C6-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 12, 1992 \ The Bou-Matic Heat Seeker pedometer is attached to the cow’s rear leg several days after calving tor heat detection. Bou-Matic Introduces Heat-Seeker™ MADISON, Wis. Reproduc tive problems, such as undetected heats and untimely inseminations, can cost dairy operators $B9 per cow per year for every cow in the herd. Bou-Matic introduces the Bou- Matic Heat-Seeker, a reproductive management tool that monitors cow acdvity. Increasing cow acti vity is a sign of heat and the Heat- Seeker records and reports activity increases to help dairy operators detect heat and correctly time in seminations. The Bou-Matic Heat-Seeker Plan Now For Best Use LEESPORT (Berks Co .) Many farmers manage crop residues to reduce erosion, improve soil moisture retention, and reduce tillage costs, according to Rand McCormack, district con servationist for the Soil Conserva tion Service (SCS) in Berks County. In addition to these benefits, they also comply with the conser vation compliance provisions of the Farm Bills and remain eligible for farm program benefits. Crop residue management requires sound planning to achieve the desired results, said Joel Myers, state agronomist for SCS in Harrisburg. The type of til lage equipment and sequence of tillage operations affect the amount of surface residue left at planting, he added. Proper management of crop residue starts right after harvest, Myers said. “Planning for ade quate spring residue cover starts in the fall with harvest,’’ he said. “The percentage of residue after spring planting can be estimated now based on crop yields and the tillage system to be used.” You should calculate residue losses before you decide which til lage system to use. Include losses due to type of tillage, over-winter decomposition, dhd planting in your calculations. If you need help, contact you local SCS, con servation district, or cooperative ness News » ■ *" s ** * pedometer utilizes a miniature computer to monitor and record increased activity, indicating when cows come into heat. The pedometer is attached to the cow’s rear leg several'days after calving and when (he cow is more active, the pedometer’s light flashes, alerting the operator. For more information on the Bou-Matic Heat-Seeker, contact your nearest Bou-Matic dealer or Brad Rodenberg, product man ager, Bou-Matic, the Dairy Equip ment Division of DEC Interna tional, P.O. Box 8050, Madison, WI 53708, (608) 222-3484. extension office. Here are tips for effective residue management: • Spread residue evenly in the fall to ensure that soils are pro tected over the winter. Even distri bution in the fall will make tillage easier and improve crop stands if you’re using no-till. • Use a combine equipped with a spreader to ensure easy and quick distribution of residues. • Use a rotary hay fluffer to spread soybean stalks or small grain straw if you don’t have a spreader or combine. • Use a chopper or shredder to evenly distribute coarse residues such as com stalks. In addition, Myers said the type of fall tillage used can affect the residue levels remaining after spring planting. If you plan to fill till, here are some facts you should know: • Residues decompose faster when you fall till. Fall chiseling followed by spring disking may reduce residue levels from 80 per cent after harvest to 15 percent after spring planting. • If you chisel and use a field tv WAYNE, NJ. For 1993, a new, advanced formulation of Scepter®7o DG herbicide will be sold in S-acre water-soluble pack ages, eliminating all 2 'A -gallon containers and all 2.1-pound plas tic jugs of Scepter® herbicide. The new package, called Eco- Pak™, is especially designed to: • Eliminate pesticide container disposal problems. • Provide premeasured quanti ties in an easy-to-use packet. • Eliminate product exposure to users. Dwight Cowan, American Cya namid product manager for Seep- Of Residues cultivator instead of a disk, you can lower residue loss significantly. • Use a cover crop where residues have been removed or the level is lower than that called for in the conservation plan. Myers said no-till planting is a guaranteed way to retain residues without worrying about tillage losses. With no-till, you sow seeds into crop residues from the previ ous year’s harvest. Using no-till increases organic matter and improves soil tilth because residue amounts increase over time, Myers .said. Myers said a conference to be held this winter will help farmers to better understand and apply this conservation practice. Two expert speakers will discuss conservation tillage and crop residue manage ment and their relationship to good soil quality at the Mid- Atlantic Conservation Tillage Conference at the Embers Inn in Carlisle on December 1?. Contact the cooperative extension office at ' (215) 378-1327 for more informa tion. MILK. IT DOES A BODY GOOD. Spreaders Have 1,000-2,500 Gallon Capacity HAGERSTOWN, Md. Knight Manufacturing Corporation is proud to Introduce a new series of Knight Sllnger spreaders. The new 7700 Series are the 7710, 7712, 7716, and 7725 models with capacities from 1,000 to 2,500 gallons. The two larger models are also offered as truck mounted units. The new Wide Mouths feature a 9-Inch wider expelier opening yielding 30 percent more expelier capacity to help handle the toughest materials. The 7700 Series feature 15 forged steel free-swinging hammers. Other changes include constant velocity PTO shafts with slip-clutch, new nylon anti-seize hammer bushings, and a 25 percent heavier hammer shaft. See the new Wide Mouths at your local Knight dealer. Herbicide Available In Eco-Pak ™ ter, sees some real advantages to the new Eco-Pak™. Tm excited about the leader ship position Scepter has taken as the first soybean herbicide making a total conversion to this innova tive packaging. Eco-Pak™ water soluble packets provide soybean farmers a practical solution to container disposal problems,” said Cowan. In 1992, growers in three states treated more than 25,000 acres of soybeans to evaluate the Scepter Eco-Pak™. The growers rested the storage, handling, mixing, and spraying characterisitics of the Eco-Pak™ and reported very post ive results. “Growers liked the fact that there were no pesticide containers to triple-rinse or dispose of. They reported that the small, water soluble bags were simple and easy to use, and the premeasured pack age eliminated measuring prob- -lon of Scepter® 70 DG herbl clde will be sold in 5-acre water-soluble packages, elimi nating all 2V» -gallon containers and all 2.1-pound plastic jugs of Scepter® herbicide. lems,” said Cowan, The Eco-Pak™ will be sold in packages that contain two packets that treat five acres each at the standard 2.8-ounce rate. These packets float in a water filled tank and begin to dissolve in one or two minutes, releasing the new, advanced formulation of Scepter 70 DG. The improved gra nule formulation disperses in the water in less than 60 seconds. And the packets are made of inert ingredient that completely dissol ves within minutes after being added to the tank, keeping spray ing equipment clog-free. “Technological advancements such as new dry-granule formula tions and development of effective water-soluble packaging, provide strong benefits to farmers and dealers in terms of container dis posal, product exposure, storage and convenience,” said Cowan.
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