A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 2, 1998
Moyer’s Improvements To
(Continued from Page A 27)
and a few drainage catch basins to
ensure conservation where
needed.
Recently, at the bull farm, a pipe
outlet system was installed at the
driveway to the bam to help con
trol water runoff, piped about 100
yards down to a grassed area.
There are two manure storage
structures, one on the heifer farm
and the other at the main farm. The
older structure, completed in 1978,
is used for the main dairy farm.
The structure is an earthen dam
with a concrete floor and ramp
with an eight-month storage
capacity. A second unit, con
structed in 1985, also is an earthen
dam with a concrete floor and
ramp for the heifers. The manure
packs are pushed into the holding
area.
A third structure, in the process
of final approval, will be con
structed at the bull farm. It will
have an eight-month storage
capacity and will be a three-sided,
square concrete structure with con
crete floor. The manure from the
bull farm will be scraped into it
from the bull bam, recently
constructed.
Two years ago, Moyer’s father
in-law, the late Harold Roeder,
constructed an eight-foot tall gate
and headlock structure in the bull
bam, with two aisles making up
seven pens. Manure from the inter
locking pens can be easily scraped
out.
In placing these water and soil
control structures, Moyer admitted
that he is doing what he needs to
do, not simply “following the
rules.” The award has personal
meaning, but he didn’t put in the
practices just to win an award.
Rather, he views the work as
something he would do anyway,
simply because he believes in
conservation.
“I think it’s more of a personal
accomplishment,” Moyer said.
“It’s not something we actually
went out and worked for. It hap-
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pened because of the way we do
things.”
Junge Farms uses about 50 per
cent no-dll and most of the rest is
minimally dlled. The alfalfa is
moldboard plowed.
Getdng good plant standability
is a challenge in the valley because
of the “two stones to one dirt” ratio
of the Trexler shale soil, Karen
Moyer noted.
Junge Farms 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 pre
vious crops and nutrient applica
tions. but also indicate what crops
will be rotated into them and their
nutrient needs.
The test also indicates what the
soil pH is of the different sites and
what the lime requirements are.
The records also note the farm
field number, acres, the crop in the
previous year, nitrogen application
by total pounds, starter nitrogen
use, date planted, variety, and a
space for comments (including
whether the field was wet or dry,
rainfall, weather conditions, etc.)
They haul manure to the fields
when needed, Ray Moyer said,
“keeping the fertility in balance.”
Moyer believes every tanner
should be doing those things on the
farm necessary to keep the field
fertility and economic balance in
line, lie said, “without some law
saying we should be doing these
things.”
Junge Farms recently purchased
a no-till planter that can vary in
row fertilizer rates from area to
area, from 0-600 pounds at appli
cation. Eventually the Moyers
hope to make use of GPS systems
to map the fields for yields and
other information to be used at
planting and harvest
The Moyers follow a careful
Junge Farms Net Conservation Honors
crop rotation and use nitrogen
applications wisely.
Last year, the Moyers woe for
tunate to have enough rainfall in
time to secure a good com crop.
The Trexlcr shale soil can prove a
challenge during a drought With
out rainfall in mid-July last year,
the com crop could have been lost
Junge Farms would like to
expand the cropland if enough
acres would become available.
They’d also like to add additional
heifers if conditions would be
right
Also, all calves raised at the
farm if not sold for breeding are
Levi, left ai
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finished out as steers. The Holstein
steers are grain fed.
A big innovation on the farm is
the eight-foot high bull gate sys
tem. The system, constructed in
the winter of 1996 by Ray’s father
in-law, the late Harold Roeder, can
handle seven bulls with an adjust
able headgate. One such bull, a
3-year-old Beltone 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 con
structed by a contractor would cost
about $75,000.
Ray Moyer farms with wife
Jordan Veppert help feed calves at the Junge Farm.
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Karen and family. The family con
sists of son Jason, 27, and wife
Keena and family. The Jason Moy
er family includes children Cody,
10; Dane, 8; Jake, 7; Cheyenne, 6;
Laramie, S; Wade, 3; and Cole, 1.
A son-in-law, Joe Veppert, works
with Ray and Karen’s daughter,
Suzann, and son Levi, 4 and
daughter Jordan, 3; Also, Moyer’s
daughter Leann works with Mike
Moyer (related to Moyers by mar
riage). and Michael, 9; Keegan, 8;
and Sara, 2. A nephew. Jay Garis,
works as a herdsman. Robin Bed
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