Be A Good Steward: Control Weeds, Forage Pests, Pesticides SANDRA LEPLEY Somerset Co. Correspondent BERLIN (Somerset Co.) —“We don’t only want to pro duce the greatest profit in our fanning businesses, we also want to be good stewards of the land,” said Sjoerd Duiker, an assistant professor for the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Penn State who spoke to a group of Somerset County farmers recent ly at Somerset County Crops Day in Berlin. Duiker was one of several ex perts in agriculture who gave Somerset County farmers updat ed and relevant research and in formation at the Berlin Commu nity Center. How to be a “good steward” of the land in terms of controlling weeds and forage pests with pes ticide control while still being aware of the environment be came the focus for the annual meeting. Duiker, who is originally from Holland, spoke to the group about cover crops and how to use cover crops to improve soil, soil tilth, reduce erosion and fix nitro gen. “This not only helps farmers learn about how to improve their operation but it also helps farm ers become aware of new regula tions and raises environmental awareness at the same time,” said Duiker. Melanie Barkley, agricultural extension agent from Bedford County coordinated the all-day event, where speakers from Penn STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) Acting Agriculture Secre tary Dennis Wolff today an nounced that 77 bulls on the 2002-03 Performance Evaluation Test at the Livestock Evaluation Center have passed the 84-day mark of their evaluations. “Pennsylvania Agriculture continues to lead as we enter the 21st century,” said Acting Secre tary Wolff. “To stay competitive, Pennsylvania must maintain the excellence of its breeding pro- We offer the following services for the most complete pest control possible. Whether your need is to control pests, eliminate harmful bacteria, or encourage beneficial insects, we have the tools to help you. Flies and beetles are susceptible to many natu rally occurring diseases Applied twice a week, BALANCE (a naturally occurring fungus) works to reduce the adult fly & beetle population State Cooperative Extension and the Western Pennsylvania Con servancy discussed new tech niques for crop management as well as ways in which to protect the environment. She explained that commodity prices have been remaining steady or dropping as compared to the cost of production so farm ers need to work more cost effec tively and efficiently to make more informed decisions about their businesses. “The farmers are here today for two reasons,” she said “First of all, agriculture is continually changing and the farmers here today are getting some updated, researched information and sec ond, they are also able to update their private pesticide license with credits.” Marvin H. Hall, professor of forage management at Penn State who spoke on the topic of “Common Forage Pests in Penn sylvania,” explained in an inter view after his discussion that the olden days when farming might have been more of a “good old boys” network is over. “Farming is a business and it is essential that the farmers stay on top of that business by coming to workshops such as this,” said Hall. He also discussed the Timothy mite, which is a pest that gets on timothy in the spring and makes it look like it is drought-stressed. This pest has just recently en tered Pennsylvania and may show up in the Somerset County area this year. It has already been Bull Evaluation Shows 84-Day Test Results grams, one way to do that is through the use of proven genet ics.” Bulls were placed on test on Oct. 29 at the PDA Livestock Evaluation Center in State Col lege, Centre County, and over the course of 112 days will be evalu ated for average weight gain, feed efficiency, and genetic potential. Based on the performance of the bulls, the Livestock Evalua tion Center can objectively de termine their hereditary poten- &M ‘Unique Farm Services” II CLARK • Licensed Gr Insured 1:717.361.6065 • Fax: 717.361.0867 I: cnoflies@paonline.com located in Virginia and Maryland and parts of New York state. “Hopefully, the farmers here will never see the Timothy Mite but it is good to be prepared for it if and when it hits,” he said. In addition to the speakers mentioned, Tom Zundle from Blair County Cooperative Exten sion and Ben Wright of the West ern Pennsylvania Conservancy also spoke. For Deborah Knapp of the Central City area, getting some updated information and learn ing about new research in the ag ricultural arena is why she decid ed to attend Somerset County Crops Day. Knapp, who has an agricultur al science degree from Penn State University, has within the past year moved back to Somerset County after her and her hus band Michael and their family traveled throughout the U.S. while he served in the U.S. Army. He retired as a lieutenant colonel last year and they recently pur chased the family farm. She at tended Crops Day with her fa ther Marlin Shaffer. “Growing up, I worked with beef cattle and took them to the local fair and learned to appreci ate and value that in my life and now I want my children to be ex posed to that,” said Knapp. “For now, I am looking for my niche in terms of what I will grow on the farm. I need to study what the market is, and Somerset County Crops Day has helped me in terms of awareness and up dated research.” tial. The resulting offspring are more efficient and have more ge netic potential for the producer. Results of the Bull Perform ance Test at the 84-Day point are as follows: listing breed, number on test, breed Average Daily Gain (ADG), and Breed Average Weight per Average Day of Age (Wt./DOA) Angus: 41 Bulls, 4.18 ADG, 3.37 Wt./ DOA Farm Services^! Elizabethtown • Pennsylvania * Fumigation • GET READY FOR SPRING! Charolais: 4 Bulls, 4.13 ADG, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 15, 2003-A33 Melanie Barkley, right, a Bedford County Cooperative Extension agent, talks with Deborah Knapp and her father Marlin Shaffer, both of the Central City area, during a break at Somerset County Crops Day at the Berlin Com munity Center in Somerset County. Deborah has recently moved back to Somerset County with her husband Mi chael and family and attended the workshop in order to get updated information for her agricultural plans for the family farm. Al Training Upcoming NEW WILMINGTON (Law rence Co.) —AI training will be conducted March 11, 12, and 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Wil mington Livestock Auction, one- half mile north of New Wilming ton on Route 158. It will also be conducted April 3.67 Wt./ DOA Hereford: 6 Bulls, 3.46 ADG, 3.24 Wt./DOA Limousin: 1 Bull, 2.48 ADG, 2.71 Wt./DOA Shorthorn: 1 Bull, 3.60 ADG, 3.09 Wt./DOA Simmental: 24 Bulls, 3.87 ADG, 3.48 Wt./ DOA At the conclusion of the test, the bulls will be offered for sale on March 28 at the Ag Arena, University Park, Centre County. The most recent census data 10 and 11, 6:30 p.m. and April 12, 10 a.m. at the Damascus Livestock Auction, one mile south of Route 62 on east side of Valley Road. For registration contact Dave Watt of COBA Select Sire at (800) 837-2621, ext. 3445. shows income from Pennsylvania beef production on 28,000 farms was $409.7 million, an increase of 6.7 percent from the previous year. For more information on the Livestock Evaluation Center, the Bull Performance Test, or Penn sylvania’s beef industry, contact the Department of Agriculture at (717) 787-4737 or Glenn Eberly at the Department’s Livestock Evaluation Center (814) 238-2527.
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