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TECHNIQUES FOR
MEASURING THE RATE
OF HERBAGE GROWTH
Warren J. Parker,
Steven L. Fales,
Lawrence D. Muller
Penn State University
Herbage growth rate informa
tion for your farm is essential for
planning grazing decisions. You
need growth rate data to plan rota
tion lengths, calculate stocking
rates and to make other manage
ment decisions such as when to
apply fertilizer or to feed addition
al supplements.
In a drylot situation the ton
nages and quality, and the rate at
which stored feeds are used can be
measured. Pastures are different
because both the quantity and
quality of the forage can change
significantly through time, and
this will affect the way the pas
tures are used. It is important that
good records describing the supp
ly of pasture are available So that
the herd feeding program can be
planned.
Herbage growth rates describe
the average rate at which new
plant material accumulates and is
expressed in terms of pounds of
dry matter per acre per day (lh
DM/a/d). It is more correct to
describe the increase in plant
material mass as net herbage accu
mulation (NHA) since some pknt
material decays during the period
over which growth rates are being
estimated.
For planning purposes growth
rates for 2-4 week intervals are
required to reflect changes in sea
sonal conditions. Very, little data
60- 1
C
0
re
Apr
FIFURE 1: Net herbage accumulation rates, measured by
the difference technique, on the grazed area of the medium
stocking rate treatments (1.3 cows/acre) during the 1990
grazing season.
In the near future computer
simulation models will make it
possible to quickly estimate NHA
values for individual farms, pro
viding local rainfall, and air temp
erature data is available. Soil
temperatures at 4” would be an
additional benefit. If you do not
“heady collect this information,
which is useful for making a host
of other fanning decisions, start
today. A raingauge, and ther
mometer are inexpensive to buy
“nd can be located near to a route
you walk each day (e.g. on the
Wa y to the bam) so that taking
readings is not an inconvenience.
GRAZING
PASTURE
MENT
m
■ >*••* ■
1. Difference in herbage mass
between pasture assessments
If herbage mass (sec our last
column) is being assessed on a
regular basis then an estimate of
NHA can be obtained from the
paddocks not grazed between
assessments by dividing the dif
ference beyween the readings by
the number of days between the
measurements. For example, if the
herbage mass on paddock 1 was
1000 lb DM/a on May 1 and 1560
lb DM/a on May 15,560 lb of DM
has accumulated in 14 days to give
an average NHA rate of 40 lb DM/
a/d. An average monthly value can
be obtained by completing these
calculations across several
paddocks.
2. Difference technique with
exclusion cages
For this method 2-4 cages to
exclude livestock or other wildlife
grazing an area of pasture are
required, along with a lawnmower
(with a catcher) or clipping shears
and a quadrat (1.5-3.0 ft 2 enclosed
within a rectangle framed from
steel tod or wood). The site(s)
selected for the cages should be
representative of the pastures an
soils on the farm. If a lawnmower
is used the cage sized may be 9-18
ft 2 , fra quadrat 1.5-3.0 ft 2 is adequ
for different sites, arid pasture
types, in Pennsylvania has been
published and unfortunately, most
of that which has shows only sea
sonal (spring, summer and fall)
yields. However, farmers can
develop their own herbage growth
datadase inexpensively over 3-4
years using one of the difference
techniques described below.
Aug
Jun
Collecting pasture growth rate
data using the difference between
paddock scorings is the simplest
way to begin estimating NHA val
ues for your farm. You may
already have pasture scoring
records for previous months from
which NHA can be derived. If not,
why not take note of paddocks not
grazed between farm walks from
now on and do the few simple cal
culations necessary to derive
NHA values. You will find these
really useful for feed budgeting
the subject discussed in our next
column.
.A->-
: fcv
Oct
Sep
ate. The herbage at the selected
site is trimmed to a fixed height
(2-3”) and is excluded from graz
ing by the cage until sufficient
herbage has grown to make a cut
worthwhile (2-3” over a 2-4
weeks). The regrowth is then
harvested to the original cutting
height (make sure that this has
noted down somewhere during the
first trimming) and the herbage
material collected is dried to
determine the DM production.
Lets assume, an area 2 feet by 4.5
feet (1 square yard) is mowed and
that 0.2 S lb DM has accumulated
Wolff Pledges
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
State Agriculture Secretary
Boyd E. Wolff said the Pennsylva
nia Department of Agriculture
will support the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration’s (FDA)
efforts to improve food labeling.
Wolff pledged Pennsylvania’s
help after meeting with top FDA
officials and agriculture secreta
ries from other major agricultural
nur.
CTSk-
FARM
EQUIPMENT
1000 Gal. Sunset milk
tank. Also Farmall M trac
tor, needs engine overhaul.
Make an offer. Leb Co
717/949-2256.
1150 Case loader, 2 yd
bucket, ripper, very good
undercarriage, $9,500 955
Cat loader IVi yd bucket,
cab, needs engine work,
$1,650. 933 Cat loader, 1
yd. bucket, good undercar
riage, $3,800 Michigan
75A loader, cab auto, PS,
gas runs good, $4,200.
Ron Coover, Shippens
burg, PA (717)532-6540
125 Tabacoo Shed Rails,
for hanging tabacco, 12’
long 717/872-1552
1974 7700 JD hydrastic
combine w/grain head w/
air $6OOO 080
215-837-1718
1975 MF 1135, good rub
ber, new paint, 9852450,
excellent condition,
$11,500 (717)864-2422.
1976 Mack R model, West
ern w/sleeper, 6 speed air
shift trans , air ride, PS, wet
line. Older, but well main
tained. $10,500. 1968 Hill
aluminum dump trailer, 30',
brand new hoist cylinder
last year. Good brakes and
tires, $B5OO Better price
for package deal! Cross
keys Transport, Inc.
215-489-3737.
1976 WHITE ROAD
BOSS, 318 Detroit, Jake
Brake, 13-spd , wet line,
very good condition,
$4,900 Evenings
717/943-2885.
1978 JD-6620 LL Hydro
stat Combine, 2500 hrs,
28-26 tires, good condition,
with/without 4 row corn
head, $22,000.
215/756-4311.
(2) Bnllion 8' Alfalfa Seed
ers, pull type and 3 Ft.
Hitch; Bnllion 10' w/hyd. lift,
all ready to go Tom Whe
ary 717/687-0102.
2 Row Potato Harvester,
hydraulic swing hitch,
shaker and roller bed, 4
row steerable axle, good
condition. 215/837-6946.
36748' bale elevator with
motor, $3OO,
215-262-9407.
3-POINT HITCH EQUIP
MENT. Brillion 5'4" Land
scape seeder; Brillion 8'
Packer/seeder; Ford 501
sickle bar mower; 6' Spike
harrow; Woods 5' and 6'
C 80; New Holland 451 and
450; IH ClOO Mower; LELY
Spin Spreader pool type or
3-point hitch; Tom Weary,
717-687-0102.
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, August 10,1991-F3
(0.25 H)DMx ““f 1 for P S^ I , pU f !PO f B |' S ® V '
peracreV3Qd.ys = 40 lb DM/a/d-
One of Ae problems encoun- different plans. The NHA
tered with grazing is that NHA rates recor ded a t Penn State dur
rates may be very different . . IQor . , . .
between months within a erazine g 1990 grazmg
between montns witnin a mazing stud shown in Figure 1. The
season and between, yean.JJe the grazed portion of
NHA Jun ® • ore . p , ’ the predominantly orchard grass
was substantially lower than for J wcrc 0 7 5tained un^er a
the same month in 1990 because M h , eve , of nj
of differences in rainfall and a( f cumulation ra f es f July -
temperatures For this reason August are probably 30 . 50%
growth rate data sou - higher than the long-term average
lected over several years to obtain because of the good rainfall dur
an average figure which can be mg these months.
Pa.’s Help On Food Labeling
states.
“There are growing numbers of
products whose manufacturers
make labeling claims relating to
cholesterol, fat content, and other
matters of great interest to con
sumers,” Wolff said. “If we want
to maintain high consumer confi
dence in food products, we must
make sure the labels tell the truth.
“It is also important that there
SELL.TRADE
PHONE: 717-626-1164 or 717-394-3047
3* pvc Schedule 40 Irriga
tion Pipe, aprox. 1000’,
$. 50/ft Used for under
ground pipe.
717/694-3670.
3pt orchard harrow, 13';
Farmall H tractor, loader,
cultivator, dbl wheels and
single wheels, Lilly 3pt
hitch fertilizer spreader,
Simmons potato/turnip
waxer; Row crop sprayer
w/Beam Royal 25 pump,
Trew Apple Bagger and
Duran Platform Peach
Scale
609-561-5279. Between
SPM-BPM Monday-
Saturday
(3) Used Cattle Restraining
Chutes, $lOO each
717/872-4058.
4-30* Chopper head for JD.
very good $6500; JD 3960
Chopper, 3-30’ and hay
head, $8950; Gehl 1200,
2-30", 2-40", and 7‘ $6950,
3300 diesel, 1804 hrs . air,
chopper, super clean
$6950; 300 MF diesel.
1625 hrs. 3-30*. and 10'
$8950. MF 550, air, very
nice, 13' soybean head,
$14,950, 4400 Deeire,
diesel, nice $9500; JD
7720 combine, 90% rub
ber, very good. $27,900.
Headers. JD 200 series
13', 15'. 16'. 18', 20'flex. IH
15’. 16-1/2’, 20’ flex., JD
343, 443,444,643, IH 863,
843, 833. Many more.
Larry Stalter, “The Com
bine Man. ’
1-800-248-2151.
443 JD Corn Head, $3,500
080. 717/275-0845.
5000 lb. LP gas Baker
Forklift, engine recondi
tioned 1 year ago, very
good condition. $4OOO
080. Levi G. Fisher,
28288 Lincoln Hwy East,
Ronks, PA 17572.
650 International chopper
, with 2R cornhead pickup
cutterbar Will sell as unit
or separate York Co
717-266-2647
'69 White single axle trac
tor, 250 Cummins, $1,500
6V71 Detroit, Mack 237 en
gine, Allison 750 transmis
sion, $1,250. 2-71 power
unit, GM47B for parts
WANTED Rmodel Mack,
heavy specks, 1960 newer
(717)866-2091
6" Gorman Rupp irrigation
pump, 199 Oliver Industrial
diesel engine on trailer; 6’
pipe, 4" pipe; El’s; Elbows,
Ram Birds and more. All
half price. Call before 8 30
PM 301-592-7671.
89 Ford F-250 XLT Lariatt,
460 automatic, air, 29,000
miles, $10,600, Somerset
Co. 814-893-5589.
Deere 5400 chopper, 4x4,
619 engine, very good,
$26,900. Can Finance.
717-538-5555
966 Int tractor, good con
dition; JO F 125 3 points,
316 bottom. Call after SPM
717-566-8141
9700 Ford, 4500 hrs , dual
power, dual hyd., new
paint, very good condition,
$8,250. 717/922-3340.
966 International 20.8x38
dual remotes, dual PTO,
excellent CAM; MF 1105
cab, MF 1105 duals; JD
7700 combine, rebuilt mo
tor, N C. 5T spreader,
Stoltzfus 5T spreader; 717
chopper corn head F7OO
Ford. 301-257-7054.
99 high throw blower, good
condition $6OO 080 -
Elizabethtown.
(717)367-7190.
AC2OO Tractor. 105 horse
power, fully weighted, good
condition, AC 3pth four bot
tom slat mouldboard plow,
two 13.6x38 8-ply tires with
tubes, 95% tread. Cecil
County. 301/378-2816.
AC 7040 Cab, air, power
shift, dean tractor; AC 200
WF nice. 717-529-2204.
AC Dl7 gas tractor, w/
overbore sleeves, WFE,
belt pulley, on steel
wheels, good condition;
V465D Wisconsin w/4-1
dutch reduction just over
hauled $2250. Stephen
Fisher, 302 Forrest Manor
Road, Lincoln University,
PA 19352.
AC model 3000, heavy
duty gang type disc,
hydraulic fold, 18‘ cut,
$2,950. Call early
mornings or evenings till 7
p m. 717-949-3074 or
703-879-9926
Advance Potato Washer,
24’, new drying rolls, $4OO
Fox 52’ Blower, works
good, $450 717/653-1631
Agri-pack silage bagger
Set of new chains for 3R
Field Queen corn head
Field sprayer, 500 gallon
stainless tank 30' hydraulic
booms and John Blue
pump (717)275-1738
BATWING MOWER
WOODS 15', $3,000
301-833-9091
BATWING MOWER
RHINO 15', field ready,
$2,500. 301-833-9091
BATWING MOWER
RHINO Flex 15, missing
parts, $l,OOO
301-833-9091
Bale wrapper, Wrapmaster
Model 928 T, wraps large
round silage and hay
bales, excellent condition
814/263-4997
be national uniformity to tooa
labeling because modem market
ing of agricultural products takes
place without regard to state
borders.”
The federal Nutrition Labeling
and Education Act of 1990 makes
major changes to food labeling so
that consumers can better judge
food ingredients, health claims,
and nutritional information.
Belarus 562,4 wheel dnve,
only 362 hours, like new
Call 716/682-4216
Bnllion 14' harrow; Kewa
nee 12’ disc; Bnllion
pulversizers; Used Papec
grinder mixer, Woods 5'
belly mower; JD tank
spreader 717-292-1673
Case 1690, 90hp, 2470
hrs 18.4x38 tires, 80%,
front weights Perry
(717)567-3601
Case IH 800 corn planter,
liquid fertilizer, no-till,
monitor, 4-30" rows,
$6,550 Call early morn
ings or evenings til 7 p m
717-949-3074 or
703-879-9926
Case Int. 1896 with cab
completely equipped, ra
dio, air and weights, two
speed PTO, excellent con
dition, housed inside, 1400
metered hrs, $18,500 or
BEST OFFER.
(301)592-7760 after 9p m.
Century 500 gal weed
sprayer with all hydraulic
booms and mechanical
agitator, never used York
Co 717/244-2739
Clark low profile forklift,
2,500 lb. capacity, solid
rubber tires, LP gas,
$1,650 Call early
mornings or evenings till 7
p.m. 717-949-3074 or
703-879-9926
CRAWLER LOADER FIAT
ALLIS FLIOC, good condi
tion w/good DC, $12,000
301-833-9091
CULTIPACKER 12'
hydraulic transport, $750
301-833-9091
D 2 Cat with loader
717/426-1921
David Bradley belt driven
corn sheller Lancaster
County (717)665-5562
Deere 3300, very nice,
$4,950 , 4400 gas, very
dean, $4,950 Larry Stalter
“The Combine Man"
1-800-248-2151
Deere 5200 chopper, small
knives, 1,003 hrs , about
like new, $19,500 Can
Finance 1-800-248-2151
Deere 5400, 2 heads, very
good, $19,900 Larry
Stalter ‘The Chopper
Man". 1-800-248-2151
Farmers = Dealers - Your
advertising pays for itself
when you advertise your
equipment in the farm
equipment section
717-394-3047 or
717-626-1164
Farm Hand XG3O tub grin
der, excellent condition,
914-355-1422
Farm wagon, Bxl6', good
rubber tires, $275
(717)665-4424.
(717)665-6960