S.E. Grazing Conference Offers Expert Technical Information
VERNON ACHENBACH, JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
INTERCOURSE (Lancaster
Co.) The Lancaster County
Grazers held itsftrstSoutheastPa.
Grazing Conference WedfecULy at
the Harvest Drive Restaurant in
Intercourse with more than 200
attending.
The day-long conference was
designed to bring together people
with an interest in increasing pro
fits in raising cattle or dairying, by
reducing the amount of overhead
needed for production.
Five successful practioners of
grazing addressed a number of top
ics selected to provide a roundfcd
introduction iri|to the practice, as
well as great deal of technical
advice for those wishing it.
Also speaking was Glenn Shirk,
Lancaster County Extension
agent, who also supported the con
ference. According to Shirk, graz
ing not only can provide more effi
cient production, but it seems to fit
in well with nutrient management
Roger Wentling, a well-known
grazing consultant, provided an
introduction and also talked about
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® For mon Information coma to lha matting, ®
% Feb. 7,1994 at 7PM %
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<D Snow Date Feb. 21,1994 <D
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the economics of grazing.
Wentling also discussed soil fer
tility and managing pastures for
grazing. According to Wentling,
he operates his land by managing
for the microbes and macroinver
tabrates in the soil, in order to pro
vide a healthy crop of plants for
grazing, and also to help maintain
the health of the operation.
He said that on healthy soil, a
normal cow pattie should be bro
ken down within 20 days. He said
raking dried manure should be
unnecessary, but it takes from four
years to 12 years.
‘The whole reason for grazing is
because it’s possible to get more
net profit out of grass with lower
inputs,” Wentling said.
He suggested using rotational
grazing with “biological farming
pratices.” He described those prac
tices as amanging for the microbes
and the soil fertility.
He said he promotes the use of
soft rock phosphate and downplay
s the use of nitrogen and potash.
Also, he said to be careful when
listening to consultants who advise
raising the soil pH to 7. It’s not
necessary to have a high pH, he
said. In fact, he said using
magnesium-free flow percentage)
limestone or soft rock phosphate
can provide the calcium better in a
more acidic soil than in a high pH
From the left, Marvin Metzler, Glen Moyer, Allen Welcksel answer qi
about grazing, while Arden Landis moderates the panel.
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soil.
“White sand has a pH of 7,” he
said. “Can you grow anything in
it?”
He said he also manages to
maintain a high earthworm popu-
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lation in his pasture.
Turnout for the conference was
very good, according to organiz
ers. Those wishing more informa
tion, should call Arden Landis at
(215) 593-8160.
255 PLANE TREE DRIVE
LANCASTER, PA 17603
(717) 393-5807