The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1464422
Check out our website at www.cgb.com for current weather, prices and government reports. TWO LOCATIONS: Lyles Station Road, Princeton 812-385-4524 or 1-800-326-0899 Mulkey Road, Cynthiana 1-800-326-0899 QUOTE LINE: 812-385-4524 For More Information: Counter-Flow Grain Drying Systems More than a Grain Dryer shivvers.com At Shivvers, we understand your crop is more than just a crop. It is your livelihood. It is your pride and joy. Since 1968, the Shivvers family has been perfecting the science of counter-flow grain drying and creating innovative products that we are proud to put our name on. Shivvers doesn't just sell you a grain drying system. We provide you with peace of mind. We certify capacities. Explore a Shivvers Performance System today for • Complete, Precise Control • High Efficiency • High Test Weights and much more! For Counter-Flow Grain Drying More than a Grain shivvers.com At Shivvers, we understand your crop is more than just a Since 1968, the Shivvers family has been perfecting the science creating innovative products that we are proud to put our Shivvers doesn't just sell you a grain drying system. We provide capacities. Explore a Shivvers Performance System today for • Complete, Precise Control • High Efficiency • High Test Weights and much more! K iesel Enterprises I N C O R P O R A T E D 812-386-6580 1198 South Kiesel Drive, Princeton, IN 47670 For more information, visit us at: At Shivvers, we understand your crop is more than just a crop. It is your livelihood. It is your pride and joy. Since 1968, the Shivvers family has been perfecting the science of counter-flow grain drying and creating innovative products that we are proud to put our name on. Shivvers doesn't just sell you a grain drying system. We provide you with peace of mind. We certify capacities. Explore a Shivvers Performance System today for • Complete, Precise Control • High Efficiency • High Test Weights • and much more! www.shivvers.com Purdue Extension April news TOMATO SEASON IS COMING Tomatoes are one of the most popular garden crops. With everyone anxious- ly awaiting warmer weather, be sure to wait until night-time temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahren- heit before putting those tomatoes in the ground. Whether you grow for canning or a good condiment for your hamburg- er, here are some tips to keep in mind as you plan for that long-awaited toma- to harvest later this year. NEED TO CHECK YOUR PARP RECORDS? 1. Visit https://www.oisc.purdue. edu/ 2. Click on "My Records" in orange 3. Click on "Applicator Login" 4. Enter the information required 5. Click on the different tabs to see where you attended meetings, how ma- ny credits you have, how many you need, and when your license expires. If you have any questions about your PARP credits, please e-mail or call Alex at the Extension Office. IMPENDING GLOBAL FOOD EXPERIMENT By Alex Mahrenholz The pandemic has changed a lot of things, but one thing Americans con- tinue to enjoy is one of the world's most abundant and safe food supplies. While prices fluctuate, and in some cases, sky- rocket, the United States has seen food prices remain relatively stable in retail markets. In 2020, American consumers spent an average of 8.6 percent of their disposable personal income on food. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the sharpest annual decline in the share of disposable income spent on total food since USDA began tracking these ex- penditures. In part, this decline was the result of the largest annual increase in disposable personal income since 2000 and the sharpest decrease in food-away- from-home spending. To keep up with growing demand and a growing population, agricultur- al production of the globe's four prima- ry crops, corn, rice, wheat, and sugar can, has increased by approximately 50 % since the early 2000s. New technology, crop-protection tools, genetically modi- fied crops, and regenerative soil initia- tives have helped American farmers meet these production needs. One vital tool that has been utilized for decades, but is commonly forgotten, is nitrogen fertilizer. The developed world has en- joyed easy access to nitrogen for many decades, but that's about to change. While food prices have remained sta- ble, agricultural fertilizer prices have most certainly not. Anhydrous ammo- nia is averaging $1,412.88 per ton and urea around $ 889 per ton with the like- ly possibility of continued increases as we continue into the spring season. 2022 will mark the first year in most active farmer's careers that they will be reduc- ing their reliance on fertilizer. The risk of a reduced harvest has the potential to impact the global food supply. Less mon- ey means less product and less fertiliz- er means lesser food production, almost any farmer would say so. The demand for food is rising with ev- ery infant born and the population re- quires year-on-year record harvests to continue feeding the world as farmers have always done. See the issue here? This experiment farmers are unwilling- ly conducting has almost a certain out- come ahead. Even with opportunities to make up for the less than favorable con- ditions this economic environment will provide to our agricultural one, crops will likely face declines in yield. Farm- ers will presumably try to take advan- tage of precision techniques and vari- ous cropping