GOOD WEEK FOR FIELDWORK: Pennsylvania had a dry week with temperatures slightly above nor
mal. Our respondents indicated that 5 days were suitable for field work. Activities for the week included:
repairing fence; hauling manure; spreading fertilizer and lime; spraying fruit trees; maintaining machinery;
spring plowing; planting crops; and caring for livestock.
SOIL MOISTURE: By week’s end, two percent of our respondents rated the state’s topsoil moisture as
short, 90 percent rated it adequate, and 8 percent rated it surplus. Three percent of the respondents in the
Northern region rated soil moisture as short, 79 percent rated it adequate, and 18 percent rated it surplus. In
the Central region, 97 percent rated soil moisture as adequate, and 3 percent rated it surplus. Four percent of
our respondents in the Southern region rated soil moisture as short, 93 percent rated it adequate, and 3 percent
rated it surplus.
PLOWING: According to our repondents, spring plowing in Pennsylvania was 71 percent completed by
week’s end, that's 2 percentage points behind last year and the five-year average of 73 percent Completion
of spring plowing was 59,74, and 82 percent in the Northern, Central, and Southern regions, respectively.
CORN: The Commonwealth’s com crop was 17 percent planted by the end of the week. At this time last
year, 19 percent was planted, same as the five-year average. Planting completion by region were: Northern
region-7 percent; Central region-13 percent; and Southern region-34 percent
TOBACCO: Our reporters indicated that 95 percent of Pennsylvania’s tobacco beds were planted by the end
of the week. Last year, 94 percent of the tobacco beds were planted while the five-year average was 96
percent.
OATS; Oat planting in the Commonwealth was 82 percent complete by week’s end. Last year, that figure
was 81 percent same as the five- year average. Planting completion in the three regions were; Northern
region-63 percent Central region-86 percent and Southern region-98 percent The oat crop was rated 18 per
cent excellent 56 percent good, 22 percent fair, 2 percent poor, and 2 percent very poor.
POTATOES: Our respondents indicated 38 percent of the State’s potatoes were planted, 4 percentage points
behind last year’s progress at this time. The five-year average was 51 percent.
BARLEY AND WHEAT: The State’s barley crop progress by the end of the week was 74 percent pre-boot
24 percent boot and 2 percent heading. Last year’s numbers were 75,18 and 7 percent respectively for pre
boot boot and heading. The five-year average was 77 pre-boot 17 percent boot and 6 percent heading.
Wheat progress was 87 percent pre-boot 12 percent boot and 1 percent headed, same as last year’s progress.
The five-year average was 91,9, and none respectively. The wheat crop was rated 21 percent excellent 53
percent good, 21 percent fair, 3 percent poor, and 2 percent very poor.
FRUIT: Twenty-two percent of the peach trees, according to our respondents, were in the pre-pink stage at
week’s end. Eleven percent were in the pink and 67 percent was in the full bloom or past stage. Last year at
this time, 29 percent of the peaches were in the pre-pink stage, while 11 percent were pink and 60 percent
were full bloom or past Cherries were 19 percent pre-pink. 11 percent pink, and 70 percent full bloom, by
week’s end. Cherry pre-pink, pink and full bloom numbers respectively for last year were: 28,7, and 65 per
cent Apples were 25 percent pre-pink, 21 percent pink, and 54 percent full bloom or past. Last year, apples
were 31 percent pre-pink, 19 percent pink, and SO percent full bloom or past
HAY AND PASTURE: Alfalfa hay stands in the State were rated 71 percent good, 28 percent fair, and 1 per
cent poor. Clover-timothy stands were rated good by 70 percent, fair by 29 percent, and poor by 1 percent.
