Reduced-Cost Corn Production

With the increase in costs for nearly all crop inputs, many growers are looking for ways to reduce costs without sacrificing yield.  Below are a few ideas on reduced cost corn production:

 

1. No-Till –reducing the amount of tillage can mean significant reductions in fuel, labor and machinery costs.  Savings can vary from farm to farm but can be in the range of $20-$40 per acre.

 

2. Calculate nitrogen contributions from manure history - you get a credit of 35 lbs of N in fields that have a history of continuous manure application.

 

3. Calculate nitrogen contribution from fall 2007 and spring 2008 manure applications.  Dairy manure will have about 10 lbs of N per ton, broiler manure can have more than 60 lbs of N per ton.  Even if the manure is not incorporated, it will contribute a significant amount of N to the 2008 crop.

 

4.  Target manure applications to the highest priority fields- typically 2^nd and 3^rd year corn fields.

 

5.  Plan cropping programs well in advance and make crop input decisions early.  This ensures input availability, good prices and in some cases, year-end tax savings.

 

6. Eliminate your starter fertilizer in fields with high Phosphorus levels (well into the 'above optimum' level on a Penn State soil test).  There is rarely a yield benefit to starter in these high testing fields, especially at mid to late planting dates.

 

7. Work with your dealer or Extension Educator to design an effective weed control strategy that may be more affordable.  Remember that single-pass programs mean less fuel and labor or reduced custom applicator fees.

 

8. Use pre-sidedress nitrogen testing (either the soil PSNT or Chlorophyll meter) to determine sidedressing needs.  In many cases we find fields with a history of manure need very little or no sidedress, even if our calculated N values from 2 & 3 above are less than what the crop needs

 

 

 

By Dave Messersmith, Penn State Extension, Wayne County and Greg Roth, Grain Crops Extension Specialist

 

Local Government Day

March 13

 

 

                Teens, ages 13 and older (as of 1/1/08) as well as 4-H Leaders, parents, community members, school groups, etc. are invited to attend Local Government Days (LGD) on Wednesday, March 13, from 8:30 a.m.to 2:30 p.m..  The program will be held at the Penn State Worthington Campus in Dunmore.  Local Government Day offers teens the opportunity to learn about local government through role playing and discussion with community experts and government officials.  This year’s topic will be “Do the Crime, Pay the Time” and will explore the local Magistrate’s office regarding sentencing.  For example what are the minimums and maximums?  Are they allowed to step outside of those guidelines?  How do they decide what punishment fits what crime?  Morning refreshments, lunch and program materials will be provided.  Registration and $5.00 for 4-H members, parents and leaders, $15.00 to all others is due March 3, 2008.  Transportation may be available based on interest.  Call the 4-H office at 570-253-5970 ext. 4110 to register.

 

 

4-H is a Community of young people across America who are learning Leadership, Citizenship and Life Skills 

Kim C. Mikulak
PSU Cooperative Extension
Wayne County
4-H/Youth Development

925 Court Street
Honesdale, PA   18431
(570) 253-5970 ext. 4110
FAX 570-253-9478
kcm11@psu.edu

4-H Night with the Penguins!

4-H NIGHT with the PENGUINS!

Friday, March 28

 

The Arena in Wilkes-Barre is the place to be if you like Penguins Hockey.  A 4-H reception held from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. with game time @ 7:00 p.m.  Ticket price includes:

·         a pre-game reception with hotdogs and drinks,

·         a free Pens hat,

·         Dennis Bonvie “bobble-gloves” to the first 6,000 fans,

·         free 4-H giveaways

·         and a game ticket.

Tickets are $23.00 per person; orders go to the Lackawanna Extension office by March 10.  Make checks payable to the Lackawanna County 4-H Development Fund.

Please RSVP the Penn State Extension Office in Wayne County also.  If there is enough interest perhaps transportation arrangements may be made.

 

 

4-H is a Community of young people across America who are learning Leadership, Citizenship and Life Skills 

Kim C. Mikulak
PSU Cooperative Extension
Wayne County
4-H/Youth Development

925 Court Street
Honesdale, PA   18431
(570) 253-5970 ext. 4110
FAX 570-253-9478
kcm11@psu.edu

4-H Japanese Exchange Program Opportunity

 

This summer 12 Japanese students and one chaperone will come to Pennsylvania as part of the 4-H Japanese Exchange Program.  Each student will be here for a one-month home stay experience from July 25 through August 23.  If you would like to learn more about another culture, please consider being a host family.  The students, ages 12 – 17, will be matched with a host sibling of the same gender, similar in age, and interests.  Exchange students have their own insurance and spending money.  Being a good host does not require expensive sightseeing or even a separate bedroom – it simply means opening your mind and home to a child from another country!  For more information or an application, please contact Roana Fuller, NE Regional Exchange Coordinator at (814) 863-7448 or raf16@psu.edu.  The deadline for applications is March 1!

