Nematode ‘Cleansing y Technique May Benefit Potato Crops PROSSER, Wash. Rotating potatoes with alfalfa or spear mint may offer farmers a sustain able way to reclaim crop soils contaminated with corky ring spot disease, Agricultural Re search Service studies suggest. Corky ringspot—a brown, bull’s-eye blemish on tubers —is caused by the tobacco rattle virus, which is passed into potato plants by wormlike soil organ isms called stubby root nema todes. In affected areas such as Washington’s Columbia Basin, where 5,000 acres are contami nated, potato farmers have either stopped growing the crop alto gether or resorted to fumigating soil to kill nematodes that spread the virus. At $250 per acre, however, fu migation is expensive. Plus, it kills soil organisms other than Corbett Selected To Head Land O’Lakes Fluid Milk Supply ARDEN HILLS, Minn. Land O’Lakes, Inc. announced the hiring of Gary Corbett to head the national food and agri cultural cooperative’s fluid milk supply division. Corbett previ ously served as vice president for dairy and governance with Dean Foods, Inc. “Gary Corbett brings extensive dairy industry and fluid-milk marketing experience and exper tise to our milk-supply opera tions,” said Land O’Lake Presi dent and Chief Executive Officer Jack Gherty. “Bringing Gary on board is a reflection of Land O’Lakes commitment to estab lishing a strong presence, and Left to Right; Neil (son) holding Kyle, Ruthie holding Kavita, & Glenn Bushong 72' x 152' x 14' Special Needs Barn with attached 32' x 40' Commodity 2-Bay Storage Building Mr TRIPLE H ff-'-' -_Z3) Ph (717)»66-65»VS\FAX(717)«M-7237 / g-V ~ ” construction MStMiM A^/ F 53 «**«*•««* 717-738-2142 dh Funk & Sons r - j j£jijjjh ™ U/Al l q c '^;;;s. i s:;r n r s si. 800-874-7531 Excepting Contractor V V A-\Ut_OINC Garage Doors WWW.lVipleHCenst.COni 3850 Continental Drive 717-484-2233 m' L 430 Concrete Av« Installation Electric Operators 430 Spnngville Road Columbia, PA 17512 - cc ~ .. D , wiiwoooaoof tuusm* Service Radio Controls _ . . * 4 _™ 255 HoJtzman Road Leola. PA Phone (717) 285-4262 Retnholds, PA 175(> c ) wi.ta-wn.ncHUW.MUW7 717 165 gheble road ,cZ™ZiZZiw Fax (717) 285-4963 71755i-Wle MYERSTOWN PA 17067 nematodes. A more sustainable, pest-specific approach could come from rotating potatoes with alfalfa or spearmint to rid the ne matodes of their viral payload, according to scientists Rick Boy dston, Pete Thomas and Hassan Mojtahedi. Boydston and Thomas are at ARS’ Vegetable and Forage Crop Production Research Unit in Pro sser, Wash. Mojtahedi works for Washington State University. Their strategy is based on two observations; First, the virus can’t survive in alfalfa or spear mint, so the nematodes can’t ac quire it while feeding on the plants’ roots. Second, the nema todes naturally shed the virus from their bodies by molting. Given enough time, the scientists reasoned, nematodes that fed only on these plants eventually would rid themselves of the virus. taking a leadership role, in the consolidating fluid-milk indus try.” In his new role as leader of the Land O’Lakes Fluid Milk Supply Division, Corbett will report to Land O’Lakes Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Dairy Foods Chris Po Lancaster Farming Check out our Website! WWW. I Designed and Built by Triple H Construction, Ephrata, PA and thus pose little or no danger of infecting a subsequent potato crop. Indeed, in greenhouse trials, virus-bearing nematodes that fed on potted alfalfa or spearmint plants for three months lost their ability to infect disease-free pota to plants. Conversely, nematodes that fed on tobacco, a natural host of the virus, retained their ability to infect disease-free pota to plants. Some farmers already practice this rotation but still fumigate fields with a previous history of corky ringspot. The key, scien tists emphasize, is to eliminate weeds in alfalfa or spearmint crops where nematodes can ac quire the virus. These include hairy and black nightshade, downy brome, common chick weed and prickly lettuce. They are among 38 weed species the scientists have tested. lincinski. Corbett will take over from Land O’Lakes Vice Presi dent for Public Affairs Don Berg, who had led the fluid milk sup ply division since it was organ ized in October 2001. Berg will now concentrate on public, mem ber, and governmental affairs ac tivities. iterfarmina.com nca: Thanks and Congratulations ... LEESPORT (Berks Co.) The case study of Tuscarora Or ganic Growers Cooperative will be presented March 18, from 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m., here at the Berks County Ag Center. Chris Fullerton, manager, will be part of a study circle to discuss the wholesale organic market of the cooperative. Cost is $5, pay able at the door. No registration is required. SUNBURY (Northumberland Co.) The Northumberland County Conservation District’s 32nd annual tree sale is under way. Orders will be accepted until March 22. Pickup this year will again be at the Rockefeller Township building on Seven Points Road. Trees will be available April 25-26. Bushong Farm Columbia, PA ( Lancaster County) Just Completed Study of Organic Growers Co-op At Berks Center Annual Tree Sale Set a!* a • v of LEE-MARFARM X** y' 2724 Conestoga Creek Rd, \ / Morgantown, PA \ / \ J JK \« VIP i V\ 610-286-9052 /« & Rentals^/qy °* v *>Cow’^ C< For more information about this meeting and other meetings addressing organic agriculture in southeast Pennsylvania, contact Mena Hautau, extension agent, Penn State Cooperative Exten sion-Berks County, P.O. Box 520, Leesport, PA 19533, (610) 378-1327, fax (610) 378-7961, or e-mail berksext@psu.edu. Brochures for the sale are available by calling the District office at (570) 286-7114 ext. 4. Brochures are also available if you stop by the conservation dis trict office on Plum Creek Road, RD3 Sunbury. Need ftn in equipment * Chet k mil the < hiwifjeth in Set lion C CLYDE MARTIN Sales Rep 1
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