By Dr. John E. Baylor
Director of Market Development
Beachley-Hardy Seed Company
Grasslanding in Japan
Last month I promised a brief
look at forage farming on the dairy
and livestock farms of northern
Japan. And while one does not
become an expert as a result of a
two-week visit to Japan I did round
up a bit of information that may be
of interest to dairy and livestock
farmers in eastern U.S.A.
XV International
Grassland Congress
But first, why was I in Japan?
Briefly, the International Con
ference Center at Kyoto, Japan
was the site of the Fifteenth In
ternational Grassland Congress.
Attended by some 900 delegates
from 45 or more countries this was
the first such Congress to be held in
Asia.
Many of you remember that the
TH-REAL ESTATE-
BER
MACHINERY-EQUIPMENT & IN
VENTORY Wool Mfg. Plant of "Pride of
the Flock" Woolen Mills Inc., Raphine,
Va. (Augusta County) 75 ACRES (May be
offered in two Tracts and as a whole)
TRACT 1-3 Acres w/lmprovements (in
Good Condition) approx 10,190 sq ft ,
Fronting Rts 620 and 726. TRACT 2-72
Acres, Open & Wooded. Many items of
Farm Equipment, Machinery, and Office
Furniture. Real Estate is Subject to
Confirmation by Lemholder. Terms
available with prior approval
OCTO
>BER 12TH-10:30 A.M.-TRIPLE S
PAVING, INC. Rochelle, Va. Model 80
Eyner Tar Distributor, Lillbord Tar
Distributor, Blaw-Knox 65 Paver, 72
Ford Dump Truck, 2-1969 Chev. Dump
Trucks, 1976 Ford Tool Truck, J.D
Backhoe, Molm Roller, Fuelhaul Tanker
Trailer, 2-Tag-a-long Trailers, etc
OCTOBER 12TH-1:00 P.M.-ESTATE OF
BEALE WHITTAKER Caroline County,
Va. 1232 ACRES ! 1 TRACTS-17 PAR
CELS-Timber, Farmland Hunter’s
Paradise, Brick Home. Tracts from 10
Acres to 300 Acres All Property to be
sold from the Intersection of Rts. 207 &
601
OCTOBER 18TH-DISPERSAL OF DAIRY
HERD & Heifers Over Six Months Old-
FLEETDALE HOLSTEINS (John I. Fleet &
Sons), Hartfield, VA.-275 COWS AND
HEIFERS (125 REG) Aug Classification
(14 VG, 26 GP, 29 Good) Current Rolling
DHIA Average 18,101 m 34% 61 If
(Average Age 47 Mos) 54 First Calf
Heifers with Projected ME 18,627 m
638M44 Cows (78 Registered) 131
Heifers (47 Reg) Va Milk Base (89,104
lbs. Winter) (5900 lbs. Dl Daily Base, Old
Dorn Div) FARM EQUIPMENT used
directly in relation to the Dairy Operation
Including AC 190xT Diesel Tractor, MF
180 Diesel, Melroe Bobcat Skid Loader,
Forage Chopper, Baler, Manure
Spreader, Disc Harrow, Combine, 1975
Int Pickup, Rake, Haybme, Forage
Wagons, Hay Wagons, Mixer Wagon,
Irrigation Pipe, Etc
FOR DETAILED BROCHURE CONTACT-
Snb®3K
BROOK ROAD \ RICHMOND VIRGINIA
Fourteenth International
Grassland Congress was held in
1981 at the University of Kentucky.
Yours truly had the privilege of
serving as general chairman of
that Congress. A few may recall
that back in 1952 the Sixth
Congress was held on the campus
of the Pennsylvania State
University.
In addition to the Congress itself,
at which I had official respon
sibilities, I also-participated in a
well organized post congress tour
to Japan’s northernmost Island of
Hokkaido, which included visits to
several Japanese dairy farms, a
public pasture, two research
stations, the research farm of
Japan’s largest forage seed
company and a number of scenic
PUBLIC SALE
SAT., OCTOBER 19,1985
12:00 NOON
6 Miles North East of Everett, Pa.
Bedford Co.
Upon leaving the turnpike at the
Breezewood exit, take Route 30 west to
Route 26 north, 2 miles turn east at
Fatesville Pa. (or Brite Spot) 5 miles to
sale site.
3 section harrow; Oliver wagon on rubber;
Oliver 3 disc plow; Oliver cultivator; Gehl 10”
hammer mill; 50 ft. endless belt; I.H. cylinder
com sheller with bagger & cob stacker; Model
26-16 hoe Oliver Superior grain drill; Model 2
Oliver combine 5 ft. cult, with bagger; Model 22
A Oliver 7 ft. trailer mowers; 1-row Champion
potato planter; Model 2295 Oliver 2 row
mounted corn planter; #9-I.H. Silo filler; Wind
Mill; 2 Perfection milking units; John Deere
14-T Baler; New Idea hay conditioner; New
Idea side delivery rake (on steel); 24 ft. hay
elevator.
Note be on time no small items.
Owner
JESSE GREENAWALT
Everett, Pa.
814-652-5011
Auctioneers
Robert Grubb & Sons
AU-001294-L
Everett, Pa. 15537
814-652-2547
Lunch Served
attractions,
Japan and Its Grasslands
Before journeying north to
Hokkaido let’s take a brief look at
Japanese agriculture in general.
Japan with a land area the size of
California has a population of
about 120 million. From north to
south its climate ranges from
subartic to subtropical. About 67
percent of its land is covered with
forest and only 13 percent is
considered flat.
Geologically the country is
young. Soils are mainly of volcanic
origin with 70 active volcanoes still
in existence. There are only about
13.5 million acres of arable land
with rice paddy fields occupying 55
percent of this area.
