lll' JAN I i
Vol. 48 No. 46
Higlj tunnels proved very beedflalal. jnb matter the George DeVault’s
Pheasant Hill Farm, a operation near Emmaus. Plastic hoops and float
ing row cover provide extra warmth and protection, like an extra blanket on a cold
night, according to DeVault. Son Donald inspects the tunnel system, which held up well
even in heavy snow early In the season. Photo by George DeVault
GROWING UNDER COVER
On March 5 last year, our field
records show, we were in T
shirts, planting onions in the
open ground. Sugar snap peas
went in on St. Patrick’s Day
(March 17), right on schedule.
This year was a different story.
When St. Patty’s Day 2003 rolled
around, I had the 7-foot blade on
the back of the John Deere 1050.
Donald Sunday, Dallastown, exhibits the grand champion market steer at the York
Fair on Monday. See page A 42. Photo by Dave Lefever
www.lancaBterfarming.com
The tractor was in 4-wheel drive.
I was plowing a foot of frozen
snow and ice off of our best vege
table beds in a desperate attempt
to get the soil to thaw, dry out,
and warm up.
While I was plowing snow like
a madman, my son and wife were
calmly working in T-shirts. They
were harvesting salad mix, set
ting out transplants, and direct-
Five Sections
seeding other crops in warm,
fluffy soil. The secret was that
they were inside of our three high
tSßiifels. ■ -
Everyone seems to be jumping
on the high tunnel bandwagon
lately. Ads for them are every
where. And for good reason. A
high tunnel is nothing fancy or
terribly expensive, just a metal
frame covered with greenhouse
plastic. Unlike “low tunnels” of
plastic or bonded material on
wire hoops, high tunnels are tall
enough to walk upright inside.
We can even drive machinery in
side of our two largest tunnels.
We’ve never had much need to,
though. About all we need inside
is a garden tiller and a wheel
barrow.
(Turn to Page A 22)
Saturday, September 13, 2003
DFA Discusses Milk Markets
NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster Co.)
Dairy cow numbers are down
across the country, milk production is
about the same as a year ago, and re
tail cheese sales are up.
“All of that adds up to strong mar
kets,” said Gary Hanman, president
and CEO of Dairy Farmers of Ameri
ca (DFA), the country’s largest milk
cooperative.
Hanman spoke about dairy market
trends to about 50 farmer/members at
Yoder’s Restaurant in New Holland
Thursday evening.
“All market directions are positive
foi milk prices,” he said.
Steers Reach $lOO CWT
Cattle Set Record Prices
NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster
Co.) — Just when you think
they’ve gone about as far as they
can go, the upward trend in fed
cattle prices speeds up.
Steer prices peeked at $lOO for
a few High Choice and Prime
with average Choice at
$86.50-90.50 Tuesday at Vintage.
Meanwhile, trading in the mid
weStem feedlots was reported ac
tive earlier than usual (meaning
the packers needed cattle). Prices
in the Nebraska feedlots went to
$92.00 on High Select and Choice
with dressed basis sales soaring
$37.00 Per Year
DAVE LEFEVER
Lancaster Farming Staff
MILLIE BUNTING
Market Staff
New hay processor, new forage types, forage en
siling all these are part of this issue of Foraging
Around. Also included this issue: update on pastured
poultry research at Penn State and the latest hay
making and grazing information.
$l.OO Per Copy
While farmers can expect larger
milk checks this month and probably
through the end of the year, “our
crystal ball is not that clear” for 2004
and beyond, Hanman said.
Block cheese prices on the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange (CME) rose
from about $1.13 per pound in the
early months of the year to $1.60 per
pound in August, holding steady the
present.
According to Hanman, DFA lever
aged the increase in cheese prices by
buying large quantities of cheese on
the CME. Since cheese prices are the
“Class I mover” that determine fluid
(Turn to Page A 42)
to $144.00.
The USD A Des Moines market
(Turn to Page A3B)
Inside
The Farmer
✓ Denver Swine
Show page A2l.
✓ York Fair Cover
age page A 42.
✓ District Dairy
Show page A 32.