A26-Lancnt*r Farming, Saturday, Dacambar 18, 1993 Optimum Soil Nitrate (Continued from Pago A 1) Only now have soil scientists begun to take the knowledge gained from the study and use it. The Maryland study covered a wide range of elements, including climate, soil conditions, crops, and other data. But several factors were important to ensure the PSNT’s accuracy. The PSNT was not very useful on sites with cool season crops, such as wheat, and on ground with continuous com and no manure application within five years. Now, scientists are looking at using the PSNT only in combina tion with other measures of yield potential, including overall site nutrient management, calculating plant uptake of nitrogen, and other factors. In Maryland, under a special program, fanners can sign up to receive die test for free, according to Dr. Frank J. Coale, extension agronomist with the University of Maryland, who spoke about the importance of looking at the place of nutrient management on the farm. Farmers who make use of the PSNT could see a resulting increase of 1 percent in overall farm profit, according to Dr. James S. Shorde, agricultural economics and rural sociology professor at Penn State. A recent Penn State study on the PSNT, according to Shorde, showed that while the pro fits may be modest, nitrogen appli cation could be reduced by a factor of 30 to 40 percent Health of soil In light of the recent Midwest floods, the health of the soil remains uppermost in the minds of lowa fanners, who face some tough land-management decisions regarding erosion and compaction, according to a soil professor from lowa University. And how those farmers change their philosophy about farming could have wide-ranging impact on Mid-Adantic farms, according to Dr. Dennis R. Keeney, director of the Leopold Center for Sustain able Agriculture and soil professor at lowa State University. Because of the terrible summer weather in the Midwest, farmers have harvested com that they simply had to dump back onto the land because of the crop’s low quality. Also, the hay crop has the feed quality of shredded newspap er or “even worse,” said Keeney. The only crop seemingly not affected by the floods was soybeans. Farmers are facing problems ress nitrate test (PSNT) were announced at the Mid-Atlantic Tillage Conference on Thursday. From left, Dr. John J. Mel singer, soil scientist, ARS-USDA; Dr. Frank Coale, Universi ty of Maryland extension agronomist; and Dave Martin, Bal timore County extension agent. with soil erosion and compaction problems that could have dra matic and long-term effects on farming for years to come, accord ing to the lowa soil microbiologist ' His presentation, “Innovations in Agriculture,” spoke about the issues farmers may have to face in the coming century. He said that Europe views America’s agricul ture as “extremely unregulated,” and that we lag a decade behind Britain and other countries in strict farming regulations. Gradually, farmers will have more restrictions placed on them, which will be costly and could drive many out of business. He said, into the next century, more large-scale fanners will mean the decline of small farms. Also, new technology being deve loped will impact those small farms in ways Keeney said he can’t predict. But as those changes take place, according to the soil micro biologist, the public must be kept informed. Perhaps an ag “glos sary” of the new terms and con cepts is needed to keep the general public educated so that reasonable solutions to problems in the future can be obtained, according to Keeney. No-till best “No-dll is the best thing that happened since the invention of the tractor,” said Donald E. Mar tin, dairy farmer, who spoke at a crop residue management dealer/ farmer panel at the tillage conference. Martin operates a 150-cow dairy and cash grain operation near Chambersburg, Pa. He said that farmers should understand the misconceptions regarding no-till. Primary (top) and secon dary tillage tools on display at the conference. Farmer experience with no-tlllage and dealer experience with primary and secon dary tillage were the topics at a panel during the Mid-Atlantic Tillage Conference. From left, Charlie Hoober, C. B. Hoober and Son, Intercourse, Pa.; Karl Kroeck, dairy farmer, Weilsboro, Pa.; Donald E. Martin, dairy and cash grain farm, Chambersburg, Pa.; and Joel C. Myers, state agronomist, USDA SCS, panel moderator. some tough challenges ahead regarding soil erosion and compaction as the result of the rainy summer, accord* ing to Dr. Dennis R. Keeney, director of the Leopold Cen ter for Sustainable Agricul ture and professor at lowa State. Keeney spoke on Thursday at the tillage conference. especially about using more herbi cides. Martin said that proper crop rotation and keeping excess soil residues (or “trash") off he field worked well in optimizing yields on his operation. He has approxi mately 500 acres of com and ISO acres of hay with a limited amount of small grain and pasture. “I’m still convinced that no tilling year after year is the best way,” Martin said. He said farmers should be concerned about pre venting compaction by harvesting only when the ground isn’t wet. He said there are no short-cuts in no- Nutrient Management Protects Environment LEESPORTS (Berks Co.) As part of our environment, water quality is of prime concern to landowners. Nutrient management planning coordinates landowners farming practices and manure production with soil and manure analysis to establish a plan of nutrient appli cation on farm fields. The nutrient management plan is designed to save money and time by avoiding overapplication of manures and fertilizers, as well as enhancing water quality. Ten easy steps to developing a nutrient management plan: 1. Test your soil. 2. Have your animal manure analyzed. 3. Consider residual nitrogen from previous legume crops and manure. 4. Determine the nutrients in the manure and their value. New herbicides were detailed at the tillage confer ence by Dr. Ronald L. Ritter, extension agronomist, Uni versity of Maryland. till farming. Karl Kroeck, who operates a 200-cow dairy and cash grain operation near Wellsboro, Pa., said that his farm has been experiment ing with no-till planters for 20 years. Kroeck has experience with retrofitting his tillage equipment to 5. Determine how and when the manure should be applied. 6. Determine what rate you should use to apply the manure. 7. Choose any supplemental fertilizers you may need. 8. Calibrate your spreader. 9. Consider erosion and sur face runoff control measures. 10. Conduct a yearly review of your plan. A nutrient management plan fo cuses on balancing the needs of the crops being raised with the nu trients being applied to the fields and pastures. Pan of this balancing act is us ing best management practices ADSj handle the problems of residue on the field while planting. More than half of his total tillage is conserva tion tillage, with about 30 percent in no-till and IS percent conven tional dll. Deep-Ullage equipment should concentrate on the compaction lay er (or hardpan) only, and not dis turb the subsoil too much, accord ing to Charlie Hoober, of C.B. Hoober and Son, Intercourse. Pa. He said the industry is working more to obtain a “one-pass” tool to minimize compaction, but, at the same time, work the soil enough for optimum planting conditions. Dr. Ronald L. Ritter, University of Maryland extension agronom ist, spoke about the new herbicides available for com and soybeans at the conference. Also, F. Ronald Mulford, Poplar Hill Facility, Research and Educa tion Center, University of Mary land, spoke about conservation til lage and small grains. Dr. James S. Shortle, Penn State, spoke about existing water regulations and how little has been done at the state and local level to implement the regulations. Also, forages in conservation tillage programs were examined by Dr. Lester R. Vough, Universi ty of Maryland extension agro nomist, and Donald M. Schwartz, Washington County ag agent. A national nonpoint-souice water pollution control initiative was reviewed by Norman A. Berg, supervisor, Anne Arundel County Soil Conservation District (BMPs) to ensure that these nutri ents stay where they can be utiliz ed by the crops. These practices also ensure that the soil that the nutrients may be attached to is kept out of the streams. Examples of BMPs used in crap fields are minimum tillage systems, contour strip cropping, grassed water ways, and terraces. For help on developing a nutri ent management plan, contact your conservation district. For farmers in the Tulpehocken and Manatawny Watersheds, contact Gerald Batz at the Berks County Conservation District at (215) 372-4657. PAY OFF! New herbicides
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers