Video To Showcase Innovative Pennsylvania Dairy Services And Products MIDDLETOWN (Dauphin Co.) The Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders is looking for exam ples of innovative and creative ways businesses and institutions are providing services to dairy producers in Pennsylvania. Se lected examples will be show cased in a video that will be pro duced this fall. The goal of the video is show the wide range of non-traditional support services available to Pennsylvania producers, and to encourage producers to look be yond the traditional programs and services when it comes to op erating their businesses. “Pennsylvania dairy producers are in an enviable position be cause of the creative and innova tive sales and service programs made available to them today by an aggressive support industry,” said Joel Rotz, president of the THE SIX BREED SHOW OF ALL AMERICANS ( & Best Ever’ c3C3 Saturday, September 23 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Dairy Antiques & Collectibles Show, Dairy Activity Center 6:30 p.m. - Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Pageant, Sheraton Harrisburg East Sunday through Thursday ■ September 24 thru 28 12:00 Noon to 8:00 p.m. ■ Country Craft Market, Dairy Activity Center Sunday, September 24 • Youth Programs 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Dairy Antiques and Collectibles Show, Dairy Activity Center 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m. - Community “Meet a Cow” Day, Maclay Street Lobby 1:00 p.m. - Youth Showmanship Contest, Large Arena 5:00 p.m. - Senior Division Fitting Competition, Small Arena 6:00 p.m. - Pennsylvania Junior Guernsey Breeders Meeting & Social, Room D 7:00 p.m. - Pennsylvania Ayrshire Youth Meeting & Social, Room E 7:00 p.m. - Pennsylvania Junior Jersey Meeting, Room C 7:00 p.m. - Careers and Opportunities Night, Dairy Activity Center 8:00 p.m. - Junior Dairy Show Olympics, Small Arena Monday and Tuesday - September 25 thru 26 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Dairy Anitques and Collectibles Show, Dairy Activity Center Monday, September 25 8:00 a.m. - Invitational Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest (4-H, FFA, and Collegiate) Small Arena 8:00 a.m. - Pennsylvania Junior Dairy Show, Large Arena 7:00 p.m. - Judging Contest Awards Banquet, Sheraton Harrisburg East Pennsylvania Dairy Stakehold ers. “Our goal through this video is create an awareness among producers of the many services that may help them be more competitive and profitable.” Companies and educational institutions are encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders if they are offering a unique or non-traditional serv ice or product to Pennsylvania producers. The video oversight committee has identified six categories of products and services; profes sional consulting; professional services; specialization; market ing and promotion; and education/training. An example of the kind of services that will be showcased in the video is the professional busi ness planning service now pro vided by several companies and private consultants. Other exam Jr. Dairy Management Contest ■ TUesday/^ th v. Youth Showmanship Contest • Sunday vT!/ All-Dairy Antiques & Collectibles Show Sat. 10a.m.-5p.m.; Sun. 10a.m,-Bp.m.; Mon. & thurs.Ba.m.-5p,m.; Wed. Ba.m.-Bp.m siienr Commercial Exhibits & TVade Show - Daily C 9a,m.-4p.m. Wednesday, September 27th Maximizing genetic potential through facilities managment. Farm Tour & Lunch is free, compliments of Monsanto. However, PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED Call (717) 787-2905 or (800) 300-6209 Meet at the Monsanto Booth In the All-American Dairy Activity Center at 9a.m. Wednesday, September 27th. ~ Plus ~ Monsanto Farm Tours Tuesday, September 26 9:00 a.m. - Eastern National Ayrshire Show, Large Arena 9:00 a.m. - Pennsylvania Fall Holstein Championship Show, Large Arena 10:00 a.m. - Junior Dairy Management Contest, 2nd Floor, Main Building 10:00 a.m. - Pennsylvania 4-H and FFA Dairy Judging Forum, Small Arena 3:00 p.m. - Eastern National Milking Shorthorn Show Large Arena Wednesday, September 27 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Dairy Antiques and Collectibles Show, Dairy Activity Center 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. • Monsanto Farm Tours, Leaving from Dairy Activity Center 9:00 a.m. - National Guernsey Show - Large Arena 9:00 a.m. - Eastern National Brown Swiss Show Large Arena 6:00 p.m. - All American Buffet - Dairy Activity Center 7:00 p.m. - Eastern National Holstein Sale, Small Arena Thursday, September 28 **** - Supreme Champion (selection following the Holstein and Jersey shows), Large Arena ples are the programs and serv ices being developed to help pro ducers as they employ multicultural workers on dairy farms. PFB Concerned Over Possible Importation Of Heifers CAMP HILL (Cumberland Co.) The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the state’s largest gener al farming organization, express ed concern this week about a possible importation of heifers from Uruguay. The U.S. Depart ment of Agriculture (USDA) re cently received requests to bring at least three lots of heifers into the state. “Farm Bureau is interested in protecting the viability of the state’s agricultural industry, which means protecting the health of Pennsylvania’s live stock is a foremost concern,” said PFB President Guy Donaldson. September 24-28 FARM SHOW COMPLEX 2301 NORTH CAMERON ST. HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17110-9408 PHONE (717) 787-2905 8:00 a.m. - Eastern National Holstein Show, Large Arena 8:00 a.m. - Mid-Atlantic Regional Jersey Show, Large Arena PLAN TO ATTEND! Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 16, 2000-A23 Anyone is welcome to suggest ideas for consideration for the video. Information should be sent to the Pennsylvania Dairy “the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is a staunch supporter of interna tional trade, however, when it is possibly risking our own animals, we need Pennsylvania’s Animal Health and Diagnostic Commis sion to review all possible pre cautions.” “PFB urges the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bu reau of Animal Health and Diag nostic Services to make every ef fort to ensure that USDA does not approve the importation be fore all avenues of concern can be favorably resolved,” said Don aldson. “The United States and Penn sylv a n i a have ex pended large amounts of time and Although haymaking conditions have not been ideal this year because of unpredictable weather forecasts, the total amount of forage production from most alfalfa stands is signifi cant. Many alfalfa producers will soon be complet ing fifth cutting with yields approaching seven tons of dry matter per acre on many fields. Fer tility programs for established stands of alfalfa should be reviewed at this time of year and top dress additions made before winter dormancy. Fertility studies have shown that one-ton of al falfa hay equivalent removes 15 to 20 pounds of phosphorous and 45 to 60 pounds of potash. Simple math calculations for a five-ton hay yield show that removal of 100 pounds of phosphate and 300 pounds of potash are not uncommon. In fact, potash is so valuable for alfalfa production that most top alfalfa producers regularly apply 300 pounds of potash or more per acre to their established stands. It is difficult to appreciate how much potassi um is removed by a productive alfalfa stand, and underfertiiization of alfalfa is common. Soil K levels can become depleted in only a couple of years, resulting in lower yields and reduced win ter survival. No agronomist would responsibly recommend the application of any nutrient to a crop without a soil test to determine existing soil nutrient lev els. However, too few producers use soil testing to base their nutrient and manure inputs. The best method to determine alfalfa top dress requirements is to use a soil test. Without a soil test, fertilizer additions can be based on estimat ed crop removal rates and crop records. When and how often should you apply top dress fertilizer? The recommended program to maintain alfalfa production is to split potash ap plications two times a season. Immediately fol lowing first cutting and early fall are the best times. By applying after first cut, the producer is providing nutrients to the second and third crops. Applying nutrients early in the fall allows the plant to enter the winter dormancy period in optimal fertility status. It is critical, however, that fall fertilizers are applied well in advance of fall dormancy and freezing soil conditions. Avoid application when soils are soft such as early spring, when injury to crowns is likely. Split applications to avoid salt injury and pro vide nutrients at optimum time periods. High rates applied to wet foliage can also cause leaf injury. Apply topdress as soon after harvest as possible. Alfalfa absorbs most nutrients from the six to eight inches of the soil. Unlike nitrogen, phos phorous and potassium move very little through the soil. For this reason, alfalfa fertility pro grams must begin with optimum soil fertility level at establishment with topdress applied to meet plant removal rates. Stakeholders at 777 West Harris burg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057, or contact Alan Bair at 717-948-6328, fax 717-948-6528, or e-mail at nab4@psu.edu. money in efforts to eradicate these diseases, so we certainly don’t want to take any avoidable health risks.” Concern has arisen because of the uncertainty of Uruguay’s sta tus with regard to tuberculosis, brucellosis, blue tongue and, de spite Uruguay’s “free status,” foot and mouth disease, due to recent outbreaks in neighboring countries. The animal health risk presented by these uncertainties is amplified by the number of cattle to be imported, and the probability that these animals ul timately would be distributed to many different herds throughout the state. Soil Test To Determine Alfalfa Fertility Paul Craig Dauphin County Forage Crops Agent
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