 

 

4-H is a Community of young people across America who are learning Leadership, Citizenship and Life Skills 

Kim C. Mikulak
PSU Cooperative Extension
Wayne County
4-H/Youth Development

925 Court Street
Honesdale, PA   18431
(570) 253-5970 ext. 4110
FAX 570-253-9478
kcm11@psu.edu

Natural Gas Exploration and Leasing Workshop

Date: February 28th, & March 13th, 2008

LOCATION: St. Francis of Assissi Hall, Rt. 487, Mildred, Sullivan County, PA

Call 570- 928-8941 to Pre-Register

Fee: $15.00 each Session

Sponsored by: Penn State Cooperative Extension in Sullivan County

In 2005 Penn State Cooperative Extension in Tioga County, (led by Earle Robbins, CED) responded to the requests for information on natural gas leasing by developing a small workshop. The workshop featured speakers from energy companies, landmen, consultants, lawyers, and regulatory agencies, each presenting information on their role in the exploration and leasing process. After thousands of landowner participants and dozens of counties were impacted, this workshop has evolved with the same basic goal, to help private landowners understand the process of gas exploration and leasing. The Natural Gas Exploration and Leasing (NGEL) for Landowners Workshops review what the gas resource is, PA DEP permitting and inspection issues, negotiating and understanding gas leases, and issues related to Clean & Green, CREP and other governmental programs. A panel of speakers features local energy companies, consultants, geologists, and governmental agencies. A question and answer period follows all sessions.

Click here for more information about these workshops.

Horse Owners School Registration Deadline

The Horse Owners School registration deadline is coming up on February 29. At this point we only have 10-15 people registered and we would like to have at least 30-40 people in the class.

The Horse Owners School starts March 3 and runs through April 7. Click here for more information or email WayneExt@psu.edu

Free Timber Marketing Clinic

Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Dates & Locations:

March 18 – Montrose, Susquehanna County Office Building

March 25 – Tunkhannock, PA Department of Agriculture

Building, Route 92 South

AGENDA

How Timber is Measured and Valued	Bill Pencek, Penn State University
Why You Need a Forester	Jim Kessler, Bureau of Forestry
Changing Markets in the Timber Industry	Bob Hobbes, Consulting Forester
E&S: Soil Erosion Considerations	Jim Garner/Charlotte Severcool, Conservation District

To register or get more information call Wyoming County Cooperative Extension Office at 836-3196. There is no cost for this clinic.

'Food For Thought' Series Planned

Imagine for a moment the tastes of local harvest time, a local tomato or an ear of corn picked and on your plate the same day.  Do you find yourself wishing that the Farmer’s Market was open year-round? That you’d like to do more to support local farmers but you don’t know how or where?

 

The benefits of local foods to you as an individual and to the county as a whole will be explored at the Wayne County Public Library through a series of programs called “Food for Thought.”  The goal of the series is to connect local residents to information about local foods and local farming. The series will start on Saturday, February 9^th and culminate on Saturday, March 15^th (no program on February 16^th), but you do not have to attend the whole series. You can attend any one or more of the programs you are interested in. Each program will include a blind taste test with a food produced locally and one mass-produced. Taste the differences for yourself!

 

Saturday, February 9, 11 a.m.: Jane Quinn of Essential Eating (www.essentialeating.com) will talk about the nutritional and health benefits of eating local foods. Jane has one book published and a new book to be released in March 2008.

 

Saturday, February 23, 11 a.m.: Greg Swartz of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (http://nofany.org/index.html) and Jo Clearwater of Clearwater Farm in Damascus (http://www.theclearwaterfarm.com/wordpress/ ) will explain subscription farming and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), how they work, and where you can find CSAs in the area.

 

Saturday, March 1, 11 a.m.: Roger Hill, farming and gardening consultant, and Master Gardener Judy Trudgen will share information about starting or improving your own garden – what grows well locally, how to prepare the soil, what to think about in designing your garden, and more.

 

Saturday, March 8, 11 a.m.: two local farming families, the Penn State Extension, and Delaware Highlands Conservancy will share their perspectives about why it is important to support local farms for our county’s economy and quality of life. Come chat with Jay and Emily Montgomery of Calkins Creamery (www.calkinsreamery.com ), Dolores and Fran Motichka, Dave Messersmith, and Sue Currier.

 

Saturday, March 15, 11 a.m.: group discussion of Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle in which the author describes the year her family moved to the family farm and committed themselves to eating home-grown and locally grown food. If you’d like a copy of this book, either to borrow from the library or to buy for yourself, please call the library to reserve your copy in time to read before the book discussion.

 

In order to plan for seating and space, registration for each program is requested. Please call the library at 253-1220 to register. 

             

 

Northeast Grazing Conference Scheduled

The 4^th Annual Northeast PA Grazing conference will be held at the Harford Volunteer Fire Company March 26, 2008 from 8:30 am to 3:45 pm.

