DlG—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 23,1981
Dairy Pipeline
reduces leaf loss and minimizes
losses due to bleaching and
leeching.
More leaves are preserved, too,
if hay is handled as few times as
possible and if not handled when
dry. Here is where haybines are of
benefit, they minimize the number
of times hay is handled by per
forming the cutting, the crushing
and the windrowing, all in one
operation and while the hay crop
has sufficient moisture. If raking
or tedding is necessary, be sure the
hay is moist enough to prevent leaf
shattering. Let it finish drying in
the windrow.
Ensiling is another way fanners
can insure top quality in their hay
and small grain crop forages. For
top quality, ensiled forages should
be wilted to about 50 to 65%
moisture. Chop to a length of about
% inch, blow it into a tight struc
ture, fill rapidly, pack well, and
then seal. Keep the knives sharp
for a good, uniform cut. The length
of cut can vary with moisture
content; perhaps a 3/8 inch cut for
dryer material and 5/8 inch for
wetter material. The value of
preservatives is generally greater
at moisture levels above and below
the desired range.
Because moisture testing is so
essential for good management -
SOYBEAN ROASTING ON YOOR FARM
DON'T WASTE IT ROAST IT
V” MOLDYOR MUSTYCORN 1
t Have it restored to useable condition ♦
by roasting. |
DAVID N. GROFF ALLEN SUMMERS
RD 1, Box 506 C RD #l, Box 152-C
Lewisburg, PA 17837 Nottingham, PA 19362
717-966-3593 215-932-4761
(Continued from Page Dl5)
and efficient production, ail
dairymen who feed high moisture
feeds should own a moisture tester
and use it regularly during har
vesting, and as the crop is being
fed out. In the absence of a
moisture tester, these guidelines
may help give you a rough in
dication of the moisture content of
your forages at time of harvest.
Grab a handful of finely chopped
forage and squeeze it tightly. If the
ball holds its shape when you
release your grip and your hand is
moist, it’s probably about 71 to 75%
moist. If the ball expands slowly
and your hand is not damp, the
moisture level is probably about 61
to 70%. Below 60%, the ball usually
springs apart when you open your
hand.
Yield and Longevity
Also consider yield and longevity
of the alfalfa stand. Early removal
of the first cutting of alfalfa
usually enables farmers to beat the
alfalfa weevil and to get an extra
cutting of hay for that growing
season. It also permits the
possibility of two cuttings to be
harvested prior to the onset of
summer droughts and potato
leafhoppers. All of this adds up to
unproved quality, greater yields
and more profits.
Remember, too, it is expensive
[her profits from all grains, roasting
TDN, destroys molds and retards
removes moisture.
>TOM GRAIN ROASTING DONE IN PA.
AND SURROUNDING STATES
DALE L. SCHNUPP
RD 6. Lebanon, Pa. 17042
Ph: 717-865-6611
to establish new stands of alfalfa.
So, give some thought to the vigor
and life of the stand. Aftermath
cuttings can be harvested about 35
to 42 days after the previous cut
ting - when the basal buds start
shooting new growth. However, at
least one of the cuttings should be
allowed to come into bloom. This
gives the alfalfa plant 'an op
portunity to replenish its root
reserves, thus increasing its
ability to overwinter. Similarly,
the first cutting of a new seeding of
alfalfa sould be harvested at about
the 1/10 to mid-bloom stage of
maturity. This gives the new
seeding a better opportunity to
become well established before
being subjected to the rigors of
intensive management.
Also important to the vigor, yield
and life of the stand, and to the
quality of the forage harvested, is
adequate liming and fertilization
plus control of insects and weeds.
It is more costly not to manage
alfalfa, than it is to manage it well!
As we consider growing and
harvesting higher quality, greater
yielding forages, there is another
concept we need to keep in mind. Is
our main objective to reduce
purchased feed costs, increase
returns over feed costs, or to
maximize net profit from the
farm? In an effort to reduce
purchased feed costs you may
actually be reducing your total
profits! Read that again! “How
can this be? ”, you ask.
FISHER AND SIOITZFUS TRAILER SALES
Grain Trailer Comes B’xl6' t Has
40” Grain Sides
The Mueller Model “OH” with HiPerForm
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400 gal. D-4 Girton, like 1000 Gal. Girton
new 600 Gal. Esco
800 Gal. Esco
300 gal. Mojonnier
1(2) 500 Gal. D-2
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QUEEN ROAD REFRIGERATION
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ORIGINAL
MUELLER
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For example, if you own a small
farm with limited acreage it will
probably be less profitable to raise •
all your grain and forage in the
interest of reducing purchased
feed costs; chances are, you may
not be able to support enough cows
to earn a good livelihood for the
family. It probably would be more
profitable to raise only those crops
which yield the greatest amount of
feed nutrients per acre, such as
corn for silage and high yielding
alfalfa, and then buy necessary
grain and protein; in this manner,
more cows could be milked and net
profits would probably increase,
even though purchased feed costs
are higher and returns over feed
costs per cow - less. This is
assuming that you would not have
to borrow vast sums of money to
build expensive facilities to ac
commodate the expanded herd.
On the other hand, if you have an
abundant amount of acreage to
Pa. wheat crop,
HARRISBURG - Penn
sylvania’s 1981 winter wheat crop
is expected to produce 8.25 million
bushels from 250,000 acres based
on May 1 conditions, according to
the Pennsylvania Crop Reporting
Service.
If realized, the crop would be 11
percent below last year’s state
production. A lower anticipated
yield erf 33 bushels per acre is
Call 717-768-3832 between 7 a.m. & 9 a.m.
or call 717-354-0723 after 6 p.m. East of New Holland, Pa.
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Box 67, Intercourse, PA 17534 /rThoorJ
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SEE THE MUELLER NEW MODELS
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Check with us all the new features on the “MW" bulk tank.
If you are in the market for a bulk milk cooler and you don't
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work with and you are not in
terested in milking any more cows,
than you would probably profit by
growing as much of your feed as
possible, increasing your returns
over feed costs and reducing your
dependence upon purchased feeds.
Chances are, it will be more
profitable for you to'market as
many of your crops as possible
through cows, and selling the
remainder for cash.
- It is very difficult to make
generalizations because every form
situation is unique in its own way.
One thing is certain though, you
can increase cash flow in the
future by taking advantage of
every opportunity now to grow and
harvest top quality, high yielding
forages, and then store and feed
these forages in such a manner so
as to make most efficient use of the
quality and nutrients in the crops
you have harvested.
hay stocks down
responsible for the smaller crop.
U.S. winter wheat production is
forecast at a record high 2.08
billion bushels, ten percent above
the 1980 crop.
Hay ' stocks on Pennsylvania
farms May I were estimated at
795,000 tons, down 19 percent from
a year ago. U.S. total hay stocks of
25.5 million tons were down 24
percent from last year.
Small trailers for tractors
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