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. Most testing labs
are now using very similar pro
cessing methods, the procedures
of which are graphically illus
trated at the bottom of the test
* AUCE WHITE - large Leaves, Medium Height
iARBINA WHITE - #1 for Sheep, Goats & Horses
• START RED - Perfect in Grazing Mixtures
« BG 34 PERENNIAL
• BARALFA 54
Proven track record
• BARALFA 42 IQ
S-i and
BARALFA 32 IQ
Extremely high feed qualify
Phone £Qx
570-437-2156 Limestoneville, PA
717-328-3145 Mercersburg, PA
717-665-4821 Manheim, PA
717-486-7311 Boiling Springs, PA
570-799-0769 Catawissa, PA
,570-275-1738 Danville, PA
570-275-1343 Danville, PA
814-334-5281 Harrison Valley, PA
.717-933-8211 Lebanon, PA
717-242-3712 Lewistown, PA
.570-966-3947 Lewisburg, PA
570-759-1311 Mifflinville, PA
,800-258-6689 Mill HoH, PA
717-589-7676 Millerslown, PA
570-546-3117 Muncy, PA
570-538-1170 New Columbia, PA
888-567-6556 Reedsville, PA
717-532-9501 Shippensburg, PA
814-237-2339 Slate College, PA
.570-649-5579 Turbotville, PA
result sheets.
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