I a ** &■ R MANAGEMENT PENNSYLVANIA FARMERS SUSTAINING THEIR FARMS AND THE ENVORONMENT: CROP MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONS Jan Pruss, Manager Crop Management Program Penn State In 1979, a small group of Centre County fanners with assis tance from their local cooperativer extension agent organized the first Crop Management Association (CMA) in Pennsylvania. Their goal was to promote more eco nomical. efficient, and environ mentally sound crop production practices. Established as a non-profit organization, CMA members were charged an acreage fee, and a crop technician was hired to moni tor crop pests and collect plant and soil samples. Currently, 10 CMAs are operating in 34 of Pennsylva nia’s 67 counties. Associations have a combined membership of approximately 480 members, with 78,000 acres enrolled. Originally farmers joined When things run well, we take them for granted.. ...water flows when the tap is turned 0n... lights work when they are switched on- feed is distributed when the Big feed Dutchman chain starts The Most Re,iable and Efficient ouj 1/utcnman. M Huey equipment COMPANY, INC. TVe Tflfe Customer Satisfaction (Personalty s: CMAs because they lacked time to collect and document site specific information required for determining when pest control measures were necessary. Gradu ally members recognized they also lacked time to acquire the know ledge and technical expertise needed to develop an integrated crop management system. Thus, by 1990, CMAs were employing crop management consultants who not only provided basic scouting and sampling services, but also supplied integrated pest and nutrient management recom mendations, assisted in imple menting Penn State’s computer based Crop Information Manage ment System, and assisted in developing an integrated crop management plan. In 1990, the Agricultural Stabil ization and Conservation Service (ASCS) used the CMA concepts as a model in developing a new conservation practice for provid ing national cost-share assistance to encourage producers to adopt the use of farm management sys tems that incorporate the use of up... integrated pest and nutrient pest and nutrient management Special Practice S 3 (SP S 3), called Inte grated Crop Management (ICM), is a demonstration practice limited to a maximum of five counties per state and 20 farms per county, although in Pennsylvania, six ares encompassing 13 counties have been designated cost-share areas. To be eligible for cost-sharing, producers must have an ICM plan developed in writing by an approved technical expert, and the system must target a reduction in pesticide or nutrient applications by at least 20 percent. Cost sharing is limited to one 3-year, long-term agreement with the same person. Farmers in Mercer and Lawrence counties started a new CMA with a portion of their acreage fees supported by SP 53 cost-sharing. In addition, existing CMAs located in counties desig nated for ICM cost-sharing used the practice to encourage new membership. Since ASCS was interested in introducing new far mers to the ICM concept, fanners already enrolled in CMAs were not eligible to participate. Data documented across 6,000 acres of com and alfalfa by 45 CMA farmers participating in SP 53 in 1990 and 1992 indicate posi tive changes in pest and nutrient management practices. Those changes were the result of an array of services provided by CMA con sultants, including site-specific recommendations and the Chain Feeder for. Poultry Cage Systems SYCAMORE INO. PARK 255 PLANE TREE DRIVE LANCASTER. PA 17603 (717) 353-5807 implementation of Penn State’s computer-based Crop Information Management System for docu menting, organizing, and summar izing management practices. Some of the changes occurring in nutrient and pest management practices between years include: • The number of cornfields tested increased from 6 percent in 1989 to more than 50 percent in 1991. • In 1991, 20 growers reduced total nitrogen available on com .acres by roughly 46 tons and total purchased nitrogen by 27 ions, saving roughly $12,000 or $570 per farm. • Farmers kept better track of nutrient contributions from man ure applications in 1991. • In 1991, 25 percent fewer com following com acres received corn rootworm insecticides, reducing com insecticide costs by roughly $lOO per farm. • The number of alfalfa fields tested increased from 22 percent in 1989 to more than 60 percent in 1991. • In 1991,6 percent fewer alfal fa acres had phosphorus in deficit of crop requirements, and 4 per cent fewer acres had potassium in deficit of requirements. Typically harvesting 5 tons per acre of alfal fa will remove 75 and 250 pounds Route 30 West at the Centerville Exit. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 9,1993-F7 per acre respectively of phosphor us and potassium. To achieve expected yields, optimum nutrient levels must be maintained. • Field monitoring allowed far mers to respond to increased alfal fa pest pressure in 1991, prevent ing economic losses. Drought conditions in 1991 caused plants to be more susceptible to pest pressure, resulting in increased integrated control measures. Since SP 53 is only a demon stration practice implemented by ASCS to determine the program’s effectiveness in improving crop ping practice, there are currently no plans to expand eligibility to other counties. Nevertheless, the program has proved something that CMA members already knew: CMA membership doesn’t cost, it pays. Membership pays in improved profitability, efficiency, and environmental quality. To learn more about how your local CMA is serving your area, contact your cooperative exten sion agent If your county does not have a CMA, tell your extension agent you would support one. If sufficient interest exists, the agent can help area fanners start an association. Contact Jan Press, manager. Crop Management Program, 116 ASI Building, Uni versity Park, PA 16802, (814) 863-1020. Need Your Farm Buildings Painted? Let us give you a price! Write: Daniel’s Painting 637-A Georgetown Rd. Ronks, PA 17572 (or leave message) (717) 687-8262 Spray on and Brush in Painting HERNIA? No-hernia is unrepairable, even after sev eral previous failed attempts. We special ize in outpatient hernia repairs, and most patients are able to return to full work with in several days. PLEASE CALL COLLECT OR WRITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: MID ATLANTIC SURGICAL SERVICES 217 Harrisburg Ave., Suite 201 Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 295-5454 MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED GIGANTIC SELECTION IN Lancaster Farming's CLASSIFIEDS
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