Alleys separate six variety test plots at the Penn State Alfalfa Va
riety Testing Program sites. This stand shows two weeks’ re
growth. Senior Research Aide Dick Todd, left, discusses plot
management with Scott Harkcom, manager of the Agronomy Re
search Farm.
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Todd works closely with and
under the direction of Scott
Harkcom, agronomy research farm
manager, and Dr. Marvin Hall,
forage extension specialist.
“The purpose of the trials is to see
how the varieties perform under dif
ferent growing conditions,” said
Harkcom. “The yearly report is a
real benefit to the seed industry and
producers.”
Both trial locations feature well
drained Hagerstown silt loam soils.
With the Landisville location’s
slightly longer growing season and
higher temperatures, Todd is able to
harvest alfalfa five times per season
compared to four cuttings at
Rockspring. Testing at two sites
allows variety evaluations that are
_ : %
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Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 15, 2000—Page
(Continued from Pago 12)
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more applicable to various parts of
Pennsylvania. Harkcom would like
to eventually establish another test
site in the state.
“Marvin Hall and I oversee the
program. Dick makes the program
go. He crunches the numbers and
puts the report together. Because
it’s a yield trial, we manage the
trials intensively for no weeds or in
sects,” Harkcom said.
“Each variety is replicated four
times in three-foot x 15-foot plots,”
Todd said. “Fertilizer is applied ac
cording to soil test recommenda
tions. AH alfalfa varieties are
harvested on the same day. Cutting
dates are based on maturity and
proper cutting interval.”
The alfalfa trials were first estab
lished at Rockspring in early 1980 s.
The first forage grass trials were
planted in the late 1980 s because of
a growing interest in hay production
and rotational grazing.
Also, some soils in Pennsylvania
are not suited for alfalfa production.
Forage grass trails are conducted
only at Rockspring, but they hope to
establish another forage grass trail
at another location in the state.
“The orchardgrass, timothy, tall
fescue, ryegrass, and reed canar
ygrass plots require more manage
ment on Dick’s part because
maturity varies per variety. They’re
harvested at different times so that
forage yields are measured at com
parable stages.’’
“The alfalfa and forage grass
tests are only part of the variety
testing programs,” Harkcom said.
“We conduct similar evaluations for
corn, small grains, and soybeans.
Although these are primarily yield
trials, we are conducting separate
trials on those crops that have speci
alty traits, such as potato leafhopper
resistance.”
Farmers and alfalfa producers
deciding which varieties would best
suit their situation are invited to
visit the test plots during Ag Prog
ress Days. Although the test infor
mation is available between
Thanksgiving and Christmas, the
published “Forage Trials Report”
becomes available by Christmas,
and farmers are encouraged to pick
up their copy at the Farm Show in
Harrisburg.
The “Forage Trials Report”
charts yield performance per variety
for the current growing season, pre
vious harvests, and average yields
over the life of the stand. It includes
precipitation statistics, leafhopper
trials, red clover variety trials, and
cool-season grass variety trials at
both locations.
193