DB-Lancaster Farming Saturday, September 7,1991 DROUGHT WATCH * What |rj \ can do during L drought conditions STORING UP ADDITIONAL CORN SILAGE IS GOOD BUSINESS IN A DROUGHT YEAR There are three good reasons for dairy producers and livestock far mers to store up more com silage than normal in a drought year like this one, and only one pitfall. So says Richard A. Erdman, professor of animal sciences at the University of Maryland College Park. Erdman is nationally known for his research work in dairy nutrition and feeding. Contrary to popular belief, Erd man said, silage made from drought-stressed com has feed val ue that is at least equivalent to the feed value of com produced during a normal growing season. And, with good-quality alfalfa hay now selling at more than $l6O per ton, com silage is much cheap er than hay. Erdman urges lives tock farmers to buy standing drought-damaged com from their neighbors as soon as possible, if they don’t think they’ll have enough feed to last through next spring. Standing com in the field prob- WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE SALE i natural grain drying j FLOORS "' h ' • Model 40 Grain Cleaner - Model 44 Grain Cleaner ■ 8” 36’ Westfield PTO Transport Auger - New GSI 36’ Dia. x 7 Ring 18,522 Bu. Storage Bln - Io’xso’ Truck Scales - Mix Mill Grain Roaster _ GET THE BEST FROM: aFs ably can be purchased for $2O per ton. This would be the equivalent of paying only $6O to $BO per ton for alfalfa hay, Erdman said. A third reason for storing up extra com silage now comes from the U.S. Department of Agricul ture’s Stabilization and Conserva tion Service. James C. Richardson, state ASCS director in Maryland, reports that federal regulations have been changed regarding far mer eligibility for possible drought disaster payments. In the past, farmers who stored up extra feed in early fall were pen alized by not receiving as much drought disaster financial assis tance as farmers who had not stored up extra feed. This is no lon ger true, according to a memo sent re- cently to county ASCS offices. Richardson now says that far mers who store up extra feed will not be penalized, as long as they can show a verifiable receipt pro ving that they purchased the extra feed from another farmer. Nitrate poisoning is the one pit fall to feeding drought-damaged com, Erdman said. But this hazard can be overcome by careful management. Three to four weeks after ensil ing, the fermentation process should have reduced nitrate levels GSI automatic farm systems 608 Evergreen Rd , Lebanon, PA 17042 (717) 274-5333 Check Our Low Prices Before You Buy jr /£s- feed bins AUGERS ne^4§> $1,200 $2,650 $1,500 .$6,377 $2,500 $1,200 by nearly one-half. But proper moisture levels are necessary to make sure that adequate fermenta tion occurs. The optimum mois ture level is 65 percent. Oxygen limiting silos, however, work best at 60 percent; bunkers at 68 to 70 percent. At the proper moisture level for silage, com ears should have the milk line (dark area) about halfway down each kernel. In severely drought-stricken fields where no kernels have formed on the ears, dried leaves may not be an accu rate indicator of moisture in the We’ve got your Building f ' 1 Come and get it! / ROSE BUILDING SYSTEMS stalks. Instead, try one of these methods: • For precise measurements, use a silage moisture tester. You prob ably can order one through a local farm supply store in a range of $2OO to $3OO. Those at the high end of the price range provide digi tal readouts. Grain moisture testers are not adequate for the job. • For an estimate of silage mois ture, try drying out a silage sample H MILK, n DOES A BODY GOOD. ■M MIDDLE ATLANTIC MILK MARKETING ASSOCIATION, INC Utility buildings, garages and workshops, horse bams, commer cial buildings, too. You won’t find a wider selection anywhere More models, plans and sizes, more custom options. More bright new siding and trim colors in your choice of aluminum or steel We also offci free planning services to help meet your special needs. CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-537-0580 OR MAIL COUPON FOR MORE INFORMATION Name. Address. State. Town. County, in your family’s microwave oven. This method requires an accurate scale for weighing the sample before and after microwaving. For more information on ensil ing drought-stressed com, check with your county office of the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Maryland System. Ask for Fact Sheets 433 and 483. Single copies are free to Maryland residents. (215) 267-4911 Mail To 1212 N Reading Rodd Stevens, PA 17578
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