Learning
(Continued from Page Dl6)
Koontz gives his landlord much
credit for working with them all
the time. The landlord farms the
land and Koontz buys the feed from
him. The landlord also fills his silo
and does the manure hauling.
With this advantage, Koontz has
been able to work entirely with his
CUSTOM WORK
ROUND BALE SILAGE BAGS
Two Round Bale Sizes To Choose From:
Small Size - 51” Diameter x 126” - Fits 42” to 48” Bates
Large Size - 70” Diameter x 148” - Fits 54” to 60" Bales
NOW IS THE TIME TO SWITCH
Farmer, the tool you need is I
the Ag-Bagger. No other silage I
storer can you profit from by
doing custom work Ag Bag
Machine more than pays for
itself. Look around and talk to
your neighbors. Farmers with
more than one farm having the
Ag-Bagger do not have to haul
feed back and forth from farm
to farm. Place bags anywhere
you please.
f Ag Bag Silage Capacity ■
Jlßag 150 Tons |
" 6 Bags 900 Tons §
. 12 Bags 1800 Tons i
f CLIP COUPON 1 *24Bags 3600 Tons.
1 AG BAG EQUIPMENT i "48 Bags 7200 Tons a
i HOSTS FAMILY TIME j96Bags 14400T0ns B
| RESTAURANT j •■■■■■■■■■■■■■
I 10% OFF EACH MEAL \
1_ OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK 11 □ Want to know more about ■
' ~~~ “ “ J Ag-Bag System I
M iAfl-Bofl Equipment Co.*;
Model Hl9O PTO Hyd. I Phone: 717-626-7596 J
Model G 200 PTO I If no answer, 717-665-4868
Model M3OO Moralized • **SS£SSISfig m ■
Unit B Lititz, PA 17543 ■
Gas or Diesel Units ■ Name ■
Side Conveyor fl "T® ■
Dump Tables ; j
HOPPer SideS * * Due to mailing errors, please be sure the name |
rr | Ag-Bag Equipment Co. is on the envelope.
ANNOUNCING
BUILT IN PROTECTION
Three ply plastic silage bags, 9
mills silage bags. Life up to two
years. 42” alfalfa bale will weigh
between 1200 to 1300 lbs. at
50% moisture. 58” bale will weigh
1600 to 1800 lbs.
FAMILY TIME RESTAURANT
RT. 322 EPHRATA
LINCOLN, PA.
DUTCH SMORGASBORD
AND PLATTERS
HOME STYLE COOKING
finances
herd and develop one of the top
herds in the state. The “Vantage”
herd is milked in a double four
herringbone parlor. When they
started here, “the main objective
was always that one person could
milk”, Angie says as she explains
that they only used six stalls in the
parlor until they purchased the
ARE HERE!
automatic take-offs currently in
use. They also use the Boumatic
milkers but prefer IBA inflations,
the square, silicon inflations, with
an added advantage of lasting
much longer than rubber in
flations.
Milking chores are split between
Koontz and his wife. When Angie is
milking, you can often find Don,
switching cows, trimming feet,
Ag-Bag
System
Ag-Bag Equipment
Your reputable dealer
has affordable and rea- .
sonable prices. AH
equipment and
materials are under
warranty. Our farm
management plan gives ,
the farmer profit
through greater prod
uction and gains.
tending heifers, or doing simple
remodeling to make things a bit
more efficient. Since their move,
Koontz has enlarged and improved
the maternity area of the 178;
freestall barn, built individual tie
stalls for calves, opened the peak
in the freestall barn for improved
ventilation, and grooved the floor
to prevent excessive slipping of the
cows. He also beds the freestalls
with sand purchased very cheap by
the ton from a local merchant.
Koontz credits this practice for his
low somatic cell count and little
mastitis and it keeps the cows very
clean.
His plans for the future include a
mixer unit for a total mixed ration,
and a remodeling of his heifer bam
to include freestalls. Koontz plans
to chop hay into the milking ration,
and plans to feed on a dry matter
basis over 50% hay with com
silage and grain, and possible
cottonseed.
The Koontz children provide
some of the “extras” at Vantage
with Jackie taking over calf
feeding chores before and after
school and Brian doing most of the
feeding of the heifers and milking
herd. The Koontz’ state that if their
children Would not be willing to
help as much as they do, they
would have to hire outside help.
In breeding his own cows, Koontz
stresses good adders and feet and
he and his wife pick two bulls to use
out of every new sire summary.
Both bulls must be udder im
provers and one choice must
definately improve feet. They also
use a few young bulls out of cows
with high MCD’s.
This year, this hard-working
family will be buying this farm and
will be financing it through FHA.
Working with FHA in the past
when they had purchased 4 ad
ditional herds to increase their cow
numbers, they have had good
relations with this loaning agency.
In the past, Angie states, “They
were always very receptive to the
fact that we only to put our
investment in the dairy”. She says
that FHA told them “The closer to
the milk tank, the sooner the
returns. With the added equity of
their larger herd, and the out
standing herd average that they
have achieved on this number of
cows, the Koontz’ have demon
strated their ability at dairying to
this agency and will be able to
purchase their home years ahead
of time when the interest rates are
lower.
The Koontz family does not stay
“on the farm” all the time, and has
TRACTION
MASTERS, INC.
Grooving. Grinding
and Texturing
The TMI “EDGE” provides clean, straight grooves
in feed alleys, freestails, holding lots and corners for
improved traction, heat detection and drainage and
the reduction of broken bones and splitting.
Group rates available!
CALL OR WRITE:
Merle Becker Dari M. Packard
224 S. Market St. 1514 Hollins St.
Ephrata, PA 17522 Baltimore, MD 21223
(717) 738-1359 (301) 945-7313
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 18,1983—017
been very successful showing their
animals at the local fairs. The
animals of the children have also
qualifyed for the All-American
Show in Louisville, Ky., in the past,
and they look forward to showing
this year. They also have two
homebred cows who are appraised
“Excellent" in addition to several
other herdmates of “90 or above”.
The family is also active in church
and community affairs with Don
serving on the 4-H Development
Committee, and as a leader, in
addition to being Vice President of
the Extension Association in their
county, and serving on the Mercer
County Farmers Association
board. Koontz always active in the
state Jersey Association and
currently Sale Chairman of the
Pennsylvania Annual Bred Heifer
Sale, is running for National
Director of this district in the
American Jersey Cattle Club.
Although they are very aware of
the fact that they will need a high
producing herd to stay solvent, the
Koontz' main concern of living on a
farm is to have a comfortable life.
As one of his goals Koontz lists, “to
have the highest producing, yet
practically economical herd in the
country”, but adds that it is more
important to him to work with and
enjoy his family at the same time.
For family outings or vacations,
the Koontz’ have been able to hire
dependable help and do not want
their family life to suffer even if
they have to work very hard on
their dairy operation.
Koontz also is concerned about
the current milk situation and
states that “advertising is
essential but we need to do more
than that...we need to up the
quality of milk.” He also favors
some type of incentive plan for
dairymen to increase their “on the
farm” quality while decreasing the
surplus.
The Koontz’ enjoy visitors and
extend a warm welcome to Jersey
breeders or interested individuals
to come and see their herd. With
Angie taking her cows “to the
schools” to educate urban children
and Don serving on many com
munity and state youth com
mittees, the Koontz’ are doing all
they can to promote their their
breed and the “goodness of milk"
in addition to providing their
support to the farming community.
When you meet this family, you
will be greeted by a warm and
gracious family, ambitious to
promote their product in order to
keep the lifestyle that they have
grown to love.