eCA-eeer ,sr leuguA .ysbiulßS .pnirmsl wteßDfisJ A3B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Auguat 12, 1995 Take A ‘Test Drive ’ Of New Products (Continued from Pago A 1) event at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, located nine miles southwest of State College on Route 4S. The premier Penn State showcase eyent lasts from Tuesday, Aug. 15 through Thursday, Aug. 17. Importantly, according to Ober heim, is that Ag Progress not only showcases new ag technology, but presents a lot pf diversity. Not only is there a wealth of information available for large and small-scale producers, but for families and the average consumer. “Ag Progress is a showcase for new equipment technologies avail able in the industry,” said Ober heim. Oberheim said a lot of experts will be available to answer questions regarding dairy, beef, and other livestock operations, in addition to questions on veterinary science, equine programs, and crop production. But there are displays and demonstrations for the “home manager,” also, including computer-assisted landscape design, selection and care of orna mental plants and turfgrass, and care of the lawn and landscape. New to this year’s Ag Progress will be the tractor ride and drive opportunities. Also, precision snap bean planting and harvesting will be demonstrated with planters from three different companies at the site. Also, new food vendors will feature taco salads, and the Pen nsylvania Vegetable Growers Association will have a stand for the first time at the show, offering fresh produce. For the second year, a tractor rollover safety demonstration will be highlighted near the sinkhole at the research center. In addition to commercial exhibits from more than 300 companies, the following will be highlighted at Ag Progress: • Forage and crop information. Visitors can leant about crop pro duction and management, soil fer tility and testing, nutrient manage ment, pest control, weed identifi cation, and more in the Crop and Soil Science Tent and demonstra tion plots at the end of East Sth St. • Herbicide-resistant crops. New herbicide-resistant com and soybean cultivars provide more weed-control alternatives for far mers. Visitors can tour the demon stration plots near the Crop and Soil Science Tent. • Snap bean demonstrations. Planters from three different com panies will be demonstrated. Far mers will be able to evaluate the stands produced by the different planters before the beans are harvested. • Machinery demonstrations. These include snap bean harvest ing, primary and secondary tillage, mowing, round silage baling, and round bale handling. • Animal agriculture. Visitors can learn about new developments in beef production, dairy farming. and other aspects of animal agri culture by touring the Dairy and Livestock Tent at the research center. • Lessons on conserving natural resources. Questions about pre serving a wetland, generation of income from woodlot without harming wildlife, and composting will be featured in bus tours that depart daily from the Conservation Education Tent on West 11th St., leaving daily every hour starting at 10 a.m. • 1995 Pennsylvania Hay Show has been a long-time feature of Ag Progress Days. The Hay Show Tent is at the end of East Sth St Deadline to drop off the hay sample is 10 a.m. on Aug. 15. • Horse and pony programs. The Equine Exhibits Tent will fea ture informative displays about various aspects of the horse indus try in the state. Other exhibits and demonstrations will showcase Penn State’s Quarter Horses and equine teaching programs. Included are a handling and train ing clinic, breed clinics, and other demonstrations. • Family programs. Adults and children can build a bug, compete in a science-based game show, lis ten to tales of a storyteller, and takes a hands-on journey into agri culture’s rich historical past. • Landscapes, lawns, and gar dens. The College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building, on West 11th St., will feature displays of interest to homeowners, land scape contractors, and grounds maintenance professionals. Topics will range from computer-assisted landscape design to the selection and care of ornamental plants and turfgrass Last year, between 40,000-50,000 people visited Ag Progress, according to Oberheim. A large number of visitors about 60 percent are fanners or those involved in agri-industry, according to Oberheim. “It’s safe to say that about a third of the audi ence that attends Ag Progress is not directly ag related,” he said. Since becoming manager of the annual event in 1991, Oberheim said he has seen a lot more diversi fication, including composting, tractor safety demonstrations, and “new and challenging field demonstrations,” said Oberheim. Also, enhanced family programs have highlighted the event. In the future, the event manager said he hopes to see additional emphasis on the “small-scale” producers, those with S-10 acre “farmettes” who are making a liv ing with exotic livestock or vegetables. Also, in years to come, those involved in die vegetable and fruit industry will be represented more, including greenhouse and supply vendors, fertilization and irriga tion companies, and others. More detail about Ag Progress is included throughout this issue of Lancaster Farming. seed, especially specialized veget able seeds, more accurate planting and specific population allows the fanner to use less seed, therefore saving seed cost Visitors to Ag Progress Days will be able to com pare the plots for uniformity and spacing. w We opened up this demonstra tion to any company that has a pre cision planter,” Oberheim said. ‘Three companies responded.” The only six-row planter, a John Deere 7200 was supplied by by Dunkle and Greif of Center Hall. Salesman Jim Smith said the vac uum metered corn planter was set to plant 110,000 seeds per acre at a moisture depth of two inches. The Snap Bean Planting , (Continued from Pago Al) edible greenbeans were planted in 30” rows with seeds spaced two inches apart Jim Done, field representative for AG-CO, brought a 4-row White 610 (6100 series) from Birchfield Ag of Maitinsburg. Describing it as a single ridged frame planter. Done said this planter was set to two inches of water column to plant these snap beans. Three plots were planted with 16 rows per plot Done says the advantage of using this pressurized, positive air plant er is that it doesn’t remove seed inoculant during planting process. Binkley and Hurst of Lititz sup plied a Monosem precision vac- The White 610 (6100 series) 4-row planter. The John Deere 7200 six-row The Monosem 4-row planter. A * $ , uum planter. Salesman Eugene Hoover said they set the planter for 14 beans per foot at one and one fourth inches deep. According to Hoover, the patented meter boxes can be used for any type of seed including vegetables such as lettuce. All of the planters demonstrated are adaptable to both conventional field crops and specialized seeds which may lack size uniformity. Oberheim plans to complete the demonstration cycle next week with harvesting demonstrations scheduled for 12:15 p.m. each day of Ag Progress Days.
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