Agronomy-Industry Field Day Debuts ANDY ANDREWS Editor LANDISVILLE (Lancaster Co.) Beware of spent hoof bath material and “black com.” That was the take-home mes sage for those who use copper sulfate hoof baths and then spread the spent material along with slurry on fields. “At what levels would (copper levels) be toxic?” noted Richard C. Stehouwer, associate professor of environmental soil science and extension specialist, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Penn State. It varies from soil to soil and crop to crop. “There are no definitive answers.” Copper is toxic to harmful bac teria and is used in the hoof baths to control heel warts in cattle. Richard C. Stehouwer, soil scientist and extension specialist, speaks about the concerns over spent hoof bath copper buildup. eat ecu Sunday v '*W Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 82, Low 60 UV: 7 The local 7-Day Forecast is for Lancaster County The ultraviolet index is a guide to exposure to the 7-9, high, 10 or above, very high The Week Ahead Temperatures recipitation Last Week’s Precipitation 30-Day Temperature Outlook Lancaster July 03 July 04 July os July 06 July 07 July 08 ' July 09' All forecasts and maps provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2003 But not only can the copper prove toxic to some crops in high enough doses, but can be detri mental to livestock as well. “Black com” refers to the si lage com that receives a dose of the slurry. Penn State saw in at least one example a concern that has them examining the issue. More than 200 farmers, agen cies, and agri-industry people were part of the first Penn State sponsored Agronomy-Industry Field Day at the Penn State Southeast Research and Exten sion Center Wednesday in Land isville. The field day replaces the old “weed day” for seed sales representative traditionally at the site. Penn State is looking toward showing ways in which growing crops correctly in the right type of system impacts animal growth and overall health. In soil matter, copper adheres to soil organic matter and clays. The material can prove toxic to some crops, especially in high enough doses. More likely, cattle fed from crops with high doses could also be subject to toxicity. Three farms using hoof bath waste mixed in with manure near State College were examined. The manure was spread on fields. Soil tests were conducted. Two of the field soil tests revealed no ele vated soil copper levels. But one farm clearly had about two to three times as much total copper as needed, noted Stehouwer. But upon sampling the com plants, the crop “looked beauti ful,” he said. When the researchers looked at black corn, Stehouwer noted that clean corn registered about 5 parts per million (ppm) of cop per. Black com soared to 102 ppm. Washed com, noted Ste 7-Dav Forecast for er Monday Clouds and sun with a shower possible. High 80, Low 58 UV: 7 trace trace 0.14’ 0 05” 0.04" 0.00” 0.04’ houwer, registered a drop to 30 ppm. Black com really has the po tential for increasing copper in livestock ration, Stehouwer noted. The solution to copper man agement: test the soil and make sure to take plant tissue samples. The copper is absorbed into the animal’s liver and could create toxicity problems. Some people believe zinc baths would be an alternative, but it’s just another metal that can prove toxic at high enough concentra tions, noted Stehouwer. Also at the field day, Doug Beegle, professor of agronomy and extension soil fertility spe cialist, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, noted that starter fertilizers can produce improved growth response. Comparing 10-30-10 and ammonium sulfate starters provided no yield differ ence, however. But on high phosphorus test ing soils, out of five times, using ammonium sulfate starter pro- Doug Beegle, soil fertility specialist, examines the ben efits off fertilizer. Note how tall the corn is during a relatively good growing season. Tuesday Sunshine and some clouds. High 84, Low 64 UV; 8 *«; B % Almanac For the week ending Wednesday, Jul 9 Temperature High ; : 87 Low 68 B5 Normal low for week ahead 64 Above Normal Precipitation IbtaHMtWMk Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last yhar to date Normal year to date Growing Degree Days Month to date Season to date Farming Forecast | An upper-level trough will keep aePyj* it unstable both Sunday and Monday, and a shower or thun dershower can develop and move across the area A thunderstorm can bring a quick 0 50 of an inch of ram to some spots Average humidity will be 50-65 percent A cool front will arrive by midweek with the chance for a thunder storm later Wednesday or Wednesday night Temperatures will average near normal Near Normal Below Normal Above Normal Near Normal Below Normal ncaster a Wednesday Warm with partial sun, chance for a t-storm in the p.m. High 88, Low 66 UV 6 sun The higher the UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection 0-2, minimal, 3-4, low, 5-6, moderate, ....... 0.27" 0 27” 1.30" . 21 96” 18.95’ 22 27” .... 241 1141 Above Normal Near Normal *1 ' Below Normal A crowd listens attentively during fair weather to Doug Beegle talk about starter fertilizer benefits during the first Agronomy-Industry Field Day near Landisville. vided a 21 percent increase in total yield. “Will the response pay for the other four times there is no response?” noted Beegle. However you look at it, there is, Beegle said, “little correlation be tween early growth response and yield response.” Penn State still strongly recom mends starter fertilizer on low testing soils. Surroun Thursday Warm with sunshine and a few clouds. High 88, Low 64 UV 9 < Regional Forecast Shown is Sunday's weather Temperatures are highs and lows for the day 30-Day Precipitation Outlook Other speakers included Sjoerd W. Duiker, assistant professor of soil management and extension specialist. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, who noted that only 8 percent of the planted acres in Lancaster County are in no-till. There were demonstra tions of zone and strip tillage at the field day. Dave Johnson, manager of the research station, takes over for John Yocum, who retired this year after 41 years of service to Penn State. Johnson noted Yocum “worked here for 41 years. I’m 41 years old. I have a lot to leam, John. I have big shoes to fill.” Johnson noted that while Yocum was an expert on tobacco, “I know next to nothing on to bacco,” Johnson said to those who attended. Other aspects of the tour, in cluding the latest research in formation on forage and grain crop production from the field day, is scheduled in Lancaster Farming special sections, includ ing the September issue of For aging Around and the October issue of Corn Talk. reas Friday •£ ", Partial sun, warm and humid with a thunderstorm possible High 88, Low 64 UV-6 i '-S ’ % * 81/61 . AccuWeather.eom Saturday ' A* mitttl km r »f 1 Sunny to partly cloudy and warm High 86, Low 56 UV. 8 jS* i f tv 11 0 I Above Normal Near Normal Below Normal
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