ft' •• » ' * l’*' 'vti> iV >’» iiS i. ' 32—Lancaster Farmlni. Saturday. Feb. 2, 1974 Cattlemen Optimistic (Continued From Page I) U.S. and one percent fewer said, though, that thl# figure There are six percent to Pennsylvania than last distorts the picture a little fewer cattle on feed In the year, Moore observed. He bit. “There arc tremendous numbers of cattle on range in the Midwest. Some of these animals have been out there for four or five years. They can be brought into the feedlots at any time for finishing, but they won’t stay there very long.” To back up his point, Moore cited USDA figures which show lightweight cattle numbers on feed way down and heavyweight numbers up. The number of cattle under 500 pounds on feed is down 22 percent. Heavyweights, 1100 pounds and over, are up a whopping 55 perent from the year before. Recapping 1973 for the assembled farmers, Moore said that it was the best year ever for agriculture. Farm income was up 30 percent from 1972, which was also a good year. There was a strong general economy, with consumer incomes up some 8 percent. Grain ex ports were up 30 percent in volume but 60 percent in value. Farm equipment was sold out. In general, while costs were up, increased returns more than made up for the added cost burden. Grain supplies for this year should be adequate, Moore feels. While he doesn’t see prices going up too much, he doesn’t see them coming down, either. “If everything falls in place,” he said, “we might see some lower grain prices in 1975.” Live cattle prices will be great compared to recent years, Moore concluded, but profits will hinge mainly on feed costs. Another Penn State specialist, James H. Bakin, extension agronomist, cautioned cattle feeders -au: FORTIFIED with a new combination of Power-Packed Ingredients! • GRAIN DISTILLERS SOLUBLES • AMMONIUM POLYPHOSPHATE • CONDENSED FERMENTED CORN EXTRACTIVE So what???? Recent College Research Showed +12.8% Weight Gains! + 5% Feed Efficiency! Both Benefits at No Extra Cost in MohMBx® L„. JOHN Z. MARTIN New Holland R#l FREE SAMPLE COPIES Copies of LANCASTER FARMING ore not always easy to find they are not sold on newsstands and perhaps some of your friends may not be acquainted with our weekly service. We'll be glad to send, without charge, several copies of LAN CASTER FARMING to your friends or business associates Just write their names and addresses below (You'd be doing both them and us a favor*) Stieet Addiess & R D City, State and Zip Code (You are not limited to two names. Use separate sheet for additional names.) Youi Name Q CHECK here if you prefer to send a Yeai’s (52 issues) GIFT subscription for $2 each to your friends listed above If so $ enclosed, or D < i iFCK here if you would like to subscribe to Lancaster Fai ming □ Bill me later Please mail this form to LANCASTER FARMING P.O. BOX 266. LITITZ. PA. 17543 - e J 0 Phone 717-354-5841 Stieet Addiess & R D City, State and Zip Code « '* I M - « » •'j « i Addi ess twitching acrtage from com to soybeans. "If your cattle numbers are In balance with your current feed program, stick with your present crops of corn and alfalfa,” said Eakin. "If you have to cut part of this acreage to grow soybeans, you’re making a mistake. "If, on the other hand, you can rent some good land to grow soybeans for feed supplements, you should pay attention as to how to grow soybeans. This can make the difference between 25 and 70 bushels an acre.” he said. He said on a typical Lancaster County farm, no fertilizer is needed for soybeans. He warned that on acid soils soybeans should not even be attempted. Roger Grout, agricultural engineer, told feeders to stqrt thinking about waste disposal as more pollution laws are enacted. He said the most economical way to get rid of manure effectively is to spread it on fields at such time and in such way as to minimize any run-off. He said the simpler the process of handling animal wastes the better. Costly processes in many cases, he noted, just create more problems. Dr. Lester Burdette livestock extension specialist, stressed the need for feed additives and proper amounts of protein for cattle. The younger, the lighter and the faster the rate of gain is expected the higher the percentage of protein is needed. Another feature of the day’s program was a discussion of silo gas by three area fanners who fell victim to the deadly farm hazard. Henry Hackman, Jay Nissley and Harold Shenk told the assembled cattlemen how they’d Stihl EE CHAIN SAWS SPRAYERS OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT I' rnM | I Jacobsen I IhJI I Mowers I TRACTORS I POWER TOOLS - Drills - Grinders - Saber Saws - Hammer Drills - Roto-Hammers Repair-Overhauls Rentals-Service •°hnL Jtautfer REPAIR SERVICE RD2 East Earl, Pa. Ph. 215-445-6175 l k. mile North of Goodville on Union Grove Road become seriously ill from silo gas. Penn State's Roger Grout, noted that the gas will affect different people different ways. He said the problem is not an uncommon one but one that is often not realized until it has caused serious injury or death. The gas, he noted, can drift from the bottom of a silo and float across the ground or floor into a livestock area killing any animals which receive heavy doses. He noted liquid manure tanks have also caused a few deaths as the fermenting manure emits hydrogen sulfide. The best way of preventing rOR SALE 205 HUD HOISTEIN BUIS 120 HEAD 500-525 lbs. 85 HEAD 400-425 lbs. Phene 717-548-2488 WHEN IT COMES TO PROTEIN, NOTHING BEATS ALFALFA . . . and in the Northeast nothing beats L Alfalfas WL WL WL 305 306 307 - High yielding persistence - Resistant to Bacterial Wilt and Anthracnose - Tolerant to Phytophthora, Alfalfa Leaf Hopper and Pea Aphid - Rapid growing - Dark green color - Fine stems - Excellent seedling vigor and stand establishment - Developed by Waterman-Loomis Co., specialized Alfalfa Breeders Available at your local seed dealer BEACHLEY-HARDY FIELD and GRASS SEEDS Shiremanstown, Pa. 17091 Illness from the gas, ha noted, is to run the blowers in the silo for several minutes before entering. He said the gas should be allowed to flow downward out the chute before en tering. He also suggested to climb up the outside of the silo instead of inside it. “But the most important combatant to the problem,” he said, “is an awareness of the possible existence of the deadly gas.” He said the danger period is usually within the first month after the silo has been filled. Dry weather, he ad ded, also increases the nitrate contents. WL 309 WL 311 WL 210 excellent stand
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