F A R M E R N E W S L E T T E R

SUMMER 2013 Volume 13 Issue 2

Recommendationsfor Seeds ................... 2

The ViewControlling & Preventing Flies ........ 5

Magnesium in Biology ...................... 6

Financial FocusCultivating the Joy of Saving ................... 8

Successful Saving Strategy .................... 9

Taking Tissue andSoil Samples ........... 10

Spring Greenhouse Crops & Sweet Corn Program .................. 10

Corn, Alfalfa, Pastures/Grasses ... 11

What’s Inside

SeedsGarden & ProduceHuman WellnessSoil NutrientsAnimal Nutrition & Health

717-687-9222 60 North Ronks RoadRonks, PA 17572www.lancasterag.com Greetings and blessings to

all in the industry of farm-ing. Farming is a precious and rewarding occupation. It provides the opportunity to impact people’s lives around the globe. It is an in-dustry that everyone relates to at least once a day when they get nourishment at the dinner table. All around the world every society depends on farmers on a daily basis, but very few people stop to thank the farmer for his hard work.

This morning I want to take a moment to personally thank all of the men and women in farming across the country for your time, dedication, and hard work. Because of you, many Americans are being fed today. Please make sure that the food you produce is as healthy as it can be, free from GMO’s and disease and full of nutri-tion to sustain health.

Nutritionally speaking, grow-ing alfalfa, corn, or produce is all the same. At the very end, it will feed a human being whether the corn is being fed to a cow that gives milk to feed a family.

Down the Farm Lane

A Summer Conversation with Farmers and GrowersOr growing a tomato that will directly feed the family, the difference is the same. Both will need to be full of nutrition and be of the best quality that can be grown.

Foliar Feeding Alfalfa and Corn

In order to grow an abun-dantly healthy plant that wards off diseases and insects, there needs to be fertilization and foliar feeding on a regular basis. Farming crops such as al-falfa and corn - also known as dairy animal crops - can be foliar sprayed.

Some of the insects that are prevalent in spring and summer are the alfalfa weevil and the leafhopper. The best solution we have found for the problem with these insects is to keep energy and nutrition high. The insects cannot tolerate manufactured sugar in the plant. High-sugar forage ferments in the stomach of these insects, turns into alcohol, and as a result the insects die or leave the crop.

Trace Minerals determine the

quality of plants.

La

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Products Naturally Interested

in Your Future

Products

60 N. Ronks Road Ronks, PA 17572

717-687-9222

SeedsGarden & ProduceHuman WellnessSoil Nutrients

Animal Nutrition & Health

PRESORTED STDU.S. POSTAGE

P A I DLANCASTER, PAPERMIT NO. 23

Continued on page 4

Coming this June!

Amishman’s Handy Guide to Minerals, Vitamins, and Food Supplements is a must-have resource book for every home. Dr. Richard Olree has compiled the best information from his many years of study into a book that is written in com-mon, ordinary language.

This handy guide includes these chapters: • vitamins • minerals • herbs • medicinal herbs of the Bible• proteins/amino acids• food supplements• soil nutrients.

Contact Lancaster Ag at 717-687-9222 or ask for the book in your local Plain Commu-nities bookstore or health foods store. n

Amishman’s Handy Guide To

Dr. Richard Olree

MINERALS, VITAMINS

FOOD SUPPLEMENTSandA Guidebook for Every Home

True to its title, Amishman’s Handy Guide to MINERALS, VITAMINS

AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS is a convenient and valuable reference book

(resource) for every home. It is written in common, ordinary language

so that it is easily understood and practical for everyday use.

Explanations for all of the vitamins tell how each one is needed for hu-

man development and maintaining life.

Descriptions of minerals clearly outline how they affect human health

and wellness.

Included in the entries for herbs are drawings and maps showing

growing regions, plus their many uses.

Topics for other sections in the guide are medicinal herbs of the

Bible, proteins/amino acids, food supplements, and soil nutrients.

Dr. Olree has a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a

Doctor of Chiropractic. Since 1981 his family-based practice

has been located in Hillman, Michigan and he also serves two

Amish communities in northern Michigan. Besides his chi-

ropractic practice, Dr. Olree established a health food store

called Hillman Health Foods in 2001 so that he can offer his

patients quality nutritional supplements. He travels the coun-

try teaching about the wonderful benefits of understanding,

obtaining, and eating organic food.

* * *

“Combining his knowledge of human biology, clinical

experience, and understanding of genetics, Dr. Olree

offers practical insights into nutrition in this guide.”

