Farmers Observe Effects (Continued from Page A 1) they were really clean.” Collected with the oysters were mud crabs, sponges, and other bay life. According to the bay guide, there are 303 different organisms associated with the oyster bar. A guide from the Bay Founda tion said that each oyster pumps SO gallons of water daily. This helps to control sediment and pollution. Now the oyster supply is greatly depleted and not much is left to fil ter the water. Leon Ressler, agriculture/ environment extension agent, organized die trip to help farmers understand the agricultural impact on the Chesapeake Bay. Farmers* heavy use of pesti- It took several fanners to puli the hand dredge from the Bay’s oyster bars. •: WHEN YOU HAVE MOISTURE - PLANT MUNCY-CHIEF QUIC-KROP H7OO SEED CORN Muncy Chief Quic-Krop H7OO Can Make You More Feed For Your Cattle This Fall & Winter. We are pleased to offer you Muncy-Chief Quic-Krop H7OO for green chop, silage cov er crop & soil conservation. Drill or broadcasted in July & August will produce 12 to 15 tons to the acre in 50 to 60 days of quality silage or green chop. College tests show up to 64% TDN, no prussic acid. Sorgham & sorgham Sudan grass has prussic acid when frosted. Sow 1 'A -2 bushel in well prepared or disked soils, 2 to 3 bushel per acre on other soils not so well worked. Silo-Chief Ensilage (Medium Maturity) For Row Planting $60.00 MF 58.00 MR 57.00 UR (Plateless) 50 Bushel Or More $5.00 Less Per Bushel Planted July 31 And Harvested September SEE OUR 6 NEW HYBRIDS FOR 1992 - OUR 60th YEAR - AT AO PROCESS DAYS AUGUST 13-15, 1991 Or At Muncy Observation Days, Sept. 10-30, 1991 MUNCY-CHIEF HYBRIDS, INC. Market & High Streets Muncy, PA 17756 PHONE 717-546-5981 PA 1-800-874-4803 NE (Except Maine) 1-800-874-4805 cides and fertilizers affect ground water and wildlife around the Bay. Acid rain, septic systems, and sew age treatment plants are also con sidered heavy sources of Bay pollution. While some environmentalists blame the farmer for the bay’s decay, others are more subjective. The captain of the boat remarked, that many environmentalists have come to understand that farmers are concerned about land and water quality, that they face prob- lems with nature and are doing their best to cope and still put food on the table and shoes on their children’s feet An Amish farmer said that he was glad to hear that farmers aren’t DRY WEATHER MOST EVERYWHERE!! getting the whole blame for the bay problem. He said, “They take oys ters out year after year—and they blame the farmer for the oysters’ decline. What can they expect? We’d have the same problem if we’d keep taking from die land and wouldn’t put anything into iL” In recent years, there has been a strong effort to control pollution from the bay not only from the agricultural end but also from wastewater discharges, hazardous waste disposal, sewage treatment plants, and by wetlands protection and land use. It is still too early to know if these combined efforts are making a difference. The captain of the skipjack said that from his per spective, “Weather controls water quality more than anything else. When there is a drought, no runoff or algae occurs, and you think the water is really looking good, but during heavy rains, the water looks worse than ever and you wonder what is happening.” The captain added, “We need 20 years of strong effort in cleaning up the bay to see results. Even if all pollution would stop, it would take 25 to 50 years to clean up what is already there. If we can hold pollu tion at this point, we are doing something. Toxins in San Francis co Bay and many others are worse than die Chesapeake waters. The Lancaster fanners also toured Clagget Farm, a 285-acre research and education farm own ed and operated by the Chesapeake Clagget Farm Michael Heller tells farmers who visited the Clagget Farm that captured amounts of runoff and sediments from con tour strips, convention, and no-tili corn plots enable stu dents to compare various types of farming methods. Bay Foundation. The farm examines sustainable said, “Our focus is to try to deal agriculture that reduces chemical with environmental problems not use by using fanning practices that by telling fanners they can’t do take advantage of physical and this or that, but by trying to help by biological processes that nature technologies that are more sensi provides. They use crop rotation to live to the environment.” break up pest cycles. (Turn to Pag* A 32) Farmers used an oyster hand dredge to harvest oysters. Because it was off-season, the oysters had to be returned to the bay. I PAUL B. goiolirao'ii AUTOMATIC HEADGATE Full Roof Cover , Dut y For Outdoor For PosiUve.Lockin Protcctioi Double For Extra Handle Ca Operated Both Sides Full Sheet On From Optional Chute PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. Call or Write For Additional Information t Mil* Waat of Ephrata And Your Nearest Dealer Phone: 717-738-1121 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, July 27, 1991-A25 Michael Heller, farm manager, 295 Woodcomer Rd. Lttttz, PA 17543 No Wrenches (ceded To Adjust Back Set Open ■ast, Easy adjustment On Both Sides So \nimal Size Can Be Adjusted ndcr Pressure Handle To Help Close For Slow Or Homed Cattle Adjusts to 7"
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