Farmers Should Treat For Cutworm Before Corn Losses Escalate lead, courtesy of Mary Schantz. plant starts to wilt down. Farmers Brubaker Agronomic Consult- who inspect the fields now who see ing Service (BAGS) President the telltale willing, and dig around Mike Brubaker, which utilizes the the roots to find the worm (three Hibshman Farmstead for BAGS plants per 100 is the threshold), field studies, said that the cut- should treat the fields with an worm, which can measure up to appropriate, labeled insecticide. • 'A inch, has overwintered in some Also, BAGS has checked a field fields and poses a threat. along Rt. 272 and also noticed the ‘We just found out within the cutworm, which feeds on plants, last couple of days about the cut- especially in fields that use no-till, worm; Apparently it’s a real prob- Brubaker said his office plans to do lem,” said Brubaker. a pest alert because BAGS believes He told the- farmers that as a there’s enough cutworm pressure result of the cutworm infestation, right now. the center part of the young com “Cutworms do most of their feeding at night,” he said. “Your pesticide will be the most potent then. So if you can treat about this time, it will be an ideal time to spray. We found it just knocks them out real well.” Another pest farmers should be concerned about is the flea beetle. “We have a lot more injury from flea beetle than what we ever suspected,” said Brubaker. The beetle feeds on the leaves. “It’s more and more of a concern,” he ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff SPRINGVILLE (Lancaster Co.) Cutworm is out in force now, devastating many young com plants. But it’s not too late to act to reduce potential crop losses, according to Rob Kauffman and Mike Brubaker, agronomists. About IS farmers inspected some of the damage to crops under variety and yield study. This was held during the monthly meeting on Tuesday evening of the Ephrata Area Young Farmers Association (EAYFA) at the Hibshman Farms- PDA Advises BVD or PI3 should avoid contact with other herds and should change clothing and footwear before leaving affected farms. The dairy herds currently under investigation are located in Craw ford and Mercer counties. BVD infection may cause fev er, loss of appetite, depression, diarrhea, abortion and, in severe HAY IS KING! We Are Tour Hay Handling Headquarters 540 Round Balers Also: 1340 12 Ft. Hydro Swing Disc Mower 1160 12 ft. Hydro Swing Mower Conditioner 1130 9 Ft. 3 In. Windrower 555 T Round Baler BHMKIUBJat 4 -I ml 710 Hay Tedders Also: Hay Rack Wagons Give Us A Call We Are Ready To Deal! ■B Umberger’s Of Fontana, Inc. Mon. thru Thurs. I Rt. 4, Box 545, Lebanon, PA 17042 - 8 miles E. of Hershey on Rt. 322 7;30 -6 *1 ™ 717-867-5161 Si SI H (Continued from Page A 1) cases, death. PI3 infection causes similar signs but also results in severe respiratory disease, includ ing pneumonia. A vaccine is available to reduce disease from these infections. Neither of these diseases are com- municable to man, nor do they have serious consequences for other species. IN STOCK Ready For CEHL. _ I 1470 Round Baler w/TDC Bale Control, Flotation Tires & Crowder Wheels Demo - New Warranty Uel R«g. $16,274 $13,700 <QQ A QOj 1-Only Serial #20768 (CASH Ephrata Young Farmers Tour Test Site in Fontana Bale It! or Chop It We Can Help!! elivery GEHL CB 1065 Harvester Also: CB 860 Harvester CB 1260 Harvester BU 970 Forage Boxes R-1268 Gears Brubaker Agronomic Consulting Service (BAGS) Presi dent Mike Brubaker, which utilizes the Hibshman Farms tead for BAGS field studies, said that the cutworm, which can measure up to 'h Inch, has overwintered in some fields and poses a threat. UncMUr Farming, Saturday, May 28, 1994429 said. Thresholds for treatment are about 3-4 beetles per plant. Rob Kauffman, agronomy technician and farm manager with BAGS who supervises the farmstead lest plots, conducted a tour of the vari ous agronomic crop trials under way. About 71 acres are in test, with a variety of com, soybean, alfalfa, barley, and other crops. According to Kauffman, the intent of the test site is to study yields, fertilizer and herbicide use, and variety performance on different crops and to “conduct research in an environment as simi lar to normal farming practices as possible and stay away from a lot of small-plot replicators,” he said. Included is a grain com variety trial with 27 different hybrids, in plots ranging from 1/10 to 1/2 acre. BAGS is working with the coopera tion of about 14 seed com companies (to study variety performance and yield) and about six chemical companies (to study herbicide perfor mance). Also, fertilizer studies, utilizing various amounts of inorganic and organic materials, arc under way. BAGS will also be conducting a “Roundup ready” soybean variety study. According to Bru baker, Monsanto, the manufacturer of the herbi cide Roundup, has been working with seed com panies for some years to make the soybean plant resistant to Roundup. “They, along with a number of seed compa nies, have done that successfully, and it’s very significant,” said Brubaker. “The technology which will enable farmers to grow soybeans and apply Roundup directly to the plants is being per fected by Monsanto, but is not yet available to the general, public.” The soybeans will grow and develop a canopy, hnd will be sprayed, weeds and all, at about the 3-4 trifoliate. Also, BAGS will be conducting application reviews of the new Penn State chlorophyll meter. The meter can be used, on the spot, to indicate how much nitrogen the plant may need. Other studies under way include herbicide trials vs. tillage, soybean variety trials, response to soybean varieties with herbicides, alfalfa trials (nine different varieties), and a field silage trial with 11 different varieties. Also, a barley study (Turn to Page A3l)
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