- Name

Amishman’s Handy Guide To MINERALS, VITAMINS and FOOD SUPPLEMENTS

Olree

Lancaster Ag’s Recommendations for SeedsWritten by Tom Zundel, Ag Seeds Coordinator

Lancaster Ag offers a wide va-riety of seeds for every season and has become a one-stop center that can fill all of your seed orders. This is a growing part of our business and has been a great convenience to farmers and growers. Tom Zun-del, our Ag Seeds Coordinator, has a wide knowledge about seed placement and seed ranges. He serves in our Call Center and is available to help you make the best choices for your operation.

Seeding Small Grains, Cover Crops,Pastures and AlfalfaSince spring and early summer are already over, much of forage’s ability to grow quickly and in large amounts is finished. Now we look at the warmer, drier part of summer with a predictable decline in forage production. But there are still livestock to feed with a dwindling supply of growing forage.

The short- and long-term solution to this problem is to plant rescue forages this summer and fall and to seed down new meadows for forage production in the coming years. Late summer and early fall are excellent times to replenish pastures and hay areas that have been lost or are too weak to be main-tained. This can be accomplished by seeding down small grains and cover crops and as a more perma-nent solution, seeding or re-seeding pastures and seeding new hay fields.

Small Grain CropsOATS – One of the most versatile crops for providing grain or forage for dairy and livestock. The same oats that was seeded in the spring for grain or forage can also be seeded again in the late summer for forage, grazing or baleage. However, oats will not survive the cold winter weather. Lancaster Ag will have several different oats and oats in combination with other forages for seeding this fall. These include

Continued on page 3

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Jerry and Everleaf 126 Forage Oats. Oats is also one of the components of Double Play, Oats Plus, Pea Oats and Trait Oats.

TRITICALE – When seeded this fall a winter triticale will provide forage in the fall, over-winter, and provide for-age again in the spring. Lancaster Ag will have avail-able several varieties of organic and untreated triticale this fall. Triticale is also available in mixtures such as Triticale Plus, Double Play and Trait Oats.

RYE – This is cereal rye or winter rye. Rye is the most cold tolerant of the cereal crops and is used more for a cover crop and forage than as a grain. Winter rye can be grazed in the fall and again be used for forage production in the spring. Huron Rye and an organic variety will be available from Lancaster Ag this fall.

WHEAT – A good reliable crop for grain and forage pro-duction. Winter wheat can be grazed in the fall and for forage production in the spring. Lancaster Ag will have organic and untreated varieties of wheat.

SPELT – Not as common as the other cereals, spelt is a very old species of grain crop that is used for grain and forage. The grain is preferred for feeding horses in many areas of the country. Spelt is normally a later maturing grain than wheat and is usually taller forage. Lancaster Ag will have several varieties of spelt depending on availability. One variety is Oberkulmer Spelt, a familiar variety that can be purchased from Lancaster Ag; other varieties will be Comet and Maverick.

BARLEY – Barley has caused a lot of interest this past year. Dairy producers are sprouting the barley grain and feeding it to cows. It provides a nutritious replace-ment for corn grain. Barley can be used as a spring forage crop. Barley is not as winter hardy as most of the other winter grain crops and will not be as tolerant to fall removal of forage from a fall harvest. Lancaster Ag will have Valor Winter Barley and an organic variety this fall.

Cover CropsAll of the small grain crops above can be used as win-ter cover crops. Other species of crops that are used as cover crops are as follows. Lancaster Ag will have them available to start the planting season.

Alfalfa

Lancaster Ag’s recommendations will help farm-ers establish a healthy, nutritious stand of alfalfa. In the fall, apply dry blends to your stand. If you want consistent early growth in the spring, we recommend applying MPM or Cal Phos with a liquid application at green up and approxi-mately every 30 days thereafter. In summary, the following is the Lancaster Ag’s Foliar Spray Schedule for optimum growth.• At green up• After first cutting• After second cutting• After third cutting

Pastures / Grasses

Lancaster Ag’s ultimate program for pastures includes one dry application in the spring and three liquid applications thereafter. • Dry blend in the fall• 150 pounds dry Top Dress in mid-February

when the weather is still cold• 10 gallons MPM or Cal Phos at green up, March 25-April 1• 5 gallons, approximately May 15• 5 gallons, approximately July 1

You can place your orders with our call center staff at 717-687-9222. We are ready to serve you and answer any questions you have. n

Corn

There are different stages that a corn plant goes through during which it needs support to grow up-ward. Lancaster Ag has both dry and liquid Corn Row Starter for you to use to influence your corn crop. Your choice depends on the equipment you have avail-able.

