag* A3l) $15.00 Per Year
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