He Farms, She Teaches Ag (Continued frmi Pfg# A% A spring-fed pond -SuHth bass, bluegills, and waterfowl is located in a partially wooded glen off the side of the farm lane. The pasture stretches from the bam down around tilled fields and along the flood plain of the stream. With a mature treeline and groves along the stream, the landscape almost seems unchanged from pre urban sprawl. The farm is most notable for using intensive grazing and three times daily milking as a way to become more profitable. The Williams began intensive grazing four years ago. The 66 milking cows and S 6 heifers are in the pasture day and night from the beginning of April until after Thanksgiving. “I’d recommend it to anybody,” David said. “One of the things I like best about it is not needing to run that gutter cleaner every day. Our electric bill drops $lOO a month when the cows are out” The 50-acre grazing pasture is managed. Soil tests ate taken. The pasture is fertilized and limed. “We pay as much attention to pasture as we do to raising other crops. We don’t just open the gate and let the cows wander around,” David said. The herd is limited to a grazing area of one-fourth to one-half acre paddocks. If the summer is dry, a bigger area is used. “Otherwise, it would be like serving Thanksgiving turkey where everyone picks out what he likes and lets the rest set When you limit the area, the herd eats it clean,” David said. David continues to feed total mixed rations for grain intake, but. FEED ROASTED SOYDEANS 60-63% DY PASS PROTEIN THE RESULTS WILL TELL YOU... • increase in Butterfat - 2 to 6 tenths of 1% • 10% MORE milk on LESS feed IMPROVEMENT IN HERD HEALTH... • less mastitis problems • healthier calves and less aborting • decrease in vet bills • better herd appearance WE COME RIGHT TO THE FARM TO ROAST AND COOL YOUR SOYBEANS • he iaid, T 4 like to cut out all grains and feed straight grasses, but I hesitate to take the chance because I have fixed monthly expenses.” The Williams are often ques tioned about intensive grazing, but find many farmers are wary of making changes. “They argue that I have natural pasture, but I tell them, you don’t have com fields in the spring. You make them. It’s the same with pas ture. We had a 12-acre section that had been installed with die and drainage that we turned back into pasture. “Although grazing isn’t for everyone, it fits the situation. Some farmers have those big silos they want to keep using.” The Williams have two silos. Since switching to intensive gra zine, one silo is no longer used. “I can't feed enough off it keep it from spoiling,” David said. Plastic wrap is used for round hay bales. A full-time hired woman helps with the milking. She milks morn ing and afternoon. David takes care of die night milking in the tie stall bam. “We started milking three times a day on January 2.1 like it, but it’s a lot of labor,” David said. The herd’s average is 26,800 pounds milk with 846 pounds pro tein. and 895 pounds butterfat Tlie herd is mixed, but the Wil liams are working toward registra tion by identifying grades to regis ter after three generations. “It takes extra work, but I’m learning to keep a loaded camera at all times and snap a photo before letting the calves out of their hutches,” Christine said. ■■■■■ dai IT PAYS ITS WAY SCHNUPP’S GRAIN ROASTING, INC. RR6, Box 840 .ebanon, PA 17046 717-865-6611 Roast-A-Matic Grain Roasters Sales & Service when you with HORST GRAIN ROASTING 3040 PA Grove Rd. Lincoln University, PA 19352 215-869-8834 David, Christina, Erin, Lauren, and Matthew enjoy the nature surrounding the spring-fed pond. The expanse of grazing land In the background had at one time been tiled and drained for traditional crop production. The Williams reverted It to a man aged pasture. Christine also feeds the calves kept in the hutches and bank bam. Last year, the Williams installed cow mattresses. “It’s wonderful for cow com fort,” Christine said. “The cows lay down fast after milking and it is easier on first calf heifers.” In fact, since installing the mat tresses the Williams haven't lost any 2-year-olds and haven’t had any problem ivith stepped on teats. The cows’ knees and hocks do not swell. David said that he has strong feelings about low milk prices. GROFF GRAIN ROASTING RR3, Box 342 Lewisburg, PA 17835 717-568-1420 “I got more for milk when I started farming than I do now. Everyone else gets pay raises but the farmer needs to get more efficient. “It doesn’tdo any good to com plain to neighbors or fellow dairy farmers, but I haven’t found the right person yet to complain to,” David said of his frustration in dealing with spiraling costs and lower prices. But the couple strives to not waste energy debating unfair prices and concentrate instead on using available technology to Take It Where You Need It! VEHT@«hk 36” Port-A-Fan® Quality Throughout Built For Service Built To Last ___ The Moveable Solution! TUSCARORA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. Tunkhannock, PA (717) 836-2101 ADC Is the Place To Be Member education and youth programs - the outstanding benefits that George and Theresa Inhof refer to - are among the strengths of the premier dairy cooperative in the region. Atlantic Dairy Cooperative has a 78-year history of excellent service to its members. Financially strong, ADC guarantees a market for all member milk and excels in maximizing returns. ADC is a leader in providing equity payments, quality bonuses and over-order premiums to members. Nearly 4,000 dairy farmers agree that "ADC is the Place to Be." For free information on how you can secure the future of your dairy farm operation, write or call: Atlantic Dairy Cooperative 1225 Industrial Highway Southampton, PA 18966 lIPUVI 1-800-645-MILK make the farm more profitable. David was not raised on a farm. His love affair with farming began in his high school years when he worded on his uncle’s dairy farm. He and Christine became acquainted through 4-H and Grange activities. She graduated from Penn State and taught for sev eral years before the couple married. By this time. David had pur chased his own herd of dairy cows and rented a farm. In 1987, the couple purchased their present farm, (Turn to P«fl» A 36) '‘Atlantic Dairy Cooperative’s youth programs provided us with a beneficial learning experience. We learned more about co-ops, developed our leadership skills and made new firiends." —George Inhof and sister, Theresa Spring City, PA MMkMnCNpMkt
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