UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre) Even after a diy winter, dairy fanners can put their cows to pas ture, according to Dr. Gerald Jung and Dr. William Stout, research agronomists at Penn State’s U.S. Regional Pasture Research Labor atory. “The extent to which dry weather affects herbage produc tion depends on the water-holding capacity of soil, grazing manage ment, and the species of grass being grazed,” Jung said. Soil type is the least controllable element, according to Jung and Stout “If you have shallow, sha ley, or sandy soil, there’s not much you can do in dry weather because it won’t hold much water,” Jung noted. “You’d need frequent rains to keep your pasture plants growing.” But for farmers with better quality soil. Jung and Stout say a few practices will help improve pasture production during dry sea sons. Dairy farmers should rotate their cows throughout their pas tures more often than they would in wet weather. Rotation gives plants a chance to grow new tillers, or shoots, in order to produce more leaves and roots. MEMBER MILLER DIESEL, INC. 6030 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112 association or J 7171 545-5931 DIESEL SPECIALISTS • 1 n ot|o-;>swl INTERSTATE 81 NORTH, EXIT 26E (Paxtonia) Diesel Fuel Injection and Turbocharger Specialist Authorized SALES AND SERVICE Amßac C.A.V. Airesearch Robert Bosch Simms Schwitzer Roosa Master Bendix Bacharach Cummins Kiki ND Denso Service I.H.C. CAT, G.M. Injectors, Blowers & Governors - Large Inventory of Exchange member Units in Stock - Sales - Central Warehouse Distributor of FPPF Fuel Conditioner Products New - FPPF Glyclean Anti-Freeze Recycling System issocSnoi^r DKELSPEOAIBT^ LOOP STALLS All Loop Stalls Are Coated With Baked On Thermoset Epoxy Powder Coating After Fabrication • Super Tough Finish • Protection From Rust & Corrosion • Superior Electrical Insulation • Chip Resistant • Resists Acid & Chemicals,, • Smoother Finish Stays Cleaner Zimmerman Loop Stalls Are. Constructed of: •2 3/8” Outside Diameter High Yield Steel Tubing With A 12 Gal. (.108) Wall • Spray Arc Transfer Method Used On Welds Caring For Pasture During Dry Times However, in wet spring weather, light grazing may reduce the qual ity of a pasture. Plants that are left to grow too long will produce new flower heads. Once plants are allowed to bloom and go to seed, they produce fewer new leaves. “It is important to keep the grass in a vegetative growth stage," com mented Jung. “Just as one should do with a well-kept lawn, farmers shouldn’t allow their grass to grow flower heads. “It’s also a good practice to rotate grazing in pasture to keep plants growing new toots,” said Jung. The more roots a plant has, the more water it can collect from the soil. Continuous heavy grazing results in smaller root systems because there is insufficient ener gy in the plants for root production. Jung and Stout note that the spe cies of grass can be important. “Is the grass shallow rooted like timothy or dcfeprootedlikc brome grass?” Jung questioned. “There also are big differences in water use of different grasses. Native warm-season perennial grasses such as switchgrass and bluestem are very efficient users of water. They produce much more grass per inch of precipitation than do most cool-season grasses. “According to data that we col lected in Pennsylvania, some of the forage grasses are showing a lot of potential for resisting dry weather,” he added. “We’ve found drought-resistant grasses for both cool and warm seasons.” One cool-season grass is from New Zealand called Matua Prairie Grass. Similar to a perennial bromegrass, it yielded six cuttings last summer during test trials. Other drought-resistant native grasses such as switchgrass and big bluestem can substantially reduce the risksa farmer faces in dry weather. Jung, Stout, and other research ers in Penn State’s College of Agriculture have been investigat ing ways tb lower dairy and animal production costs by utilizing pas ture. During the last 30 years, far mers have'been reluctant to feed their cows horn pasture because of the difficulty in controlling a cow’s diet and the expense of erecting fences. However, because of rising costs of silage and grain The Woods mow’n machine" It runs circles around trees, shrubs, fence rails and the competition. Maximum maneuverability is the key to the mow’n machine’s growing popularity. Because i engine power is supplied to each 1 wheel independently, a true 360° zero radius turn can be made smoothly.. .without any damage to your lawn. And the mow’n machine makes all the right moves... even in those hard-to reach places. That keeps you from having to double back for time-con suming follow-up trimming. Available with either a gasoline or diesel powered engine, the mow'n machine also features an out-front mower deck, finger tip controls for speed, direction and breaking and a comfortable, vinyl-padded, driver's seat. Adding versatility to the mow’n machine is easy with these easy-on, easy-off attachments: put ** 4 Grass Vac Grass Vac Snow thrower Dozer blade Sweepster™ brush 8 cu. ft. capacity 13 cu. ft. capacity with cab clears a cleans a Slide-in Nylon Bag Metal Hopper clears a 48” path 48” path 47" path WM. HOBENSACK’S SONS Ivytand, PA 218-678-1610 R.S. HOLLINGER & SON, INC. Mountville, PA 717-288-4838 MANOR EQUIPMENT INC. Sinking Spring, PA 218-678-0828 storage, new developments in portable electric fences and improved methods in testing for age quality, many farmers have MDA Wallet ANNAPOLIS, MD—The peo ple who enter animals at the state's many fairs and shows this year are going to have an easier time of it thanks to the Animal Health Section of the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) which has prepared a handy records wallet for exhibitors. “We thought we’d provide a quality folder for animal health records so exhibitors could keep them handy and secure,” says MDA’s State Veterinarian Dr. Henry A. Virts. Besides being a handy way of keeping the important health certi ficates together, the folder gives a list of before and after do’s and don’ts for exhibitors and explains the basic rules of complying with P _ emli/irHemaitntlui KELLER BROS. THOMAS PIPERSVILLE TRACTOR CO. POWER GARDEN La ban on, PA EQUIPMENT CENTER 717-048-6801 Avondala, PA Pi para villa, PA Mu yw ca t aio-aes-aisi ai6-7ee-04i4 " KELLER BROS. RW KELLER SALES SCHREIB & SON mSSJ?pa Utltz, PA Parkaala, PA Bath, PA VlB-663-73»a 717-630-3000 318-aB7-0101 316-837-7661 Otv«iW< 0( HMMtA been using their fields to graze cows instead of using these field to harvest fodder. Offers Records Exhibitors For animal health regulations at fairs and shows. Each year, some 100 fairs and horse shows are held throughout the state and each requires proper papers on hand for each animal exhibited. This involves papers on about 12,000 animals each year. Copies of the records wallet can be obtained at the 24 offices of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service in die state. Inspection, copies may be obtained by con tacting the Animal Health Section of MDA at the following tele* phone numbers: Annapolis - 841-5810, Salis bury - 543-6610, Centreville - 758-0846, College Park - 454-3631, Frederick - 663-9528 and Oakland - 334-2185. * f -’v&s LAMBS FARM MACHINERY Thomdato, PA 315-200-3678 NESLEY EQUIPMENT CO. PotUtown, PA 318-469-6391
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