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On March 02, 2019

To Obtain A Spotted Lantern Fly Permit To Travel In And Out Of The Quarantine Zone

The Spotted Lanternfly is a serious, invasive pest which, was discovered in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. It is native to China, India, Vietnam, and was also introduced to Korea where it has become a major pest. This insect has the potential to greatly impact over 90 species of plants including fruit trees, vegetables, grapes, hops and many different hardwood trees. 

On May 26, 2018, a new Spotted Lanternfly Order of Quarantine and Treatment was published in the PA Bulletin. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) established the quarantine order to stop this pest from moving out of the current quarantine zone. PDA is also trying to minimize the movement of SLF within the quarantine area, by deterring the movement of higher populations on plant materials, building materials, equipment, vehicles, etc. into areas with low to no populations. The current quarantine zone encompasses thirteen counties, including Lancaster and Lebanon Counties. 

All residents and businesses must comply with the regulations. A Spotted Lanternfly permit is required for any business performing work within and/or moving goods within and out of a quarantine zone. This will include farm businesses such as nurseries, greenhouses, woodworking businesses, and others which sell materials that could contain eggs, young or adult SLF, thereby spreading the pest around. 

An owner, supervisor, or manager designated from each business must complete the required training and take a twenty-question exam. Each person who successfully completes the training and examination will receive a permit allowing for normal business operation. This person will be responsible for training employees on what to look for and how to safeguard against moving spotted lanternfly. The department encourages everyone, even those who do not need a permit, to take advantage of training. 

The following Training and testing sessions are being offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension and the PA Department of Agriculture in March: 

3/13 9am Gideon King Hardware, 466 Elam Rd., Kinzers, 3/21 10am Daniels Farm Store, 324 Glenbrook Road, and on 3/29 9am Lancaster Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. To register, contact Brandon Boyer, PA Dept. of Ag., at 717-772-5220 or brandonboy@pa.gov. 

To Renovate Pastures Using Frost Seeding

As we move through late winter and early springtime, one of the first tasks on the list for farms with pastures should be to evaluate their condition. Extension Agronomist Dwane Miller suggests if stands are thin, consider frost seeding as an option to thicken your pasture.

Before we begin to talk about seeding, it is important to note that frost seeding (or overseeding of pastures in general) is not a substitute for poor fertility of pastures. Proper pH and fertility are essential for desirable production of pastures. Soil tests should be taken regularly (at least every 3 years), and corrective measures taken.

Although using some type of tillage to renovate pasture has a higher rate of success, using frost seeding is a less expensive option that can effective if done at the right time and managed properly. Make sure that you can achieve maximum seed-to-soil contact. Often times, a pasture that has been very aggressively grazed into the fall will present a good opportunity for frost seeding. Using a chain drag or running over the field lightly with a disk can open up the stand as well.

Frost seeding works as the ground “honey combs” during this time of year. As temperatures moderate to above freezing during the day, but drop below freezing at night, the seeds have an opportunity to work down into the soil surface. The trampling effect of livestock densities can also be effective to obtain seed to soil contact. Early morning frost seeding, before the soil surface begins to thaw, is recommended. If the soil surface is “slimy”, wait to seed until you get another morning when the soil has frozen again.

Most often, we recommend using frost seeding to introduce forage legumes into an established stand. Legumes have a much better success rate than grasses. Red clover is usually the species most recommended for frost seeding, because of factors including seedling vigor and wide tolerance to pH, fertility, drainage, and drought. Obtaining a desirable stand of grass species from frost seeding is much more difficult. Research at the University of Wisconsin (West and Undersander, 1997) showed that perennial ryegrass and orchardgrass exhibited the best establishment success.

If you plan to attempt frost seeding of a grass, be aware that you will need to make a separate pass with your seeder, as grasses will not spread as far as legumes.

Frost seeding can be done with any type of a broadcast seeder. This can be done by hand, tractor 3-point hitch, or ATV.

Quote Of The Week: “Our minds tell us, and history confirms, that the great threat to freedom is the concentration of power. Government is necessary to preserve our freedom, it is an instrument through which we can exercise our freedom; yet by concentrating power in political hands, it is also a threat to freedom. Even though the men who wield this power initially be of good will and even though they be not corrupted by the power they exercise, the power will both attract and form men of a different stamp.” Milton Friedman