Focusing On Priorities Spring is a wonderful time of the year. It’s a time for dreaming, a time to look forward to a new growing season with the anticipa tion of a good harvest. It also offers us a change of pace from our winter routines. Many of us feel like that heifer that’s been penned up all winter and turned out to pasture for the first time; it’s a time to kick up our heels, breathe the fresh air of spring and enjoy the outdoor life and activi ties. In addition to bringing us much enjoyment, spring is also a busy time of the year, a time when we need to keep a focus on our priori- ties and to perform essential tasks in timely fashion. For example, if seeding alfalfa or spring oats is on your agenda, it is beneficial to get the seed in the ground as early as possible to give die crop the benefit of a frill grow ing season. Seeding of other crops such as com and beans need to be delayed until the soil warms up. In some cases, seeding might need to WOOD AND STEEL BUILDINGS NAZARETH BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC. Nuarath, PA PH: 215437-7700 D. TOMBASCO CO. Hannon, PA PH: 717-459-0859 GOMPF CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. Strwt, MD PH: 301492-5350 FOUR COUNTIES CONTRACTOR, INC. Coalport, PA PH: 014-672-5751 PHIC BUILDERS Pottitown, PA PH: 215-323-4070 MATTSON iiu ENTERPRISES TEJAY INCORPORATED Burlington, NJ EaMon, Maryland PH; 609-366-1603 PH; 301-822-6400 W.R. MOODY, J.E.N. CONTRACTOR CONSTRUCTION Wml Newton, PA Torn* River, NJ PH: 412-672-6604 PH; 201-240-7461 Daily Pipeline By Glenn A. Shirk Extension Dairy Agent be delayed later than ususal in order to improve weed control. A good example of this is Johnson.- grass; delaying com planting until the soil is warm enough, for John songrass to germinate enables you to apply herbicides closer to the time when weed seeds are germin ating. Other examples of timely oper ations include incorporating man ure soon after application. In addi tion to helping presave nutrients, it also helps to preserve good rela tions with your neighbors. Having machinery in good working order and parts in stock before the crop ping season starts is also bene ficial. Remember The Cows As a dairyman, never los? sight of the fact that the cows pay the bills. Most of what you do in die field is for the sake of the cows. One of the best ways for you to measure crop yields might be pounds of milk that specific crops will help you produce per acre. Most people evaluate crops in terms of yield and market value. TRIMARK BUILDING CONTRACTORS, INC. So. Vlmland, NJ PH: 609425-1990 KNOXVILLE CONSTRUCTION Knoxville, PA PH: 9144264190 ANCHOR BUILDING SYSTEMS Oeale, MD PH: 301-667-7233 TRI-COUNTY AGRI-SYSTEMS Swadeeboro, NJ PH; 609-487-3174 Your cows actually help you add value to that crop by converting it to milk. Thus, we need totisk ourselves “How does my work in the field affect the herd and its ability to produce milk efficient ly?” The kind and variety of crops selected, yields and planting dates, pest control, fertility and harvest ing practices have an effect on this. What does this mean to us as we get busy in the field? Later on, as we approach ryelage and hay harvesting time, we may find it beneficial to halt com planting or tillage operations in order to get the rye and alfalfa harvested at the precise time for optimum quality. Remember, the one best feed for high levels of efficient milk production is lots of high quality forages. We have but a few days to perform those critical spring harvests. Delaying com planting a few days will probably be far less costly than missing those precious harvesting opportunities. Many dairymen have discov ered the benefit of spending more time in the bam attending to the many details that are necessary for sustaining high levels of efficient milk production. Those jobs are still important to do, as is the field work. The challenge is deciding where the best help is needed and assigning and performing jobs accordingly. Rather than doing everything yourself, it may be pro fitable to hire some labor to per form some of the less critical jobs, or perhaps a custom operator can be hired to do some of the field work so you have more time to spend with the herd. Perhaps some of the bam chores can be auto mated; automatic grain feeders is one example. The use of total mix rations to reduce the number of • Retail Stores • Light Commercial • Storage Bldgs. • Offices & Shops • Garages • Mini-Warehouses • Industrial, Mfg. Facilities LESTER . • Machinery Storage • Farm Shops • Hobby Barns • Dairy Barns For More Information, Contact Your Local LESTER Builder. [butler mfg” co" I Attn PE Hess J !P 0 Box 337, Oxford, PA 19363 J | □ Please tend info, on LESTER Buildings ■ □ I’m interested in e LESTER Dealership ! Name I Address ■ County J City I Phone (area code) • Livestock Housing • Horse Arenas • Open Fronts • Poultry Housing State feedings necessary per day is another example. Controlling mastitis takes time and effort. This is one area that is frequently slighted as we get busy in die field. Easing up on sanita tion, milking technique, equip ment maintenance, etc. can be the open door that gives an infectious organism the opportunity to get a good foothold in the herd. That can be very costly! It’s also important to maintain your herd vaccination schedules. Of particular concern in the spring of die year is vaccinating the herd for lepto. Pasture Concerns As you turn catde out to pas ture, there arc several other things to dunk about. Catde should be dewormed about three weeks after first turned out to pasture, and then dewormed a second time about three weeks later. A third dewarming is advised at the end of the grazing period, as they are stabled for die winter. Johne’s disease is another con cern. To prevent young stock from ingesting manure of older catde, heifers should not be grazed with older catde. Nor should they be grazed after older catde in a rota tional grazing system. If hay is clipped off of pastures, the clip- Ag Baby Farm Products Baby girl Ashley Mullen, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John Mul len, was the first baby bom at Lan caster General Hospital on National Agriculture Day, March 20. On behalf of farmers every- SUSQUEHANNA MAJOR BUILDINGS, METAL PRODUCTS INC. WaUontown, PA JohnMown, PA PH: 717-742-2628 PH: 814-535-7716 FISHER CONSTRUCTION Wtllwllto, PA PH; 717-292-3692 C & M SALES INC. Hontadale, PA PH: 717-253-1612 Lancaster Arming, Saturday, April 1, 1989-A25 pings should not be fed to heifers. Similarly, manger sweepings from older cattle should be fed to young heifers, and manure should not be spread on pastures. As cows are turned out to pas ture, be sure to balance their rations properly. Monitor herd health and production closely. If production improves, try to deter mine if something was not quite right with the winter feeding pro gram. If so, make a note to correct the situation next year. Be sure to balance rations accordingly. Most of the emphasis thus far has been on production. We also need to focus on marketing. This is particularly important this spring as we face the possibility of a spring flush of production and a sharp decline in milk prices. It’s a time we all need to stick together in a united way to strengthen ongoing efforts to bargain effec ' lively for higher over order prices. , With all the hustle and bustle of •' spring, let us also take time to be safe, to preserve those precious moments of family enjoyment and reflect with faith on the life that lies ahead. ■ ■ - The Cooperative Extension is an affirmative actiori, equal op portunity educational institution. Presented where, the Lancaster County Farmers Association presented the new baby's family with a box of farm products from Lancaster County. CLIFFORD E. BOLUNGER ASSOCIATES Denver, PA PH; 215-267-6046 ARCTIC INVESTMENT CONTRACTORS Red Lion, PA PH: 717-757-2335 GEORGE W. HOY & SON, INC. LoekHavan, PA PH: 717-746-7375 H.R. WEAVER CONSTRUCTION Annvillt, PA PH: 717-836-3753 REYNOLDS & YELLOT CO., I^C. RtMtralown, MD PH: 301433-1804 GEESAMAN-ROCK CONSTRUCTION INC. Rouzervllle, PA 717-762-1116 O.A. NEWTON & SON CO. Brldgevllle, DE PH: 302-337-6211 AMERICAN BUILDING & CONTRACTING Elmira, NY PH; 607-733-0519 MYERS BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC. Claareprlng, MD PH: 301-582-4200 DOUTT & SNYDER Roaring Sprlnga, PA 16673 PH: 614-224-4303
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