Lancaster Ag’s recommendations for applying dry fertilizer:• Broadcast up front• Alongside the row• Broadcast after the corn is up

Lancaster Ag’s recommendations for applying liquid fertilizer: • Broadcast up front• 2 x 2 alongside the row• Side dress at cultivation time• Foliar spray• Drop nozzle at tasselling

A good question for a farmer to ask is: How do I deter-mine how much Corn Row Starter my corn needs? The answers to the following questions will help Lancaster Ag make recommendations for your crop.• What does your soil sample tell you?• How did you manage last year’s residue?• How much manure did you put down?• Did you have a cover crop?

There are various ways to approach fertilizing your soil. Here are examples of Lancaster Ag’s recommenda-tions:• Manure and cover crop - 150 pounds of dry Corn

Row Starter and one foliar application of Cal Phos midsummer.

• Manure only - 200 pounds of Corn Row Starter and a basic foliar program.

• No manure and no cover crop – 250 pounds of Corn Row Starter and two applications of foliar spraying throughout the season.

Other options are using 200 pounds through broadcast and putting some through the planter. Or you can put 200 pounds up front, another 100 pounds through the planter and then also do a foliar application.

Remember, Lancaster Ag has both biological and organic Corn Row Starter.

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Procedures for Taking a Soil SamplePlease Note: All equipment must be clean Step 1 – Choose LocationsChoose various areas in the field that rep-resent the soil in the whole field. Sugges-tion: 15 locations in a 20-acre field. Crop land and pasture land should be sampled separately.

Step 2 – Prepare EquipmentUse a clean spade, auger, or soil probe. Stainless steel probes are available for purchase from Lancaster Ag at cost. Use a clean plastic bucket in which to place the samples.

Step 3 – Collect SamplesScrape away any surface residue. Bore down 5 inches with the probe and place sample into bucket or dig a 5-inch v-shaped hole with a spade. Cut a slice of soil making sure to include soil from top, middle, and bottom of hole. Place in bucket.

Step 4 – Mix SamplesThoroughly mix all of the samples together in the bucket.

Step 5 – Fill & Label BagPlace 2 cups of soil in the soil sample bag provided, up to the line. Clearly print the following on the bag: full name, complete address (including house number and name of street or road), number of acres or square feet of area, name or number of sample.

Step 6 – Draw MapMaking a map of the locations in your fields where you ob-tained your samples is very helpful. Send one copy with the sample and keep one copy for your records.

Step 7 – Mail SampleMail sample bag to Lancaster Ag Products, 60 N. Ronks Road, Ronks, PA 17572. After your sample reaches us, a copy of your results will be available in 7-10 days. Please contact us at 717-687-9222 to discuss recommendations. A copy of your results will be mailed to you and a copy will be kept on file at Lancaster Ag.

Spring Sweet Corn Program

Pre-planting System• Broadcast 500 pounds Corn Row Starter. This amount

varies depending on the amount of manure and Fall Blend that was previously applied and whether there was a cover crop.

• Spray broadcast Force at the rate of 10 gallon Force to 20-30 gallon water per acre pre-plant.

Foliar System• Spray Force at the rate of 5 gallon Force per acre every

two weeks during the growing season.

Spring Greenhouse Crops Biological = Fruit Mix Organic = SeedGro & Premier

Pre-planting System• Broadcast SeedGro at the rate of 1 gallon SeedGro

to 5 gallon water per 1000 sq. feet• Broadcast 25 pounds Top Dress per 1000 sq. feet

Foliar SystemAlternate the following two products every 5-7 days during the growing season:•1.5 oz. Fruit Mix with 1 gallon water per 1000 sq. feet • 1 pint F-1 with 1 gallon water per 1000 sq. feet

Drip Irrigation• Apply 4 oz. SeedGro per 100 foot-row once a week• Apply 2 oz. Premier per 100 foot-row once a week• After fruit sets to the size of a marble or golf ball, apply Premier twice a week

Procedures for Taking a Tissue SampleProcedures for Taking a Tissue SamplePlease Note: Tissue samples are time-critical

Step 1 – CollectionPull 20 leaves from a plant or tree. The type of informa-tion you want will determine the location on the plant or tree from where you will pull the leaves. Please be consistent. • Information about the past: pull leaves from the bot-

tom, mid-branch• Information about the present: pull leaves from the

mid-plant, mid-leaf• Information about the future: pull leaves from the top, new branch, mid-leaf Step 2 - Storage Place leaves in bags that breathe, such as brown paper bags or bags that have holes, so that the samples start to air dry before they get to the lab. Ask your Lancaster Ag

Representative for special bags for your tissue samples. Step 3 - LabelingWrite full name and complete address (including house number and street or road name) on the bag. Include a description of your fertilization practices up to this point.

