8
Friday, April 5, 1974
University Daily Kansan
Supply of Fertilizer Is Short '74 Crop Production May Drop
By BYRON MYERS
Kansan Staff Reporter
A fertilizer shortage experienced by local farmers during the first three months of this year could result in a 5 per cent reduction in this year's crops.
cartl. VamMeter, director of the Douglas County Extension Service, said in a recent interview that the reduction in yield could be attributed to 20 per cent shortage in the quantity of fertilizers that farmers would normally apply.
VanMeter said local farmers had found it necessary to cut down on fertilizer application to wheat and brome grass in order to reduce the amount of fertilizers for corn and gorilla sorghum.
He predicted that nitrogen fertilizers would be in short supply for several years but that phosphorus production would probably catch up with demand within a year.
At a time when demand for fertilizers is at record levels, production has been hardened.
According to statistics released by the Fertilizer Institute, curtailment of availability of natural gas has caused increasing reduction in the amount of ammonia produced. Ammonia is necessary for manufacture of nitrogen-bearing fertilizers.
In 1972, natural gas shortages created a loss of production of nearly 200,000 tons of ammonia. Some 36,000 to 40,000 cubic feet of natural gas are required to produce one ton of ammonia.
Exportation of fertilizers has also added to the current domestic fertilizer shortage. Fertilizer Institute statistics show that fertilizer exports increased from 18 to 26 per cent during 1973 because producers could obtain better prices overseas.
Floyd E. Huffman, manager of NIPAK,
Floyd, Sales and Service Center in North
Lawrence, said that until last October,
the farm received 630 acres of fertilizers was lifted, many major
manufacturers were exporting large quantities of fertilizers.
He said that NIPAR had picked up many domestic customers as a result of exportation by company, but the NIPAR market had caused a shortage in the company's supply.
NIPAK, which is a subsidiary of Lone Star Gas Co. of Dallas, issued a statement on March 1, which said that the firm had 'experienced any of its product in 1973 and had no intention of doing so this year, even as it has been an economic reasons to consider exportation.'
Huffman said his company usually depended on a surplus of fertilizers from the preceding winter months to get through spring planting and fertilizing. Increased demand for these products planted acreage prevented the buildup of a surplus and left the company approximately 40 per cent of its usual spring supply.
Application of fertilizer can make up to a 250 per cent difference in yield on some crops. VanMeter gave a three and one-half acre of unfertilized brome grass yielded about one ton of hay an acre. With application of 100 pounds of nitrogen and 20 to 40 pounds of phosphorus, he said, the yield increased by about three and one-half tons of hay an acre.
"Corn is the biggest user of fertilizer," VanMeter said, "One acre of corn uses four pounds of nitrogen daily during the months of July and August."
*You have to apply at least one pound of actual nitrogen for every bushel of corn you sell.*
Lockwood Art Collection To Be Shown at Spooner
A showing of drawings and prints
teaching the World Lockwood collection will offer a glimpse into the lives of these artists.
Lockwood was a native Kansas. When he died in 1963, much of his work was left to the University of Kansas Endowment Association.
Lockwood taught for one year at KU. He is most noted for the painting and drawing of a dog.
Some drawings for murals that Lockwood and during the 1900s are included in the collection.
Two lectures will be given in conjunction with the exhibit.
Charles Eldredge, director of the Spooner Art Museum, will give a lecture entitled,
"You couldn't substitute enough manure for dry nitrogen. We ran a test in Ellis County and found that it took 10 to 14 tons of manure an acre to equal 100 pounds of dry nitrogen fertilizer. That's a lot of manure," he said.
The release of more acreage for planting without informing the fertilizer industry has led to an increase in the number of farmers.
According to the Fertilizer Institute, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases substantial acreages from reserve commitments to bolster America's dwindling grain supply. That accounted for a total of 942 million acres of ground would be under tillage, which is 10 to 12 million acres more than in 1973.
Food Prices Unstable; As Many Rise as Fall
The USDA projected that plant nutrient supplies might be short by as much as one million tons of nitrogen and 700,000 tons of phosphorus this year. It takes about four million tons of manufactured fertilizer to supply 100,000 acres of ground and represents 10 per cent of the total tonage supplied to U.S. farmers in 1972-73.
Fertilizer price has doubled, jumping from about $64 a ton for nitrogen fertilizers in 1973 to $129 a ton this year. But to the extent that the prices of fertilizers isn't the important issue.
As many items decreased in average price as increased in this week's food price survey conducted by the Consumer Protection Association.
Of 32 items published today, 14 increased,
in average price, 14 decreased, and 4
decreased in quantity.
"It isn't price," on local farmer said.
"It's supply—and nobody seems to have it."
Average price of large eggs dropped for the third week in a row, with decreases of two to four cents a dozen from stores. Eggs increased and prices increased several stores last week, also went down.
Tomatoes were down five to 20 cents a pound at four of the ten stores surveyed. Potato chips were down eight to as eight cents a head, while onions went down four to six cents a pound at three
Cottage cheese dropped 18 cents a carton (24 oz.) at Dillon's and Kroger's and six cents at Rusty's, bringing the average price down from 96 to 87 cents.
this week
Ground beef declined by as much as 10 cents a pound this week at five stores, with only one store showing an increase of two cents a pound.
secar Meyer hot dogs were down four to eight cents a pound at Dillon's three stores.
Meat price changes included increases for round steak and T-bone at Rusty's, increases for chicken fried at A & P and steak with pork at A&P, increases of 10 cents at A&P, Dillon's Mass. St., and Kroger's downtown; bone-in rock steak increases of 10 cents at Kroger's
&P lowered prices on beef chuck roast and round steak. Chuck was also down this week at Kroger's 23rd St. and Rusty's stores. T.bone decreased at both Kroger's; beef liver declined at Dillon's new store and Rusty's Hillecrest.
Item Aa 12h Dd 31h Pa 39h Rt 39h Rr 39h Rr
"Lockwood and the Tauss School," on April 16. Richard McKenzie of the University of Pennsylvania.
Rent your car from John Haddock Ford.
Ford
WE'VE
Both lectures will be held at 8 p.m. in the Snooner Museum lecture hall.
PRICES
Make Pinto Pinto Wagon Maverick Mustang Torino Galaxie Pickup LTD PU Wagon
Daily $8.00 plus 8c mile $9.00 plus 9c mile $10.00 plus 10c mile $11.00 plus 11c mile
Weekly $45.00 plus 8c mile $55.00 plus 9c mile $60.00 plus 10c mile $65.00 plus 11c mile
Week-end $5.33 plus 8c mile $6.00 plus 9c mile $7.00 plus 10c mile $8.00 plus 11c mile
Phone 843-3500
Two Men with Nothing in Common But a Will to Live . . . and a Place to Die!
Eve at 7:30 & 10:00
Sat.-Sun. Mat. at 2:30
PAUL NEWMAN
ROBERT REDFORD
THE STING
... They Might Get
Away With It
Eve 7:25, 9:50 Sat - Sun. Mat, 2:00
Hillcrest
"THE THREE MUSKETEERS"
A Blood Spattered Bill of Horror
Sunset
Rated R
DRIVE IN THEATRE - West on Highway 40
"DERANGED" "RAW MEAT" "BARON BLOOD"
S.U.A. Recreation in Action!! Spring '74
CANOE TRIPS:
K. U. SAILING CLUB:
Carruthen and Missouri River Trips, each weekend in Carruthen from 7:30 to 10:30, part of Carson Kirkman-Union-Deezer, week prior. (U.S. Army)
April 8 & 7 - Notre Dame MCSA women's race
April 13 & 14 - Iowa State Drake MCSA
April 20 & 21 - ANASP Yache Vetch MCSA
May 18 & 19 - Ohio Wesleyan UMCI
May 18 & 19 - Ohio Wesleyan UMCI
MT. OREAD BIKE CLUB:
Jayahwa Jammore 1974
Sat, April 27 (1) 9:34 — person teams time trials,
Sun, April 28 (5) 9:34
Sunday, April 29 (8) 9:34
April Annual K. U. Criterium, K.U. Campus
4th
CHESS CLUB:
K.U.K. U.S. Tourney (Spring)
interclub tourney starts this weekend
Sunday—2:30 p.m. Kansas Union
Tuesday—3:15 p.m. Kansas Union
Call Info 864-1343
K. U. TABLE TENNIS:
K.U. OPEN TOURNAMENT-April 1th at Robinson Gym
emerges every Saturday at 10:30. Robinson Gym
U.S. Open-Oak, City=May 21-13
In call 844-1354
K. U. RIFLE CLUB:
Meeting every Monday at 10 p.m.
Basement of Military Science Building
(Rilee Range)
Proposed KU SJSU match upcoming
LAWRENCE YOUTH
HOSTEL:
WILDERNESS ADVENTURE:
People needed to help establish a local Youth Hostel for summer of 74
Top quality Camping Equipment
For rent from S.U.A. Office
inquire at 844-3477
For additional information on these recreational programs, contact the S.U.A.
Office, Kansas Union - 864-3477.
SUA Fine Arts presents a film with
Margot Fonteyn & Rudolf Nureyev
Romeo and Juliet
performed by The Royal Ballet Co. Choreography by Kenneth MacMillan
Forum Rm. Kansas Union Sun., April 7 at 8 p.m.
Admission is FREE
STONEWALL
presents
TONIGHT 9-midnight
Brought to you by The MUSIC PEOPLE, LTD.
$1.50 admission
Spring Fiesta TAGOS only 24c
TACO
TICO
For the Month of April
To say "Gracias" for a terrific 1973, Taco Tico is having a month-long Winter Fiesta! That means those tasty Taco Tic tacos are only 24c.
At Taco Tico, it's easy and economical for your taste-buds to travel south for the winter.
Taco Tico ... where the food's always in season and seasoned to please!
Find it in Kansan classified Sell it, too. Call 864-4358.