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FARMING IN AN
URBANIZING
ENVIRONMENT
Leon Ressler
Extension Agent
Agriculture/Environment
Lancaster County
One of Pennsylvania agricul
ture’s greatest strengths is its pro
ximity to urban markets.
Unfortunately, as the urban
dwellers increasingly encroach on
fanning areas, the closeness of
agricultural production and con
sumers can also be a liability.
Too often we have read the
unhappy headlines announcing
“residents band together to oppose
poultry operation” or “neighbors
file complaint over flies.” One of
the key skills required to be a suc
cessful manager in the nineties is
the ability to run one’s enterprise
in such a way as to generate praise
rather than animosity from the
non-farmers in one’s
neighborhood.
One must routinely seek better
ways to run the farm operation.
Simply saying “I was here first" is
no longer a sufficient answer
when dealing with neighbors. An
honest assessment of problems is
an important function of farm
management. When current or
potential problems have been
identified, one needs to seek solu
tions which will correct the prob
lems before they become a public
relation’s problem in the
neighborhood.
Aesthetics is very important on
today’s farms. Sloppy operations
are simply not acceptable. An
attractive landscape is important
®flSS AND AUGERS
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Northeast Agri Systems. Inc.
Flywqy Builneu Park
139Aweit Airport Road
Lltltz, PA 17543
Ph; (717) 569-2702
PENNSYLVANIA AUTHORIZED
leal Eni
to presenting a positive image of
your operation. Planting a buffer
strip of trees between you and
your neighbors or a highway is a
good idea. Out of sight, out of
mind really does work. A buffer
strip of trees will also help with
odor and dust reduction.
Getting to know your neighbors
is always a good idea. Giving
them some poultry products over
the holidays or compost for their
garden in the spring builds good
will.
Use common sense when sche
duling your farm activities. Don’t
spread manure next to your neigh
bor’s backyard the day before a
spring or summer holiday, for
instance. Incorporate manure as
soon as possible when spreading
near urban neighbors. In addition
to reducing odors, this can help
reduce the Held hatch of flies.
Flies are probably the largest
potential source of friction
between poultry farms and non
farm neighbors. An aggressive fly
prevention strategy should be in
place at all times. One of the best
ways to prevent fly problems is to
keep the manure dry to disrupt the
life cycle of the flies.
The ideal moisture content of
the manure for breeding flies is SO
to 85-percent. Reducing water
leaks and increasing air circula
tion in high-rise houses are keys to
keeping die moisture too low to be
suitable for fly breeding.
Feeding larvacide as needed
and using insecticides are also
important tools for fly control.
Insecticide bait pans and space
spray or mist sprays are important
We Stock Truckloads
Of Chore-Time Bins &
Miles Of Chore-Time
FLEX-AUGER
Agricull
Bins...
Large Or Small
STORE HOURS. Moa-frt. 7:30 to 430 BB
Sot. 8.00 to Noon
34 Hr. 7 Do/ Ropolr Sorvlc*
1-800-673-2580 H
MASTER DISTRIBUTOR
for controlling adult populations.
Residual insecticides can be
applied to the walls at clean-out
time. Remember to rotate the class
of insecticides used to prevent a
buildup of insecticide resistance in
the fly population.
Composting of manure and
mortality is a management tool
which has several benefits, includ
ing fly control. The heat generated
Wet,
Need Special Management
NORCROSS, Ga. This
year’s extraordinary weather
obviously affected much of the
1993 crop. Unfortunately, the
negative effects will not stop with
the current crop because soil prop
erties were affected that will
impact next year’s crop as well.
Much of the Midwest and
northern Great Plains had near
record low soil nitrate levels last
fall and this spring. Weather con
ditions frequently did not allow
normal nitrogen applications.
Conditions were ideal for denitri
fication and leaching losses of
what little nitrogen was present
Copl temperatures during much of
the growing season likely caused
less than normal organic matter
mineralization and release of nit
rogen from legume residues and
manure. The net effect is soils
nearly devoid of plant available
nitrogen this fall. Adequate nitro
gen fertilization will be a must for
profitable crop production in
1994.