But the eating habits of the
Japanese people are changing. Per
capita rice consumption has
declined materially and the con
sumption of meat and milk
products has increased
dramatically. Dairy cow numbers
for milk and meat have doubled in
the last 20 years, and beef cattle
numbers have also increased.
Currently, however, Japan sup
plies only 30 percent of the TDN
needs of its livestock.
The changing diets of the
Japanese people have also had an
impact on land use. Rice
production currently exceeds
consumption and by national
policy there’s a major program to
convert paddy rice fields to
pasture for dairy and beef cattle.
Hokkaido - Japan’s Kingdom of
Dairy Farming
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost
island, is in the same latitude as
between New York City and Ot
tawa, Canada and is characterized
by a severe winter with heavy
snowfall due to the northwest
winds from Siberia. It is about the
size of Maine and occupies 22
percent of the land area of Japan,
but includes only 5 percent of its
population. It is considered the
frontier of Japan.
A mountainous island with
several active volcanoes, the
cultivated land of Hokkaido totals
about 2.7 million acres (about 60
percent that of Pennsylvania),
two-thirds of which are considered
moderate-to-low in productivity.
About 23 percent of Hokkaido’s
cultivated land area is paddy rice,
36 percent upland crop and 41
percent grasslands.
Major crops, in addition to rice,
include wheat, kidney and red
beans, potatoes and sugar beets as
well as selected fruits and
vegetables. Corn is rapidly in
creasing in acreage, mainly for
silage. Red clover & timothy are
currently the primary species
grown for hay crop silage and hay,
while orchardgrass and ryegrass
with or without clovers are the
major improved pasture species.
There is considerable interest in
alfalfa as Soil conditions (drainage
and fertility) are improved.
About 38 percent of Japan's
dairy cows (nearly 800,000 - about
the same as Pennsylvania and
almost exclusively Holstein
Fresians) are located on
Hokkaido. Traditionally surplus
dairy calves and beef calves are
pasture reared on Hokkaido
pastures to a weight of 500 to 600
pounds and then transported to the
main island for finishing in dry lots
to a weight of about 1200 pounds.
The dairy farms I visited were
modem, averaging 45 to 50 milking
cows with a herd milk production
average in excess of 15,000 pounds.
Land area on most farms is very
limited with soils generally
slightly acid, only moderate in
fertility and marginally drained.
Emphasis is placed on intensive
pasture management with surplus
forage harvested as hay crop
silage and stored in upright (both
concrete stave and limited
oxygen) silos as well as round bale
silage in plastic bags. Some hay is
also made. Com is frequentlv
Governor to speak
at Grange convention
HARRISBURG - Governor
Dick Thornburgh has agreed to
address delegates at the Penn
sylvania State Grange convention
in Warren, on Oct. 30.
The State Grange is meeting for
their annual convention October
28-31 at the Library Theatre,
Warren, to form legislative policy
and elect officers.
Thornburgh is scheduled to
speak at 7:10 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the
Library Theatre. His address will
precede the state talent finals, one
of the highlights of the Grange
convention.
Richard Grubb, acting secretary
of agriculture since June, will
accompany the governor and give
remarks.
In addition to Thornburgh and
Grubb, speakers at the Grange
convention will include
Congressman Bill Clmger (R-23),
keynote speaker for the convention
banquet on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.; Rep.
Curt Bowley (D-Warren, Forest),
Oct. 30 at 2:20 p.m.; U.S. Senator
Arlen Specter and Don Bailey,
r ABERDEEN SALES CO. INC. f
f LIVESTOCK AUCTION |
MARKET
| SPECIAL FEEDER CATTLE SALE
I Located 5 mi. east of Bel Air, Md.; 5 mi. west of Aberdeen, Md.,
on Rt. 22 in Churchville, Harford Co., Md
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Z Cattle will be accepted 24 hrs. prior to sale; sorted and graded: sold on out i
I weights in lots to suit all buyers. This is a proven, successful sale. Be with I
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I ABERDEEN SALES CO. INC. HAULING AVAILABLE I
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 5,1985-A39
grown for silage on silos where it is
adapted and Japanese engineers
have done an excellent job of
developing efficient forage har
vesting equipment for the small
farmer.
Due to the shortage of land it is
difficult for individual dairy far
mers to expand forage production
and increase cattle raising
operations by themselves. Thus,
cooperative (public) pastures,
primarily for young stock and dry
cows, have been established and
are managed by public cor
porations or agricultural
associations. Public pastures are
also used extensively in beef cattle
operations.
Farmer cooperatives also play
an important role in both Japanese
agricultural and rural affairs.
Their activities involve almost all
of the operations in rural economy
including purchases and sales of
agricultural commodities and
informational services.
This is just a very brief look at
one segment of Japan’s
agriculture. But I trust you may
have found it of some interest.
Next month we’ll take a look at a
couple of so-called anti-quality
components in two of our im
portant cool season grasses and
what has been done to overcome
the problem.
state auditor. general. State
Grange Master Charles Wismer
will give his annual address to
delegates at the opening of the
convention on Oct. 28 at 2:20 p.m.
Grange delegates will consider
some 100 resolutions submitted by
local and county granges. Policy
originates at the grassroots level
with adoption of resolutions by
local granges. Resolutions ap
proved at the local level are then
considered by the pomona, or
county, unit. Those approved by
the county are sent to the State
Grange tor consideration by
delegates from all the granges at
the annual covention. Issues of
national significance go on for
approval at the National Grange
Convention in November, in
Eugene, Oregon.
An estimated 1,500 Grange
members including 600 delegates
will attend this year's convention.
The State Grange is the state’s
largest farm organization with
42,000 members in 66 counties. The
Pennsylvania Grange is the second
largest in the nation
OCTOBER 19,1985
1:00 P.M. Sharp!