At Keystone Farm Credit LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) — James R. Jonik was recen tly promoted to senior vice presi dent - credit operations with Key stone Farm Credit, ACA. The promotion was announced by Martin Becomes Manager NORTHUMBERLAND (Northumberland Co.) Ken Martin of Buffalo Crossroads has recently been promoted to the position of Farm Manager for Fur man Foods, Inc. of Northumber land. Prior to his promotion, Martin served as manager of several ex perimental growing programs for tomatoes and peppers for Furman Foods since October 1989. He assumed his new managerial duties on December 1. Small Business Seminar Set FRANKLIN (Venango Co.) A small business development seminar is being sponsored by Penn Stale Cooperative Extension and is open to anyone that has an interest in small business develop ment. The seminar will be held Feb. 5 at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Registration fee includes lunch and all materials and is required by January 30. The seminar is intended for in dividuals that have started or are considering starting their own small business. These businesses For more information or to re are developed from a personal in- gister, write the Venango County lerest or hobby and are located in Extension office, PO Box 468, the home or on the same premises. Franklin, PA 16323, or call (814) These business people must not 437-7607. Vacuum Pump Withstands Long Use NAPERVILLE, 111. The new Surge turbine vacuum pump is engineered to withstand long hours of commercial dairy use while heating the dairy’s water or facility at no extra cost. Air turbine design promotes longer pump life by eliminating interna' friction that causes vibra tion and noise. Because the tur bine vacuum pump uses no belts, water or oil, it lowers maintenance costs and eliminates the need to collect or dispose of oily exhaust. A heat exchanger, available from Surge dealers, reclaims heat from the pump’s exhaust for heat ing water or facilities. “The Turbine Vacuum Pump can heat most of the hot water Jonik Promoted president and CEO, Philip W, Kimmel. Jonik was raised in Kimberton, Chester County and was gra duated from Phoenixville Area Ken Martin only provide the manual labor needed to supply the produce or selling, but also provide the man agement skills to run the business. The survival of your business will require you to acquire and maintain good business manage- ment skills. This seminar will provide infor mation on developing business plans, advertising, and govern ment regulations. The program will also include a panel of small business owners who will share their experiences in running a small business. used to clean equipment for a typi cal commercial dairy,” said Scott Opland, product manager at Bab son Bros. Co. “Reduced demand on electric or gas water heaters lowers dairy operating cost, as does the pump’s high efficiency and low maintenance needs.” The 17.1 horsepower pump is rated 200 CFM at 12.5 inches of mercury. An air filter assembly and safety shut-off valve are sold with the pump. For more information on the Surge turbine vacuum pump, con tact your local Surge dealer or write to Surge Turbine Vacuum Pump, Babson Bros. Co., 1880 Country Farm Drive, Naperville, IL. 60563. ness News High School. He acquired his interest in agriculture by working on farms during his high school years and from living in the farm community. Jonik received a bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 1979 from Delaware Valley College. Before joining Farm Credit in 1980, Jonik worked on a large cash grain and hay operation in northern Bucks County. During his 13 years with Farm Credit, he has served in various capacities. Most recendy, he was responsible for the overall supervisioon of the Avondale, Lancaster, Quarryville, and Silverdale branch offices. During his employment, he has become proficient in working with large and complex loans while specializing in the mushroom industry. In his new position, Jonik will be chief credit officer and respon sible for the supervision of all eight Keystone branch offices in the IS southeastern Pennsylvania counties. NEWARK, Del. Com and ence, will discuss the issue of ex soybean fanners can learn about cess phosphorus in soils and what phosphorus, soil and the environ- can be done to address the prob mennl at the annual Com and Soy- lem. bean Conference set for Feb. 16 at Long recognized as a problem the Wicomico Youth and Civic in European countries, excessive Center in Salisbury, Md. phosphorus can be a result of Dr. Tom Sims, University of spreading large quantities of poul- Delaware professor of soil sci- try manure. Smith Becomes Loan Officer MERCER (Mercer Co.) Smith was county executive direc- Blame L. Smith recendy became a tor for ASCS for Blair Count loan officer for Penn West Farm since 1991 He was with USDA a Credit, ACA (Agriculture Credit total of seven years. Association) in the Curry ville Smith was raised on a Montana office, according to Eastern Ser- wheat and cattle ranch and ce . A ( rea Manager Jay received his bachelor’s from Mon- Chamberlm, tan a State University in business. Prior to joining Farm Credit, reduces noise, and provides free heat for hot water. Soil Phosphorus Topic Soy Conference Dr. J. Thomas Sims, right, faculty supervisor for the Uni versity of Delaware soil testing program, and Karen Gart ley, program coordinator, present former program director Leo Cotnolr with a copy of a bulletin summarizing the pro gram’s 37-year history. The publication is dedicated to Cot noir. Soils Lab Publication Dedicated NEWARK, Del. The Uni versity of Delaware College of Agricultural Sciences has dedicat ed a bulletin summarizing the his tory of its soil testing program to Leo Cotnoir, former program director and a longtime faculty member of the department of plant and soil sciences. The bulletin is “The University of Delaware Soil Testing Pro gram: History, Philosophy, and Value, A Thirty-Seven Year Sum mary (1957-1993).” Cotnoir retired in 1985 after a teaching career that spanned near ly four decades. His enthusiastic application of the principles of soil science to agricultural and en vironmental issues inspired count- less students. Today, many of these men and women are making important contributions to the Held of soil science. Under Cotnoir’s supervision, the university’s soil testing labora tory grew from a few test tubes and simple benchtop equipment to a highly sophisticated, fully auto- mated operation. He also coor dinated the development and up dating of fertilizer recommenda tions for all Delaware crops and directed the implementation of a computerized system for generat ing soil test reports. Farmers homeowners, researchers, and co operative extension professionals are all beneficiaries of his fore sight and dedication. At Corn, “In the Delmarva area, there is a problem of phosphorus buildup to excessive levels well beyond what crops need,” Sims said. “About 70 percent of the soil samples that come through the university’s soil testing laboratory are high or ex cessive in phosphorus. Looking at these soil test results, we see a po tential problem in the area.” Sims said phosphorus buildup is often seen in areas with concen trated animal-based agriculture. Whether poultry, dairy or swine, the manure contains more phos phorus than can be taken up by Held crops. Although phosphorus does not readily leach into groundwater, and thus does not pose a threat to drinking water, it can have detri mental effects on the environ ment. “Excess phosphorus does have an environmental impact on sur face water,” said Sims. “It stimu lates algal growth in bodies of wa ter, which can result in fish kills.” Sims said no-till practices, buf fer strips, and grass waterways all help to contain phosphorus and prevent it from moving into bod ies of surface water. Sims will dis cuss his research on controlling drainage of phosphorus-laden wa ter and corrective measures at the meeting. His talk is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. The conference, which runs from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., also will include presentations on weed problems, soil compaction, droughty soils, and marketing. Complete schedules of the confer ence are available at county exten sion offices in Delaware and Maryland.