approaches to encourage maximum yield potentials, which could prove to be positive for non-traditional and conservation-minded farming prac- tices in the future. However, the end re- sult of a lesser yield for a growing popu- lation remains. The process and results of this high- stakes experiment are undeniably im- pending and will be experienced world- wide. Preparing for the worst is more im- portant now than ever, because if we fail to prepare now, everyone will lose out on more than nitrogen prices or yields. Everyone in the food supply chain from farmers to each person with a dinner plate and especially those with low in- comes who depend on the abundant food supply more than anyone else will be forced to make choices that will lessen their quality of life. A difficult year lies ahead, but famed agriculturist Benjamin Franklin's words still hold true, "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail." Why are Bradford Pear trees bad? Bradford Pears are one of the many cultivars or varieties of Callery Pear (Pyrus Calleryana). Other cultivars include Aristocrat, Cleveland Select, Champion and Chanticleer. All these trees are types of Callery Pears specifically cultivated for their unique traits– round shape, infertile fruit, etc. Call- ery Pear trees are considered highly invasive in Indiana and many other states. This is a shallow-rooted tree and tolerates most types of soil and water conditions making it easy to grow. It typically grows to 40 or 50 feet and lives 15 -25 years. BUT I DON'T SEE MY TREE SPREADING ANYWHERE ON MY PROPERTY. WHY SHOULD I REMOVE IT? You may not see your tree spreading, because it does not spread much through root sprouts. These trees are spread by birds that consume the fruit and carry the seeds miles away. Any new sprouts that come up in yards or other manicured areas are typically mowed down long before we realize they were there. You don't have to look far to see where seeds have been taken through. Nearly all the flowering trees along highways and fence rows are Callery Pears that were planted by a bird. Locally exam- ples of bird plantings can be seen along Lynch Road, Univer- sity Parkway, Interstates 64 and 69, Indiana 64, etc. MY BRADFORD PEAR IS "STERILE" AND DOESN'T PRODUCE FRUIT. WHY SHOULD I REMOVE IT? Bradford Pear trees were marketed as "sterile", but we have quickly learned differently. These trees still produce flowers that cross pollinate with other Callery Pear cultivars. These "wild" varieties produce enormous amounts of fruit with via- ble seeds that create new trees. WHAT ARE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH CALLERY PEAR? Callery Pear trees grow incredibly fast which often means the wood is very soft. Soft wood breaks in high winds and heavy snows. Many only survive a few years before breaking apart. The wild varieties that result from cross pollination of other cultivars produce large thorns along their branches that are strong enough to damage a tractor tire. These pear trees can choke the life out of native pines, dogwoods, maples, redbuds, oaks, hickories, etc. And those pretty blossoms have a pun- gent fish-like odor that can attract flies, one of its main polli- nators. Bradford pear trees don't host native insects, which is a problem for the bird populations that depend on insects like caterpillars in their diets. This is detrimental to the area-wide pollination needs of other plants. While a Bradford Pear can be a pretty tree, since it's in- troduction in 1964, we have discovered its dangers. Multiple states have declared it to be an invasive and discourage its use. Reputable nurseries no long sell the trees. A Google search will bring up multiple articles stressing its dangers and rea- sons to remove them from your property. The next time you are in the market for a tree, remember to do your research for the best tree possible. Soil amendment seminar is May 5 Spring into gardening with this "Who, what, when and how of soil amendments" seminar from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on May 5 at the Pike County 4-H Building in Hornady Park, Pe- tersburg. The event, hosted by Pike and Gibson SWCDs will include lunch. Topics included are: • Who should get a soil test? • How to take a soil test? • What is my soil saying? • When should I fix my soil? • How do I amend my soil? • Where do I buy add ins? To register or for more information, contact Kyla Estey at 812-354-6120 or kyla.estey@in.nacdnet.net. UPCOMING EVENTS April 16 – 4-H Performing Arts and Verbal Communications Con- test – 5 p.m. – 4-H Exhibit Building – Alex Mahrenholz at amahrenh@ purdue.edu April 18-19 – A.I. Certification School – 5 -8 p.m. and 8 -4 p.m. – Cox Livestock in Osgood Indiana – $ 350/person; Register at https:// cvent.me/qzvvgy April 21 – 4-H Livestock Virtu- al Q & A – 6 p.m. – Via Zoom – Al- ex Mahrenholz at amahrenh@pur- due.edu May 1 – 4-H Poultry Blood Test- ing & Rabbit ID – 1-3 p.m. – 4-H Livestock Arena – Phyllis Hyneman or the Extension Office at 812-354- 6838 May 15 – ALL 4-H Enrollments and Livestock Identification Due – 11:59 p.m. – 4-H Online – Brooke Goble at bgoble5@purdue.edu or Alex Mahrenholz at amahrenh@ purdue.edu June 13-15 – 4-H Summer Camp – Santa Claus – Alex Mahrenholz at amahrenh@purdue.edu July 24-30 – 101st Pike Coun- ty 4-H Fair – Pike County 4-H Fair- grounds – facebook.com/pikecoun- ty4hfair D-6 Wednesday, April 13, 2022 The Press-Dispatch