13®" Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council
ISr FORAGING AROUNdW
•Industry, Farmer, Scientist Working Together Toward A Sounder Grassland Program’
walk for the county graziers at the Chambersburg farm. At right, part
ner Paul Holderman manages the figldwork on the farm. Altogether the
Martins care for about 800 acres, Including rented ground. Photo by
Andy Andrews.
Dairyman, Conservation^;-Receives
Highest PFGC Award
GAIL STROCK i n g good-quality milk.
Mifflin Co. Correspondent Feeding ’ quality forage usually
LEWISTOWN (Mifflin Co.) - translates into-better milk produc-
James Hostetter calls himself a for- t ion, and Hostetter does both, with a
age producer even though he's been healthy dose of soil conservation
a dairyman for more than 34 years. thrown in. His collection of awards
It's not that the role is more impor- proves his dedication in all of these
tant. It's simply essential to produc- Turn lo Pag# 9)
Jim Hostetter of Lewistown, Mifflin County, received this desk
plaque for his dedicated service to the Pennsylvania Forage and
Grassland Council.
Pennsylvania Forage & Grassland Council
Newsletter Section July 11,1998
Franklin County Dairymen
Understand Needs
Of Grazing Cows
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
CHAMBERSBURG (Franklin Co.)
—Franklin County grazier Doug Mar
tin understands cows.
He knows they enjoy “open air”
housing. They like fresh, small pad
docks. Cows enjoy a “salad bar” mix of
grasses, including orchardgrass, rye
grass, matua grass, and clovers.
Cows like smooth, even lanes to
walk to pasture. They like to have plen
ty of waterto dip their tongues into on a
hot summer day.
Cows enjoy keeping cool, too. In
fact, producers see the effects of any
kind of heat stress in the milk check.
.... .growing r years,
ampton County farm, reveals the “secrets" to growing high
quality hay hay that can net a premium price at any auction.
Photo by Ahdy Androwt
Nazareth Farmer Learns That
Drying Can Lead To Great Bale
ANDY ANDREWS through.”
Lancaster Farming Staff Bieber points to a pallet, ready to
NAZARETH (Northampton Co.) ship to one of the horse farms that reg
—As Robert Bieber slowly removes v i ar i y buy his hay.
the twine from a 40-pound bale of “Xhj s hay they can feed immediate
fresh alfalfa hay, he separates a few ]y » sa y S ,
slices. Out fall some of the leaves. Bieber, who has been growing hay
“Look at that hay,” he says. “No for years & his Northampton Courity
mold or wet spots. Perfect all the way (Turn to Rag* 4)
Martin has taken the wishes of his
300-head Jersey milking herd on his
Chambersburg farm to heart
He has to, because there is literally
not enough room for the all-registered
herd, in a sense.
The frcestall “housing” at Pleasant
Valley Jerseys amounts to enough for
about 200 cows. Martin has 300 cows
to care for—so not all of them can be
in the bam at the same time.
This memberof the Franklin County
Graziers believes that “open air” hous
ing provides enough room to ensure
the cows get enough to eat, are com
fortable, can be readily milked, and
(Turn to Pago 2)