Step 4 - Delivery Your Lancaster Ag Representative can deliver the samples after a farm visit, if schedules permit, or please ship them to Lancaster Ag. Please Note: Producers out of the local area need to use one-day shipping service.

Step 5 - AnalysisLancaster Ag processes the samples for analysis the same day they arrive in our office. These samples are time-critical.

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Continued on page 7

ANNUAL RYEGRASS – Annual ryegrass is inexpensive, quick growing, and for one year only. It is used for forage and cover crop. Marshall Ryegrass is a variety that has been successful for this purpose.

CRIMSON CLOVER – Crimson clover is often planted in the spring for summer forage and it can also be planted in the late summer for use as a cover crop. A satisfactory stand for crimson clover can provide 100 pounds of nitrogen to the following non-legume crop. Crimson clover is a component of Cargo, along with annual ryegrass and oats.

MEDIUM RED CLOVER – This clover is used as forage during the summer, can be used as a cover crop, and will also provide nitrogen to crops following the next spring. Red clover is one of the components of the Three-Way Clover mixture along with ladino and sweet clover.

TILLAGE RADISH – This is gaining popularity as a cover crop, weed control and a way to help relieve soil compaction. In the spring, a field in which tillage rad-ish was growing will have holes that will provide chan-nels to get lime and fertilizer quickly into the soil.

TURNIPS – They provide a cover crop and can be used to extend the grazing season when pastures are depleted. Some of the varieties that Lancaster Ag will have available are Appin, Burkant, and Pasja.

Pasture ReseedingLate summer is an excellent time to reseed worn-out pastures. However, do some investigating first and determine the reason the plants will not provide the forage needed for the livestock. • Look at the soil and make sure the pH is at least 5.8

for the grasses, 6.2 for the legumes, and at least 6.6 for alfalfa.

• Then get the fertility in proper levels for maximizing forage production.

• Look at the amount of grazing (is it over- or under- grazed?) that is placed on the pasture.

• And look at the type of climate (hot and dry) that the pasture had to endure until now.

If it is determined that reseeding is the best treatment, then Lancaster Ag has the organic and untreated pasture mixes available this summer.

ALFAMATE – A brome, orchardgrass and timothy mix, good alone or with an alfalfaBEEFMASTER – A fescue, ryegrass, orchardgrass and white clover mix that will withstand close grazingCLEAN & GREEN – A tall fescue and annual ryegrass used for conservation but will provide forageCREEKSIDE – A meadow fescue, ryegrass, timothy, tre-foil, bluegrass, and clover mix for wet areasDAIRY GREEN – A meadow fescue, ryegrass, timothy, and clover mix with good palatabilityGRASSPRO – A tall fescue, orchardgrass and timothy mix that can be used for quick drying hayGREENFAST – A festulolium, orchardgrass, ryegrass, fescue and clover mix used to thicken pasturesHAYBOSS – An alfalfa, orchardgrass and timothy mix used for hay or pastureHILLSIDE – An orchardgrass, brome, ryegrass, clover mixture that is suited for droughty areasHORSE SUPREME – An orchardgrass, ryegrass, brome, bluegrass and clover mix good for horses or sheepKING’S GRAZING – A ryegrass, orchardgrass, clover, and chicory mix for high-producing livestockKING’S HAYMASTER – An alfalfa, orchardgrass, brome, and timothy mix that has traffic toleranceLOWLAND HAY – A tall fescue, timothy, clover mixture for traffic and wide window of grazingPARTNER - A tall fescue, orchardgrass, and timothy mix suited for many purposes.SALE TOPPER – An orchardgrass and timothy mix used for grazing or as a mixture with alfalfaSTAR – An orchardgrass, ryegrass, fescue, and clover mixture for dairy-quality pasture

Summer Alfalfa SeedlingsLate summer is an excellent time to seed down new stands of alfalfa for full production next spring. As with almost all forage crops, seed one quarter inch deep in the soil and have good seed/soil con-tact using either no-till or conventional till.

