AlO-Larlcastef Farming, Saturday, July 6, 2002 OPINION Historic Holstein Convention Last week we had the splendid chance to attend and cover the Na tional Holstein Convention in Atlantic City. What a place! More importantly, we had the chance to see something historical happen. In a big development, the Holstein Association U.S.A. voted 93-44 to provide power to the board. That gave the board the right to make business decisions, such as setting registration, transfer, and other fees, rather than the delegates themselves, who controlled such things in the past. The board of directors assume this power from the delegates. During policy negotiations at the delegates’ meeting near the end of the week, the observation was made by some that the association was tired of the “rubber stamp” approach of the past. Some executive posts of the association and this could apply to many agricultural trade and commodity associations as well have been entrenched so long they have the power over what the board wants. Executive officers stay while many board members come and go- So this could be a way to further balance the power, offering a great “checks and balances” system, to allow an association to operate in a stronger capacity. But the states, recognizing this kind of huge prece dent, continue to operate under their own set of governance and regu lations. Maybe it’s time to change that. We believe the association’s decision was a correct and daring ap proach, one that will benefit everyone over the long term. We congrat ulate their foresight in this matter and are willing to work, along with them, to provide better news and information about news as its made available to us. Maryland Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn Field Days. Sunday, July 7 Conservation Leadership School, Penn State Stone Valley Rec reation Area, ages 15-18, thru July 12, (814) 865-8301. Derry Twp. Ag Fair, thru July 13. Forest Ecology Camp, Sandy Lake, thru July 12, (724) 376-1000. Monday, July 8 Annual Summer Technical Con ference and In-Service train ing, Coudersport High School, Coudersport, thru July 11. Mason Dixon Fair and Tractor Pull, thru July 13. Mercer County Grange Fair, thru July 13. Pa. Young Farmers Assoc, and Summer Institute, Penn Wells Hotel, Main Street, Wellsboro, thru July 10. Junior Judging School, Hunting don County Holstein Club, noon, also July 9, (814) 234-0364. DEP Pa.’s Chesapeake Bay Nu trition Reduction Strategy, South Central Regional Office, Susquehanna Room, Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., (717) 787-5267. Lancaster Farming Check out our Website! www.lancaste ❖ Far : JW v * * > « v> r Tuesday, July 9 Teen Leadership Conference, Lebanon Valley College, Ann ville, thru July 12. Clarion County Farm Forum Pasture Walk, Martin and Lori Whitmore, 7 p.m., (814) 782-0033. No-Till Field Day for Horse Farmers, David Stoltzfus Farm, Gap, 9 a.m.-l p.m. Soil Restoration and Manage ment for Organic, Biodynamic Vegetable Production, Rox bury Farm at Owl Hill, Rt. 94, Kinderhook, Columbia Coun ty, N.Y., 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10 American Society for Ecology and Viticulture annual meet ing, Sheraton In Town, Balti more, Md. Weed tour, Russell Larson Ag Research Center, Rockspring. Ohio Ag Systems and Environ mental Field Day, Coshocton, Ohio, (740) 545-6349. Somerset County Holstein Show, Fairgrounds, Meyersdale, 6:30 p.m. DEP public meeting on Pa.’s Chesapeake Bay Nutritional Reduction Strategy, N.E. Re gional DEP office, Susquehan na Room, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, 1:30 p.m. and 7 (Turn to Page A 22) irmm To Control Potato Leafhopper Infestations In Alfalfa Paul Craig, capitol region agrono my agent, reports the potato lealhop per (PLH) started arriving especially early this spring. Scouts found adults in the first cutting in early May. However, the colder-than-normal weather in late May appeared to sig nificantly slow down the develop ment of the leafhopper population. Following first cutting, the insect was increasing in population levels, but most producers decided to har vest instead of applying control ma terials to second cutting. Some sec ond cutting fields that were harvested last showed slight discolor ation because of PLH feeding. All indications are that there will be heavy pressure on the third cut ting from PLH. Regrowth has been slowed because of moisture stress across the region, and high popula tions of adults will quickly increase populations of the feeding nymphs LORD OF THE SEVEN WONDERS Background Scripture: Psalms 65; 104. Devotional Reading: Psalms 65. A psychiatrist prescribed a visit to Niagara Falls to a patient because, he said, she needed to take a long, hard look at something bigger than her self. Perhaps many of us fail to “get anything out of’ worship because we do not make it an opportunity to focus on something greater than our selves. Concentrating all our atten tion upon ourselves is a very limiting perspective. But whenever we look beyond the horizon of self, we can be swept up and beyond. Psalm 104 focuses upon the Lord, who is the creator of everything. It inspired Robert Grant’s great hymn, “O Worship The King.” To me, the psalm is equally suggestive of ‘How Great Thou Art,” also a celebration of God the creator. This psalm was probably sung during the annual New Year festival when the drama of creation was memorialized. Prof. Samuel Terrien calls the God of Psalm 104 “The Lord of Seven Wonders.” He says this psalm is singular in that “the whole universe is encompassed within a single sweep of religious vision.” The psalmist opens with a sweeping pronounce- Lancaster Farming An Award-Winning Farm Newspaper • Keystone Awards 1993,1995 • PennAg Industries 1992 • PACD Media Award 1996 • Berks Ag-Busmess Council 2000 • Recognized for photo excellence throughout the years by the Northeast Farm Communicators and adults. The hot temperatures we have experienced recently greatly favor development of this pest, which is the number 1 pest of alfalfa across the U.S. Research has shown that feeding of alfalfa by PLH will affect forage quality, forage production (tonnage), stand longevity, and forage produc tion next season as well. Alfalfa vari eties sold as potato leafhopper resis tant or tolerant are not the sole answer. Benefits of these varieties have been found to increase as the stand increases in age. First season growth of these varieties will still suf fer loss from potato leafhopper, espe cially when populations are excep tionally high. Growers should strive to carefully manage new seedings of alfalfa to re duce injury from potato leafhopper. Until a new seedling is one year old. it is still in the “development” stage and can be affected by insects that affect stand life and production. Scouting of potato leafhopper is an easy and reliable way to prevent seri ous injury. To protect your alfalfa crop from damage, monitor the situ ation in your fields. Waiting until yellowing or “hopper bum” is evi dent is too late. Damage will have al ready occurred. In a square-shaped field, monitor ing in a “U” shaped pattern and, in a rectangular field, an “I” shaped pat tern is best. In each field select five sample sites along the “U” or “I” shape. Use an insect net with a 15-inch diameter hoop and a tightly knit bag such as muslin. Within each of the five sample sites, make 20 sweeps with the net while walking in a zigzag pattern. Don’t stop swinging the net until each of the 20 sweeps are completed. Sweep the net about 3-4 inches below the tops of the plants. After completing the 20 sweeps in the first site, continue to swing the net back and forth a few times to force the insects into the small end of the bag. Grab the net quickly about 10 inches from the small end to trap the insects in a rather small area. ment: “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, thou art very great!” (104:1) The Wonder Of Light He then begins with the first won der (vs. 2-4), light, praising the Lord “ ... who coverest thyself with light as a garment” (v. 2). The psalmist saw the Lord as clothed in unearthly primeval light. According to him, it is not by darkness, but by an impene trable light that God is concealed from us, just as 1 Timothy 6:36 says that the Lord “dwells in light unap proachable.” Prof. John Knox says this means that “while men can apprehend some things about God, his complete na ture and being are concealed from them.” That also is a wonder which should blow our minds beyond the limitations of self. The second wonder (vs. 5-9) is the earth: “Thou didst set the earth in its foundation, so that it should never be shaken.” The use of a participle form in the verbs indicates that the psalm ist sees creation, not just as a cosmic event in the distant past, but as a continuing wonder. The Lord not only was the Creator, but still is cre ating today. The third wonder is water (vs. 10-13): “Thou makest springs gush forth in the valleys.” Wonder num ber four (vs. 14-18) is vegetation: “ ‘Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate.” The moon and the sun (vs. 19-23) are the fifth wonder: “Thou hast made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.” The sea is wonder num ber six (vs. 24-26): “Yonder is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things innumerable.” The Greatest Wonder The crowning wonder, number seven (vs. 27-30), is the gift of life: “When thou givest to them, they gather it up ... when thou takest away their breath, they die and they return to their dust.” Without God The difficult part is identifying and counting the potato leafhoppers. Count all the pale green adults (dis regard any brown ones) and the nymphs. Slowly open the net and be alert for adults that can leave the net quickly without being noticed. After counting is completed, make note of the total. Then repeat this procedure at the next four sites. This will com plete 100 sweeps. Now calculate the number of leaf hoppers per 10 sweeps. For example if you collected a total of 60 leafhop pers in 100 sweeps, divide 60 by 10 for an average of 6 leafhoppers per 10 sweeps. If threshold levels are low, repeat sampling on a weekly basis. Adults can fly and will move into new growth from surrounding areas. To Determine Economic Injury Threshold For Your Alfalfa Field A number of factors need to be considered when determining if spraying to control the leafhopper population is justified. The first fac tor is the number of leafhoppers present in the field. The second fac tor is the development of the plants. A relatively low number of leaf hoppers can inflict a serious amount of damage it they are present when the plants are small. Greatest losses to the alfalfa crop from leafhopper feeding occur before the plants reach six inches in height. Plants 12 inches and taller can tolerate leafhopper feeding without high losses. A third factor to consider is wheth er you have a potato leafhopper-re sistant variety. A publication entitled “A Pest Management Program for Alfalfa In Pennsylvania” is available from your county extension office. Consult the charts in this publication for addi tional assistance in determining the economic threshold for your alfalfa crop. Quote of the Week; “Men make history and not the other way around. ” Harry Truman there is no life, but God gives life to his creation and is ever renewing it. Life does not belong to humans, ani mals, or any other living form; it be longs to God. At birth, he gives it as a gift; at death, he takes it back. The key to the last section of the psalm is verse 34: “May my medita tion be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” All the wonders he has enumerated and over which he has exulted are the end result of his med itation. He has pondered deeply and long and this has inspired him to re joice in God’s wonders. “There would be more inspired po etry, better hymns, and more power ful preaching,” says Prof. Knox, “if there were more meditation.” Wor ship would be more uplifting and prayer and praise would be more natural. Meditating on the wonders of God can be so beneficial to us. It is we who are blessed when we say or sing: “Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!” How To Reach Us To address a letter to the editoi: • By tax: (717) 733-6058 • By regular mail: Editor, Lancaster Farming P.O. Box 609,1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 By e-mail: farming @ lancnews.infi.net Please note: Include your full name, return address, and phone number on the letter. Lancaster Farming reserves the right to edit the letter to fit and is not responsible for returning unsolicited mail. Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 —by— Lancaster Farming, Inc. A Stemman Enterprise William J. Burgess General Manager Andy Andrews, Editor Copyright 2002 by Lancaster Farming
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers