Herr chosen outstanding farmer
Second of two parts
By DIETER KRBEG
KIRKWOOD - A 31-year-old, conservation-minded
dairyman who owns 92 milking cows and operates 506
a eras was recently honored by the Quarryviile Jaycees as
that area’s outstanding young fanner.
Dale Herr, one of eight finalists in the biannual event,
received the coveted prize and opportunity to represent
Solanco in state-wide competition, on the basis of his
achievements, conservation practices, and contributions
to the community.
Associated with farm work for all his life, Herr received
the honor under some circumstances which seem to buck
a few general trends within the industry. Last year, for
example, he was farming an additional 205 acres, and nine
years ago, when he began farming on his own, he had 128
cows on test. Herr’s present emphasis is more on quality,
rather than Quantity, and he claims the move has paid
off Jn the dairy bam.
One of the major changes Herr has initiated in recent
years is his dairy feeding program which now utilizes two
Harvestores. At the time of my visit, he kept high
moisture ear com in one structure and baylage in the
other. Hay hasn’t been a part of the dairy cows’ menu
since early this year, and Herr says he’s pleased with
results. His fat tests have come up two points. This year.
Announcing:
a dry
pop-up !
Can cut
planting time
in half!
Chevron
* Ortho
P. L. ROHRER & BRO., INC.]
TM's- ORTHO/ CHEVRON DESIGN REG US PAT OFF
Herr Hope Farm, between Kirkwood and
Quarryville, is the home of Dale and Fay Herr,
winners of the Quarryville Jaycees Outstanding
he said, he only baled about 2,000 bales of hay while the
equivalent of about 10,000 bales went into the Harvesters.
Of the 505 acres in the three farms he operates, 312 are
tillable. He raises all of his own feed and sells tobacco and
potatoes as cash crops. For the nine years he has farmed
on his own, he has consistently shipped over a million
pounds of mflt per year. Citing a 600-pound butterfat
average as a major goal, his present herd average on 92
cows reads 517. Herr’s dairy herd is actually two-in-one,
although they’re all in the same barn and taken care of by
one management program.
Originally an all-Guernsey herd, Holsteins have been
taking the stalls of the English breed for the past ten
years. The first black-and-whites were purchased in 1965
when the elder Herr was still in charge of the dairy
operation. At the present time there are still seven
Guernseys in the bam, but Herr expects to have a solid
Holstein herd at some time in the future. Although many
Ortho Unipel STARTER SPECIAL
A starter? As a “pop-up"? It has to be special.
It is. STARTER SPECIAL is a completely unique product.
Here’s why;
Physical Uniformity. STARTER SPECIAL pellets are made
to the same shape and density for maximum consistency and
control in application. '
Chemical Uniformity. Each and every STARTER SPECIAL
pellet has all three primary nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium chemically homogenized in precisely the most
desirable ratio; 13-34-10. The nutrients can’t separate or
segregate during handling as with troublesome, hard-to
regulate “dry blends.”
Double-Duty Nutrients. "STARTER SPECIAL has both
quick-acting and long-lasting nitrogen and phosphorus for
thorough plant feeding. There is no urea or diammomum
phosphate that might endanger the seed through liberation
of free ammonia.
Of course, these features also make it highly effective as
a banded starter. But, with only slight adaptation of most
planters, it can be applied directly with the seed in exacting
measurement for safety and maximum response.
With this kind of control, you apply much less material -
only 1/3 the amount needed for banding. And the reduced
material handling could cut your planting time in half!
So, save time, trouble, and money at planting time. See us
soon about applying STARTER SPECIAL this spring as a
dry “pop-up”.
Smoketown, Pa.
Phone Lane. 717-299-2571
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Dec 27,1975
Young Farmer Contest Herr farms 505 acres and
maintains a herd of 180 Holsteins and Guernseys
with the help of four full-time hired men.
of his animals are purebreds, be and a number of in
dividuals from whom he purchased cows did not keep
papers. Therefore Herr considers his herd to be about 50
per cent purebreds but not registered. Switching to a
registered herd is another one of his ambitions for the
coming years.
Cows at Herr’s farm are housed in a massive bam
which has been remodeled and added onto several times.
The chain-tie stalls, Herr admits, are still a bit mmll for
Holsteins since they were originally intended for Guern
seys, but from a practical viewpoint they’re working out
satisfactorily. He tries to keep “smaller” Holsteins than
what is generally strived for by most Holstein breeders.
Although Herr is aiming to put a 600-pound butterfat
production average on his herd, he claims that be does not
push for big records. “I draw the line between feeding
cows for production and feeding cows for records,” he
emphasized, a bit of information which he also reflected in
this philosophical statement:
“I try to do the most, and the best, with what I have to
work with.”
A progressive farmer who believes more in quality than
quantity, Herr stated he doubts that be will increase the
size of his herd to more than 100 cows. Acreage expansion
is also doubtful due to high prices for land, he added,
although he still “farms” elsewhere as a custom operator.
Herr hopes to reach his goal of 600 pounds butterfat
through “better feeds, breeding, and management.” He
described his present herdsman, Robert Smith, as being
very capable and really doing the job. Besides Smith,
Herr has three other fellows working for him: Melvin
[Continued on Page 59]
FLAMELESS CATALYTIC HEATERS
AN L.P. GAS BROODER
THAT DOES A BETTER JOB
ON BABY PIGS & CHICKS
ALSO OTHER MODELS IN STOCK
FOR USE AS MILKHOUSE HEATERS
AARON S. GROFF & SON
FARM & DAIRY STORE
RD3, Ephrala. Pa. 17522 IHinkletovml Phone 3540741
Store Hours 7 A.M. to 9 P.NI.
Closed lues. & Sat. at 5:00 P.M
53
“Your Pigs
Will Love
Per/'