Allow the young alfalfa plants at least six weeks of growing weather before killing frost. No matter how good the alfalfa stand looks in the fall, DO NOT CUT or GRAZE. Lancaster Ag has several ex-cellent alfalfa varieties to plant this summer. Some are organic, some are leafhopper- resistant and some are both.

Recommendations for Seeds Continued from page 2

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A True Story of Using a Successful Saving StrategyContributed by a Staff Writer

Although Eric Crawley never made more than $20,000 a year in his 40 years as a parking lot attendant, his net worth is more than $1 million. Bankers, investors, and lawyers parked their cars in his lot in the financial district of Baltimore. Over the years Eric became their friend, engaged them in conversation, and listened.

Eric feels that God gave him the gift of listening to overcome his dyslexia. His learning impairment was a hindrance to getting better paying jobs. Since words on a page were a jumble to him, he compensated by becoming a careful listener. When his banker friends talked, he listened and took their market tips and advice.

Starting at age 13 Eric worked at a fruit stand to help support the family and saved the quarters that his mother let him keep. Even after he mar-ried and had his own family, he regularly saved money. He began by investing $25 a month. He started small because he was also sending his children to private school and buying a house. His diligence paid off because in 15 years he had a nest egg of $25,000.

Eric’s strategy is simple. He set aside money each month and created a savings plan he could stick

to. He knew it was ok to start small and he has proven that steady contributions add up. Today his parking lot customers ask this well-to-do ticket attendant for financial tips!

Eric is grateful for what he has and is paying it forward. He gifts shares of his portfolio to begin-ning investors and has started an investment club at his church, teaching fellow believers the value of saving money.

Saving and investing should be approached by seeking God’s will through Bible reading, prayer, and listening to godly counsel. Proverbs 21:20 says, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” Thus, saving money has a biblical basis. God’s Word teaches us to look ahead, identify future needs, and plan for them.

Having money for emergencies and for major ex-penditures affects our outlook on life. If we keep our financial house in order, it can lead to stress-free living. We are in a position where economic necessities do not rush us to make hasty or ill-conceived decisions. Our lives are not driven by constantly needing to figure out where our next dollar is coming from.

The best part of having money on reserve is that it allows us to be generous. Sharing out of our abun-dance is a wonderful way to give back to God what he has gifted to us. It is rewarding to bless others and lend a hand when they are in need. n

of this need and start planning. Here is an amaz-ing statistic. Your nest egg should grow to be eventually 20 times your current annual salary. A retirement fund will need to pay your living expenses for 20 to 30 years, which is the average span of retirement years for most Americans.

There are also some very major expenditures that you will need to save for. These include saving for a down payment on a home, a farm, farming or manufacturing equipment, more land, and in some cases, college education. Be aware that making principal payments on items that appreciate in value or help you earn a liv-

ing is the same as investing. Paying off a home or farm is one way of saving money for the future.

In conclusion, the two most surprising things about saving are: • The ability to save has nothing to do with the

size of income. There are many high-income people who spend it all. There are others with meager incomes who faithfully save bit by bit.

• When you save small amounts on a regular basis, the savings begins to add up. If you be-come a routine saver, your money will grow and multiply. The key is to make saving a habit. n

Cultivating the Joy of Saving Continued from page 8

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If by foliar feeding the crop, you are unsuccessful in rais-ing the energy, then we advise you to cut it early. Wrap it for baleage and foliar spray the next crop to raise the energy level.

Insect problems such as rootworm, corn borer, or corn seed maggots in corn often are caused by planting into soils that do not have finished, completely decomposed plant residue/organic matter. For example, you might end up with the situation of a partially digested cover crop that occurs when planting too close to plow down.

Here are some remedies for insect pressure.• Inoculating your cover crop before plowing it under• Keeping the cover crop shorter before plowing it under• Allowing more time between plow down and planting

In the case where these insects are prevalent, it is more important than ever before to add Corn Row Starter to the program. While cover crops add nitrogen to the soil, the process of decomposition actually takes nitrogen away from soil and crops until the organic matter is com-pletely decomposed.

During the process of decomposition, the energy of the soil is very weak. Insect pressures move in. A fertilization program may pay dividends in this situation. The cost of the fertilizer may take only four bushels to pay for the entire fertilization program.

At Lancaster Ag we also recommend a foliar fertilization program at 12” height. See page 11 for the full program. This will keep the diseases at bay and the plant growing healthy.

Produce

Produce is an enjoyable subject whether growing a small garden or a produce patch for resale. In every growing season, there is much to learn about growing produce. The three things that make a disease- and insect-free produce plant are good soil texture, a great watering system, and an excellent fertilization plan.

