FSMancaster Farming, Saturday, January 4,1992
NEWARK, DE The results
of Delaware's hybrid field com
performance trials are published
and ready for distribution. The
trials, conducted by the University
of Delaware Agricultural Experi
ment Station and Cooperative
Extension, covered 124 hybrids
divided from five maturity groups.
The trials were held at three
locations in the state: the univer
sity's Research and Education
Center in Georgetown, the Round
Maple Farm in Smyrna, and Rutk
oske Brothers Inc. in Middletown.
Hybrids were evaluated by yield,
percent moisture, percent early
stand, final population per acre,
percent stalk lodging, percent root
lodging and percent ear drop.
Bob Uniatowski, Extension
associate in agronomy, reports
yield average across maturities
decreased by 51 bushels per acre
in Middletown, 78 bushels per
acre in Smyrna, and 34 bushels
per acre in Georgetown. He attri
butes the drastic yield reduction in
Smyrna to drought and high temp
eratures. Rainfall was only 10
inches in Smyrna during the criti
cal months of May, June, July and
August, compared to 21 inches in
1990 and 32 inches in 1989.
In Middletown, there were sta
tistically significant differences
between early, early-medium and
medium maturities. But there
were no statistically significant
differences between the medium
late and late maturities. The three
early maturity groups out-yielded
two later maturities by a 20-
bushcl-per-acre average. There
were statistically significant dif
Aggressor Has More Total Disease Resistance!
[Vf Phy tophthora
|yf/\nthracnose
fvfverticillium Wilt
More Than Any Variety Of Similar Dormancy!
Aggressor Fights Both Aphanomyces & Phytophthora.
This map shows where Aphanomyces and Phytophthora may interact to
cause losses to susceptible varieties.
Plus, Aggressor resists Leafhopper Yellowing...
better than any Pioneer, Dekalb or Northrup King variety.
Pi. ROHRER & BRO., INC.
Smoketown, PA
<n iwi ABI
Delaware Com Variety Trials Sum Up Crop Year
fcrences between all maturities in
Smyrna except the late maturities.
The early* and early-medium
maturity groups were most
affected by the drought in Smyrna.
The yield average was 102 for ear
ly maturities and 90 bushels per
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
The 75th annual Pennsylvania
Cooperative Potato Growers ban
quet is scheduled at the Farm Show
Complex on January IS, 1992 dur
ing die state farm show.
The Pennsylvania Cooperative
Potato Growers, Inc. was charterd
in 1922 and today is the oldest
agricultural cooperative in the U.S.
DEKALB, 111. Successful
com growers use yield goals as a
part of their profit planning.
“Yield goals should be estab
lished for every field,” said Rick
Mason, regional agronomist for
DEKALB Plant Genetics. “Set a
sound, realistic goal for each field
and develop a set of sound man
agement practices which will
enable you to reach that goal at the
lowest cost.”
Mason suggests writing the
goal down, perhaps on field-by
field notes, and comparing it with
actual yield at harvest.
“When the season is over, you
can analyze the records to deter
mine why you did or did not reach
or exceed your goal,” the agro
nomist said.
isease am
lyf \phanomyces
Wilt
Wilt
PH: 717-299-28^^^^^^
Potato Growers Will
Establish
( est
istance.
,esi
AMERKffS.
acre for medium varieties.
Com varieties in Georgetown
also showed statistically signific
ant differences across groups with
the exception of the late-maturing
varieties. The highest yielding
group in both Georgetown and
Pennsylvania’s potato industry
ranks 11th nationally, producing
approximately 480 million pounds
of potatoes valued at more than
$35 million per year.
The cooperative has helped
improve the potato industry
through promotional and research
efforts in search of better markets,
according to Roger Springer, gen-
Yield Goals To Help Improve Profits
Mason warns, however, against
setting rigid goals because grow
ing conditions change during the
season.
“For example, if seedling
stands are good and soil moisture
reserves are high, it is perfectly
valid to raise the yield goal and
sidedress a greater amount of nit
rogen than originally planned,” he
said. “If it is droughty at tasseling
time, it may be prudent to lower
the yield goal and forego a com
borer control treatment that might
otherwise be needed.”
Mason says before setting a
yield goal, verify profitability by
calculating costs and returns.
More yield usually requires more
expenditure per acre.
“The real key is whether the
REDDY HEATERS
What The Name Says & A Whole Lot More!
(^MINHOLPS
i&iix
m
150 Lincoln Ava.
Ralnholdt, PA
17569-0209
Smyrna was medium-late, fol
lowed by late, medium, early
medium and early.
Uniatowski says the trial results
are formatted in a bulletin with
yield rankings for each location
along with combined site averages
Meet At Farm Show
eral manager of the cooperative.
“The potato offers consumers
the desirable qualities of no fat and
no cholesterol,” said Springer.
‘ ‘Tasty yet nutritious, potatoes are
low in calories only 110 per
medium potato—and high in vita
mins, dietary fiber, and minerals.”
Almost all of Pennsylvania’s
potatoes are used for fresh table
cost of producing a bushel of grain
is reduced,” he said.
When setting a yield goal, cal
culate a three-to-five year average
yield for a field and add 25
bushels per acre. Then modify this
• R 35 35,000 BTU Kerosene $159.00
• R5O 50,000 BTU Kerosene.... $195.00
• RlOO 100,000 BTU Kerosene.... $289.00
• Rl5O 150,000 BTU Kerosene.... $349.00
• Thermostat Kit $29.95
GET
READY FOR
WINTER
LIHWEK »■ MIIiWOKK INC.
(215) 267-5400
and two- and three-year averages.
He suggests that farmers use the
trial results with an emphasis on
two- and three-year averages
when looking for a good, consis
tent hybrid for the 1992 season.
stock, processing, and potato chip
production. The state ranks first
nationally in potato chip produc
tion, with approximately 30,500
tons a year.
For additional information, con
tact the Pennsylvania Cooperative
Potato Growers, Inc., 3107 N.
Front St, Harrisburg, PA 17110,
(717) 232-5300.
figure up or down to reflect your
best knowledge about soil type,
stored moisture status, fertility
status, previous crop, and each
factor of your own management,
Mason said.
Mon., Tum., Wod., Fri,
6:30-5
Thur. 6:30-6
Sat. 7:30-3
krfl