Banner Graphic, Volume 20, Number 244, Greencastle, Putnam County, 20 June 1990 — Page 7

Cicadas back, trying to scratch 17-year itch again in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Roberta Edgington first saw the 17-year cicadas when she was 18 years old. She watched their flurry of activity again when they emerged when she was 35. Now at age 52, the experienced gardener is familiar with the insects. “The first time people remark how ugly they are,” Edgington, an employee of the Lake County Agriculture agent said. “But we’ve grown more used to them. I guess maybe they grow on you.” “I think a lot of children are fascinated by them,” she said. “I may see them again at 69.” THIS SUMMER the insects are present in LaPorte, Lake and Porter counties in northern Indiana, parts of Illinois, lowa and Wisconsin. They’re expected in 40 different counties in Indiana in 1991. The eastern part of Kansas and western Missouri expect the 17-year cicadas to hatch in 1992, according to lI.D. Blocker, a professor of entomology at Kansas State University. Although they are the same type of insect, they come above the ground in different parts of the country in different years, according to Tim Gibb, an entomologist diagnostician for Purdue University. CICADAS ARE abundant only in areas where eggs of the previous generation were har-

farm

Trend of big feedlots continuing to grow

WASHINGTON (AP) Huge feedlots that turn out the choicest beef have been increasing in number for many years, and an Agriculture Department economist says the trend shows no sign of letting up. Fewer than 200 feedlots marketed more than half the nation’s fed cattle last year, said Ken Krause of the department’s Economic Research Service. All had capacities of 16,000 head or more. LESS THAN 30 years ago, there were only 23 feedlots with capacities of 16,000 head or more. And in 1962 those accounted for only 8.3 percent of the 14.6 million fed cattle marketed. “By 1980, fed cattle output had increased to 23.2 million head while large lots had become more important in the feeding of the increased fed cattle herd,” he said in the June issue of Farmline magazine. The largest feedlots continued to increase in the 1980 s. Last year, 198 of those fed produced about 51 percent of the nation’s output of fed catde. KRAUSE SAID NEW information collected by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service showed that 32 feedlots with capacities of 50,000 head or more accounted for 17 percent of the fed cattle marketed last year. “Although NASS confidentiality rules do not permit identification of the largest existing lots, several operators indicated that their lots have 100,000-head, one-time

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bored. A person can see the succeeding generations of a cicada family every 17 years in the same area. The black-bodied creatures are present all across the Midwest but are more evident in wooded areas where the creatures lay their eggs, Gibb said. “They don’t move much. They don’t even migrate out of their own back yard,” Edgington said. More than 16 years of the insects’ lives are spent beneath the ground before they emerge from small tunnels dug to the surface. They then crawl up trees or posts to shed their shell and emerge as red-eyed, red-winged bugs. They are similar to the annual cicada, but their 114-1 'A inch bodies are smaller. THE CICADAS WILL live about a month as an adult. During this time they will mate and each female will lay about 400-600 eggs. Those eggs are positioned in twigs or trees and shrubs. The punctures can cause damage to the wood but it is usually minimal, Gibb said. “For the most part we don’t suggest controls. It’s not much of a problem,” Gibb said. “And there’s nothing much you can do about it.” The bugs incessant shrill cadence fills the tree tops when the cicadas become adults and search for a love match.

capacity,” he said. Typically, feeder cattle weighing 600 to 800 pounds are put in the pens and fed a balanced diet made up of a “concentrate” (often com or grain sorghum), a protein supplement such as soybean or cottonseed meal and some silage or hay for roughage. AFTER FIVE MONTHS or so, the fattened “finished” cattle now weighing 1,000 to 1,200 pounds are shipped to packing plants for slaughter and distribution in the consumer pipeline. Krause said there has been a significant decrease in the number of feedlots smaller than 1,000-head capacity. Those are often associated with family-size farming operations that also produce crops and perhaps other livestock. At the same time, the fed cattle industry meaning larger feedlot operations has been shifting to four Great Plains states. THE DECLINE OF small feedlots, meanwhile, has been mainly in the Com Belt states. lowa, for example, had 50,000 lots in 1962, most of them small. Those turned out 18 percent of the nation’s beef. By 1989, lowa was down to about 16,000 feedlots, accounting for just 8 percent of the nation’s beef catde. Krause said that while the number and importance of small feedlots have declined the last 30 years, nationally they still produced more than 16 percent of the fed beef last year.

