Kevin R. Seibert Nutrient Management Specialist Lancaster County Conservation District Today in the season of government regulations, Penn sylvania’s Act 6 Nutrient Management law perks up many ears of livestock operators and the non agricultural community as well. The term “Nutrient Management” is not a new, radi cal idea but has been around for some time now. Here in Lancaster County, the first organized nutrient manage ment program started with the Rural Clean Water Pro gram in 1981. This project addressed many factors that we look at today when an Act 6 plan is written. The premise of many concerns of the non-farm com munity and government officials is that there is so many more animals being raised today than during the good old days of our great grandparents. Thus more animals equals more manure. We also hear about diminishing agriculture acres, being used up by development, and would assume that that there surely is a problem with using all the nutrients in the manure. This is where a column written by Jeff Stoltzfus comes into play. Jeff has a copy of a 1904 Yearbook of Agriculture that contains many statistics that the modern PA Statistical Summary does. When you compare the figures between K 9 UTILIZE THOSE ■H NUTRIENTS PLANT GREEN SPIRIT ITALIAN RYEGRASS in late summer-early fall, followed by MEGA-GREEN or CENTURY BMR Sorghum Sudangrass in Late Spring early Summer. GREEN SPIRIT RYEGRASS can utilize more Nitrogen and Phosphorus than regular rye, and outyield it as well! Green Spirit has the poteintial to yield as much as 8000 pounds of high quality forage per acre from Sept, to June, (on a dry matter basis.) Forage quality is equal to or better than top quality alfalfa. We’ve had more than 1 farmer say, “If I had enough Green Spirit I wouldn’t need alfalfa!” Mega Green or Century BMR Sorghum Sudan has the potential to utilize more N than corn in a short time frame (June to Sept.) and also provide tons of high quality feed (20% protein) Can usually be grown without herbicides. If you would prefer a sod forming perennial grass for lagoon or wastewater irrigation contact us about Matua or Luprime Prairiegrass, or Reeds Canarygrass. rie ew«£sr AARON KING SEEDS <%>/?«„, C®' a eweel Specializing in high quality forages and grazing since 1993. /<?s# m. "• (fad™ Fairview Fruit Farm, 96 Paradise Lane, Ronks, PA “'Ots 717-687-6224 Ask For Your Nearest Dealer Agronomist Mark Rehak mrehak@supernet.com 717-394-4470 What “Nutrient Management” Means to Ijancaster County B BARENBRUG Forages For Profit GREAT IN GRASS 1904 and 1998, we find out that PA now has 467,700 less dairy cows, 437,500 less horses and mules, and 813,000 less sheep. The numbers do show an increase of 120,Q00 hogs and 276,500 cattle & calves (this excludes dairy cows). Although acreage for crops have diminished by 3,304,000 acres or 44%, actual total crop production in creased by 46%. In 1904, Pennsylvania farmers raised 30% more animals and grew 46% less crops. Statistically, Pennsylvania as a whole has less of a problem with manure nutrients today than we did 96 years ago. (Source (1904 Yearbook of Agriculture)(l99B - PA Statistical Summary, USDA, PDA)(”Just Like the Good Old Days” Jeff Stoltzfus, 10/1997 Livestock Re porter). Through selective breeding and improved manage ment and techniques, the agriculture community has in creased yields of crops thus needing less land to produce more crops and less livestock to produce more food and fiber. Fewer American farmers are now producing more food on less land for more people than ever before in his tory. The American public spends a smaller percentage of their income on food to feed their family that any other country in the world. (Turn to P«fl* 62)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers