Page 18—Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 15, 2000
Heaving In Alfalfa Fields
Dan Undersander
University of Wisconsin
Heaving is likely to be a problem
in some alfalfa stands in eastern
Wisconsin this spring.
Heaving occurs on heavy soils
that have high moisture contents.
Repeated freezing and thawing
causes expansion and contraction as
PFGC Accepts Memberships
HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.)
Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland
Council (PFGC) has announced
membership rates for 2000.
The Council, with your member
ship and support, can accomplish
much toward a better forage indus
try, environment, and community.
It’s a big challenge and the PFGC
needs your help. By becoming a
member now, PFGC can serve an
even more active role in support of
the forage industry.
The PFGC, formed in 1960, is
made up of individuals and organ
izations that are interested in forage
and grassland-based agriculture.
The PFGC is dedicated to the pro
duction and utilization of quality
forage and grassland.
The PFGC works in a variety of
ways to promote the industry,
through publication of Pennsylva
nia Forage and Grassland News,
through the publication of Foraging
Around, and sponsoring individual
workshops, training events, field
days, Ag Progress Days, leadership,
and other activities.
Every member receives the Penn
sylvania Forage and Grassland
News, the Hay and Forage Grower
magazine, and a PFGC membership
directory.
So to become part of a growing in
dustry, use this membership form
included here to sign up now.
Name
Address
County
Phone
Occupation (check one)
Farmer
Industry
.Scientist/Educator
Membership Classification
(check'one)
Individual or Youth Group ($2O)
Individual - 5 years ($9O)
Scientific/Profcssional Society ($2O)
Supporting Organization (Industry) ($75 or more)
Life memberships of $l5O per member will be accepted until Dec. 31,2000
Make check payable to Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council.
Detach this application and mail along with your check to Richard Harm, Execu
tive Director. PFGC, P.O. Box 355. Hershcy. PA 17033.
ice is formed and thawed that
pushes the taprooted plants out of
the soil.
Where heaving is observed, first
dig a few plants to determine if the
taproot is broken. Plants with
broken taproots will likely green up
and survive for varying lengths of
time. The length of time before
plant death will depend on the
Membership Application
2000
length of taproot above the break
and will range from greenup only to
sufficient growth harvesting first
crop
Fields with heaving one-inch or
less are likely to have unbroken
taproots and may be salvageable for
at least the current year. They will
likely green up later than normal.
The best recommendation is to leave
stands alone and harvest late (50
percent bloom) being sure to raise
cutter bar sufficiently to clear
crowns. Do not go over the field
with a roller or cultipacker in early
spring to push the crowns back into
the soil. This will likely to do more
damage than good.
Natural settling should occur
during the year and if plants are
reseated stands should survive until
next year. Stands entering the
winter with elevated crowns are
Delaware Pennaylvanla
unlZrFnimmanl Blue Mt Diesel
Middletown DE • 800/341-4028 New Tripoli, PA • 610/298-3483 James Bergen Marshall Machinery
Bams c B Hoober Slate Hill NY • 914/355-4571 Honesdale. PA 717/729-7117
Fronkford, DE . 302/732-6040 Intercourse PA • 717/768-8231 Kellers Farm Machinery Newswanger Machinery
Quakertown, PA • 215/536-4046 Kutzlown PA • 610/683-5970
Maryland
George Hines Equipment
Union Bridge MD • 410/775-2629
ui nw. u. Erb & Henry E q Uipmen t
Potomac Valley Supply New Berlmville, PA • 215/367-
Hagerstown, MD • 301/223-6877 2169
*^lo/838-6470 412/222-115. Lgjnon
New Jersey
Brodhecker Farm
Newton. NJ • 973/383-3592
Quality Structures
Remington, NJ • 908/702 7400
r our
Curt s Welding
Rome. PA • 717/247-2539
Gunther Heussman, Inc
Emmaus, PA • 215/965-5203
hARMCO MFC.
2937 Irtshtown Road • Ronka, PA 17572 • 717/788-7789
likely to suffer above average win
terkill.
Heaving in future years can be
minimized by having good internal
and surface drainage. Tiling may
reduce heaving problems, depend
ing on the depth of the tile. Residue
on the surface over winter will
reduce heaving because it insulates
the soil and reduces the amount of
freezing and thawing. This means
that fields not harvested last fall will
have less heaving than those with
fall growth removed.
Planting a grass with the alfalfa
has not been shown to reduce heav
ing of the alfalfa in the stand.
*
irmco.
Ipment made for die Job.
Dartngton® PA* 412/827-2184 Williamsburg, PA • 814/793-3731
Lapp's Barn Equipment
Gap. PA * 717/442-8134
Leaders Farm Equipment
Everett. PA • 814/652-2809
Reiffs Farm Service
Shippensburg, PA • 717/532-8601
Romberger Farm Supply
Klmgerstown, PA • 717/648-2081
Wyn Koop Farm Equipment
Marion Center, PA • 412/397-
4960