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THEY’RE BACK: Cicadas make 17-year return

“I’m sure there’s going to be a batch of them in 17 years the way they’re singing out there,” said Rosemary Sanderson of the cicadas at her Union Mills home. THE SANDERSONS live at the edge of a 60-acre forest and are watching the cicadas’ life cycle pass quickly before their, eyes this summer. They’ve already watched them hatch and heard them sing their love songs. Now the family is resigned to being present on the bugs’ honeymoons, when they lay their baby cicadas and when the insects die. “They’re doing their singing and making a terrible noise. They climb all over the front porch and out of trees. The

Market reports

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Estimated prices Tuesday at Indianapolis area elevators: Corn No. 2 yellow: 2.792.92, new 2.50-2.64. Soybeans No. 1 yellow: 5.84-5.89; new 5.81-5.96. Wheat No. 2 soft red new: 2.90-3.10. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana direct hog market at 70 yards and markets Tuesday. Barrows and gilts: 1.002.00 lower. Demand moderate. US 1-2 220-260 lbs 58.0059.00, a few 59.50; 210-220 lbs 56.75-58.50. US 1-3 210-260 lbs 56.75-58.75. Sows: Under 500 lbs weak to 2.00 lower; over 500 lbs steady to 1.00 lower. US 1-3 350 lbs 46.00-48.50; 500-650 lbs 47.00-49.00. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Hogs 500. Barrows and gilts moderately active, 1.75-2.00 lower. US 1-3 220-255 lbs 59.50-60.00. US 2-3 260-270 lbs 57.50-59.00. US 3-4 270 lbs 57.00. Sows: Not fully tested, with a weaker undertone noted. US 1-3 450-495 lbs 47.00-50.00; 510-540 lbs 48.00-50.00. Boars: Over 350 lbs 47.00. Cattle: 725. Compared to last Tuesday, slaughter steers and heifers firm to 50 cents higher. Holsteins near steady on limited supply. Slaughter cows 75 cents to 1.50 higher. Slaughter bulls 1.00-1.50 higher on limited offerings. Supply, select and choice slaughter steers, 20 percent heifers, 10 percent cows. Receipts exceeded estimate by 200 head. Slaughter steers: Choice 2-4 1025-1300 lbs 76.00-78.50; 1430-1540 lbs 76.50-76.75; 970-995 lbs 75.00-76.25. Mixed, select and choice 2-3 1100-1193 lbs 75.00-76.50. Holsteins: Choice 2-3 12111540 lbs 71.75-72.75. Select 23 1075-1357 lbs 67.50-69.00.

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woods are just alive," Mrs. Sanderson said. “There is really nothing you can do but wear earplugs,” Gibb said about the ever-present sound the male cicadas, more commonly known as locusts, make while searching for mates during their short summer fling. FORTUNATELY for those in the mating areas, the phenomenon only occurs every 17 years when the periodical cicadas appear. Other types of cicadas appear every 13 years, Gibb said. “They come out just to mate. They’re not feeding at all. The humming is the males trying the attract the female,” Gibb said. “It’s obnoxious after a while.”