Soil texture is important. In spring do not rush to prepare the soil. Whether produce growers realize it or not, they are laying the whole foundation for the summer.

A good irrigation system is equal in importance to a fertilization plan. Make sure to have lots of good water, good water pressure and volume, and performance as often as needed.

Like I mentioned earlier, an excellent fertilization plan is really important. Apply fertilizer in little amounts, more often. This will keep the energy level high in plants, thus helping them to withstand diseases. Dripping fertilizer through the irrigation line should be done twice a week. Foliar feeding should be done at least once a week. Like I said, a little, more often.

Please refer to this newsletter, our catalogue, or our website for our full nutritional programs. This summer please call us at Lancaster Ag. We are happy to come out and spray your alfalfa fields after harvest or will deliver bulk fertilizer that you can apply. Six friendly Call Center staff members are waiting to take your call at 717-687-9222.

Blessings to you this summer,

- Reuben C. Stoltzfus n

A Summer Conversation with Farmers and Growers (Continued from page 1)

Please refer to this newsletter, our catalogue, or our website for our full nutritional programs.

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The ViewBy Dr. Paul Dettloff

Dr. Paul from Arcadia, Wisconsin is on staff at Lancaster Ag as a consultant and veterinarian. He shares his wisdom gleaned from more than 40 years of working with farmers and their livestock.

Controlling and Preventing Flies

Flies (musca domistica) have been pests that man has had to deal with for a long time and they are not going away anytime soon. We have had to learn how to cope with them the best way we can. Here are some facts about flies. Three Types of Flies1. Face flies hang around the face, muzzle, nos-

trils and eyes of livestock. Face flies lay eggs in fresh manure. It takes about two weeks once a fly lays eggs until there is a new batch.

2. Horn flies are on the neck and especially in the back area. Horn flies lay eggs in any organic matter - manure, rotted feed, wet bedding and unclean gutters - throughout the summer.

3. Stable flies are the pesky ones on the legs and bottom side of the animal. They reproduce same as the horn fly. The stable flies are very irritating as they suck blood daily, though only for a short time. The rest of the time they fly around.

Flies Spread Disease Flies are very irritating to dairymen because they spread disease.

• Flies spread pinkeye, a bacterial infection, from eye to eye.

• BVD and BRSV are viruses in nasal fluids that can be transmitted easily by flies.

• Staph, strep, and other mastitis-causing bacteria, are spread from teat end to teat end. There is always a little residual milk at the end of the teat after milking. Flies gravitate to this very shortly after milking. Post dipping is a tool used to de-crease this. The new residual essential oil teat dips do repel the fly for about 12 hours.

Control and PreventionA farm must use a multifaceted approach to at-tack flies. First, clean up breeding areas of manure and old organic matter. Sticky tapes that come in narrow reels that uncoil are very good. Avoid the very wide ones since birds can get stuck on them. Various jars and baited jars also work well. A very good one is the Flies Be Gone Fly Trap. That one is a dandy.

Predator wasps, which are let out periodically dur-ing the summer, work well also. There are numerous companies supplying parasitic wasps. The me-chanical walk through fly trap that vacuums flies off of livestock collects literally thousands of flies. North Carolina State University is a leader in research in this area along with private companies.

Kevin Jahnke, a very ingenious farmer in Wiscon-sin, puts 2” PVC elbows in a 55-gallon plastic barrel with the elbows facing down. The elbows are on the sides of the barrel halfway down. He puts a lid on the barrel with a Plexiglas window in the lid. He places a piece of placenta, leftovers from chicken butchering or other materials that will rot in the bar-rel. He has made a barrel fly trap that will last years. Just clean it out and hose it down! If you have any questions about constructing such a fly trap, con-tact Lancaster Ag or Dr. Paul Dettloff for the barrel design.

Barn Swallows are wonderful! Do not destroy their nests as they eat their weight daily in insects, flies and mosquitoes. Purple Martins are beautiful insect eaters. Many farms have manufactured white gourds for the martins above the calf hutches. They look really attractive and give a farm a humane touch. Encourage bats by putting up bat houses because they live on insects and flies. Muscovy Ducks are also notorious fly catchers. They were very common in the Midwest in the 1950’s.

Continued on page 75

Continued on page 9

The Financial Focus

Cultivating the Joy of SavingInformation provided by Larry Groff, Finance Manager and the Christian Personal Finance Website

Cultivating is an agricultural term that means to improve and prepare the land for rais-ing crops. It also is a general term meaning to encourage the growth of something. That is why it is appropriate to use the word cultivating in an article headline that promotes financial saving. Lancaster Ag wants to inspire you to watch your savings grow!

In this year’s Spring Farmer Newsletter we dis-cussed cultivating the joy of giving. Now we are challenging you to cultivate the joy of saving. We are presenting these topics in the correct order.

1. Giving to God what belongs to Him so that we can share with others

2. Giving to ourselves for the purpose of saving money

3. Living on what is left over

The incorrect order is this list in reverse. Too many people first live their lives on what they earn and then try to give and save on what is leftover. That turns life upside down.

Saving money is simple, but not easy. Unfortu-nately, the statistics concerning saving in Ameri-ca testifies to this fact. Approximately 70 percent of American wage earners are living paycheck to paycheck with nothing in reserve.

Putting money aside requires disci-pline and a great determination not to let the many distractions derail you from your savings plan. The encour-aging part is there are small steps that you can take to get started.

Small Steps to SavingsFirst of all you must track your expenses. In order to find money to put into savings, you must know precisely how you are spending your money. Where is your hard-earned cash going?

The next step is to use your data from step one and make a budget to match your new priori-ties. One good way to find money for savings is to cut back on lifestyle choices, rather than cut something out completely. Your success rate will be better if your changes are not too drastic or strict. It is important to be realistic so that you can stick with the new plan. Know that small changes in spending habits over time can really add up!

Another important step is to choose a method of saving that works for you. The best way to save is to open a separate account for that money. Having your savings taken out of your income and directly deposited into an ac-count or using automatic transfer are worry-free and convenient methods. It also means you have to make an effort to access your savings. You are not tempted to spend the money that is meant for savings because it never reaches your pocketbook or wallet.

Taking a team approach means you are not trying to build up savings alone, but have chosen to involve your whole family. It is much less painful to set money aside if you have set goals as a family and everyone is in agreement that it is important. You can even choose one common goal (a day at the zoo or beach, a new pet) and celebrate together when you have reached the goal. Soon sav-ing will be as much fun as spending!

Three Saving GoalsThe first goal in savings is to develop an emer-gency fund in case you and your family en-counter unforeseen circumstances such as major repair bills, fire, unemployment, impair-ment, illness, or even death. At the very mini-mum you should have three months of your total living expenses on reserve. Even better, many financial experts recommend six months to a year of expenses in savings to see you through emergencies.

Another important goal is to invest for retire-ment. Even young workers need to be aware

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Magnesium in BiologyWritten by Richard Olree DC

Dr. Richard Olree is a chiroprac-tor who has been in practice in Hillman, MI since 1981. His exten-sive research of the biological role of all trace minerals led to the development of the Stan-dard Genetic Periodic Chart. He is co-author of “Minerals for the Genetic Code” and has recently completed the book, “Amish-man’s Handy Guide to Minerals, Vitamins and Food Supplements.”

Magnesium is an essential element in biological sys-tems. It is an essential mineral nutrient for life and is present in every cell type in every organism. Nearly half of all Americans, ages one year and over, have inadequate magnesium intakes. More than two-thirds of teenagers, ages 14-18, as well as seniors over the age of 70 have suboptimal intakes. In animals it has been shown that different cell types maintain different concentrations of magnesium. In plants, and more recently in animals, magnesium has been recognized as an important signaling ion, both activating and mediating many biochemical reac-tions. The best example of this is perhaps the regula-tion of carbon fixation in plants.

Plants deficient in magnesium show stress responses. The first observable signs of both magnesium starva-tion and overexposure in plants are a decrease in the rate of photosynthesis (plants that convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into usable chemical energy). This is due to the central position of the magnesium in the chlorophyll molecule.

The later effects of magnesium deficiency on plants are a significant reduction in growth and reproduc-tive viability. Magnesium can also be toxic to plants, although this is typically seen only in drought condi-tions. In the soil, there should be 80% calcium to 20% magnesium ratio.

In animals, magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesae-mia) is seen when the environmental availability of magnesium is low. In ruminant animals, which are particularly vulnerable to magnesium availability in pasture grasses, the condition is known as grass tetany. Hypomagnesaemia had been identified by a loss of balance due to muscle weakness.

Apart from regulating the heartbeat, the amount of magnesium in one’s body can help determine whether a person lives or dies after suffering a heart attack. In fact, people are more likely to sur-vive a heart attack if they have not been skimping on magnesium. Research indicates that those with a high magnesium intake are half as likely to have any type of cardiovascular incident such as non-fatal heart attacks, strokes, angina (chest pain), or heart surgery than those with a low magnesium intake.

