A3O-L*nc*ster Farming, Saturday, September 4, 1993
Silage Making Window
Narrows In Hot Weather
For several months, I have used
this column to show how DHIA
data can be use td make more in
formed herd nanagement deci
sions. This week I’m taking a
break from the numbers to focus
cm some other timely topics.
The quality of com silage is de
termined largely by moisture and
maturity at time of harvest How
long it takes a crop to reach ma
turity is determined not so much
by days since planting, but more
by the heat units that existed dur
ing the growing season. In other
words, the hotter the growing sea
son. the faster the crop will ma
ture.
How does this relate to harvest
ing com for silage? Basically, hot
weather shortens the amount of
time we have to harvest the crop
and still maintain its quality. We
have had a lot of hot days and hot
nights in recent weeks, and com
has matured very rapidly. The
time required for it to pass from a
green succulent stalk with soft
milky kernels to a mature dry stalk
with fully dented, hard glazed ker
nels is considerably less in hot
weather than in cool weather. In
cooler weather, it seems like it can
take forever for the crop to mature
and dry down enough to ensile.
For optimum quality, the ker
nels should be dented and the milk
line should be about halfway
down the kernel. At this stage, the
crop is near maturity and has accu
mulated about as much energy as
it ever will. The kernels are not
overly hard and the stalk should
contain enough moisture for good
packing and for good fermenta
tion.
For upright silos, aim for a
moisture content of about
60-65%. For bunker silos the ideal
GLENN’S
UDDERINGS
By
Glenn A. Shirk
Lancaster Extension
Dairy Agent
range is about 65-70% moisture.
Maintain a fairly coarse chop so as
not to destroy the effectiveness of
the fiber in the crop. If moisture
levels are less than 60% a finer
chop may be necessary for good
packing, for good fermentation,
and for improved digestibility.
Check your com fields now and
be ready to chop when the crop is
at optimum maturity. If your sil
age com has become too mature
and too dry, you may want to har
vest it as grain and chop other
fields, either yours or your neigh
bors, for silage. As you are check
ing com fields also check your
grain fields, especially the centers
of the fields, to see if hot weather
has adversely affected their pol
lination. The best way to salvage a
poorly pollinated field is to ensile
it, in which case, you may want to
harvest your silage com for grain.
Fields that are drying down ra
pidly and not earing out well due
to drought stress might be better
harvested as silage rather than as
grain. Silage from these drought
stressed fields might have elevat
ed levels of nitrates. Testing for
nitrates will help you utilize this
silage to best advantage in your
feeding program.
Don’t Let Cows Suffocate
Tunnel ventilation systems
have become a popular way to
help improve cow comfort during
the hot days of summer. It involv
ed putting a lot of fans ih one end
of the barn to create a comfortable
3-S mph breeze and to have a ra
pid exchange of air in the bam. To
accomplish this, it is necessary to
close all air inlets along the side
walls so all the air is pulled in the
end of the bam opposite the fans.
This works quite well when
the fans are running. When the
power fails (electrical or diesel)
the bam can become very hot and
stuffy in only a few minutes. Thus,
it is important to have a way to
provide cows with fresh air when
power failures occur. This may in
volve: 1.) using a stand-by genera
tor, 2.) opening windows and
doors or 3.) letting cows out of the
barn. And, these emergency pro
cedures are necessary whether you
are at home or away from the
farm.
Chopping Bedding—
A Potential Fire Hazard
One easy way to bed cow stalls
is to use a chopper to chop and
Annual Thurmont, Emmitsburg
Community Show Set
THURMONT, Md. This
year marks the 37th anniversary of
the Thurmont and Emmitsburg
Community Show scheduled for
Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
September 10-12 at Catoctin High
School.
More than 2,500 farm and gar
den, household, quilt, livestock,
machinery and commercial dis
plays can be seen during the three
day event.
Each year, the community show
honors an organization for its con
tributions to community life. This
year, the show will be honoring
Frederick County Sheriff person
nel in the Ca toe tin School area.
The show opens to the public on
Friday, September 10. At 7:30
p.m., the Catoctin High School
Band will render several selec
tions in the auditorium followed
by the massing of flags by com
munity civic organizations. Caro
lyn Wiles will sing several songs
during the program. The highlight
blow bedding (straw, paper, etc.)
into the stalls. If the bedding is
dry, this can be a dusty process.
All that is required to create a barn
fire in this situation is a spark from
the engine’s ignition system, a
spark created by foreign objects
accidentally going through the
chopper, or by dust or fuel con
tacting a hot manifold.
To reduce these risks, chop the
bedding in a safe location and haul
the chopped material to the stable.
The chopped material will be dif
ficult to handle because it is so
light and fluffy; baling or bagging
of the program will be the
announcement of the 1993-1994
Catoctin FFA ambassador.
Following the program at 9
p.m., an auction of all baked
goods exhibited at the show will
be held in the auditorium.
Saturday’s activities include a
pet show beginning at 10:30 a.m.
and a beef, sheep, and swine fit
ting and showing contest from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thurmont Grange will serve a
family style turkey and ham sup
per in the school cafeteria from 3
p.m. to 7 p.m.
Machinery will be displayed
throughout die event, and music
will be provided by “Catoctin”
from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8
p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The Catoctin Area FFA Alumni
Beef, Sheep and Swine Sale will
be held in the Ag Center area at 7
p.m.
On Sunday, September 12, the
3rd Annual BENEFIT AUCTION to Support bh
H THE CLINIC FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN Hn
Saturday, Sept. 18,1993 9:00 A.M. Till ?
Held At Leola Produce Auction, Brethren Church Road, Leola, PA
From Pennsylvania Turnpike 76, Exit 21 Rt 222 South to Rt. 772 East, turn left on
Peace Rd, 2nd right to Brethren Church Rd.
From Lancaster Rt 23 East, turn left (north) on Brethren Church Rd. between Leda
and Bareville.
From Rt 30 East Right to Rt. 772 (Newport Rd), West to Rt 23, right on Rt 23 (New
Holland Pike), left on Brethren Church Rd. Auction is approximately 1 mle north.
• Quilts • Wall Hangings • Winross Trucks • Model Steam Engine • Crafts
• Lawn Furniture • Toys & Collectables • Gift Certificates
• Farm & Home Supplies • Dried Rower Arrangements
QUILTS
Center Diamond, Lone Star & Sunshine Diamond, with wall hangings to
match. Also Country Sweetheart (appliqued), Broken Star, Sign Language,
Angel Rose, Double Wedding Ring, Lover of Roses, Cross Stitch Quilts,
Stars and Many More.
TOY TRUCKS, TRACTORS &' COLLECTABLES
Hand Painted Milk Can with a picture of The Clinic For Special Children”,
Large Vie Scale Case Cast Iron Steam Engine with Canopy, Handmade
Wooden Dump Truck, Express Wagon, Handmade Dolls, Rocking Horse.
CRAFTS, HOUSEHOLD AtAWN FURNITURE
New S.S. Vitacraft Cookware Set, New. Oak Rolltop Desk, Hickory Rocker,
Glider Rockers, New Bernina 1000 Electric Sewing Machine, Cedar Chest,
Hand Turn Bologna Slicer, New PVC Picnic Table, PVC Hot Bed, Mini Jelly
Cupboard, Large Wooden Swing & Slide Sets, Knitting Machine, Vinyl &
Carpet Remnants, New Porch Chairs - SWings - Benches, Dried Flowers,
Pillows, Horse’Collar, Clock, Chime Clock, Oak End Tables, Quilt Racks,
Child’s Rocker, Brooms, Clothes Trees, Much More.
FARM SUPPLIES, TOOLS, HARDWARE & MISC.
Pickup Truckload of Mixed Clover Hay, Certificate for Truckload of Ag Lime &
Shavings, New Transport Gang Mower 50” Cut w/Pony Cart (sold separate),
New Push Mower, Farm Gates, New Holland Running Gear, New Chain Link
Dog Kennel, fJew Leather Driving Harness, Halters, Horse Blankets, New
Carpentry & Barden Tools, New Steel Wheel Fdrecart, Smucker Lime L
Spreader, Horse Feed, Dog Houses, Garbage Can, Rabbit Hutch Sheds.
All Kinds of Baked Goods - Chicken Bar-B-Q - Subs A Lunch Stand
Fresh Strawberry Pies - Soft Ice Cream - Soft Pretzels A Lots Morel
Quilts will be sold at 1:00 followed by Winross and collector’s toys.
Come and enjoy the day with us. Here is an opportunity to help
support this vital service .for many special needs children in the area.
For donors bringing items directly to auction, the receiving hours are as
follows: Friday, Sept. 17th 2:00 PM till ?, Sat. Sept. 18 till sale time.
For more informalion call: Terms by: Clinic For Special Children
(717) 354-5415 or 626-4863 Paul W. Horst AU-001122-L
(717) 656-9694 or 733-2645 and Local Auctioneers
The Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, PA, is a nonprofit medical research &
diagnostic service for Amish, Mennonite and other children with inherited disorders.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, we are required to advise you that a copy of our
official registration and financial information may be obtained from the PA Dept, of
State by calling toll free 1-800-732-0999 within PA. Registration does not imply
endorsement.
the material makes it easier to han
dle. To reduce the dust, dampen
the material as it is being chopped.
Damp bedding is very difficult to
chop. If the wetting is done at time
of chopping, the bedding will not
have time to absorb much mois
ture before being chopped and
chopping will be easier. Always
have a functional fire extinguisher
on the chopper and be sure every
one knows how to use it. Another
alternative is to buy paper already
chopped.
Penn State is an affirmative ac
tion, equal opportunity university.
show opens at 10:30 a.m. with a
dairy and goat show.
“Dash ior Mash” pig, duck and
goat races will be held by Merle
Mills, a Montgomery County far
mer. A K-9 dog show and demon
stration will be held by Frederick
County Sheriffs department
’The Catoctin Mountain
Horseshoe Pitching contest will
begin at 1 p.m., and the cross cut
sawing contest will begin at 2 p.m.
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, the Catoc
tin FFA Alumni will have bar
nyard bingo on the athletic field.
During the three-day event, the
Department of Agriculture and
Hunting Creek Fisheries will have
a aquaculture display in the ag
shop area.
The Toms Creek Church Quil
ters will be quilting in the quilt
and afghan display room.
Several large ships will be on
displayed by Dennis Da Silva and
Paul Bar hot.