Field Day Proves ‘Tree-Free’ Paper Products Possible From Kenaf
Mississippi State University Agronomist Brian Baldwin, in rain gear, holds up a kenaf
stalk. Pulp paper can be made out of the bark. The wood is light, like balsa.
\ mmmf*"*****^
JOlfeggfe.
■^l
Straight Through Design - The Dion Advantage
All crop entering the harvester is cut,
processed and blown all in a direct line,
which improves harvesting capacity while
slashing energy consumption. The “straight
through” concept ensures a smooth,
uninterrupted material flow that will deliver
Right or Left Hand Unloading.
16 or 18 Feet.
Forage Boxes
RALPH W. KYLE ABC GROFF INC.
Mercer, PA New Holland, PA
888-968-4060 717-354-4191
NORTH-EAST DISTRIBUTORS BENCE'S FARM EQUIPMENT
West Clifford, PA Bedford, PA
570-222-9020 814-623-8601
ZIMMERMAN FARM SERVICE
Bethel, PA
717-933-4114
Dion 1224H224XC
Large Capacity
Forage Harvester
even the most stubborn haylage or silage
directly to the back of your wagon.
Couple this unique Pull-Type harvester
design concept with a “Corn Cracker”
option that loses no crop capacity running
through the rolls, and you have capacit’
propelled harvesters,
or
High Capacity Blowers
Ag Progress Section 2, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 12, 2000—Page 25
Harvest is about 6 to 6-Vi tons
per acre at a price of $5O-$55 per
ton. (A 6-ton yield is still consid
ered poor, however, noted
Baldwin. Paper processors want
the harvest at 7 tons per acre no
nirrigated and 10-V2 tons irri
gated.)
In a study, Baldwin noted
inputs before harvest at $lBO per
acre. That includes pesticide,
fertilizer, seed, fuel, and other
costs.
A preemergence pesticide can
be used. The kenaf requires only
125 pounds of nitrogen per acre
per year that’s it, he noted.
Yet there has been some plant
response to higher levels of
potash, because kenaf “is a
desert crop,” Baldwin said.
This year, Mississippi crop
yields are down because of the
severe drought. “We’re 25
inches off in rain this year,” said
Baldwin. “The drought is killing
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Visitors to Pennsylva
nia’s West Nile virus website
http://www.WestNile.state.pa.us
now can get weekly updates
on the statewide mosquito sur
veillance effort; ask questions on
an interactive message boards;
and get detailed instructions on
how to handle dead birds that
could be infected with West Nile
virus.
“Although the West Nile
virus has not been found in
Pennsylvania, birds carrying the
virus have been found in New
York and New Jersey,” Health
Secretary Robert S. Zimmerman
said. “Through our website and
our toll-free information line, 1-
877-PA-HEALTH, we have
been keeping Pennsylvanians up
to date on the latest West Nile -
virus news.”
A DEP representative in
volved in the surveillance pro
gram will answer questions live
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday on the message
board. People can post messages
24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
“Internet users can find infor
mation such as the number of
samples taken in their county,
test results and what their
county is doing to sample and
control mosquitoes,” DEP Sec
retary James M. Seif said.
Zimmerman said, “Also on the
website are detailed instructions
on how the handle and collect
dead birds. Groups of dead
MANCHESTER (York Co.)
The Pennsylvania state plow
ing contests will be conducted
on the Rentzel farm, one mile
north of the square in Manches
ter on Rt. 181, in conjunction
with Olde Tyme Days.
There will be a seminar on
plow adjustment Thursday,
Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. State plowing
matches in small and large will
begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25.
The open class will begin at 1:30
p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. The state
(Continued from Page 22)
West Nile Virus
Website Expanded
Pa. State Plowing
Contests Set
us right now.”
Pulp processors have been re
luctant to adopt kenaf because it
is lighter, not as heavy as the
wood chips they’re used to. But
kenaf is a renewable crop that
doesn’t take decades of manage
ment that regular wood prod
ucts used in paper productiond
do.
Baldwin noted the Mississippi
Delta Fiber Cooperative has
been established to obtain mar
kets for the product.
For more information about
kenaf, contact Baldwin at (601)
325-8862 or e-mail at
bbaldwin@pss.msstate.edu.
The fiber crop project was put
together with help from the So
lanco Young Farmers Associa
tion. For more information
about the plot, contact Ed
Herrmann, adviser, at (717) 786-
2151, ext. 1453, or voice mail at
ext. 2072.
birds, especially crows, can be
an indication of West Nile virus.
If you see a group of dead birds
in an area, please contact us so
we can do testing.”
Zimmerman said residents
can call the toll-free information
line, 1-877-PA-HEALTH, 24
hours a day if they have ques
tions about how to handle dead
birds. Direct assistance is avail
able from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, and a
Department of Health repre
sentative is available for emer
gency cases at other times.
The West Nile virus can
spread to people and animals
through the bite of an infected
Northern house mosquito. Mos
quitoes acquire the virus from
infected birds. Previously, the
virus only was found in Africa,
Eastern Europe and West Asia.
West Nile virus, when transmit
ted to people, can cause West
Nile encephalitis, an infection
that can cause an inflammation
of the brain. Older people have
the highest risk of developing
severe illness because, as people
age, their bodies have a harder
time fighting off disease. People
with compromised immune sys
tems are at risk. However,
anyone can get the virus.
You can reduce the number of
mosquitoes around your home
and neighborhood by reducing
the amount of standing water
available for mosquito breeding.
From Pennsylvania Department
Of Environmental Protection
antique plowing match is 10
a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26.
There will also be horse and
garden tractor plowing competi
tion. There will also be flea mar
kets, antique equipment
displays, tractor pulls, and
many other activities on the
grounds.
Anyone interested in partici
pating in any of the plowing
matches or would like more in
formation, contact Robert Miller
at (717) 692-2443 or Robert
Rentzel at (717) 266-4490.