AlO-Uncisttr Fanning, Saturday, May 20, 2000
OPINION
Urban Pet Owners Need
Nutrient Management Plans , Too
When defenders of development want to allow subdivisions in agri
cultural areas, they often say there will be less pollution with a field
full of houses instead of pastures where manure is applied. This is a
myth without merit.
Douglas Smith, extension poultry scientist at the University of
Georgia says homes in a new subdivision must usually be located on at
least 6/10 of an acre where septic systems are used. Lot sizes may be
smaller if a sewer is in place. The home itself, a paved driveway, patio
or deck, swimming pool, and any outbuildings or other structures can
reduce this by another 2/10 of an acre, as these are impervious sur
faces, unavailable for water runoff or percolation.
Now add an outside dog to the backyard (on approximately 2/10 of
an acre). A good sized dog, such as a Labrador retriever, may excrete
liquid and solid waste at an average of 2.5 pounds per day, or 913
pounds annually (depending on body weight and diet). On a per acre
basis the annual manure application rate for that area is 2.3 tons per
year, compared to the maximum recommended poultry litter applica
tion rate of 5 tons per acre annually for pastures. In other words, two
dogs per household in a subdivision approximately equals the maxi
mum manure loading for a given area that a broiler farm would con
tribute. If smaller lots are used where sewers are available, homeown
ers may also have cats. Or if there are more than two dogs per
household, then the subdivision will greatly exceed what any agricul
tural operation would ever apply to the land. Plus, the storm sewers
pass this pollution much quicker to the streams and lakes.
Even recalculating the manure loading based on the total subdivi
sion area does not substantially change the numbers, as much of the
area is under paved roads and many of the houses sit on what were
buffer areas for the farm. In addition, many lawns are over fertilized
with commercial fertilizer. Obviously, suburban homeowners are a sig
nificant threat to the environment.
So, if your local government is rezoning agricultural land for subdi
visions, ask two valid questions. Why are they allowing excessive pol
luters into the area? And why aren’t pet owners in subdivisions re
quired to have nutrient management plans?
Saturday, May 20
Lebanon County Rabbit Conven
tion, Lebanon Fairgrounds.
Capitol Area Beekeepers Short
Course on Basic Beekeeping,
Milton Hershey Farm Confer
ence Center and Apiary, Her
shey, noon-5 p.m.
Sunday. May 21 j
Summer Camp Open House,
Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp,
2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, May 22
Sheep Scrapie Information Meet
ing, Lancaster Farm and
Home Center, Lancaster, 7:30
p.m.
Public Meetings On Dairy,
Speaker Pete Hardin, pub
lisher of The Milkweed, Lan
caster County Farm and
Home Center, 8 p.m.
Pork America Co-Op Meeting,
Pa. Dept, of Ag Room 202,
Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23
Horse Pasture Management
Meeting, Westmoreland
County extension office, 7:30
p.m.
PennAg Industries Divots For
Degrees Golf Tournament,
Foxchase Golf Club, Stevens,
7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. (double
shotgun).
Devon Horse Show, Fair, Devon,
thru June 3.
Friday, May 26
Penn Jersey Extension Program
crop Field Day, Forage and
Small Grain, Fred Clucas
Farm, Oldwick, N.J., 9:30
a.m.-ll:30 a.m. and Farm
View Farm, Easton, 2 p.m.-4
p.m.
Saturday, May 27
Keystone Junior Beef Classic,
Butler County Fairgrounds,
thru M; 28.
Memorial Day, Lancaster Farm
office closed.
Delmarva Farmland Protection
Training Workshop, Crystal
Inn, North East, 8:30 a.m.-3
p.m.
Landscape and Turf Pest ID
Walk, Lebanon Valley Col
lege, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 1
Philadelphia County Fair, thru
June 4.
To Produce
High-Quality
Alfalfa Hay
Producing high-quality al
falfa at home means dairy
farmers can reduce the pur
chase of off-farm feeds.
According to Robert An
derson, Lancaster County ex
tension agronomy agent, stud
ies in Pennsylvania have
shown that one way to maxi
mize the quality of alfalfa hay
is to harvest it early.
The crude protein content
for alfalfa at various stages of
maturity is mid-bud stage,
19.4 percent; late bud, 18.2
percent; first flower, 17.1 per
cent; l/10th bloom, 15.8 per
cent; and beyond 1/lOth,
bloom 12 percent.
As the alfalfa plant ma
tures, the percent crude pro
tein declines. Also, by harvest
ing early, you may gain an
ON ‘REAPING’
AND ‘SOWING’
Background Scripture:
2 Corinthians 9.
Devotional Reading:
2 Corinthians 81-15.
I was bom during “The Great
Depression.”
Like all of the generations that
experienced that traumatic epi
sode in American history, the
Depression and the rationing of
the World War II that followed
it had a lasting effect upon my
values.
I grew up with a “ ‘scarcity’
mentality,” a fear that there
would not be enough to go
around. Some 20 years ago I was
challenged to minister in a situa
tion where, instead of a salary, I
would have to earn my living
with fees and honoraria. I ques
tioned how it could possibly
work.
