A34-LvM*Bt»r Fanning, Saturday. April 11,1998 Phosphorus Conference VERNON ACHENBACH JR. Lancaster Fanning Staff STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) A three-day conference on agricultural phosphorus in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed was held this week at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College. Jointly sponsored by the Chesa peake Bay Program's Scientific and Technical Advisory Commit tee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, the conference was attended by a varied audience representing a range of interest, educational background, and prac tical experience regarding plant nutrients. Overall, the conference was mostly attended by those with a working interest in nutrient man agement, soil science, agricultural operations and the nutrient phosphorus. Represented were those involved with commercial fertiliz er businesses, integrated livestock operations, feed companies, man ure application and nutrient man agement businesses, state enviom mental and resource conservation agencies, environmental aware ness and support groups, and, of course, university and government research and Extension services. The conference objectives were clearly stated in the conference program. There were four listed: Delaware Valley College Students Present A-Day DOYLESTOWN (Bucks Co.) The stu dents of Delaware Valley College will present the 50th “A-Day” celebration April 25 and 26 (rain or shine), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the Col lege’s campus, 700 East Butter Avenue (Route 202). Started in 1949 by a group erf students to pro mote agriculture, “A-Day” has become one of the area’s largest events. To reflect its broad ened educational program, the meaning of the “A” in “A-Day” has evolved to symbolize “all” all activities from all programs offered by the College. More than 50,000 area residents attended the two-day event in 1997. Open to the public, “A-Day” is a student-run event that benefits student clubs and organiza tions at Delaware Valley College. There is a $5 per car parking fee, which includes a souvenir program book. For the safety of visitors to the campus, your cooperation in using only the de signated “A-Day” parking lots along New Bri tain Road will be appreciated. There is no indi vidual admission charge. 'Hie A-Day program includes a variety of ex hibits and demonstrations designed to acquaint the public with the educational experiences students enjoy at Delaware Valley College. During the weekend, the students will present agricultural and horticultural exhibitions, an equine show, livestock judging contest, a dairy show, tree climbing demonstrations, a hay ride that includes a tour of the College’s farms and orchards, science exhibits, and educational dis plays. In addition, a variety of food is offered, as well as a craft show, plant and shrubbery sales, games for children, pony rides, a mule drawn carousel, a petting zoo, face painting, sand art and much, much more. Delaware Valley College, located in Doyles town, in the heart of Bucks County, is a com prehensive four-year institution of higher learning with over 1,400 men and women en rolled full time in more than 35 academic pro grams, ranging from agricultural, biological, and physical sciences, to business administra tion and computer information systems. In ad dition, 670 students are enrolled on a part-time basis in Del Val’s Evening and Weekend Col leges, working to advance their careers. For more information about the 50th “A- Day,” please call (215) 489-2496. • Determine the inputs of pho sphorus to the Chesapeake Bay watershed and assess the current status of phosphorus in agricultur- al soils; • Establish the relative impact and location of source areas; • Identify and delineate what processes control the critical sour ces and pathways of phosphorus export over a range of scales in the Bay Watershed; and • Discuss and prioritize future trends for phosphorus manage ment in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. There is not enough space not time to report the details of all the speakers at the conference. There were 12 speakers making half-hour to hour-long or mere presentations during the first two days, and on Wednesday, a panel of four people with practical nutri ent management experience dis cussed their practices and con cerns. That was followed by parti cipants breaking out into four working groups to discuss soil phosphorus testing, nutrient tnan agment planning, and develop ment of best management practices. The proceedings of the confer ence are to be published later this year, after speakers follow up with formal submissions of their pre sentations, according to Dr. Andrew Sharpley, a soil scientist working for the USD A Agricultur- Landscape Equipment Box Blades, Rock Rakes, Tilt & Angle Blades (Most Sizes Available) Wide Range Models to fit tractors Make your hard fencing Job easy with a Panorama post digger or driver. Provides Forum For Understanding al Research Service at its Pasture Systems and Watershed Manage ment Research Laboratory in Uni versity Park. Sharpley is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable people at the Penn State Main Campus with regards to phosphorus and its activity in soils. Though a USDA employee, he works with staff of the Penn State College of Agricul tural Sciences Department of Agronomy in conducting research and in sharing information. One of the main discussion lead ers, Sharpley also served as one of several chairpeoplc responsible for portions of the program. While the technical aspects of the conference were extensive, and are to be available in the published proceedings, some speakers expressed opinions, based on tech nical work, as to why phosphorus has become such a concern in the Chesapeake Bay (as well as other areas with high density livestock operations and water bodies suf fering from eutrophic symptoms). The personal interpretation of the issues varied from speaker to speaker, depending upon background. Information was presented tty, and shared with, representatives of the other states involved with the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort, but for Pennsylvania agricultural ists the information presented sug gested that nutrient management OANORAM4 Till< from 20-50 HP t Dr & Di here will likely not become an “cithcr/or” priority cxcercise. More likely, practical nutrient management will be expanded in scope to go beyond focusing upon balancing nitrogen application levels with crop yield needs and existing soil levels. From research demonstrating that agricultural phosphorus enter ing waterways comes from a small portion of a watershed, and in most cases from spot areas on a farm (generally along a stream or in a flood plain), it was suggested that perhaps the most reasonable approach would be to identify those “source’* areas on the farm as part of the existing nutrient man agement plan and manage them for the phosphorus levels (meaning withholding phosphorus heavy manures from those areas, and using commercial nitrogen sup plies until the area is suitable to again receive manure). As currently practiced, a Pen nsylvania nutrient management plan is an exercise in accounting for nitrogen available for applica tion to land and crop needs, a description of the pathways for nutrient flow, and management practices. Of course they are more compli cated than that, but essentially it is a farm business plan that takes into account all the major characteris tics, factors and products and describes how they ate to be man- ioldoni Tractors Horsepower Range 26 - 70,4WD Standard Quality you can see at a glance. Finishing & Rotary Mowers For a smooth cut, look for the Panorama mowers 4' to 7' available. Broadcast Seeder/ Fertilizer Spreaders y If you need to spread seed or feriliizer, this will do it., aged so as to prevent pollution. The plans also should provide an accounting of the other tvfo nutrients of concern phosphorus and potassium but manure spreading decisions are not yet required to be made based upon nutrients other than nitrogen. However, in Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Management Act, which targets agricultural nutrients (because they were thought at the time to be the major non-point source of nutrient pollution to the waters of the Chesapeake) there is language that directs the state Department of Environmental Pro tection to conduct research into other potential sources of non point nutrients, and make further recommendations as to the impor tance of other nutrients and man agement practices to remediate their environmental effects. For years many farmers dis counted the nutrients in manures, especially nitrogen in manure, as being especially important to com mercial crop production. Instead most farmers relied on known amounts of chemical fertilizers applied to start plants, and to pro vide nutrients during later growth stages (side dress). However, the discovery of high groundwater nitrate levels in high animal agricultural areas, such as Lancaster County, stirred concern for human health, and led to public (Turn to Pag* A 35) Wheel Rakes & Wheel Rake Carriers your raking time. Hay Tedders «■-W-: t V. ' 4 r * Working Width -10' X 17' Fast, even spreading and gentle with your hay. Disc Mowers 4 N* High speed for fast, efficient cutting. Available In 7', 8' or 9' models. RYDER Supplv 539 Falling Spring Road P.O. Box 219 Chambersburg, PA 17201-0219 Phone 717-263-9111
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