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Tour Berks County
Vi
Rodents At
n’t Looking
The zone system, operated off a
transmitter that can carry to 14,500
foot maximum, is buried at various
levels on the property. Weaver
uses insulated 8-gauge woven cop
per wire. In some places that get
chiseled, the wire is buried two
feet or less. In woodland, the wire
rests on top of the ground.
There are four zones with two
dogs each zone. Some big zones
encompass 25-35 acres. The smal
lest zone is only eight acres.
Weaver believes that the zones
are between 90-94 percent effec
tive in dealing with the problem,
he noted to members of the tour.
The zones have essentially elimi
nated the groundhog and deer
problems. Even the mice are
quickly chased down and elimi
nated by the dogs.
Also at the farm. Weaver uses a
special computerized “chirper”
that sends out various forms of
high squeals to ward off blackbirds
and starlings. Speakers are
mounted at the top center of cherry
and other trees. Cost for two acres
was about $l5O. Larger systems,
encompassing 10 acres, cost $5OO,
according to Weaver.
Both growers have other
responsibilities, in addition to
rticultural Association of Pen
ding to control crop-damaging
Its County on Wednesday and
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Orchard,
Good, Either
maintaining systems to keep pests
at bay.
Douglas Nemeth, operations
manager for Ontelaunee Orchards.
Inc., said the orchard is owned by
the Walter Pohl Corp. in Leespoit
Ontelaunee maintains 1.000 acres
altogether in various locations. Of;
the 1,000 acres, Nemeth noted,
only 450-500 acres are used for
fruit production. The rest of the
land is woodland and leased.
Ontelaunee has five acres of
pick your own strawberries. In
addition, they grow sweet and sour
cherries, and about five acres of
pick your own blueberries. The
blueberries will be available to be
picked at the end of July, including
three main varieties: Bluetta,
Berkeley, and Blue Crop. The Blue
Crop variety, Nemeth said, bear
consistently and are bigger com
pared to the other two.
The orchard also operates a cid
er press year-round. Most of the
pick your own apples are available
from September through Decem
ber. Also. Ontelaunee has an apple
peeling operation using fresh
Granny Smith apples, supplying
bakeries and restaurants (though
they don’t grow Granny Smith at
the orchards).
Altogether, they produce
800,000 pounds of sliced apples
per year.
Ontelaunee has 125 acres of
peaches, 20 acres of nectarines,
and 260 acres of apples. Of the
apple production, there are a wide
variety, including Galas, Red Deli
cious, Golden Delicious, Fujis,
and others. In a good year, the
orchard sells 200,000- 225,000
bushels of apples.
A lot of the fresh picked apples
go to Motz.
Blueberries, noted Nemeth,
require a very low pH. In years pre
vious the orchard has applied sul
fur and fly ash, supplemented with
iron, to bring down the pH of the
(Turn to Page A 22)
eaver, right, with Justin, who helps
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