A4O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 26, 2003
Hard Winter Good For Alfalfa Crop
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) —All signs indicate a bump
er crop of alfalfa across the com
monwealth, according to a crop
scientist in Penn State’s College
of Agricultural Sciences.
Marvin Hall, professor of for
age management in the depart
ment of crop and soil sciences,
says early reports from around
the state this spring all point to a
great start for alfalfa and other
forage crops. And it started, he
says, with the winter’s substantial
snow dumps.
“Forage plants are different
than people,” Hall said. “They
like winter weather that stays
cold, and heavy snow cover pro
tects them from severe cold.”
“Mild winter weather that
freezes, thaws, then refreezes is
the most damaging for forage
plants and alfalfa in particular.
Our motto is, ‘let it snow, let it
snow!’ On a scale of one to 10, I’d
say this winter was in the 8-to-9
range; I don’t expect to see much
damage due to winterkill.”
He explains that the less-severe
winters the state has enjoyed the
past few seasons promote a
freeze-and-thaw cycle that can
expose and tear alfalfa roots.
Winterkill is a special problem
for alfalfa, which is a perennial.
Maryland Conservation Tour May 1
AND WATER
CONSERVATION
j SOCIETY
(lIP* 1
2003 SPRING TOUR -“Nutrient Management
on diverse landscapes in Western Maryland”
2003 Spring Tour
Education Building
Reaislration (see note below)
All participants will meet at (he Allegany College
SWCS What is it?
Characteristics of Soils in the Region
Carl Robinette USDA NRCS
Acid Mine Drainage Floe lo control P" losses in runoff
Devmder Bhumbla WV Cooperative Extension
Break
Acid Mine Drainage Remediation Systems
Joe Mills MDE
Biosolids application/permit/mformalion process
Martha Hynson MDE
LUNCH (provided with registration)
Rotational Pasture and Weed Control
William Knepp MCE
Depart to Site #1 Fazenbaker Acid Mine Drainage Site Barton MO
Depart to Site #2 Rotational Pasture Farm Operation
Arrive back at Allegany Community College
Bus leaves to go back to Fredenck
* fo&s tnvniiAa from the Fr*o«rick if*» or frtpm point* Cast, * Oh*rt«f but wilt be t*avtpg ffte Ftfrfleriok
SCO o»C» parting tot at 7 00am t*«vlnfltomaal*tlh*Aitoo*oyC6»*aa
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Please Forms to David Kann MDA 604SolarexCt Ste 105 Fredenck MD 21703
Check payable lo SWCS MD Old Line Chapter For more Information Call 301 694 9290x109
REGISTRATION FORM
Soil & Water Conservation Society Maryland Old Line Chapter
2003 Spring Tour
“Nutnent Management on Diverse Landscapes m Western Maryland’
Name
Address
Telephone
Robert Fulton Fire Co
Hay, Straw &
Grain Auction
Every Thursday 10 am
Located on the
corner of RT 272 &
222 at Wakefield, PA
717-548-2492
717-548-2371
Randall Ranck
Auctioneer 003117-L
Consignments Wanted
No Out of State Checks
Alfalfa stands can overwinter
and bounce back to produce for
age for as long as IS years, with a
typical life of three to four years.
Alfalfa also is one of the most
nutritious forages, with a high
energy density. Hall explains that
those demands make predicting
annual yields important for live
stock and dairyproducers often
the difference between profitabili
ty and debt.
“If alfalfa yields are bad, it re
ally can affect a farmer’s profita
bility, because when they make
their own hay it’s a pretty cheap
feed source,” he said.lf they’re
expecting three tons to the acre
and they only get two, they can
suddenly be 50 tons short of for
age, and that has to come from
somewhere. But the amount that
they’re getting in milk revenues
isn’t changing, so it’s more of a
cost squeeze on the farmer.
“With a cost squeeze, fanners
aren’t spending as much money
in their local hardware stores and
jewelry stores and it affects the
whole agricultural community.
The consumer wouldn’t see it in
the prices. But if they owned a
business in the community,
they’d know it immediately when
farmers are having a hard time.”
Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS)
Maryland Old Line Chapter
ANNOUNCES
May 1 2003 • Allegany College of Maryland - Continuing
• Cumberland Md • 900- 3 30 * Cost $2O 00
May 1 2003
No of People Attending @ $2O 00 each
NM cert# (if applicable)
Zip Code
Amt enclosed
Lamb, Mutton Production Down
18 Percent, March Record Low
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Commercial red meat production
for the U.S. totaled 3.70 billion
pounds in March, up 1 percent
from the 3.68 billion pounds pro
duced in March 2002, according
to the National Agricultural Sta
tistics Service (NASS).
March 2002 contained 21
weekdays and five Saturdays.
March 2003 contained 21 week
days and five Saturdays.
Beef production, at 2.05 billion
pounds, was 1 percent below the
previous year. Cattle slaughter
totaled 2.77 million head, up 1
percent from March 2002. The
average live weight was 1,234
pounds, down 7 pounds from
March a year ago.
Veal production totaled 16.5
million pounds, 10 percent above
March a year ago. Calf slaughter
totaled 85,100 head, up 10 per
cent from March 2002. The aver
age live weight was 323 pounds,
down 1 pounds from March a
year ago.
Pork production totaled 1.62
billion pounds, up 2 percent from
the previous year. Hog kill iotal-
Fee Reduced
For Farmers
Attending
Half Day
CUMBERLAND, Md. The
Maryland Chapter of the Soil
and Water Conservation Society
is conducting a tour May 1 in
Cumberland, Md.
The Maryland Department of
Agriculture’s Nutrient Manage
ment Program has approved this
course for nutrient management
credits.
For fanners wanting to know
more about rotational grazing
and who wish only to attend the
afternoon session, the cost is re
duced to $lO.
Please see the attached an
nouncement for more details.
ed 8.15 million head, 2 percent
above March 2002. The average
live weight was 268 pounds, up 1
pounds from March a year ago.
Lamb and mutton production,
at 18.2 million pounds, was down
18 percent from March 2002.
Sheep slaughter totaled 264,000
head, 19 percent below last year.
The average live weight was 138
pounds, unchanged from March
Cattlemen Unite In D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Hun
dreds of farmers and ranchers
from across the country walked
the halls of the Capitol today,
meeting with key congressional
offices on top priority issues.
Most critical is the urgent need
for permanent repeal of the
Death Tax.
The livestock producers are ac
tive members of the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association
(NCBA).
“We represent generations of
rural families across the United
States who are struggling to
maintain their family ranches
built by our forefathers,” said
Idaho cattle producer and NCBA
President Eric Davis.
“The excessive burden of the
death tax hits us with a devastat
ing blow of up
to 55 percent in
taxes on the en
tire operation
when a family
member dies. It
is an unfair tax
on American
values and the
American
dream.”
In /an asset
rich and cash
poor business,
the appraised
value of rural
land is extreme
ly inflated from
the agricultural
value over the
years. Many cat
tle producers
are forced to sell
off land, parts of
the operation, or
a year ago.
January-March red meat pro
duction was 11.27 billion pounds,
virtually unchanged from 2002.
Accumulated beef production
was down 1 percent from last
year, veal was up 8 percent, pork
was up 2 percent, and lamb and
mutton production was down 15
percent.
the entire ranch to pay off tax lia
bilities. This takes more open
spaces out of agriculture produc
tion and puts it into the hands of
urban developers.
“We must fight for permanent
repeal of this antiquated tax. It’s
not a tax on the wealthy elite
it’s a death warrant for small-to
medium sized family businesses,”
said Jay Truitt, NCBA’s execu
tive director of legislative affairs.
“The rich can afford account
ants and estate planners to help
them evade the tax. They’re cash
rich and amass fortunes, place
the money within foundations,
and are able to easily survive this
tax burden.”
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