JOYCEBUPP York Co. Correspondent YORK (York Co.) They call it the county com clinic. But this popular, annual gath ering of York area farmers is more than a “clinic.” It’s a com bined short-course, mini-trade show, and in timeless farmer tradition, an informal idea-swap session. While it focuses on the pro duction of York County’s most widely-grown grain crop, the annual com clinic includes a wider scope of agronomy related education. Much of the content is specifically geared toward farmers completing their state-mandated pesticide certifi cation credits, with about 200 in ystone Group Agricultural Seeds a 570-638-1170 • 570-546-3117 .. 'foil Free 1-888-825-5088 ♦u ) *• CLOVIIRSt. OOTEOR&SS* * GREEN SPIRIT - High Quality, Emergency Feed - Winter Hardiness & ■ Late Maturity * - Ideal for Cut and Carry, Hay & Silage Operations. *• BARAULA ORCHARD GRASS • HORSEMASTER - a mixture e S[ • BARUZA TIMOTHY made for horse pasture. Able to with • BAROLEX TALL FESCUE stand close grazing & higher traffic • HAKARIMT. BROMEGRASS , crnrifAAACTFD ♦ . _ . ... * >KA.IWA3ItK ' pasture seed mix • BARIDANA ORCHARDGRASS allow for highly digestible, vigorous, • WILDLIFE PRODUCTS persistent pastures suited for all classes of livestock. Name Paradise Valley Organic Feeds. Agronomy Inc Locust Brook Inc., Dale Greiner Ken Deitch John Marks Stanely Crone Richard Crone Michael Judd Robert Lentz Charles Groff Kore Yoder Harlan Jlipiin Cart Joe Anchpr East Gats Feed & Grain, LLC... Sandßod Sales & Service Forman Grain., Group ******* \mmmJ m New Columbia, PA Dealer Inquiries Welcome York Farmers Attend Corn ‘Trade School’ attendance at the Feb. 8 meeting at the county’s 4-H center. Mark Goodson, York’s exten sion agronomist, set the tone for the day with review of the newly-revised soil tests, as well as a technical look at the basics of soils. New soil tests at $6 each have been expanded to deliver three years of nutrient recom mendations. Goodson reminded growers that an effective soil test must include no less than 15-20 core topsoil samples taken from scattered spots of each field being sampled. 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Recommendations focus on the “optimum” level, where the most efficient returns for nu trients are gauged, Goodson cautioned growers that, while good crop response is shown when nutrients are applied at the “below optimum” level of recommendations, the aim should be to keep soil nutrient levels maintained over the years at the optimum, or center green portion of the test chart. “It doesn’t pay to have nu trients off the scale, and live stock operations should especially be aware of their soil nutrient levels,” he said. While starter fertilizer .is rou tine in corn cultivation, Good- teciall' son advised growers that little more may be necessary, in light of escalating costs, if soil nu trient levels are already high. Excessive application of nitro gen is not only wasteful in cost, since unused nitrogen will quickly leach out, but can create environmental problems like high nitrate levels in groundwa ter. Splitting applications of ni trogen, one boost for the seed’s early growth, and a second as it approaches mid-summer growth spurt, is generally more effi cient. Goodson reviewed soil chem istry basics, using graphic pres entations to show how soil is composed of 45 percent mineral matter, 25 percent each air and water, and five percent organic matter. Levels of the three ingredients in the mineral matter sand, silt and clay particles determine much of the quality of the soil. Soil components, as well as the nutrients necessary for plant health, have positive or negative charges. And, like a magnet, the positive and negative attract, while positives and negatives repel like charges. An under standing of soil makeup, which components and nutrients are positive and negative, and how they interact, is helpful to pro ducers for fine-tuning nutrient levels. Clay particles, for instance, are composed of many micros* copic layers which offer surface for these magnetic-like charges to convert nutrients for plant use. Just one-fourth of a cup of clay particles offer more chemi cal conversion surface than a football field. And the particles allow for water absorption, re tention of nutrients and holding the soil together. “It’s an amazing miracle,” marveled agronomist Goodson, of the intricate chemistry of soils and their ability to nurture plant growth. One macronutrient of healthy soil, sulfur, is less available than in prior years, according to Goodson. And, that relates di rectly to cleaner-air measures undertaken in recent years. “As we’ve cleaned up our air, there is less sulfur falling to the ground,” he explained, of the sulfuric acids once given off by certain manufacturing and energy generation processes. Therefore,, growers need to watch soil sulfur levels and take measures to add it, when soil tests indicate a low level of the macronutrient. Bugged By Weevils While soils include (“•'""'■•O' Randall G. Renninger Certified Public Accountant Specializing in agriculture and construction industries “We help business people discover ways to cut costs, save taxes, and be more profitable” Call about our FREE seminars 535 W. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 299-6480 * Fax (717)299-6390 HEATMOR & Stainless Steel Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 10,2001-A2l many “bugs” of active bacteria, it was a “bug” of a different sort addressed by regional forage crop agent Paul Craig in his alert about alfalfa weevils. “We were surprised by the weevils in the 2000 growing season,” said Craig, noting that it had been almost 30 years since the last major outbreak in the region of the costly alfalfa pest. Weevils, which winter over and hatch when temperatures warm, devour the tender, deli cate growing tips of alfalfa, skeletonizing the leaves and leaving afflicted fields with a sil very cast. With weevil popula tions at their highest last summer since the outbreaks of the 1960 s and 19705, and a winter which was “perfect” for their carryover steady cold and insulating snow cover, re gional agronomists predict a likely serious infestation for the upcoming season. Weevil larvae are 1/16” to 5/ 16” long, with a dark head and pale green body with a white stripe, very active, and accord ing to Craig, “all they do is eat.” They feed for 14-20 days, then molt in a cocoon into a quarter inch weevil with a distinctive brown streak and snout. “Go look in your fields; get out of your truck and scout your alfalfa,’’ Craig emphasized. Two tools he advised to carry along are a bucket and a pocketknife, to cut 30 stems from random, scattered spots in each stand, then carefully counting the larvae/adults found feeding there. Two or more per stem, or 40 percent or more of the stems showing damage, indicate the need to “do something.” Early or late in the day might be pref erable for scouting, since Craig says the insects “hunker down” during the heat of the day and are more difficult to find. Depending on the stage of the crop, that something to do in re sponse to finding weevils might be to cut the crop and then spray the remaining stubble, or if the alfalfa is still young, spray the infestation immediately before more of the crop is chewed away. Growers finding just a few weevil larvae or adults in their alfalfa stands should not panic, since a limited number of the in sects actually attract their natu ral, biological control, a small wasp. That wasp lays its eggs in the larvae and adults, which de stroys the weevil when the eggs hatch. However, the weevils reproduce much more rapidly than the controlling wasps, ren dering this natural control inef (Turn to Page A 22) OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACE • Heat Home, Hot Water, Outbuildings • No Fire Danger or Chimney Worries • Forced Air or Hot Water Heating • 3 Sizes -18 Colors • Forced Draft - Ash Auger Clean-out -.•Wood or Coal Grates • High Efficiency - Clean Burning • 10 Year Corrosion Warranty • Financing & Dealerships Available Outback Heating Dist. 888-763-8617