March 31

I am writing these big checks this morning to keep this farm going and we got the second phone call before 7 AM. Rather odd. It's Dave Brandt, says he wants to make sure I am up, no kidding Dave.

He has some new nitrogen fixers to show me. So we agree to travel to this thing.

NEW & EMERGING

Cover Crops Field Day

March 31, 2010
1:30pm to 3:00pm
Cedar Meadow Farm, Holtwood, PA (Lancaster County)
The winter survival critique!
30 species, Several mixtures, 3 planting dates last fall, over 75 plots in all!
Plus acres of various cover crops to observe in the surrounding fields.

Dr. Ray Weil, University of Maryland
plans to facilitate the observation of how the cover crops survived the winter. Dr. Weil has been doing cover crop research with his grad students for the past 15 years here at Cedar Meadow Farm. He has global knowledge and experience and is well respected among farmers for his practical approach to the use of cover crops. Dr. Weil has been cooperating with Cedar Meadow Farm for the past 9 years in the development of Tillage Radish®-one of the fastest growing new cover crops ever to hit the market.

Test your knowledge of cover crop seed identification. Winner gets a 50lb bag of Tillage Radish®!

Preliminary observations
show that early planted clovers survived while vetches planted at the same time have winter-killed. How does this affect selection of covers? A new oat variety is greening up! Observe how tillage radish® controls winter annual weeds. See 15 acres of a cover crop cocktail of 9 species. Also, check out a small plot of cereal rye that was broadcast seeded into soybeans just before leaf drop.
Click here for a complete listing of all cover crop species, directions, and a few pictures

The event is free and there is no registration
Please forward to those who may also be interested in this event!

Steve Groff

http://www.tillageradish.com/
http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com/
679 Hilldale Road
Holtwood, PA 17532

I like to travel alone but I can't afford to with these gas prices. Besides, David is a wealth of knowledge. You name it, he has tried it. He kinda made me feel bad when he told me he had peas and potatoes planted but he has sandier soil than I.

That old bird raises the biggest potatoes and radish you could imagine. I have to tell you though David, mine are tastier. Biggest isn't always best.

Ed Winkle