Magnesium’s roles in the structure and the func-tion of the human body are extremely important. An adult human body contains about 25 grams of magnesium with 60% is found in the bones, about 27% in muscle, 6% to 7% in other cells, and less than 1% outside of the cells. With only 1% of magnesium in the blood, blood tests are not the best indicator of body burden of magnesium.

The adult human daily nutritional requirement, which is affected by various factors including gen-der, weight and size, is 300-400 mg/day. The fast-est way to lose one’s magnesium is to drink soda pop, especially those laced with phosphoric acid, instead of drinking good, clean water.

Low magnesium levels can be detected by the following symptoms:

Abnormal jerking or twitching as one falls asleepAnxiety disordersCardiovascular diseaseCerebral infarctionDepressionDiabetesEyelids twitchFeet cramps / leg crampsHeadachesHeart palpationsHeavy / clotty monthly cyclesHigh blood pressureMigrainesOsteoporosisQuick to angerSmelly feetStartle easyStartled out of a dream state at nightStiff low backs in the morning n

Overexposure to magnesium may be toxic to individual cells, though these effects have been difficult to show experimentally. In humans the condition is well documented, though it is usu-ally caused by loss of kidney function. In healthy individuals, excess magnesium is rapidly excreted in the urine. Foods that are good sources of magnesium:• green vegetables, such as spinach provide

magnesium because of the abundance of chlorophyll molecules that contain magnesium

• nuts, especially brazil nuts, cashews and almonds• seeds• dark chocolate• roasted soybeans• bran• some whole grains.

Although many foods contain magnesium, it is usually found in low levels. As with most nutrients, daily needs for magnesium are unlikely to be met by one serving of any single food. Eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains will help ensure adequate intake of magnesium.

Magnesium readily dissolves in water. That means refined foods, which are often processed or cooked in water and dried, are generally poor sources of the nutrient. For example, whole wheat bread has twice the amount of magne-sium as white bread because the magnesium-rich germ and bran are removed when white flour is processed.

Magnesium works together with calcium and vitamin D to prevent degeneration of the bones. Long-term magnesium deficiency often triggers osteoporosis (soft bones). Unfortunately, mag-nesium’s absorbability decreases with age, so a magnesium-deficient diet only accelerates the aging process.

In studies conducted, magnesium-deprived ani-mals have shown classical symptoms of prema-ture aging. In addition, perpetual low levels of magnesium also makes one susceptible to condi-tions such as clogged arteries, heart arrhythmias, heart attacks, high blood pressure and insulin resistance that leads to diabetes.

BLUEJAY – An organic leafhopper-resistant varietyROADRUNNER – An organic variety with good leaf-to-stem ratioKINGFISHER 444 – A long-lived alfalfa with high forage qualityKINGFISHER OR PLH 233 – An organic leafhopper-resistant varietyKINGFISHER TRAFFIC PRO – A traffic-tolerant, deep-set crowned alfalfaWL353LH – A seven-generation potato leafhop-per-resistant alfalfa with excellent disease resis-tance n

Magnesium in Biology Continued from page 6

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Controlling and Preventing FliesContinued from page 5

Recommendations for SeedsContinued from page 3

Kelp-fed animals over the long term will build significant iodine levels in their tissue. Flies do not like iodine. Kelp-fed animals definitely have less pinkeye.

Other tools to keep down the fly population are the new essential oil fly sprays that have been developed recently. They are constantly improv-ing. Essential oils are safe for humans to touch and breathe. The era of toxic, long-lasting, and deadly fly sprays must to come to an end as the side effects are not good for the environment.

Lancaster Ag’s favorite fly spray is Shoo-Fly, de-veloped by Dr. Sarah’s Essentials. This product is safe with no chemicals or pesticides. By using a research grant and conducting months of re-search, a combination of oils that work synergisti-cally well together was selected.

Shoo-Fly is available in a 32-ounce spray bottle, ready to use. It also comes in a concentrated form in half-gallons or whole gallons. Shoo-Fly is mixable with water at a 1 to 7 ratio. A half-gallon of concentrate dilutes up to 4 gallons. For back rubbers, it can be diluted with mineral oil 1:10 to 1:20. It is also used as a wipe on horses. Contact Lancaster Ag at 717-687-9222 for details or to place an order.

There are many tools that you can use to suc-cessfully control flies. Remember, sanitation needs to be your number one tool. It is the best prevention. nMg

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