Forage Conference Awards
(Continued from Pago A 22)
Then in the spring of 1992, Rod
gers overseeded with clovers to
increase the amount of legume
and thus quality of the pastures.
In addition to the milking herd,
Rodgers has 37 replacement ani
mals (three months old or older)
which also use pasture for their
forage needs.
One of the major goals on Plum
Bottom Farm during the next few
years is to match the number of
paddocks more closely with the
animal numbers. Rodgers hopes to
accomplish this by converting
some “row-crop” land into pas
ture. Rodgers is also involved in
many community organization as
well as the PFGC and AFGC.
• Northeast region: Bill Cham
berlain (Tioga County); The reci
pient of the Outstanding Pasture
Producer Award for the northeast
region of Pennsylvania is Bill
Chamberlain of Tioga Co. Cham
berlain utilizes pastures extensive
ly as a forage source for his dairy
herd of 51 cows with a 18,937
RHA and 30 replacement heifers.
The herd is rotationally grazed
from late April until October. His
pasture consist of 39 acres of.
improved pasture which serves as
the main pasture area and 29 acres
of native pasture ground. Cham
berlain has been rotationally graz
ing pasture for the past four years.
He has added paddocks from hay
fields as well as from the hillsides.
Now finished with his fourth
year of grazing, Chamberlain was
impressed with how clovers have
started to establish in his pastures.
In addition, he has been constantly
improving his system with new
CONGRATULATIONS T 0...
GEORGE STERNER & FAMILY
In Bechtelsville, PA
On Their
NEW
sender
Virginia-
Style
HEIFER BARN
601 Overly Grove Rd, New Holland, PA 17557 Custom Design And Construction Of
ocfx Dairy Barns, Heifer Facilities,
#l#-004r"4/4U Horse Barns, Equipment Sheds, Etc.
___ HEADLOCK ft GATES BY
LAPP’S BARN
EQUIPMENT
5939 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gap, PA 17527 717-442-8134
We Service What We Sell Radio Dispatched Trucks L
Please Call Lapp’s Bam Equipment For Complete Estimates
fencing materials and a water
system.
A few years ago, he was con
cerned with producing more hay
so that he could increase his herd.
Now that he has been grazing, he
has his bams full and is consider
ing doubling the herd size, all of
this without increasing acreage.
Chamberlain has also been a
willing communicator regarding
pastures by holding pasture meet
ings on his farm and working with
others interested in benefits of
grazing.
• Capital region: Melvin Marks
(York County): Melvin Marks
implemented a rotational grazing
system on his 46-cow dairy farm
in York County only recently.
However, he didn’t enter into it
blindly. Marks attended seminars
and did a lot of reading before he
made his final plans.
He and his wife. Barb, commit
ted 29 acres to pasture and seeded
it to birdsfoot trefoil, ladino clov
er, and perennial ryegrass. While
this area was being established,
they grazed established alfalfa
orchardgrass hay fields.
He plans to continue installing a
water system so that water will be
available in each paddock.
Although the system is relatively
new and still being scrutinized by
others in the area, Marks has not
seen a drop in milk production. In
fact, his herd average has steadily
increased since beginning to rota
tionally pasture.
While more work is to be done
and some changes are needed, the
system has surpassed his expecta
tions by far.
KING CONSTRUCTION CO.
Ephrata Young Farmers Support Library
EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.) An early Christmas present came in the form of a
$l,OOO check presented In support of the to-be-constructed Ephrata Public Library by
the Ephrata Area Young and Adult Fanners Association (EAYFA) on Thursday.
Presenting the check is Nevln Horning, president of EAYFA, second from right, to
Jennifer Raimo, library director. In picture from left, Nancy Barshinger, president of
the library board of directors; Raimo; Homing; and Charles Ackley, EAYFA advisor
and ag teacher.
H The Ephrata Area School District adult farmer group recognizes the growth of the
area and the need for a new library f acuity,” said Ackley. “Their contribution adds sig
nificantly toward the goal of $1.5 million toward the construction of the new library on
South Reading Road.”
Ackley said the EAYFA “is very interested in supporting community service activi
ties and agricultural education.” The group raises money for these projects by operat
ing a food stand in Tent City during the Ephrata Fair.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Northeast Agri
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, December 12, 1992-A23
CURTAINS BT
FLYWAY BUSINESS PARK
(717) 569-2702 1-800-673-2580
139 A West Airport Rd.
MIMMR
Systems, Inc.
Lititz, PA 17543