Rain,
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) According to Penn State
agronomists, recent rainy weather
and cool temperatures have
delayed com planting in much of
the state during the first two weeks
of May.
The May 8 national 6 to 10 day
outlook calls for higher than aver
age rainfall and cooler than normal
temperatures. As a result, the odds
are high that much of this year’s
com crop in Pennsylvania will be
planted much later than normal.
Long-term planting date
response studies indicate that
delaying planting until late May
reduces grain yields by about 8
percent compared to early may
planting dates. After late May,
however, yield reductions become
mote severe, increasing to about
20 percent for com planted in early
June. In some of our recent
research, silage yields were
reduced by about 1-2 tons per acres
by delaying planting from May 7
to May 20.
When fields do dry out, there are
several considerations that com
producers should think about to try
to deal with this situation. Concen
trating on planting should be a
priority. Reducing additional til
lage and switching some fields to
no-dll could be considered. Also,
delaying nitrogen applications
until sidedressing could be consid
ered to help speed planting. On
optimum or high testing soils, a
response to starter fertilizers
Cool Temperatures Delay Corn Planting
becomes less likely with delayed
planting, so these could be elimi
nated in some situations if they
contribute to slower planting.
Relying more on custom herbi
cide applications could also be an
option, but ag chemical dealers are
also likely to be behind schedule.
One option may be to relay more
on postemergent herbicide appli
cations for weed control. With
some of the new products on the
market, these postemergent prog
rams are a more effective option
than they were in the past.
For producers who consider
switching to no-dll, remember that
if it’s too wet to plow it’s generally
too wet to plant This rule is fre
quently overlooked in wet late
yean. When planting into wetter
than desirable soils it’s harder to
get good seed slit closure. Firming
wheels on planten should be
adjusted to achieve good seed to
soil contact and seed coverage.
This is particularly true if using
Prowl herbicide.
Under wet soil conditions,
bubble coulters are more likely to
cause sidewall glazing than, eight
or thirteen wave coulters. Seeding
depth in late planted, moist soil
conditions should be governed by
the herbicide program. If seed
coverage is not needed than a shal
lower than normal planting should
lead to a quicker emergence and
No hernia is unrepairable, even after
several previous failed attempts. We
specialize in outpatient hernia
repairs, and most patients are able to
return to full work with-in several
days :
PLEASE CALL COLLECT OR WRITE
FOR MORE INFORMATION
MID RTLRNTIC SURGICAL
SERVICES
217 Harrisburg Ave., Suite 201
Lancaster, PA 17603
(800) HERNIA 8
MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED
Haylage Season Means
Get The
Advantages!
Moveable
RESALE
VALUE
B’6” Height
Tongue &
Grooved
Joints
Bolt
Together
help the crop “catch up.”
Hybrid selection is also a con
sideration. It is difficult to general
ize about hybrids because of the
variation in growing seasons and
planting dates across Pennsylvania
a, but most erf the adapted hybrids
can be planted two to three weeks
later than normal and still mature.
Consequently, it is generally not
necessary to consider switching jo
earlier hybrids until the 20th to
2Sth of May in most areas.
For growers who were planning
to use full season hybrids that need
most of the available growing
degree days in their area, however,
they may want to consider drop
ping back to some earlier hybrids.
Not paying attention to hybrid
maturity consideration as planting
becomes delayed may lead to more
of the immature, low test weight
corn problems experienced in
1992.
In late planting situationas. con
sider the intended use of the crop.
Fields planned for grain harvest
should be planted first, since they
will likely be at more risk for lower
yields, Ugh grain moisture and
possible lower test experience
lower yields with delayed plant
ing, but often quality is not
reduced unless the crop is killed by
an early frost Delaying planting
may lead to later silage harvests,
however, so growers should con-
I
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Lancaster Farming; Saturday; MS/ if, IM6-A23
sider this in malting harvest or
livestock feeding plans.
Growers will also likely
encounter more conflicts this year
with planting com and harvesting
hay. Generally the reduction in
feed value from delaying hay
harvest a week for dairy farmers
will be greater during late May
than the value of the yield penalty
from delaying com planting a
week. Consequently, given the
choice, dairy farmers who need
high quality feed should probably
consider harvesting hay. In early
June, yield penalties for com
become greater and changes in hay
quality are less significant, so then
Maryland Company
To Send Fruit Drinks
To Canada
ANNAPOLIS, Md. Mary
land Secretary of Agriculture
Lewis R. Riley has announced that
a food company based in Balti
more has reached an agreement to
export its fruit shake mix to Cana
da. The company. Flying Fruit
Fantasy, plans to market its fruit
drinks at more than 100 locations
in Canada by 1999 through a
license agreement with a Cana
dian gourmet pretzel chain.
“This is another example of
Maryland agriculture and food
products now being marketing
around the world. I wish the Fly
ing Fruit Fantasy company well in
their new Canadian joint venture,”
said Riley.
The company hopes the export
revenue of the fruit shake mix to
reach $200,000 per annum once
all the 100 locations are complete.
Flying Fruit Fantasy distributes
fruit shakes through retail loca
tions. hospitals, colleges, offices,
arenas, and business cafeterias in
the mid-Atlantic region. Now
their fruit drink will be found in
stores from Halifax to Vancouver.
the edge might go to com planting.
There are some advantages to
later plantings that we should
remember. Weed control is often
improved with delayed planting
and the risk of herbicide injury is
often greatly reduced. Germina
tion and emergence is much more
rapid and we often achieve better
stands with later plantings.
Remember also that yields are
not always reduced with late plant
ings. In 1989, when only 42 per
cent of the Pennsylvania crop was
planted by May 30, yields aver
aged a respectable 103 bushels per
acre. Most of our crop yields
potential will depend on July and
August weather.
In recent years, more and more
Maryland food companies have
begun marketing their products in
the international marketplace.
Recent examples include ice
cream to the Middle East, wine to
Canada and Japan, and poultry to
Mexico and Europe. TTie Mary
land Department of Agriculture’s
International Marketing Services
is actively working with Maryland
companies to break into overseas
markets.
For more information on the
International Marketing Program
at the Maryland Department of
Agriculture, contact Marketing
Services, (410) 841-5882.
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in precast
concrete!
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