A26-Uncuter Farming, Saturday, May 2, 1908 Moyer’s Improvements To Junge Farms Net Conservation Honors (Continued from Page A 1) family, daughter Suzann and hus band Joe Vcppert and family, daughter Leann and husband Mike Moyer and family, along with nephew Jay Garis and Robin Bed ford, Karen’s sister. All of the farms are clustered close together in the Kistler Val ley. Tillable acres on the all registered Holstein dairy number about 1,000, including rented ground. There are 17S acres on the home farm. The farm’s beginning can be traced back to a small operation purchased by James Snyder in 1946. At the time, there were 16 cows at the home farm in addition to layers and swine. It was also a huge potato farm, like many in the lush Kistler Valley. In 1969, Rev. Robert Junge pur chased the farm. In the years since, additional farms were added to the farm complex. The Moyas have been managing the farm since 1970. In 1977, the farm became Lehigh County Conservation Dis trict cooperators. According to the district, Junge Farms have installed numerous conservation practices on both owned and rented land to minimize soil erosion. Practices include ISS acres of contour farming, 2.2 acres of critical area planting, 15,000 feet of waterways, 2,070 feet of A big innovation on the farm is the eight-foot high bull gate system. The system, constructed in the winter of 1996 by Ray’s father-in-law, the late Harold Roeder, can handle seven bulls with an adjustable headgate. One such bull, a 3-year-old Beitone bull, weighs about 2,500 pounds. The sturdy, custom-built structure uses 2-inch steel pipe and high-tensile tubing. For a farmer to have that constructed by a contractor would cost about $75,000. Here, Jake Moyer looks over the gate system. Tho Moyers have always placed importance on the benefits of soil testing, which they do every three years. The soil tests are based on about 240 carefully mapped field sites and not only record previous crops and nutrient applications, but also Indicate what crops will be rotated Into them and their nutrient needs. Here’s a sample of the com planting information. diversion, 609 acres of contour stripcropping, 2,800 feet of under ground outlets, 3,550 feet of sub surface drainage, four water con trol structures, one livestock watering trough (near a stream that feeds into the Ontelaunee River), and two manure storage facilities. A third manure storage facility is in planning. Construction is sche duled to be under way in the fall. In 1997, Junge Farms sold the preservation easements of the home farm. Another farm is under easement purchase this year. Fortunately, adjacent farms have also gone under easement, purchases, helping to secure a future for fanning in the valley. If the farms are preserved die way they should be, Ray’s wife, Karen, noted the area “will stay agriculture.” The more local, adjoining farms that decide to pre serve their farms will add to a lar ger area they’re trying to preserve, she noted. “It’s a shame that farming isn’t as lucrative as building a house,” said Ray. “Your food source should come before shelter.” Moyer plants about 400 acres in com, 200 in soybeans, and another 370 acres in hay. Of the hay, 120 acres are in timothy and 250 acres are in alfalfa. Another 50-60 acres are in small grains. There is also some pastureland. Since he began managing the farm complex owned by Rev. Robert Junge 28 years ago, Ray Moyer has incorporated smart conservation on the farm in the form of ter races, waterways, diversions, and all the Items necessary to ensure a more Improved farm with better soil. With him Is wife Karen. Photo by Andy Androwt. much of which is simply used for an exercise area to improve the muscle tone of the cows. The dry cows have access to about IS acres of land and the milk cows are kept in the barn. In all, there are 92 milking cows at the farm, including more than 100 head of replacements. The farm sells registered Holstein bulls. About 43 commercial bred are sold and 23 for AI. A top producer on the herd milked 43,000 pounds last year. One, in the third lactation, is close to 50,000 pounds. The herd, on Pa.DHIA. has a 25,000 pounds average at 3.9 percent fat and 3.3 percent protein. There are two separate TMR rations, one for the milk cows and the other for the dry cows. For the milk herd, cows are fed a 60 per cent haylage and 40 percent com silage, with shelled com and min erals. The dry cows are fed a TMR with 40 percent haylage, 60 per cent com silage, and all free choice timothy hay. One innovation the Moyers are using is a computerized ear tag system. The larger number on the (Turn to Page A 2 7) Recently, at the bull farm, a piped outlet eystem was installed at the driveway to the bam to help control water runoff, which leade about 100 yards down to a grass area. .... .. . . ... .., Two years ago, Moyer’s father-in-law, the late Harold Boeder, constructed an eight-foot tall gate and headlock structure in the bull barn, with two aisles making up seven pens. Manure from the Interlocking pens can be easily scraped out. Ray Moyer Inspects the headgates. VfV
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