Soils arc teeming with microor
ganisms that are active in releas
ing and supplying many nutrients
to crop roots. Their activity goes
unnoticed until something hap
pens that inteifers with that activi
ty and with crop nutrition. Such is
often the case for crops grown in
fields that were either fallowed or
flooded the year before. Most
crops normally have'a beneficial
fungus called mycorrhizae, colo
nizing their root systems. This
fungus aids in the absorption of
Custom Applications
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CUSTOMER
during the composting-process
will destroy the fly larva. The
enables one to get the upper hand
in the battle with flies without a
major cash outlay for insecticides.
Composting also converts man
ure and carcasses into a market
able fertilizer. This can be an extra
source of revenue in addition to
solving a nutrient management
problem on farms where more
Flooded Fields May
phosphorus by crop roots. Mycor
rhizae activity is often depressed
following fallowing or flooded
conditions, resulting in severe
phosphorus deficiency in crops
the next year, A reduction in the
amount of phosphorus supplied by
breakdown of organic matter con
tributes to the problem.
Com appears to be the most
sensitive crop to the syndrome,
with soybeans being affected...
but less severely. Use of a high
phosphorus starter fertilizer at
rates of 40 to 70 lb. P205/A nor
mally corrects the phosphorus
deficiency. High soil test pho
sphorus levels can also correct
growth problems, but the mini
mum level required has not been
defined. In one midwestem study,
com grown following fallow at a
Bray test of IS ppm (Medium)
was severely phosphorus defi
cient, while at 45 ppm (Very
High) growth was normal.
Aerial views and field invest!-
Mansfield.
The Robsons have 90 registered
Holsteins, with a milking herd of
56 on their 150-acre farm, and are
active in the agriculture communi
ty. having worked with 4-H and
junior livestock clubs for several
years.
Robson told the group, “I guess
SERVICE NUMBER:
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LancaMar Farming, Saturday, Oacambar 2, 1903-CS
Farm-City Activities
(Contlnuad from Pag* C 4)
manure is produced than can be
utilized on crop land.
All involved in agriculture
today need to make a “good neigh
bor” policy a high priority. Plan
ning ahead to prevent problems
can go a long way toward building
a positive image, which is impor
tant for the success of any
business.
gations this summer frequendy
indicated that substantial soil
compaction occurred from traffic
and tillage on wet soils. Research
has demonstrated that potassium
management increases in impor
tance under compacted condi
tions. High soil test potassium
levels and band application of
potassium can reduce the negative
effects this new compaction may
have on crop yields in 1994.
The year(s) ahead will not be
easy as agriculture in the Midwest
recovers from 1993. Operating
dollars will likely be short, and
spending decisions will need to be
made carefully. However, past
experience tells us that fertilizer
inputs will likely give terrific
returns in 1994. Start planning
now to make 1994 the best crop
year that conditions will allow.
For more information, contact
Dr. Paul E. Fixen, Northcentral
Director, PPI, P.O. Box 682, 305
sth Street. Brookings, SD 57006.
Phone (605) 692-6280.
I really didn’t know what we were
getting into with the splash here
tonight, but I guess we can hack
it.”
Commenting on how his family
has served as hosts for cattle tours,
a strawberry festival, and helped
with the parking during the Primi
tive Rendezvous held nearby this
past September, Robson was con
fident cm their ability to success
fully coordinate at least one por
tion of Farm-City Day when he
said. “We got a family that knows
how to park cars!”
Robson and Welch accepted the
challenge of surpassing the suc
cess of previous Farm-City days
with their event in 1994. Robson
expressed confidence in himself
and his co-chair as he said, “I’m
sure Sherri (Elder) thinks she can
put on a Farm-City Day, but J.W.
•nd I will get right in there and
show her how it’s really done.”