If Phosphorus-Based Nutrient Management Plan Is Adopted, What Does That Mean To Applicators? ANDY ANDREWS phosphorous higher and higher,” Editor said Doug Beegle, Penn State soil LEESPORT (Berks Co.) If the Pennsylvania Nutrient Man agement Law, or Act 6, will be changed to a “phosphorus based” program, dairy producers would have to place double the amount of manure down simply to meet nitrogen needs of crops. In turn, that double-edge ap proach only “builds our soil Speakers at the Manure Hauler Certification meeting in Berks County included, from left, Joel Myers, NRCB; Doug Beegle, Penn State soil fortuity specialist; Robert Melnen, Penn State senior extension associate; and Ken Kephart, Penn State swine specialist. 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Start experiencing the difference fresh air can make in your home or office -for just pennies a day! • Low Maintenance No Duct Work Needed 1060 Division Highway 322 East, Ephrata, PA 17522 1 Block East of Rt 222 (717) 733-4973 • 800-642-0310 www bowmansstove com Mon,Toes Wed 10to6,Thurs,Fn 10to8,Sal 10to4 |||l ßfR '4 ■ * REDUCTION * Safer Twine, 50 Lb. Feed Additives, implant®, Wonders And Sate Items Not Included, could bring to the manure appli cation business. Beegle noted that in the past, researchers believed several as sumptions. One of them was that “the only way we lost phosphortis was by erosion,” he noted. But there are other ways phosphorus is lost from the soil. In Pennsylvania, a lot of phos phorus in soils is tied up in stable, inorganic compounds, such as minerals and iron, aluminum, and silicon in clay soils. Erosion can carry phosphorus into streams. So can runoff from ex cess rainfall. Another challenge: the vast majority of phosphorus in the soil is tied up in the compounds in the soil, and “very unavailable,” Beegle said. Because phosphorus behaves like a “micronutrient,” Beegle said, enough phosphorus has to be present to meet the needs of the crop. A real problem exists, Beegle said. “There are lots of phosphorus, but a very small amount in a form that’s avail able.” Adjusting soil pH to the right levels of 6-7 helps the plants uti lize the nutrient. The producer must do a good job of liming, Beegle said. A problem for dairy farmers is Pi *ry ffpAUL . —* J. in D\ Your Complete Headquarters For Sprayers And Parts Raven Tough Polyethylene Tanks ___We Also Stock A Complete Line Of; wSemm n*ppn *SpiayerHose Sprayer Nozzles Pumps • Ball Valves And And PUMPS • Nylon Fittings Accessories Accessories * Poly Tanks PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN. INC. ■m i 50 Woodcorner Rd., Lititz, PA 17543 FT! -HOURS I ~ I . . . Mon , T tuns, Fi i 7-8 70 k||M) 1 Mile ' VeSt of E P hrata Tucs .Wed 75 70 UpS) (717)738-7350 s.u 7 4qo HARDWARE - FARM SUPPLIES • CRANE SERV ICE inventor that they will need twice as much land to spread the manure simply to meet the crop nitrogen needs. This will increase phosphorus buildup in the soil. For poultry manure, simply to balance for phosphorus, produc ers would need “four times as much land,” said Beegle. “That’s a big problem.” Beegle said that a crop such as com needs available phosphorus at two-tenths part per million “all the time.” Yet algae buildup in ponds and small streams can be caused by a tenth of that amount. To manage this problem, re search has come up with the “site index” system. If applicators can identify and manage 10 percent of the land that is away from streams and potential runoff, “we can manage 90 percent of the phosphorus,” Beegle said. “The challenge is, where are those areas on the farm? Let’s manage those and that will give us flexibility on the other 90 per cent.” The site program looks into potential transport of phosphorus through erosion, runoif, pattern drainage, and other factors, and provides a rating. Naturally, a higher rating is gained as long as the application is away from water sources. And the rating mii; -tv&t* «-W *frt **l*, «Wt-' Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 22,2001-A35 and timing of applications are tied up in regular soil testing. Beegle noted that Act 6 would be up for review within the next year. He’s not certain that the State Conservation Commission would decide to plan on phos phorus-based changes to the Act. “But if I had to guess, I think they are,” said Beegle. “1 think if they go with phosphorus, they will go with the phosphorus index approach. “I think it is a reasonable way to go in terms of addressing phos phorus,” he said. The key is to provide a review of the plan after its potential adoption to see if it is working. That will provide direction to de termine “what’s working and what isn’t,” Beegle said. In Maryland, a phosphorus based plan is already in place. Manure from poultry operations is collected at a site and pelle tized for use as fertilizer. Many farms in Pennsylvania receive their feed and thus their phosphorus from Mid west feed mills. That cycle has brought phosphorus in the area, where it stands. Experts believe the cycle of the phosphorus back, perhaps in terms of fertilizer or even fuel, could be a solution for producers in the region. Kb Office Closed Christmas, New Year’s On Christmas Da>, Tuesday Dec. 25, iMncaster Farming office is closed. The office will reopen Wednesday Dec. 26. For (he Dec. 29 issue, there are some deadline changes: Public Sale and Mailbox ads, 5 p.m. Friday. Dei. 21. Classified, Section D ads, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26. Classified, Section (.', Farm Equipment ads, 9 a.m. Thurs day. Dec. 27. General News, noon, Thurs day Dei. 27. On New Year's Day. Tuesday Jan 1. iMnuister harming office is closed. The office will reopen Wednesday, Jan. 2. For the Jan. 5 issue, there are some early deadline changes: Public Sale and Mailbox ads. 5 p.m. Friday Dec. 28. Classified, Section D ads, 4 p.m. Mondav, Dec. 31. Classified, Section C. larm Kquipment ads, 9 a.m. Wed nesday, Jan. 2. General News, noon, Wed nesday, Jan. 2. A better expanded, updated edition of the Lancaster Farming Agricultural Directory is scheduled in the Dec. 29 issue. Included will be more contact names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web addresses than ever before.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers