Page 10—Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 7, 1998
CAROLYN N. MOYER
Bradford Co. Correspondent
TUNKHANNOCK (Wyoming Co.) “If you’re
green, you’re growing and if you’re ripe, you’re rot
ting,” said Pennsylvania dairyman John Rodgers as he
participated in a panel discussion about the fine points
of managing forage.
The dialog took place at the 1997 Northeast Quality
Forages Conference whiqh was held in November at the
Shadowbrook Convention Center.
Other panel participators fielded questions ranging
from protecting forages from drought to getting the
most out of the forages that are fed to the. animals.
Rodgers, who is a past president of the American
Forage and Grassland Council, also delivered the keyn
ote address at the conference, entitled “Forages Now
and Their Importance To the Future.”
During the ensuing breakout sessions, Dr. Harold
Harpster of Penn State University led the group in a
study of the impact of forage particle length on intake.
“There’s a lot more emphasis on particle size of for
age to maintain milk production and health,” Harpster
told the crowd.
In his presentation he gave advice on bow to fine
tune particle size on a day-to-day basis. He also took an
Executive Director’s Report
HERS HEY (Dauphin Co.) The Pennsylvania
Forage and Grassland Council was supported by its
242 members and supporting organizations as well as
the Pennsylvania State University personnel during
1997.
Some of the major activities and programs involving
the council in 1997 were:
• The Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council
co-sponsored the 1996 Quality Forage Conference
held Nov. 20. 1996 in Tunkhannock.
• Co-sponsored the Hay Show at the Pennsylvania
Farm Show held Jan. 11-15, 1997.
• The Council co-sponsored the 1997 Pennsylvanai
Grazing Conference held March 4-5,1997 at the Em
bers in Carlisle.
• The Council held a strategic planning meeting at
the Plum Bottom Farm in Belleville cm July 25,1997.
The Council adopted a mission statement, ‘To enhance
the profitable and sustainable use of forage based agri
culture for all Pennsylvanians.”
• The Council established the position of executive
director this year. Dick Harm was appointed as the first
executive director for a minimum of three years.
• The executive director attended an AFGC training
Bales Can Be Ensiled
At Lower Moisture
Research by the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center
and Oklahoma State University indicates that high
quality round bale silage can be made at lower mois
ture levels than are considered acceptable for adequate
fermentation.
Large bales with moisture levels ranging from 25 to
65 percent were wrapped with at least six layers of
stretch film. After six months in storage, dry matter
losses and forage quality changes were not different
between bales with different initial moisture contents.
“The results of this study show that forage quality
can be maintained through bale wrapping at moisture
contents above that considered safe for dry hay storage
(approximately 20 percent), but less than that accept
able for well preserved silage (approximately 50 per
cent),” noted the researchers.
Grazing Sheep And Cattle
Together Or Separately:
Effects On Soil And Plants
Differences in grazing behavior suggest opportuni-
Conference Brings Together
Researchers, Industry
Farmers,
PFGC Provides
applied look at processing round bale silage.
“The bottom line is we can get higher intakes in our
cows with processed bales,” said Haipster. “It’s a phys
ical thing. They can pull the forage apart more easily.”
In another room. Dr. Doug Beegle of Penn State Uni
versity addressed the other half of the group on main
taining pasture fertility.
The next sessions included talks by Richard Lutz of
Pioneer Inc. and Dr. Lisa Holden of Penn State.
“Silage additives ate considered a value-added pro
duct,” explained Lutz.
This statement, he continued, hinges on the fact that
the silage must have some value to begin with.
“Reputable manufacturers of silage additives will
readily admit that an effective additive will make good
silage better —they will not make poor silage good,” he
said.
Five factors that can be controlled by the producer
contribute to making better silage. First the maturity
and moisture at harvest; second, harvesting and ensiling
methods; third, the type of storage structure; fourth, the
use of silage additives; fifth, the feedout storage struc
ture management; and sixth, the feedbunk
management.
(Turn to Pag* 18)
conference in Ardmore, Okla. Aug. 7-10, 1997.
• Co-sponsored the Agricultural Progress Days at
Rockspring Research Center ofPenn State Aug. 12-14,
1997.
• The Council conducted a Hay Show held in con
junction with Ag Progress Days.
• The Council held its annual summer social event at
the Wayne Harpster farm cm Aug. 13 during Ag Pro
gress Days.
• Lancaster Fanning publication provided a special
section for PFGC called “Foraging Around” three
times last year.
• The Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council
Newsletter was published four times during 1997.
• The Council presented Scholarships at Penn State
in the amount of $750 to Mark Moscman, a senior in
dairy and animal science, and to Damon Harwood, a
senior in agronomy.
• A $750 scholarship was provided for a student at
Delaware Valley College.
• Awards were presented to John Weidman for the
PFGC special award, Craig Williams for the teaching,
extension award, and to Jim Welch for the pasture
award.
ties to improve forage use when cattle and sheep graze
in the same pasture, but a better understanding of their
effect on soils and plants is needed.
Angus cows with calves and ewes (A Dorset 'A
Finn 'A Rambouillet crossbred) with lambs grazed
Kentucky bluegrass-white clover pastures from spring
until autumn in a study of the effects on soils and plants
of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately.
Grazing sheep alone increased soil bulk density and
percentage bluegrass compared with grazing cattle
alone. Grazing sheep and cattle together resulted in a
higher B horizon soil pH than where cattle and sheep
grazed alone.
Percentage of bluegrass increased, white clover de
creased, and there were fewer weeds in the pasture
where both animal species grazed compared to pasture
where cattle and sheep grazed separately.
(Source: A.O. Abayc, V.G. Allen and J.P. Fontenot,
IN - Agronomy Journal 89:380-386 (1997))
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