02-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 8, 2000 Berries Could Provide Economic Bonus For Ohio Farmers COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio farmers with small- and medi um-sized farms could bring in some extra income by planting berries, said Dick Funt, Ohio State University Extension small fruits specialist. Recent health studies that show berries can reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease have increased their demand. “We can sell all the berries that are grown in Ohio if we can get them picked,” Funt said. “In fact, I think we could produce twice as many berries as what we’re producing today before supply would reach demand.” There are many new types of berries available with better flavor, shipping qualities and other improvements that make Crop Insurance Reform Conference Committee WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Farmers Union (NFU) applauded the recent Senate passage of a bill to make needed reforms to the federal crop insurance program. The measure, authored by Sens. Robert Kerrey, D-Neb., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., lowers premiums for farmers and ranchers and provides addi tional incentives to purchase higher levels of coverage. The bill also improves cover age for producers facing multi ple years of disasters, addresses quality adjustment and yield history issues and includes sev eral pilot programs, including giving producers a choice be tween a direct cash payment for Polaris Snow Check 2001 CASH BACK! $3OO CASH BACK LIQUID-COOLED • Free second-year Engine Service Contract • Free limited edition jacket • Snow Check Exclusive models available • OHer ends April 17,2000. Your way out is waiting at J & H Cycle Accessories, Inc. 717-653-5672 • 1090 W. Mam St., Mount Joy, PA 17552 POLARIS The Way Out. The Snc* Check program k not »'* leble lo pr ncipats or employees ol Rolens authorized Poleni d stnbulors deelersh ps racers government Heel or enlel unis A -t lable only el peri c pel ng deelerj end on select models Vo d where proK tiled by lew Consumer must piece e $350 non elondeble depos I per sled el I me o* order Snowmob es pur hesed under 'he Snow Check program musl be reg slered nlKe customer s neme *sshown on the Snow Check The customer must pey for end take del very o'ihe Snow Check snowmobile by noUter than October 2 2000 Rebate issued lo consumer a*ter pey oil end «<r enly eg slret on Should the 2001 Snow Check snowmobile no! be ex teblelrom Polar s by Octobe 2 2000 the customer shell he»e 10 days f om Ihe dele ol the u" I s arrival el the deelersh p to complete the purchase The Snow Check eHer eppl es only lo exileb I ly ol the snowmob le end ihe Polar s sponsored promol on not any I ede n and/or ultimate sell ng price negol eled between the authorized dealer and Ihe customer or pre pay men! mace belore del very ol the snowmobile OHer good March 10 through April 17 2000 on select 2001 models OHer not valid on Indy 340 s I qu d cooled race models orI2OXC $P Cash rebate does not apply to BOOLE or XCF SP Polaris reserves the r ghttc change models and specif cal onsaiany I me w (hout ncurnngoblgat ons See your part cipal ng Polaris dea'er lor deta Is All riders pictured ere professionals Do nol attempt maneuvers beyond your capability Always wear a helmet and other safety apparel 2000 Polar s Sales Inc marketing easier. And, research at Ohio State shows that me chanical harvesting that reduces labor time can be done at a rea sonable cost for larger growers. So now is a good time to look into berry production, Funt said. A new publication from Ohio State University Extension called “Brambles-Production, Management and Marketing,” Bulletin 782, contains this infor mation and more. The bulletin explains the various cultural management techniques neces sary for a successful raspberry, blackberry or other type of bramble enterprise, Funt said. The bulletin is a complete source of information in an easy-to-read text with many full-color pictures that will help Moves To practicing risk management or subsidized crop insurance and permitting livestock coverage. “We are very pleased to see the Senate has finally passed crop insurance reform,” said NFU President Leland Swen son. “While crop insurance cannot replace an effective farm safety net, it is a must for pro ducers who have to routinely cope with production losses beyond their control. We hope a conference committee will be appointed quickly in order to finish work on this important legislation.” The U.S. House of Represent atives passed a similar bill last year. Differences between the two bills will now be reconciled by a House-Senate conference committee. $2OO CASH BACK FAN-COOLED growers make important preproduction decisions, he said. Production economics, re frigeration costs and rates of return for different marketing systems are also discussed. Most raspberry and black berry growers are looking for a 12 percent to 14 percent rate of return on their investment over the 12-year productive life of their berry plants, and with