The quality of feed being obtained from pastures was rated good by 62 percent of our respondents, fair by 35
percent, poor by 2 percent and very poor by 1 percent
U.S. AS OF APRIL 28: Predominantly dry weather across the Southwest allowed field work to progress
while rains, generally in excess of one inch through the midwest slowed planting. Temperatures averaged
near normal across the nation, promoting seasonal greening. Com planting progressed to 16 percent in the 17
major producing slates, compared to 21 percent planted last year and a five-year average of 24 percent Head
ing of winter wheat advanced to 28 percent nationwide, 1S percentage points ahead of last year’s progress at
this time, and 18 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.
SPECIAL
CD
OFFER
• Penalty for Early Withdrawal
• Rates Subject to Change
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• Rate Compounded Daily
• Join our 55+ Heritage Club
and get an extra 1/4% on
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M«mb*r FDIC
FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 5, 1991
YIELD*
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7.25%
7.00%
RATE
ANY TERM
2 Tears to 10 Tears
Eastern Tent Caterpillars
Not Gypsy Moth
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —Spring
in Maryland usually is announced
by the appearance of Eastern tent
caterpillar nests in trees across the’
state.
Whether in trees along road
sides or in residential areas, the
tent caterpillar, a native of North
America, is everywhere.
Wild cherry trees are the favo
rite host, along with apple, crabap
ple, plum, peach, rose, hawthome,
and certain shade trees.
Eastern tent caterpillar infesta
tions are often confused with gyp
sy moth infestation. Gypsy moth
caterpillars hatch about two weeks
later, do not produce silken web
bing along the trunks of trees or
silken tents in the branches of
trees, and are mote commonly
found on oak trees than are Eastern
tent caterpillars.
Fully grown caterpillars of the
two species do not look alike.
Tent caterpillars are up to
2 'A -inches long, with a solid white
stripe along the back, and a row of
pale blue oval spots along each
side. The body is covered by long,
fine, light brown hairs.
Gypsy moth caterpillars are
about the same size, but are distin
guished by five pairs of blue spots,
followed by six pairs of red spots
on their backs. No other caterpillar
has these distinct markings. The
caterpillars are covered by long
black hairs and many people suffer
allergic reactions to contact with
the hairs.
Eastern tent caterpillar eggs
usually start to hatch in early to
mid-April and the young caterpil
lars, which are only about '/« -inch
long when they hatch, immediate
ly begin building the characteristic
silk tents where tree branches join
together.
Caterpillars leave the tent only
to feed, and continue to enlarge the
tent as they grow.
When fully grown, they leave
the trees to search for hiding places
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 11, 1991-A29
to spin cocoons. After two weeks
in the cocoon, adult moths emerge
to mate and the female lays eggs.
The egg masses are dark, shiny
grey and are laid in a band around a
small branch. There is only one
generation each year.
If caterpillars are abundant, they
may eat all the leaves on a tree.
While this may weaken the tree, it
seldom kills it
Defoliated trees should be
watered and fertilized, wherever
possible. Physical removal of the
tents is a good control practice.
High value ornamental plants,
or landscape trees that have been
defoliated two or three years, can
be sprayed with an insecticide dur
ing the time the caterpillars are
active. Once caterpillars leave the
tree, control is much more
difficult.
Because the tent caterpillar is a
native North American insect, out
breaks are usually controlled by
naturally occurring parasites or
predators.
In contrast, the gypsy moth is
not a native insect, it was intro
duced to North America from Eur
ope, and has few natural parasites
or predators. Gypsy moth caterpil
lars defoliate and may kill oaks and
other hardwood trees in urban resi
dential or rural areas.
To reduce widespread tree mor
tality, the Maryland Department of
Agriculture, in cooperation with
federal and county agencies, con
ducts a statewide gypsy moth sup
pression program.
Each homeowner should take
steps to limit gypsy moth damage
to landscape trees or shrubs.
For information on ways to con
trol Eastern tent caterpillar or gyp
sy moth, call your County
Cooperative Extension Office or
Dr. Robert Rabaglia, Forest Pest
Management Section, Maryland
Department of Agriculture, (301)
841-5922.