Two-plus decades later, I still
can’t tell you how it worked out,
but only that it did. Despite the
fact that I did not know where
my next dollar was coming from,
God always seemed to provide
enough so that we were never in
want. In time, I learned to trust
that God would provide enough
so that 1 could live and give.
I have not been a “fast learn
er.” I still have to persuade my
self that I can give without the
assurance that I can “afford” it.
In the days when I earned a
salary, it was comparatively easy
extra cutting in the fall. Thus,
cutting alfalfa at the proper
stage of maturity is very im
portant in achieving best
quality feed for your cows.
To Control
Herbicide Drift
The increase use of post-ap
plied herbicides has brought
the issue of herbicide drift to
the top of the list of concerns
related to the use of pesti
cides.
Robert Anderson, Lancas
ter County extension agrono
my agent, reminds us that, be
cause of the nature of
applying sprays, it will be im
possible to completely elimi
nate the problem of drift.
However, applicators can re
duce the risk by using appro
priate equipment and basic
knowledge.
Recent research evaluating
nozzle type and spray pres
sure showed these two factors
affected drift. The study
found that the Drift Guard
and Turbo Tee Jet nozzles
produced less drift than the
flat fan nozzle. Also, by in
creasing the spray pressure,
you increase the chances for
drift.
Pesticide applicators should
take steps to ensure that the
spray equipment is set up
properly to minimize drift by
selecting the best nozzle,
spray pressure, and boom
height. They must also con
sider weather conditions and
avoid spraying on windy days
to avoid problems.
To Use Front-End
Loaders Safely
to pledge a tithe. That was more
an act of calculation than faith.
Today it is easier for I have ex
perienced for myself Paul’s as
surance: “And God is able to
provide you with every blessing
in abundance, so that you may
always have enough of every
thing and may provide in abun
dance for every good work” (9:8).
Giving has not impaired my abil
ity to “have enough of every
thing.”
A FAITH PROBLEM. Living
that way is a test of faith and I
have come to realize that the
problem of giving and living gen
erously is essentially a faith prob
lem. It is a contest between a
“scarcity” and “abundant” per
spective on life.
This goes far beyond the giv
ing of money and material goods.
As Paul puts it, “he who sows
sparingly will also reap sparing
ly, and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully.”
Paul, however, assures us not
only that we will have enough for
ourselves, but that we will have
even more if we share: “He who
supplies seed to the sower and
bread for food will supply and
multiply your resources...”
So long as we continue to
share what God gives us, he will
continue to give us more. When
the lad by the Sea of Galilee
shared his fish and loaves, his
little was multiplied to feed the
many.
A SPIRITUAL RETURN.
There is a spiritual return, too:
“You will be enriched in every
way for great generosity, which
through us will produce thanks
giving to God; for the rendering
of this service not only supplies
the wants of the saints but also
overflows in many thanksgivings
to God” (9:12).
A front-end loader can be a
valuable addition to your
tractor. The loader-tractor
combination can also be dan
gerous if not operated proper
ly.
Loaders can change the
center of gravity and the sta
bility of tractors, causing tip
ping hazards for the operator.
The following guidelines
can help ensure the safety of
tractor operators using front
end loaders on your farm:
• Install only loaders de
signed and approved by the
tractor manufacturer
• Use only approved at
tachments for handling large
bales
• Never use a loader for re
moving fenceposts, towing, or
knocking something down
• Use ballast to correctly
balance the loader and tractor
from front to rear
• Use loaders for the jobs
they are designed to handle
• Use a rollover protective
structure (ROPS) and always
wear a seat belt
• Do not exceed suggested
load limits
• Cany loads at a low
height and slow speed
• Never move or swing a
load over people in a work
area
• Always lower loads to the
ground when park
• Use extra care when
working on inclines
• When carrying a load,
drive forward when going up
hill and back downhill with
loads.
Feather Prof.’s Footnote:
“The best way to predict the
future is to create it.”
Mere material sufficiency is
not the highest reward of gener
osity; the opportunity to glorify
God with our contribution is.
This is a law of life and I am
sorry that it has taken me so long
to believe, not with my mind, but
with my whole being. The farmer
knows that if he skimps on the
seed he will skimp on the har
vest. It is the difference between
proclaiming cream and living
skim milk.
There is one last perspective in
Christian giving: “Each one must
do as he has made up his mind,
not reluctantly or under compul
sion, for God loves a cheerful
giver” (9:8).
We can be argued into giving,
shamed into sharing and even
tricked into benevolence, but un
less we give and share willingly,
we rob ourselves of the joy of giv
ing. He who sows without
cheerfulness will reap without
joy.
Note: In the Steps of Paul to
Rome & Greece, an 18-day tour
conducted by Larry & Valere Al
thouse, is scheduled for April
2001. If interested, please contact
us: 4412 Shenandoah Ave, Dallas
TX 75205/e-mail: althouse
s@aol.com; fax: (214) 52109312.
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
1 E. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
—by—
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Steinman Enterprise
William J. Burgess General Manager
Everett R. Newswanger Editor
Copyright 2000 by Lancaster Faming