BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
LANCASTER The Pa. Ar
tichoke Growers Association gave
a crop status report at a meeting
Tuesday night at the Lancaster
Farm and Home Center, including
production cost data and their
experiences with fresh marketing
of tubers and feeding choke silage
to dairy and beef cattle.
Norman Kurtz, Lebanon County
grower, traced the history of in
volvement with the crop since its
introduction approximately a year
ago. He explained that he has
found the Jerusalem artichokes
are fairly easy to grow and the tops
have been excellent feed for his
dairy and beef cattle.
In several feed analysis reports
on the tops, Richard Croyle, of
Biometrics, Quanyville, termed
them “a good source of protein and
a fair source of energy for dairy
and beef cows.”
He said the artichoke silage has
the potential for a dairy and beef
livestock feed.
In a report on one crop of full
growth artichoke silage, he listed
An
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Pa. artichoke growers review crop data
comparative analysis figures for
protein and TDN in the direct-cut
choklage blown into the silo as
compared to com silage.
The analysis showed 19.4 percent
crude protein and 14.6 percent
digestible protein for the artichoke
silage as compared to 9.9 percent
crude protein and 5.8 percent
digestible protein for the com
silage. TDN comparisons were 56.2
percent for the choklage and 69.2
percent for the com silage.
Comparisons were on a dry matter
basis.
He noted in mineral content
there is a wide ratio of calcium to
phosphorus in the artichoke silage.
The above crop was harvested at
full bloom and Croyle said there is
a significant drop in the protein
and TDN levels of the artichoke
tops when harvested after the first
frost. So, there is a difference in
feed value according to time of
harvest.
In a feed test in beef cows,
Croyle said that twice as much
protein is available per acre of
artichoke silage than with corn
idea to
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silage. In a specific test, beef cattle
showed average gains of 1.75 lbs.
per day on a ration of 15 lbs. of half
com silage and half choklage, 12
lbs. of ear com and 5 lbs. of mixed
grass hay.
Croyle also reported on a feed
test involving dairy cows.
Concerning soil fertility, Croyle
said that yields of 18 tons of ar
tichoke silage an acre requires
about 200 units of Nitrogen and
there is also a dramatic response
to liming.
Don Robinson, of the Eastern
Lancaster County Adult Farmer
staff, reported on a study of
comparative production costs for
com silage and alfalfa as com
pared to artichoke silage and with
choke tubers compared to
potatoes.
The comparisons cover all
production costs, except land and
equipment ownership values.
The study showed per-acre
returns of some $568 for the ar
tichoke silage as compared to $323
for com silage and $269 for the
alfalfa.
STATE
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 14,19t4—A19
For the artichoke tubers, the
return was $546 an acre as com
pared to $277 for potatoes.
But, he pointed out, the potential
as a cash crop depends on having
sufficient markets to handle the
amount of crop produced.
Also speaking was Gail Pippin,
of Windy Hollow Farm, near
Honey Brook, a produce broker
who specializes in the marketing of
specialty produce items.
Starting with alfalfa sprouts six
years ago they now handle a
number of specialty produce items
and market them in the
Oal»-K 2 t *vi
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - As a result
of the Dairy and Tobacco Ad
justment Act of 1983, dairy far
mers nationwide will contribute 15
cents per hundredweight towards
milk promotion programs starting
May 1. The Act allows for dairy
farmers to direct up to 10 cents of
this amount for local qualified
promotion programs. The
Philadelphia, Scranton and New
York City areas.
Some artichokes were marketed
through the company during the
past year and Pippin explained
that it involves a process of
educating both the consumers and
market managers.
She said her company is looking
to expand their marketable
produce to include such items as
horseradish, leeks, pearl onions,
hot peppers, odd-sized sweet
peppers, shallots, unusual squash,
rhubarb chard and mini carrots.
remaining 5 cents will be put
towards a national promotion fund.
Pennsylvania dairy farmers in
the Federal Order 2 area have the
option of reserving 10 cents of this
money for programs serving their
own area, through the support of
ADA/DC’s positive letter. This
letter is sent annually to encourage
dairy farmer support for their mUk
promotion program. Support for
the letter will keep the majority of
dairy farmer promotion funds
local, where their milk is
marketed.
There are three Federal Orders
covering the Pennsylvania area,
#2, #4, and #36. Each has their own
operating milk promotion
program. Pennsylvania dairy
farmers shipping to Federal Order
2 are serviced by the American
Dairy Association and Dairy
Council. ADA/DC conducts ad
vertising and promotion programs
in order to increase the con
sumption of milk and milk
products.
The positive letter will be
distributed during the month of
April with a decision for support
due by May 1. Deduction from the
program will continue through
June 30,1985. ADA/DC encourages
producer support for local milk
promotion.
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