84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 30, 1996 On Being a Farm Wife (and other hazards) i Joyce Bupp For allergy sufferers, the sneez ing season is Itching to begin. Road repair crews are harvest ing a bumper t yield from pothole season. And for farmers, the M and M season is well under way Mud and Manure. Mud is a mixed blessing. On the plus side, it’s an indication of moisture in the ground. When the soil is too dry, too early, it often portends a dusty planting time of poor germination and growth. Com, hay and soybeans generally grow better in mud than in pow der. If you can get them planted. However, as the frost thaws from the ground after a winter of plentiful rain and snow, it leaves the soil in a state of sticky muck. That dries and solidifies only after several days of dry, windy weath er —of which we haven't yet seen much. And, ground water is at a plentiful level this spring, further encouraging the layers of mud that seem to spring up around the farm with each new round of moisture from the sky. Which takes us to the down side of mud’s dual persdnality. “Mud means moisture for crops" becomes my mantra, re peated and repeated each time I mop up the muddled pattern of dirty footprints from the front door to the refrigerator to the cof feepot to the back door to the up stairs. “Mud means moisture for crops” is my refrain of choice while lamenting the gook-en crusted blue jeans and coveralls and gloves and hats as they get piled into the washing machine. (How do hats get so muddy, huh?) “Mud means moisture for crops” I chant while shaking out the car’s dirty floor mats, hosing down the milkhouse floor, and sweeping off the patches after the sticky ground dries to a more re moveable commodity. “Mud means moisture for crops” comes grumbling from be tween gritted teeth while trying to wash Mistletoe’s teats before milking her. Mistletoe is an old cow with a lower-than-ideal ud der; she also has a talent for spot ting a mudhole in any comer of the cattle lot Of course with Mistletoe, it’s hard to tell where mud stops and manure begins. Which come to think of it is equally true of the spots on the floor, the cruddy bam clothes, cat mats, porches, etc. Because, with the thaw, manure hauling can begin. Ideally, manure should be put on fields as near as possible to the time it will be worked into the ground for plant ing, before the nutrients leach away. This is not a job that can be done in a day, or even in a week, so cleanout must begin as soon as the ground firms enough to sup port equipment without harming the soil through compaction. Even after fields have firmed, the field roads that lead to them quickly become sticky, muddy passages with repeated passes of equipment. And that sticky muck glues itself into tractor and spread er tires, which are like the tread on tennis shoes, with oodles of trac tion-grabbing gaps and gullies. And for picking up and drop ping mud. So after a day or two of hauling, even the paved roads around the farm have accumulated a coating of mud. Blacktop around the buildings where the manure pack is being removed accumulates Dairy Promotion Scholarship SYRACUSE, N.Y. Tammy Donahoe of Frankfort, New York was awarded the 1996 American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc. (ADADC) Memor ial Scholarship. Robert Wilson of Dansville, New York was awarded the 1996 Leo Briggs Memorial Scholarship. Both $5OO scholarships were presented at the New York State Dairy Princess Pageant on Tuesday, February 20, at the Four Points Hotel by Shera ton, Liverpool, New York The daughter of Gordon and Nancy of Don-Dale Farms, Dona hoe studies agricultural journal ism at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Donahoe is an active member of the Badger Dairy Gub, National Agri-Marketing Associa tion, and the Post Secondary Agri cultural Student Organization. With a 3.68 grade point average, she is a member of Phi Theta Kap pa Honor Society. Donahoe is a member of the Oneida-Herkimer- Montgomery County Holstein Club and the New York State Junior Holstein Association. Donahoe received an associates degree in agribusiness from SUNY Cobleskill and served as ADADC’s 1995 communications intern. Upon graduation, she hopes to return to New York and start a career in agricultural jour nalism. The $5OO AD ADC scholarship was available to former dairy prin cesses who arc pursuing careers in dairy product marketing, dairy manufacturing, home economics, ag communications or journalism. mud. Every shoe, every boot that passes over any of these spots picks up some mud. Hie dog’s feet pick up mud. The cat’s paws add mote. You get the picture. April showers are supposed to bring May flowers. Hopefully they’ll also help wash away March’s most plentiful farm com modity, a hybrid agriculture prod uct developed right here in our back yard. Mudnute. Free samples available. Just come scrape it off my kitchen floor. j t'i -» * ,V' » V ’*, ,’h - -< * > ' • ** <„ ♦ Tammy Donahoa Is the Memorial Scholarship Winner. The scholarship is offered in memory of several ADADC staff and board members for their con tribution to dairy promotion. The son of Robert and Donna, Wilson studies animal science at the University of Illinois. With a 4.8 grade point average (out of a 5-point settle), he was named to Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honorary Fraternity, where he serves as treasurer. He plays trumpet in the Marching mini, concert, and bask etball bands. In addition, Wilson serves as the vice president for the Illini Dairy Club and is a member of the Hoof n‘ Horn Club, (Block and Bridle Gub), and the 1995 Meats Judging Team. He received a 1996 undergraduate research scholarship for the project he is conducting on dairy nutrition. Lo cally, Wilson is member of the Al legany-Steuben County Holstein Club, and was named a New York State Distinguished Junior Mem ber for seven years. Upon gradua tion, he plans to study veterinary medicine and someday return to New York and operate a dairy YORK (York Co.) —Free Tod dler Topics leam-at-home lessons for patents and caregivers of tod dlers ate available from Penn State Cooperative Extension. Lessons include information on nutrition, health, play activities, discipline. Free Toddler Topics Robert Wilson is the Leo Briggs Scholarship Winner. farm. The $5OO Leo Briggs scholar ship was available to any collegi ate individual who has promoted the dairy industry by exhibiting leadership in dairy industry or ganizations. Founded in 1983. the scholarship was established as a tribute to Leo Briggs for his super ior leadership in ADADC and other dairy industry organizations for 30 years. ADADC oversees the manage ment of the scholarship accounts; however, neither scholarship is funded by dairy farmer check-off dollars. As a result, outside dona tions are critical to ensure the fu ture availability of these scholar ships. Any person or organization wishing to make a donation to either scholarship may do so by sending their checks to: Stephanie Meyers, 219 South West Street, Suite 100, Syracuse. NY 13202-1205, payable to ADADC. parenting information, and much more. Order your free set by sending your name, address, and phone number to Toddler Topics, Penn State Cooperative Extension. 112 Pleasant Acres Rd.. York, PA 17402. d
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