Purdue Hay Day set June 26 on Brookshire Farm near Roachdale

WEST LAFAYETTE New types of forage equipment will be demonstrated and new forage technologies will be discussed at the Purdue Hay Day on June 26. The field day will be held at Brookshire Farms near Roachdale. The site is located on County Road 1400 North, just north and a mile east of Roachdale. EVENTS BEGIN at 9:30 a.m., with new technology and research reports. Some of the topics on the morning program will include weed control in alfalfa; factors affecting alfalfa persistence: nitroeen benefits from legumes; insect

Animal agriculture understanding part of Purdue workshop

In an effort to acquire a better understanding of animal agriculture, two Putnam County youths attended a three-day 4-H Animal Sciences workshop at Purdue University, June 6-8. DARREL THOMAS, Putnam County Extension agent-youth, said the objective of the workshop is to provide 4-H youths with a greater knowledge of livestock and poultry production and management. Attending the workshop from this county were Brent Fowler and Mike Jackson. Fowler attended the

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Hoosier farmers play catch-up via hot, dry weather

By DON KENDALL AP Farm Writer WEST LAFAYETTE (AP) A hot, dry spell has given Indiana farmers a chance to catch up on field work, the weekly crop report shows. The report released Monday by state agricultural statistician Ralph W. Gann shows 94 percent of Indiana’s com acreage had been planted by the end of last week, matching last year’s progress but behind the average of 99 percent CORN PLANTING was virtually complete in northern and Central Indiana and 71 percent complete in the south. About 85 percent of the com had emerged, compared with 91 percent last year and the five-year average of 97 percent The com condition was rated 1 percent excellent, 37 percent good, 50 percent fair, 9 percent poor and 3 percent very poor. The 38 percent good or better rating compares with 22 percent last week and 55 percent last year. The average height of com was 11 inches, three inches behind last year, and compares with the 23inch average. SOYBEAN ACREAGE was 83 percent planted, two days ahead of last year’s pace of 77 percent but about eight days behind the fiveyear average of 91 percent. Planting was 96 percent complete in the north, 90 percent complete in the

management; multiflora rose control; forage establishment techniques; and cash-cropping hay successfully. Forage harvesting demonstrations will begin at 1 p.m. Hay mowing will lead off the equipment demonstrations, followed by tedding, raking, and baling. Two new demonstrations this year will be haylage harvesting and one-person, bale-handling equipment. The emphasis of the field day will be on forage equipment with new technology. MOWERS WITH high-speed discs and conditioning action,

swine section and Jackson the beef section. The training is designed to enable Putnam County youths to assume leadership roles in livestock project areas and to provide them with information which they will be encouraged to share with others in their home communities. WORKSHOP PLANNERS and presenters are members of Purdue’s Departments of Animal Sciences and State 4-H/Youth, assisted by Extension livestock agents and breed association representatives.

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June 20,1990 THE BANNERGRAPHIC

central counties and 38 percent complete in the south. About 69 percent of the soybeans planted had emerged, one day ahead of last year when 67 per* cent had emerged by mid-June. The five-year average is 86 percent. The average height of soybeans was 3 inches compared with 4 inches las{ year and the 6-inch average. soybean condition was rated 1 per-' cent excellent, 45 percent good, 47 percent fair, 6 percent poor and 1* percent very poor. The 46 percent good or better rating compares witfl 31 percent last week and 52 percent a year earlier. Winter wheat condition was rated 9 percent excellent, 56 perl cent good, 25 percent fair, 8 perl cent poor and 2 percent very poor! Eight percent of the wheat was reported ripe, one day behind last year’s progress and five days behind the average of 20 percent. • AVERAGE HEIGHT of oatj was 16 inches, two inches behind last year and 4 inches shorter thail average. The first cutting of alfalfa hay was 67 percent complete, com) pared with 72 percent at this time last year and the five-year average of 85 percent. Pasture condition was rated 13 percent excellent, 66 percent good and 21 percent fair. Topsoil moisture was rated 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 78 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus.

double rakes and easy handling tedders, windrow inverters, and high capacity balers are just a few of these new innovations. THE PURDUE HAY Day is sponsored by the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and the Indiana Forage Council. The council will sponsor a hay quality contest for participants to test their knowledge of what makes a highquality bale of hay. Farmers may bring hay samples to the field day to have them analyzed free of charge for nutrient content.

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