The lineup of exceptional speakers at this year’s conference include Hubert J Karreman VMD from Penn Dutch Cow Care, Jerry Cherney from Cornell University, a local farm family, and Kris Ribble a grazing specialist with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Dr. Karrenman will discuss “the connection between healthy soils and healthy livestock & “Pasture & Animal health and tying it all together”. Dr. Karreman is a nationally recognized expert in organic dairy health care. He is a clinical practitioner who works with 85 certified organic and transitioning herds in Lancaster County, PA. He is a much sought after speaker and during the last year has been an invited speaker at the annual meetings of the AVMA, AHVMA and the New York State Veterinary Medical Society as well as the spring clinics of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association; he also has given scores of talks to farmers across the country. In 2005, Dr. Karreman was appointed by USDA Secretary Veneman to a 5 year appointment on the National Organic Standards Board and in 2007 became Chair of the Livestock Committee.

Jerry Cherney, will give us an overview of grass biomass energy and its potential impact here in northeast PA. Can you imagine heating your homes and farms with a low cost, environmentally, and nearly carbon-neutral energy source like grass that you could grow on your farm? Find out from Jerry just what you might be missing out on.

All of the topics at this year’s conference will focus on fine tuning our grazing systems in order to promote the use of grassland farming here in northeast PA while keeping family farms alive and viable for generations to come. We hope to see you at the conference this year. For registration please contact Sue Berkowitz at the Pocono Northeast RC&D, 570-282-8732 Ext. 604 Please direct questions about the conference to Kris Ribble, NRCS, at 570-784-4401 Ext. 111 or kris.ribble@pa.usda.gov

The cost for producers will be $20.00; this includes the cost of all breaks, lunch, and materials given out at the conference. Registration deadline is March 17. Click here to view and print a conference brochure and registration form.

Evening Meeting Planned for Pesticide Applicators

A re-certification meeting for pesticide applicators will be held Wednesday, March 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Wayne County Visitors Center in Honesdale. Attendees will receive 2 core and 2 category credits toward their PA Pesticide Applicators License. Reservations for this meeting can be made by calling the Extension office at 570-253-5970 x 4110 or email WayneExt@psu.edu.

Alternative De-Icing Products Reduce the Risk of Salt Injury on Plants

Rock salt does a good job of deicing sidewalks and driveways, but it can also seriously injure or kill plants growing next to these paved surfaces.

The most obvious damage occurs to turf grass. Rock salt often kills grass leaves, crowns, and roots. Some weeds tolerate the high salt levels, and a common weed called knotweed often moves into areas after the grass dies.

Salt can more subtly damage trees and shrubs growing close to paved surfaces. The soil's high salt content damages the plants' root systems. This causes stunted growth and leaf scorch the following growing season.

Scorched leaves turn brown around the edges and brown tissue develops between the major veins in the leaf. Maple trees commonly display leaf scorch symptoms. The root systems of sugar maples are very sensitive to high salt levels in the soil and often decline over a period of years and then die prematurely.

Salt spray from traffic during winter can accumulate on evergreen needles and twigs and limbs of deciduous trees and shrubs. This often causes evergreen needles to turn brown and fall off.  The plants usually survive, but have only the current season's needles the following summer.  This makes evergreens look rather sparse.

Deciduous trees and shrubs respond to salt poisoning by producing bunchy twig growths called "brooms". Again, this produces deformed growth and possible twig or branch death.

There are many ways to prevent salt injury to plants.  One is to reduce the amount of salt you apply. Most people spread more salt than necessary to do the job. You can also use other materials that do not damage plants.

Materials to try include sand, deicing products with calcium chloride, or even granular plant fertilizer. Fertilizers do a good job of melting ice and may help plants growing near driveways or sidewalks.

 

'The Gardener' Newsletter Mailing List Update

In our previous BLOG entry, we posted the debut of the Spring 2008 edition of The Gardener. This is a newsletter our Master Gardeners put a lot of hard work into

In order to keep The Gardener coming to those who wish to receive it, we like to periodically update our mailing list. So if you would like to continue receiving The Gardener, please complete and return our mailing list notice (click below) by April 30, 2008. If we do not receive this completed notice, you will be removed from our mailing list.

Click here to download The Gardener mailing list notice and survey. You may complete this form and either mail, FAX, hand deliver, or email it to us at WayneExt@psu.edu.

Spring 2008 Edition of 'The Gardener'

The Penn State Master Gardeners in Wayne County have published their Spring 2008 edition of The Gardener newsletter which will arrive in many of your mailboxes soon! This edition has articles on Winter Gardening, Feng Shui for the Home Landscape, Buying Bare Root Plants, Designing a Drought Tolerant Garden and many other great topics.

Also Included in the newsletter is a listing of Master Gardener Workshops and educational events for 2008. The Master Gardeners do a great job on this newsletter and put a lot of work into writing articles, editing, and publishing. Thanks to all who put so much work into this issue!

Click here to download your copy of The Gardener.

Click here to download a listing of 2008 Master Gardener Workshops and educational events.