A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 25, 1994
NMPF: Milk Consumption Unaffected By rBST Debate
WASHINGTON, D.C. Milk
consumption continued at a con
sistent pace for the third consecu
tive month since the government
approved use of recombinant
Penn’s Woods Suffers From Pests
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) The state’s forests, espe
cially across the nothcm tier, are
suffering from several different
attacks from insects and disease,
but for the remainder of the year,
there’s not much to do, except
watch and monitor.
According to a recent news
release by the state Department of
Environmental Resources (DER),
“Pennsylvania is experiencing
severe tree defoliation because of a
number of insects and diseases.
“Outbreaks of elm spanworm,
forest lent caterpillars, eastern tent
caterpillars, cherry scallop shell
moths and halfwing geometers arc
causing tree defoliation through
out the state,” according to the
news release.
A tree is considered defoliated if
it loses 30 percent or more of its
leaves, according to DER.
The elm spanworm and the
geometers are both considered
“loopers” which arc larvca which
arc more commonly referred to as
“inch-worms.” The term refers to
the insect larva’s method of
locomotion.
According to Barry Towers,
PhD, with the DER Bureau of
Forestry Division of Forest Pest
Management, the use of pesticides
using baccillus thuringenesis (Bt)
has been very effective in curtail-
■ ■' ■i'.-'-.V '..V - " •'» l| '" ,| ' l ! | !! | P-i l :: ll i"l 1 : 11 ■ ■.
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A very good and simple answer: A Tunnel Ventilation System
2nd Very Common Question: What is a Tunnel Ventilation System?
Answer: A ventilation system that gives you even air flow throughout
your entire building(approx. 2-5 MPH wind).
- no circulating fans
- summer and winter ventilation
- controls fly problems
EXHAUST FANS^
i i i “I 1 ', i li i 4 i ihun 'll i i" 1
Call today for an appointment to draw up plans for your bam
bovine somatotropin (rBST), the
genetically-engineered protein
hormone that increases milk pro
duction in cows.
Agriculture Department data
Although this condition makes the
trees unsightly and branch tips
sometimes die, there is usually
little permanent damage done to
the trees.”
DGR Bureau ofForestry person
nel are monitoring these and other
insects and diseases from aircraft
and the ground.
According the news release, the
elm spanworm last year defoliated
more than 1.2 million acres of
forest and is again a serious prob
lem. Field evaluations are under
way to predict the potential out
break next year.
The same is true of the forest
tent caterpillar, in that it is hilling
the northern half of the state parti
cularly hard.
The halfwing geometers arc
causing severe problems in scat-
The normal expected response i e rcd locations, while fall canker
in the natural environment is for a worms are severe in local prob
dclayed but correspondingly high | cms across the state,
increase in the number of natural The white tents of the eastern
predators of these now-pest tentworm caterpillar are common
insects. on black cherry trees and can be
That is occuring, although the sccn along many highways,
extent and the degree of natural Also, the adult moth flights of
control is still uncertain. cherry scallop shell moth have
In addition to the insect pests, been observed in north central
there is also a disease, anthracnose, counties and “significant dcfolia
which is affecting sycamore trees. t ion of black cherry trees is
According to the news release, it expected when the insect reaches
“... is causing the browning and the caterpillar stage in July and
loss of leaves on sycamore trees. August.”
ing a number of these pests,
including the not-native gypsy
moth caterpillar, although it is not
used unless necessary to forest
management
The Bt-based pesticides are
natural killers of insect larvae,
such as caterpillars and black fly
larvca (the state is currently spray
ing the Susquehanna and other
major waterways to control black
flies) and have been used for years
to control gypsy moth. The mater
ial is ingested by the larvae and is
toxic in its gut.
However, this latest outbreak of
pests are mainly native species.
According to Towers, occassional
ly native insects can grow to such
levels that they become serious
pests.
Advantages:
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L:'
APFS BARN E(
5935 OLD PHILADELPHIA PIKE, GAP, PA 17527
PHONE; 717-442-8134 • FAX 717-442-3112
SALES & SERVICE
show April milk consumption
slipped a scant .2 percent when
compared to year earlier figures.
March data showed a .1 percent
decrease in fluid milk consump
tion compared to the same month
- more comfort for your cows
- more comfort for you, the farmer
- more comfort - more milk
fmefisr
in operation since Oct. K
Vr-r
iii'i' 1 'i 1 ' 1 '
Contact Nelson or Jake at
HJIPMENT, INC.
last year. February's consumption
increased a healthy .5 percent
“The consumption figures have
actually been better than the trend
over the past 18 months,” said Jim
Barr, CEO of the National Milk
Producers Federation. “We arc
pleased to see that American con
sumers continue to enjoy the
nutritional benefits and good taste
of milk.”
Additionally, consumers are
more keenly aware than ever
about the use of rBST and its
harmless nature, according to
Barr. Barr also said Gallup track
ing studies showed that consumer
awareness of the use of rBST rose
to 70 percent during April, a sub
stantial increase from die 28 per
cent when the Food and Drug
Administration initially approved
rBST use last November.
The National Milk Producers
Federation, and other members of
the dairy industry, have worked
diligently to assure Americans
that milk continues to be the same
safe, wholesome and nutritious
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GROOMING MOWER
3-Spindie. 48”
REAR BLADES
48" Through 120”
48” Through 120”
LANDSCAPE RAKES
48” Through 96”
Wi Ship Parts
UPS
product since rBST first went into
commercial use on U.S. dairy
farms last Friday.
‘The data from the past three
months make it clear that the
American public remains secure
in the knowledge that milk is one
of the safest, most healthy, nutri
tious products in American super
markets,” Barr said.
In March, USDA regional num
bers for milk consumption showed
the Southeast sector increasing by
1.2 percent compared with March
of last year, the Northeast drop
ping by 1.6 percent, the Midwest
decreasing by 1.2 percent, the
Southwest dropping by 0.1 per
cent and the West increasing by
0.5 percent
February USDA milk con
sumption figures showed the
Northeast sector breaking even
with February of last year, the
Southeast increasing .3 percent
the Midwest dropping by .8 per
cent the Southwest increasing by
2.3 percent and the West increas
ing by 2.8 percent.
42” Through 96”
PULVERIZERS
48” Through 84”
5555
OVER SEEDERS &
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34” Through 76”
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