A2B-Umcaster Farming, Saturday, November 8,1986
Dairymen
(Continued from Page A 24)
we need to feed the cow ac
cordingly.”
In the last discussion of the day,
Lancaster County Extension Agent
Glenn Shirk gave imput into
cropping considerations for dairy
farms.
The cost of homegrown feeds
vanes considerably from farm to
farm, and is dependent upon many
factors. These worksheets are an
attempt to help farmers address
some of these factors.
Machinery costs are a major
item of expense. Some of these
dollars are already committed in
the form of purchased machinery.
The ownership cost of machinery
(interest and depreciation) is fixed
regardless of the acreage farmed.
Thus, there is some merit in far
ming more acres in an effort to
reduce these fixed costs per acre.
However, as you farm more
acreage, the life expectancy of
machinery may be reduced, and
there may be need to increase the
annual depreciation cost. In some
cases it may be more profitable to
sell some presently owned
machinery, even at a loss, and rely
on custom hired services.
The operating cost of machinery
(repairs, fuel, etc.), of course,
increases with useage.
Custom hiring can reduce both
the ownership cost and the
operating cost of machinery. It
may also reduce labor costs.
However, crop yields and crop
quality are dependent upon the
quality of service available; crop
yields and crop quality can be
better or worse than what you are
now able to attain. The choice of
crops will also affect the kind of
machinery needed. This has to be
considered as you evaluate the
costs and savings of custom hiring,
or of changing the cropping
program.
The cost per unit of feed
produced may be less than or
greater than the purchase price of
these same feeds. The cost will
vary with yield, production costs,
land costs, etc. The purchase of
land is generally looked upon as an
investment, but the farm still has
to pay for it. So, you may want to
include interest and principal
payments on land purchases as a
land expense. Also include rent
and taxes, as appropriate.
C.B.HOOBER& SONS, INC. HOOBER EQUIPMENT, INC
Intercourse, PA m PnMPfmll Middletown, DE
(717) 768-8231 * m TWO LOCATIONS (30 2) 378-9555
The Savins Place
WE SHIP PARTS DAILY
Via UPS - PPSH - BUS - AIR FREIGHT, ETC.
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The cost of feed per unit may be
cheaper on the next 50 acres you
farm, compared to first 100 acres
already being farmed, especially if
you can spread some of the fixed
costs over more acreage. But
dairymen need to remember that
the main source of income and
profits is in the barn, with the
cows. If field work pulls them
away from other important jobs,
farmers need to ask themselves,
what is the cost of-
Missed heats?
Sick cows not being detected and
treated on time - ’
Calving difficulties left unat
tended?
Low production resulting from a
lack of attention to details?
Not having time to shop for
‘‘good deals''?
Not having time to analyze
records, manage finances and
managing the business for
maximum profits’
Cropping programs also
determine how many cows the
farm can support. If more cows
can be fed by changing the crop
ping program will the added in
come be offset by
increased feed purchases?
Additional housing and feed
storage costs/
Additional machinery and
equipment expenses?
Additional labor demands, etc. 9
The attached worksheets
provide the user with the
capability of comparing two dif
ferent options with the present
cropping and feeding program.
They have the flexibility to com
pare-
Different crops
Differnet crop ratios de. less
hay, more corn, etc.)
Farming more acreage and
purchasing less feed
Custom hiring vs. machine
ownership
Land renting vs. land ownership
Effect of different crop yields
Cow carrying potential with
different cropping programs
Different cow to heifer ratios,
etc.
Authorized
UPS Station
Check Before Plowing Sod
Farmers who plow
down sod, including
rotational hay, may find
themselves ineligible
for some U.S. Depart
ment of Agriculture
programs. According to
Robert Heidecker, State
Resource Con
servationist for the
USDA Soil Conservation
Service, the plowing of
sod on highly erodible
land this fall could
result in the loss of
USDA program
benefits.
Heidecker recom
mends that farmers
check with their local
Agricultural Stabiliza
tion and Conservation
Service or SCS office
before plowing any sod
this fall.
Plowing sod on highly
erodible land not
protected with soil
conservation practices
violates the con
servation provisions of
the Food Security Act
(Farm Bill) of 1985. The
farmer would not be
eligible for such USDA
programs as com
modity price supports,
crop insurance, Farm
ers Home Ad
ministration loans,
farm storage facility
loans, Commodity
Credit Corporation
storage payments,
disaster payments and
Conservation Reserve
annual payments.
Highly erodible soils
are generally described
by Heidecker as being
all Class 111, IV, VI and
VII and some Class 11.
Information on the
credibility index of soils
is available from Soil
Conservation Service
offices.
ASCS can provide
information on whether
your fall plowing of
grass and legume fields
will place you in
violation and if so,
define the affects. SCS
can provide advise on
what conservation
practices are needed.
DAIRY FARMERS
■■■■■■MM ■■■■■■■■■■■■^■■i
Regional Cooperative Marketing Agency
Provides an opportunity for Dairy Farmers to
recoup some of the declining milk prices. Thousands
of independent dairy farmers in New York and Penn
sylvania have signed with RCMA.
An open meeting for all dairy farmers will be held
(Thursday, November 13th) at the Blue Ball Fire Hall,
Blue Ball, Pa. starting at 8 P.M.
Dr. Richard Grubb, Sec. PDA
Arthur Little, Ex. Dir. of RCMA
Other Meetings To Be Held
Nov. 10 • 8:00 PM • Turbot Grange Hall. (3 miles east
of Milton, Pa.)
Nov. 11-8:00 PM - Buffalo Valley Grange, Buffalo
Crossroads, Pa. (Union Co.)
Nov. 13 • 7:30 PM - Vo Ag Room, Middleburg School
(Snyder Co.)
Nov. 20 - 8:00 PM - Walker Grange Hall, Mexico, Pa
(Juniata Co.)
All Dairy Farmers Are Urged To Attend
One Of These Meetings.
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Bottle
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Bottle
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225 Wood Corner Rd.
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fall Us Toll fail
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In PA Call 1-800-253-9243
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Guest Speakers Will Be:
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The one shot that
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1 |
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$26.80
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