cur rent berry prices that should be attainable, depending on yield, Funt said. In Ohio, raspberries and blackberries average about 1,500 to 1,700 pounds per acres per year. Profitable pick-your-own prices for most growers are from $1.20 to $1.70 per pound de pending on when the berries ripen. Hand-harvested berries require $1 to $l.lO more than the pick-your-own selling price to gain an equal profit. “If people are interested in growing raspberries or blackber ries, before they enter the busi ness they need to gather some information and make some critical biological, technological and economic decisions,” Funt said. “What type of cultivar will you raise, what equipment might be reasonable and what rate of return would you like on your investment? The bulletin provides information that helps people answer those questions.” A grower typically has to invest $5,000 to $6,000 per acre for a 2-acre to 5-acre operation Solid advantages in seed placement. Primary Seeders • Choose from front or end wheel model • Vacuum sealed acremeter • Dual cast iron packer wheels-16” front and 12" rear • Removable tongue for storage or 3-pomt operation • All welded weatherproof seed box with 15 or 30 bushel capacity • Ideal for alfalfa or sod farmers Betts Equipment 3139 Windy Bush Road.Rt 232 New Hope, PA 18938 215-598-7501 Hoober, Inc. Mam Street Intercourse, PA 17534 717-768-8231 Hoober, Inc. East Main Street McAlisferville, PA 17049 717-463-2191 Deerfield Ag & Turf Center, Inc. RR 2 Box 212 Watsontown, PA 17777 570-538-3557 Detlan Equipment. Inc 141 East Mam St Silverdale, PA 18962 215-257-5177 Thomas L. Dunlap Rt 220, Mam St Exit Jersey Shore, PA 17740 570-398-1391 to get started “As a perennial fruit crop, you’ll put a lot of money up front in the first year or two and get considerable returns in years three through 12, ‘ he said. “Growers need to determine if they can afford that initial in vestment and decide if they want to take the risk.” Planting, pruning and picking berries also requires a lot of labor. Proper management of a berry patch often takes about 350 hours of labor a year, Funt said. “Berries have to fit into the current farm operation,” he said. “One member of the family may be fully committed, but is the rest of the family willing to give up the summer vacation season and put time into har vesting berries?” Small or medium-sized farms with time available for proper management are best suited to growing berries. These farms usually have smaller fields, so they spend less time harvesting other crops, Funt said. Most ber ries in Ohio are currently grown east of Interstate 71 and along Lake Erie. Other things to consider before starting a berry operation are possible sources of hired labor for harvesting, refrigera tion after harvest and potential markets where berries can be sold quickly. Berries are perish able and holding them more than a day or two after picking i Eckroth Bros Farm Equip Rd 2, Box 24A New Rmgold, PA 17960 570-943-2131 Eckroth Equipment Co. 4910 Kernsville Rd Oretield, PA 18069 610-366-2095 Hines Equipment RT 220, Belwood, PA 814-742-8171 Keller Brothers R 7 Box 405 Lebanon, PA 17042 717-949-6501 1950 Fruitville Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 717-569-2500 M.S.Yearsley & Sons West Chester, PA 610-696-2990 Pikeville Equipment Inc RD 2, Oysferdale Road Oley, PA 19547 610-927-6277 becomes a problem, Font said. The creation of “Brambles Production, Management and Marketing” is part of the Ohio Berry Strategic Plan developed by the Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Fruit Growers Society, the Ohio State University’s department of horticulture and crop science, the Ohio State University Cen ters at Piketon and the Ohio De partment of Agriculture. The plan calls for an organized ex pansion of the Ohio berry indus try to meet the demands of the fresh market and opportunities arising in new markets, Funt said. The brambles bulletin was written by members of Ohio State University Extension’s Ohio Small Fruit Team and was supported by Ohio growers through various research grants from the Ohio Small Fruit and Vegetable Research Foundation and the Ohio Department of Ag riculture. The facts in the publi cation are based on years of research done in Ohio, he said. The bulletin costs $6.50 and can be purchased at county of fices of Ohio State University Extension. Growers outside of Ohio can contact Ohio State University Extension Media Distribution by phone, at (614) 292-1607, or e-mail Pubs@pos toffice.ag.ohio-state.edu to receive the bulletin by mail. Or dering by mail will cost $lO $6.50 plus $3.50 for shipping and handling. iandDride.com Stoltzfus Farm Service Cochranville, PA 610-593-2407 Stouffer Bros Inc. 1066 Lincoln Way West Chambersburg, PA 17201 717-263-8424 New Jersey Rodio Tractor Sales North White Horse Pike Hammonton, N J 08037 609-561-0141 Warren County Service Center 228 Route 94, Blairtown, N J 908-362-6916 Frank Rymon & Sons, Inc. RD 3, Box 355 Washington, N J 07882 908-689-1464
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers