NEWSPAPER USE HIGH AMONG BUCKS CO. DAIRYMEN Mike Fournier Bucks County Extension Agent A recent survey of Bucks Coun ty dairy farmers showed that more than half are using chopped news paper for bedding. How the newspaper is used and the amount varies from farm to farm. Some only use newspapers to bed heifers, others use it only in the cow bam, and some use news paper for all of their bedding needs. Of the dairymen not using news paper, the most frequently cited reason was that they just hadn’t tried it yet. Others indicated they used very little, if any, bedding so they had no need for newspaper. Some said they had plenty of straw KUBOTA GIVES YOU ROOM ID GROW. Mmosv DAIRY ISSUE SPECIAL REPORT (rt - from their small grain cash crops. One or two indicated they would never use newspaper because they just didn’t like the looks of it under the cows. Where the dairymen get their newspaper also varies. Two years ago the Bucks County Recycling Center purchased a shredder and baler to produce shredded news paper bedding in 60 pound bales. However,' only IS percent of Bucks County dairymen have used the Recycling Center’s product. Since this survey was con ducted. the Recycling Center increased its price from $2O to $3O per ton, and even fewer dairymen are using that product now. Most are getting their newspap er from local sources, such as township collection sites, chur ches, etc. Some have neighbors and friends drop newspapers off at the farm. But, some very enterprising far mers took it a step farther. They learned that the local daily news- paper was taking all its overruns to the Recycling Center and were being charged $lO per ton. These business-minded dairymen con tacted the newspaper company and told them they could drop off the overruns at local dairy farms at no charge. Management at the paper thought it was a great idea. One dairyman accepted delivery of 30 tons, enough bedding for well into the fall. Another filled his hay mow and indicates he has enough newspaper for a year. Keep in mind that this newspap er was delivered and unloaded at these farms at no cost. It also saved the newspaper company $lO per ton. The dairymen using overruns feel that it’s a much better product than any other source of newspaper. The newspapers are packaged in 25-pound bundles with one plastic strap holding the bundle together. It is a very easy package to lift, and is a good size for the bedding chop per. In addition, there are no bot tles, cans or other trash that some times comes in newspapers from other sources. With the explosion in the use of newspaper bedding the last few years, many dairymen have pur chased bedding choppers. Some have opted for the walk-behind kind used in the bam. Those purchasing anything with a motor smaller than 11 horsepow er are generally not satisfied with the results. Some have opted for PTO driven bale choppers and are very pleased with the equipment. At least three of these have been Row crops need their space. Which is why there's a Kubota to fit right into your scheme of things. Like the 82150 HST you see just above. Its compact size keeps you out of tight spots by getting you easily into them. Ibur wheel drive, three cylinders, power steering, and hydrostatic trans mission will make light work of loading, tilling, and spraying. Or you could be working on the L26SODTW with Kubota's Ever Clutch, a wet clutch disc system that operates immersed in oil. Mechanical BF/8R shuttle shift and hydrostatic power steering are standard and give smooth, dependable operation. The utility tractor M4O3OSU specializes in doing just about every thing. With a smooth powerful six cylinder diesel engine and 42 PTO HP, it can help with planting, cultivating, or bringing in the hay. And every Kubota lets you 3-point hitch up to a whole world of imple ments. Kubota-made or otherwise. Kubota Tractor Corporation markets a full line of tractors through a nationwide network of over 1,000 dealers •<■ j bo ha purchased by Bucks County dairy men in the past few months. Bedding with newspaper con tinues to offer many benefits. In these days of low milk prices, this very cheap source of bedding is one way to cut costs. It is also more absorbant than other bedding. Dairymen are reporting fewer flies Buffalo Association Holds Seminar NEW CASTLE (Lawrence Co.) The first seminar to be given by the newly formed Pen nsylvania Bison (Buffalo) Associ ation (PBA) was a huge success. Forty-four enthusiastic bison owners from Pa., N.Y., Ohio, and W. Va. met here recently. Hugh & Joan Forbes hosted the gathering. Kenneth Maxwell, agronomist, a graduate of Penn State, spoke about pasture management. Max well stressed the importance of rotation of pasture area for bison. He also explained the difference of summer and fall grasses and how pasture rotation increased growth of the various grasses growing in Pennsylvania. In the afternoon session, Jeffrey McKissick, D.V.M., graduate of Penn State, spoke about parasite control for bison. Springtime cre ates wet pastures which in turn promote the growth of parasites. Fly control was also mentioned. Bob Mahoney, the PBA western representative, gave advice on Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 1, 1991-C5 when newspaper is used, due to the drier environment it creates in the manure. And finally, it’s another very good reason to keep farms in a community. Farmers are recycling their neighbor’s trash and convert ing it to a useful product on the farm. handling bison. He emphasized the fact that bison (buffalo) are very stressful animals, highly intelli gent, and quick on their feet. According to Mahoney, it is neces sary to plan your strategy ahead of time, and do not excite them when working them through the chute or squeeze. Immediately following Maho ney’s comments, everyone went across the street to Forbe’s Buffalo Farm to watch a demonstration on handling bison. Many by-products of bison were on display at the meeting hall. Everything from hides, heads, horns, Indian objects of art, and nicely painted skulls were to be seen or purchased. A PBA membership meeting was held afterwards and plans were announced for another train ing session sometime in August to be held in eastern Pennsylvania. For further details or to join the PBA, contact Margery Kutney, secretary, (717) 965-2237. See Your Local Kubota Dealer PENNSYLVANIA Albums CANNS-BILCO 215-966-3733 Avondale THOMAS POWER EQUIP. 215-268-2181 Bloomsbura TRACTOR PARTS CO. 717-784-0250 Chambersbura STOUFFER BROS., INC. 717-263-8424 Cochranvilla STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE, INC. 215-593-2407 Hanover FINCH SERVICES HANOVER, INC. 717-632-2345 Honesdale MARSHALL MACHINERY, INC. 717-729-7117 Lebanon KELLER BROS. TRACTOR CO. 717-949-2000 Lancaster KELLER BROS. TRACTOR CO. 717-569-2500 Limerick THE HAY PRESS 215-489-0611 Reading NICARRY EQUIPMENT CO. 215-926-2441 Stroudsburg SEBRING'S POWER HOUSE 717-421-8980 Wellsboro BENEDICTS FORD TRACTOR 717-724-2839 York YORK TRACTOR, INC. 717-764-1094 MARYLAND Hagerstown ARNETT'S GARAGE 301-733-0515 Chesterlown W.N. COOPER & SON, INC. 301-778-3464 Rising Sun AG IND. EQUIP. CO. INC. 301-658-5568 NEW JERSEY Haines port MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS 609-267-6100
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers