AFGC’s Conference For Affiliate Leaders Sponsored by the American Forage and Grassland Council and the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council November 5 -7, 2002 Carlisle, Pennsylvania The slh Conference for Affiliate Leaders will be held at Carlisle Pennsylvania Tin. program includes a special tour of nearby Gettysburg The Gettysburg campaign (1863) lasted three days in which tune 48,000 men were either killed, wounded or missing and was a turning point in the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made Ins famous Gettysburg Address there Gettysburg National Military Park. Gettysburg National Cemeteiy, and the farm ol President Dwight D Eisenhower are national historic shnnes and popular tourist attractions Cost Your only cost to attend is transportation to Carlisle and a great ‘package price ol S9O/person double occupancy or SKK) single room occupancy (Package price includes 2 nights lodging and 5 meals) Who Can Attend Anyone interested in learning more about AFGC and wavs to energize affiliate councils Participants do not have to be the ol final affiliate council contact for a given state Main Program Goals To help affiliate councils catch a vision of what could be done at the local level through their own leadership To share effective program ideas among affiliates To gne affiliates a chance to shape future AFGC programming and services in order to serve affiliates belter To produce stronger forage councils at the local level To increase communication between affiliate councils and AFGC For more information contact the AFGC otfne at 1-800-944-2342 Constant Feed Angle 4 The GLEANER® R 62 rotary combine offers a 300-bushel standard bin capacity, 285 hp Cummins engine and GLEANER engineering ingenuity inside and out. And only the GLEANER rotary combine system doesn't make your crop change directions before threshing. Come in for a closer look at the R 62, along with details on the exclusive GLEANER warranty. It covers your GLEANER combine from header to spreader for 2 years, with unlimited hours and no deductible. That's like the inside track to producing more. *A GLEANER exclusive B. EQUIPMENT, INC. Waynesboro, PA 717-762-3193 Natural Flow System With 360° Of Separation* The Inside Story. tiFT for your precision needs f* \ '-W * f SSS lOPIMi C.J. WONSIDLER BROS. Quakertown, PA New Tripoli, PA Oley, PA 215-536-7523 610-767-7611 610-987-6257 Applying Manure On Alfalfa Scott Hendrickson UW Extension Spreading manure on al falfa ground boils down to three options: 1) apply manure on older alfalfa stands in the fall immediately before plowdown; 2) topdress manure on viable alfalfa stands during the growing season; and/or 3) apply manure before alfalfa estab lishment. Applying manure on older alfalfa stands immediately before fall plowdown has a lot going for it. These are fields typically targeted for corn the following spring. Field “drive-ability” is usu ally pretty good in fall along with time and help to get the job done. Heads up though for the possibility of manure runoff. Plans for incorpora tion the day following spreading don’t mean much if an evening gully washer sends runoff into critical water sources. Think also Distribution Auger System* Accelerator Rolls* GLEANER* Pngfnevrvd tor fatter Returns HERNLEY’S FARM EQUIPMENT, INC. Elizabethtown, PA 717-367-8867 • 1-800-564-2511 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, July 13,2002, Foraging Around- about the nitrogen needs for that corn crop. When you factor in the nitrogen credits from manure along with those from the plowdown al falfa crop, you may have more nitrogen than that corn crop needs. Nitrate leaching to groundwater isn’t much of a problem on eastern red clays, but on sands and loamy sands this may be something to check out with local soil and water profes sionals. Topdressing manure on viable alfalfa stands during the growing season is an option, but it certainly wouldn’t be the best choice. No doubt that on fields test ing low for phosphorus and potassium the fertility from the manure can add some yield potential. There are lots of drawbacks though. Among them; possible leaf burning from manure-carried salts and ammonia, crown damage from wheel traffic, and ero sion susceptibility. If this is the only option on the table, there are some cri teria to keep in mind. Target older alfalfa vs. younger al falfa stands. Damage to younger alfalfa stands is something you’ll have to live with for several years. Older stands may soon be sched uled for rotation. Grassier stands may benefit from manure nitrogen and would be better choices than pure le gumes. Limit manure to 3,000 to 5,000 gallons/acre or 10 tons/acre in a single appli cation. Leaf burn potential is less if manure is applied right after harvest before regrowth starts. Also, pay attention to soil conditions (i.e. avoiding soggy fields offers less com paction and crown damage). Finally, limit those large spreader chunks that can cause smothering. The final option that works well for many is applying manure before alfalfa estab lishment. Around here, these are typically fall applications ifter corn grain or silage har vest with alfalfa planned for the following spring. There are lots of advantages with this. Preplant manure appli cations can save commercial fertility dollars for phospho rous, potassium, boron and sulfur. Some interesting re search from the University of Minnesota (Schmitt, 1992) found the preplant manure applications may enhance yield more than commercial fertilizer, possibly related to aeration and other organic matter benefits from the manure Several disadvantages, however, need to be man aged. Mix manure well into the topsoil to minimize prob lems with poor seedbeds. Pay close attention to spring her bicide timing and on-time cutting schedules. New Publication A new publication entitled Understanding Forage Qual ity is now available. This 20- page multi-colored publication was written by forage scientists from across the country and represents the most up-to-date, practi cal, easy to read information on forage quality. Compli mentary copies are available from the Crop and Soil Sci ences Dept, at Penn State by calling Lisa at (814) 865-2543 or e-mailing LACB@psu.edu. Attention Grassland Farmers World Feeder Bermuda Grass Field Day Saturday, July 27, 2002 Mike Phillips Farm near Harrisonburg, VA 11:30 am until 4:00 pm. Call (540) 896-7381 for information. 197
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers