El4-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 5,1993
Dairy Farmer’s Objective
Is To Improve Herd
GAIL STROCK
Mifflin Co. Correspondent
McVEYTOWN (Mifflin Co.)
Take what you have and make
it better. Whether it’s crops, cows,
or conservation, the challenge at
CasSlead Farm is to improve. And
for Glenn Casner, it’s a way of
life.
“It’s nice to watch something
grow (crops) and to improve on
what you're doing. The same with
the cattle • to see how much you
can improve them. It’s a chal
lenge,” Casner said.
Casner probably inherited this
outlook long before he bought the
original 50-acrc homestead from
his father in 1961. And now, after
adding four farms to his dairy
operation and a lot more cows,
Cssner’s objective has rubbed off
on his two sons, Gregg and Doug.
The three Casner families form
ed a partnership in 1981 and have
completed some major improve
ment projects.
The partnerships* goal to in
crease the milking herd from 140
to 17S brought about the desire to
make milking faster and more
comfortable. Just last year, Glenn,
Gregg, and Doug decided to in
stall a double-eight parallel parlor
that allows two people to milk 80
cows in one hour, a comfortable _ ...
and lime-saving improvement G * nn P”™ <»* McVtytown.Mlffl^Goumy,attnda twar
from the 30-stall stanchion bam theWestfaliamllkm.Ca^
and changing cows four times. «* ha * dro PP« d bocaute of th® automatic takeoffs.
Glenn Casner said they chose a
parallel parlor because it took less
space and could fit into an existing
building. In the parlor, a large
8-foot by 16-foot door lifts like a
garage door. Crowd gate buzzers
urge the herd forward and eight
cows enter the parlor on each side.
Each cow entering the Kipe stalls
makes a 90-degree turn, pressing
on a bar which presses a paddle to
the cow’s side. This positions her
back against the steel “wall”
where the milkers hang.
Each person milking works
with four cows on each side. Cas
ners use Westfalia automatic take
off milkers and, as a result, have
seen less mastitis because of over
milking. For warmth in the winter,
infrared heaters positioned high
V MV V s
- —JL
H*
J £
pe iis move when a
cow enters their double eight parallel parlor.
above shoot heat straight down.
The partnership’s conservation
improvements earned them the
Cooperator of the Year Award in
1987. CasStead’s 420 acres (377
tillable) are located less than a
mile from the Juniata River, and
even though none of it benders the
river, the Casners chose to partici
pate in the Chesapeake Bay Pro
grams.
They installed 1,232 feet of
grass waterways which filter run
off and reshaped some stream
banks. They allow cattle limited
access to streams, and strip crop
where they can.
“We think its’ important to try
to preserve the soil. You woik all
those years to build the soil up,
I ■
and storms come and the topsoil
goes downstream. Strip farming
has really aided us in saving the
soil,” Glenn said.
Another important thing the
Casners want to keep out of the
streams is manure. In 1989, they
built a Groffdale prestressed con
crete manure pit, 12 feet deep and
80 feet in diameter. The
586,000-gallon structure is emp
tied twice a year and Casstead and
some rented ground utilize all of
it. Glenn Casner said the manure
pit is important for timing when
(Turn to Page El 7)
GAIL STROCK
Mifflin Co,
Correspondent
Gail Shock, Mifflin County’s
news correspondent, has been
writing for Lancaster Farming
for 3 'A years.
Gail's published writing in
cludes two “Made in PA” artist
profiles in Pennsylvania Maga
zine, and a short article on local
Appalachian dulcimer makers in
Common Ground.
Hired by the Big Valley Area
Business Association, Gail inter
viewed and wrote profiles for 17
artists and craftspersons for the
promotional flier for Harvestfest,
a yearly art, craft, and music fes
tival in Reedsville. She also re
cently finished writing a tourism
brochure for the Juniata/Mifflin
Tourist Promotion Agency at the
Chamber of Commerce in Lew
istown.
Gail was graduated from Penn
State with a degree in agricultur
al economics and rural sociolo
gy. She traveled throughout the
United States and Alberta, Can
ada with her husband while he
tested combines for Sperry-New
Holland.
Residing in Belleville, Gail
lives with her husband Dennis
and sons Evan, 9, and Aaron, 5,
on their 27-acre farm.
AUTHORIZED
DIALERS FOR
Paul Zimmerman, Inc.
CONNECTICUT
S.V.F. SALES
111 Stanford Rd.
Saner, CT 06071
203-749-4795
MARYLAND
EDGAR
DICKGNSHEETS
340 Sam Creeki Road
New Windsor, MD 21776
410-775-2909
HURSH FARMS
POTOMAC VALLEY „ . R D # 2 B°x 392
SUPPLY Kotnng Springs. PA 16673
RD #2 Bo* 326 D 814-224.5265
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-223-6877
NEW JERSEY
GLENDON
COLEMAN
RD #2 Elmer. NJ 08318
609-358-8386
WILLIAM
SYTSEMA
RD #3 Box 730
Sussex. NJ 07461
201-875-5449
NEW YORK
COCHECTON
MILLS, INC.
Railroad Ave.
Cochecton, NY 12726
914-932-8282
717-224-4144
COMFORD
CONFINEMENT
EQUIPMENT
6112 Broadway Rd.
Auburn, NY 13021
315-252-6923
GOODRIDGE
FARM SUPPLY
3517 Railroad Ave.
Alexander, NY 14005
716-591-1670
MARTIN SUPPLY
Community Suppliei
4100 Rt. 14A
Pen Yen. NY 14527
315-536-7049
PRE-ENGINEERED
BUILDING SUPPLY
RD #1 Box 70
Afton, NY 13730
607-693-3084
SALEM
FARM SUPPLY
Rt 2 2
Salem, NY 1286 S
518-854-7424
WHITE’S FARM
SUPPLY
Rt. 12 Box 1011
Waterville, NY 13480
315-841-4181
PENI
LVANIi
R.L. BAUGHMAN
P.O. Box 106
Townville, PA 16360
814-967-4115
C.S. SUPPLY
RD #1 Box 495A1
Mill Hall, PA 17751
717-726-6760
ARTHER
DETWEILER
Box 84
Danfaoro, PA 18916
215-348-3117
DRYHILL
FARM SHOP
RD #1
Lykens, PA 17048-9744
717-365-31Q9
HESS’S
EQUIPMENT
RD #3
Mifflinburg, PA 17844
717-966-2720
HETRICK
FARM SUPPLY
RD I
New Bethlehem, PA 16242
814-275-3507
Please Write Or €4l For Your Nearest
Dealers In New York & New England
TED HIRSH
COMMERCIAL &
FARM
REFRIGERATION
SERVICE
RD »1 Box 44
Montrose, PA 18801
717-278-3607
HISTANDS FARM
& HOME SERVICE
RD #1 Box 231
Rome, PA 18837
717-744-2371
KAUFFMAN’S
FARM SUPPLY
E. Main Street
Belleville, PA 17004
717-935-2131
KAUFFMAN’S
FARM SUPPLY
RD #1
Mt. Pleasant Mills, PA 17853
717-539-4571
LAPP’S
BARN EQUIPMENT
Old Philadelphia Pike
Gap, PA 17527
717-442-8134
M & M BARN
SALES
RD #l, Box 450
Westfield, PA 16950
814-334-5452
McMILLEN BROS.
RDI, Box 134
Loysville, PA 17047
717-789-3961
MENDENHALL
DAIRY FARM
SERVICE
RD #4 Box 37
Brookville, PA 15825
814-849-5539
OESTERLING’S
GRINDING & FEED
RD 2 Box 63
Worthington, PA 16262
412-238-1819
PRINGLE’S FEED
STORE
29 Franklin St.
Greenville, PA 16125
412-588-7950
ROVENDALE AG &
BARN EQUIPMENT
RD #2 Box 210 C
Watsontown, PA 17777
717-538-9564
SOMERSET BARN
EQUIPMENT
RD #5 Box 98
Somerset, PA
814-445-5555
TIM WALLACE
RD #2 Box IS7C
Marion Center, PA 15759
412-397-8931
ROBERT
ZIMMERMAN
RD 2. Box 299
Newville, PA 17241
717-776-5951
ZIMMERMAN’S
FARM.SERVICE
School Rd. Box 1007
Bethel, PA 19507
717-933-4114
VIRGINIA
DAIRYMAN
SPECIALTY CO.
RD #8 Box 1
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
703-433-9117
PRICES
EQUIPMENT, INC.
RD #4 Box 2000
Rocky Mount, VA 24151
703-483-7226