Paul.seated, andsOrtfimest Maat check crop production records at their farm kitchen table. The Masts achieved a goal of more than 200 bushels of corn per acre In the Nation al Com Growers contest in the Irrigated division. tatt-tk Farm Calendar Moiul.in , hinu.ii \ 1 Jcffcrson/Clearficld Dairy/Crops Day, Ramada Inn, Dußois, 9 Pennsylvania Com Conference, Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster. 1994 Delaware Agricultural Out look Conference For Grain Pro ducers, Sheraton Inn, Dover, Del. 1 Moikl.h, K lii ii,ii \ 7 Integrated Crop Production Work ship, Schuylkill Campus, Schuylkill Haven, continues Feb. 14 and 21. Blair/Hunlingdon Crops Day, Fire Hall, Alexandria, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Adams County Crops and Soils Day, Extension Office, 9:30 Lancaster County Crops and Soils Day, Farm and Home Center, 9 Cumberland County Crops Day, Walnut Bottom Fire Hall, Wal nut Bottom, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. PENNSYLVANIA MASTER CORN GROWERS ASSOC., INC. Si *>*• » * Franklin County Crops and Soil Day, Lemasters Community Com Production Satellite Confer ence, Lancaster County and Delmarva Corn and Soybean Technology Conference, Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. Salisbury. Md. Ihursdax, l i‘l)iuar\ 17 Cecil County, Md. Agronomy Day, Calvert Grange, Calvert, Md SiiihLin, I tlnii.ii N 27 NCGA Com Classic, Denver, Colo., thru March 1. Tri-County Soybean and Small Grain meeting, Shippensburg, Schuylkill County Crops Clinic, Schuylkill Campus, Schuylkill Haven. \\ ('(lncsd.n , M.ii eh Id Three-County Agronomy School, Gratz Fire Hall, Gratz. Corn Talk, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 29,1994 These Com Growers Reach 200 Bushels In National Corn Contest EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor MORGANTOWN (Berks Co.) When you grow more than 200 bushels of com per acre, you have a good year. That’s what Paul and son Ernest Mast did this year in the National Com Growers contest in the irrigated division. But they don’t look at themselves as profes sional com growers. In fact, they are probably more well known for their potatoes. “We like to get things done on time,” Paul said. “We think that’s important. Every day your are late in planting, you loose a little pro duction. It costs as much to plant or harvest late as it does to do it on time. In fact, for harvest, it costs more. We would even hire extra help to get it done on time if we had to.” Ernest thinks another reason for good production is the rotation of crops. They never plant com on com because potatoes and wheat are also in their crop rotation. Sometimes they plant soybeans to Here we arc at mid-winter already. We’ve had our share of frozen precipitation. As I gaze across the fields and farms down the valley, I stand in amazement that an area looking so desolate yet enchanting in winter is so pro ductive and scenic by summer. I am in awe at the creative works of our great God. With the Farm Show behind us, we now turn to winter chores such as fixing, main taining, or rebuilding equip ment, and to winter meetings with topics covering most every enterprise or activity with which we are involved in the field of agriculture or ag business. We use winter meet ings to fine-tune management, to assess quality control, to gain exposure to new emerging technologies. It is the lime of year to ask the “what if’s” and to make projections for the coming year, and to visit with friends and acquaintances (this is the best part). We find ourselves rehashing the figures that lead us to the bottom line. Can I reduce input increase the fertility of the soil. With good soil fertility and enough water, the Masts believe you can plant heavy populations. They average about 30,000 to 32,000 plants per acre. The Masts have irrigation equip ment for their potatoes so they also use it on their com. But the invest ment would be too great for only com. “If you invest in equipment you need to use it,” Paul said. “I don’t know if I would do it just for com, but you must irrigate the higher risk crops like potatoes. I believe the quality of the crop improves with irrigation because the crop matures at the right time.” With 200 steers on feed, 30 acres of com is put into the silos. Wheat is stored until com harvest, then sold to make room for the com. The com is then stored unto mid winter when the price is usually stronger. The Masts also grow some pumpkins and have four acres of YLVANIA MASTER »RN GROWERS SSOCIATION President’s Message H. Grant Troop President. PMCGA costs? And can I increase out put? Arc two often asked and always linked questions as we strive for maximum economic yield which translates into maximum economic return if we do a good job of marketing. We would also like to announce our new Member ship Incentive Plan. Any com grower who plants five or more acres of com is eligible for a free bag of seed com with the purchase of a three-year mem bership in PMCGA/NCGA, new or renewal. Soil Theme LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Managing and correct ing soil compaction will be one of the topics addressed at this year’s Pennsylvania Com Con ference, scheduled for Feb. 4 at the Lancaster Host Resort. Randall Reeder, extension ag engineer at Ohio State Univer sity, will address this topic for Pennsylvania growers who often are forced to deal with compaction as a result of late strawberries they sell retail from a roadside market along Route 23. The farm house dates back to 1767 when settlers of Welsh back ground settled in the area known as the Welsh mountains. An antique corner cupboard and fireplace mantel are displayed in the Metro polian museum of art in New York City. These priceless treasures were sold out of the house during the Great Depression to a local antique dealer to raise money to buy mules so the farming operation could continue. Jacob Mast, Paul’s father, needed the money at the time. Times were hard and you did anything you could do to keep going. As for the controversy of agri culture against the environment, Paul believes agriculture is good for the environment This is espe cially evident if you are hungry. “It’s tough to eat a tree,” he said. “And chemicals cost so much, you can’t afford to use more than necessary. Environmentalists should know this.” Response from seed com companies has been over whelming, and a list of partici pating companies will be included on the application form so you can choose the brand you would like to try. The theme for the PMCGA Membership Incentive Prog ram is “Try Something New,” and we hope you do.. We are working hard to increase our membership and the value of your memberships has never been greater. Sign-ups for this (Turn to Page 3) Compaction Of Conference season harvesting or manure hauling. According to Reeder, heavy loads of 10 to 20 tons per axle can have different effects depending on soil moisture, soil type, tire pressure, and other factors. His research shows that compaction may have no effect on yields or can cost as much as 100 dollars per acre. Low pressure tires, subsoil (Turn to Pago 4)
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