D24-Lancaster Farming Saturday, May 6,1989 Editor’s Note: The following article is the first of several on pasturing prepared by Alton Homan. Homan has drawn much of his information from the 1989-90 Agronomy Guide. Homan is the Bradford County Extension Agent on soils, crops and plants. Slightly over 20 years ago I pre pared a series of newsletters on pasture and pasture management and expounded on the merits. At the time, the series received some criticism as farmers were moving rapidly into hauling all forage to the livestock. Now, the seemingly brand new concept of pasture has returned to the minds of many and they are searching for information. Let me be the first to say that there is a rea son for renewed interest. Most of the old benefits and disadvantages are still prevalent, but the econom ics (sss) of pasture systems has become much more favorable largely due to the new fencing technology in relatively recent years. The time was right, as milk prices slipped, dairymen looked for lower cost, high quality forage. Before getting involved too deeply, a few things to consider and not in order of importance or all inclusive are: if you have a full line of good forage equipment that may become obsolete and be used only on a small part of acreage (which would increae your actual cost per acre of use) can you afford to make an additional expenditure for fencing and the labor in erect ing and moving fences. Do you have the shade and water to maintain milk production available in the pasture (what do you gain if you lower cost, but also lower production)? These are some typical questions to consider. Pasture Management A well-managed pasture prog ram can often be the most econom ical way to provide forage to ruminant animals. It is estimated that on many dairy farms where pasture makes up a significant por tion of the forage program, feed costs are reduced by $.50 to $l.OO per day per cow during the grazing season. However, to optimize the pro duction and utilization of pasture, as well as animal performance, careful planning and sound man agement are important. Knowing your animals, plants and soils, and being able to respond to their needs is a skill that must be developed if pasture is going to make up a sig nificant portion of your forage program. Pasture Systems Developing a pasture system that utilizes your land resources and fits in with you total animal, forage and crop program is an important first step in pasture man agement. A major goal in pasture management is to provide quality pasture for the grazing animals throughout the grazing season. By utilizing the various growth pat terns of the many pasture species grown in Pennsylvania, the graz ing season can potentially last from April to December. Summer Annual Grasses Grown in rotation with other crops, summer annual grasses such What! Back To Pasture? An Economical Small Grains Small grains such as oats, rye, wheat, or triticale can provide late fall and early spring grazing. Brassicas Various Brassica species have been shown to be useful as special purpose pasture crops in well designed pasture systems. Spring seeded brassicas can provide sup plemental summer grazing. Sum mer seeded brassicas can provide late fall grazing. Deferred Or Stockpiled Pasture This practice leaves areas of pasture ungrazed during certain seasons to accumulate forage for grazing needed when pasture pro duction is not sufficient to main tain the herd or flock. For example, some forages, such as birdsfoot trefoil or crownvetch, can be “stockpiled” in the spring to be grazed during the summer slump in pasture production. Other for- * ** V- '* > *Ws£k.*. >■& I tfptm i -Jfx nk &Mmm4 ages, such as tall fescue, may be stockpiled in late summer and autumn for late autumn and winter grazing. In this way grazing is available during seasons when low productivity of pastures might force the producer to sell cattle or feed hay. Tepfe 83 Suggested gesture components lor different greting purposes tnumoers do not inaicete preference) Bm( cowa (ealvad In March) March ealvaa Yearling ataara and haUara (atoekara) LaetaUng dairy cowa Dry dairy cows, replacement haUara Maximize your harvesting efficiency with ffie NEW 90 Series Maximizer Combines John Deere 90 Series Maximizer Combines bring you new technology. New comfort and con trol. All three models usher in a new era of efficiency and reliability to make harvesting the way it should be. • Quiet. The Sound-Gard* styled cab keeps the sound of power outside where it belongs. • Easy. Rocker switches instead of levers, high visibility status indicators and multi function hydrostatics put positive control J&gft < I Your Full-Service John Deere Dealers ADAMSTOWN EQUIPMENT INC. Mehnten, PA (n#»r Adamatown) 218-484-4391 BARRETT EQUIPMENT Smiekaburg, PA •14-287-«Sai Other Resources Other forage resources, such as com stalks grazed after harvest, and the use of aftermath hay, can be planned into a full season graz ing program. Aprfl-May 1 Any of Ih* cool- i Warm-saaaon grtttaa 1. Cool-saaton graaita with or 1 . Stockpiled tall l*scu« saaaon graisu, 2 All eool-aaaton* graataa with without laguma a. Nurogtn lanmzto prafarably with laguma rttroganlartilizar or laguma 2. Stockpila tan laacua lor latar 6. Mlxtura with aifaila, (whltt elovar, rad (alfalfa, rad clovar) grazing rad clovtr, or trtloii dovar) g. Com atovtr flalds I.Qraza with dame. 1 . Qraza with dams; creep Aa m Juna-Augual 1. Qraza cool-asaaon graaa-laguma paaturaa 2. Top-graza paaturaa ahead ol cowa and ealvaa in rotation. f. Cool-aaaaon graaa laguma mlxaa perennial ryagraaa. timothy, bromagraaa. Qraza cool-aaaaon graaa. graaa-laguma mixturea. Soma ailaga supplementation may be necaaaary. * I • Vi’*. "k p&i BARTRON SUPPLY, INC. Tunkhannoek, PA 717-836-4011 CARLYLE & MARTIN, INC. Hagaratewn, MD 301-733-1873 CLUGSTON FARM EQUIPMENT , Naadmara, PA 717-873-2218 Juna-Auguat graze on graaa-laguma mlxaa. perennial ryagraaa. or Braaalea crepe. t. Stockpiled birdaloot trefoil 2. Warm-aaaaon annuala 3. Cool-aaaaon graaa-laguma paaturaa (except tall laacua) 4. Top-graze ahead ol cowa and ealvaa for rapid game. Top-graza same apadaa aa In apring. at your fingertips. • Efficient A larger concave, slower running cylinder and Quadra-Flo™ cleaning system give you better quality grain and more of it • Reliable. The Maximizers give you a level of uncompromising performance you’ve come to expect from John Deere combines. Visit your John Deere dealer soon and move up to the 90*5... the all-new 9400, 9500 and 9600 Maximizer Combines. LEADERSHIPATWORK Q CLUGSTON EVERGREEN IMPLEMENT, INC. TRACTOR CO., INC. Chambaraburg, PA Labanon, PA 717-263-4103 717-272-4641 DEERFIELD AG & FOSTER EQUIPMENT TURF CENTER, INC. , SALES Wattonlown, PA 717-53*-3587 ENFIELD EQUIPMENT INC. WMtoford, MO 301-463-5282 Designing A Pastu System After considering which pasti componentsto use and which sp cies to grow, it is important to a culate the animal forage requii ments of the herd or flock. D Saplembar-Oetobar 1. Cool-aaaaon graaa-laguma paaturaa (may need gram to fatten) 2. Braaaiea empa 1. Top-graza aa In aummar. 2. Sphng-aaadad braaalcaa Elmar, NJ 609-789-1635 H.R. GUTSHALL & SONS, WC. Cirtlala, PA 717-249-2313 Wi Novarnbap-January' Sail aa (aadara or hmolt aa atocfcar* aa batow 1. Stockpiled (all laacua a. NHrogon larwizea b. Mixture witn ailaifa. rod d'.vor. or trawl 2: Lata-aaadad Braasicas Ul««««dtd Brunei] ' i t'y - m SmSS* t '1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers