TATE 8 UNI VERS IT Y " *,,,,,i i'*^^^^^sS®|sSSSSßss^^Si^§s?^^^*^* V 01.44 No. 43 Farmers started to cat tobacco already last week, as the dry weather brought die crop to early maturity. John Yocum, extension director at Penn State's Manheim field research lab., said die crop will be better than expected. The recept rates hare helped to ad# weight to the leaves, and the dry weather made blaelaafil Mprapt crop varies from (turn to farm, Yocum ttJStdie crap to 80 percent of nortaatThe market is, crofts frten fita giMte years In the ■ barns. Acreage is down and IT I MtiUive another bad market Jtaf, the number - 6f" acres will see another sharp dedafehr next year. On the other side of the market picture, some farmers with good clean Pennsylvania type tobacco sold for ready good prices. This may be why some new tobacco sheds were built in die southern Drought-Year Feed Dangers Under Scrutiny At First Silage , Forage Expo ANDY ANDEEWS Lancaster Farming Staff CORNWALL (Lebanon Co.) Drought year dangers thgt dairy and other livestock managers should be keenly aware of were under discussion here Wednesday at the first Ipeon State-sponsored Silage and Forage Expo conducted at the Glenn Kndl and family dairy farm. While head managers are look ing for ways to maxinyze silages and forages in a drought disaster, take heed; silage nutritional value can he saved. So can forages if the proper management techniques are adopted now. About 83 silage and forage pro ducers and agri-industry represen tatives attended the Expo. Several Penn State ctop expats were on hand to present strategies to suc cessfully manage crops in a drought disaster that has drastical ly affected many counties in the southeastern Pennsylvania region. To get more out of silage, according to Dr. David Wolfgang, director of field investigations for the Pennsylvania Animal Diag nostic Laboratory System ami Penn State dairy specialist, “chop it finer and make it wetter,” he said. Wolfgang reviewed the strategies for dairy nutrition in Krall’s farm site feed room next to the TMR mixer. “Chop silage more finely this year and a little more on the wet Four Sections side,” Wolfgang told producers. This year, the dairy specialist indi cated, could present a challenge to "make diets that complement the rumen." Of course, different feeds are maintained for different age ani mals on the dairy. With the dry conditions persistent throughout the summer, the results will be a high-lignin, high-cellulose com silage. As a result, producers should take time to chop the silage finer and provide more “cods" for digestion. Mote grain can also be fed to supply the high energy needs of factoring animals, but producers should consider by-products, such as beet pulp, citrus pulp, apple pomace, and other items. Producers also have to worry about nitrate in com. After sitting near dormant, the com crop takes up a surge of nitrogen after a rain, which becomes nitrates in the crop. Nitrates, converted to nitrites by dte rumen, can result in cow abortions and even death. Wolfgang said silage samples from Lancaster Coimty are testing high in nitrates, from 1.3 to 1.7 percent. “We like Com silage to be 1 percent or less," Wolfgang said. He noted that early choppcd com can run high in nitrates. Wolfgang noted drat livestock being fed high-nitratc allage can digest the material and can be used * safely only if fed at extremely Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 28, 1999 small percentages. If used in heavy concentrations, all at once, lives tock Can be poisoned. Poisoning can result in abor tions in adult cattle and, in some cases, death. In beef cattle, if the silage isn't mixed with grain, nitrates can prove toxic.' And the nitrates can be concen trated in certain sections. If using thick plastic wrap bags, there is 'Variability in where the hot spots arc,” said Wolfgang, compared to a silo or trench/bunker system. Penn State's Animal/Dairy Science Dept. Conducts Special-Fed Veal Research LOWELL L. WILSON PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE The special-fed veal industry is the subject of perhaps more widespread public criticism and question than any other farm animal production enterprise, both in die United States and internationally. The reasons for these criticisms include: (1) veal systems use young animals which tends to stimulate an emotional response; (2) some aspects of the system are unique (such as use of individual stalls, liquid diets, lower hemoglobin levels than in calves of similar age on grain and pasture); and (3) the US veal industry is newer and smaller than end of the county. Overall, the Pennsylvania Ag Statistics Service reported improved conditions for soybeans and corn statewide due to rains last week. But the crop remains short, and many fanners are already feeding winter supplies to their cattle. Fruit harvest Is about the normal pace for this time of year. Statewide, apple condition Improved due to significant rainfgl. Growggpampoffcd that their fruit was of gMd quality but small hi tike. Vegetable growers continued to report low yields ktid great crop loss. In the photo, this farm family was found hdffd at work in the tobacco field along North Shirk Road between Ephrata and New Holland. Photo by Everett Newswanger, editor. If silage is the only thing that is fed, without hay or alternative fccdstuffs (not forage extenders), the mono-diet “may even kill it, or certainly cause abortion,” he said. The decision is out on whether or not to use additives to silage, including bacteria or acids, in a drought year. There ate a. lot of fac tors and variables that need to be considered, and opinions vary. Regardless, it is important to feed that rumen “24 hours a day,” gniH the dairy specialist. most other farm animal industries. Bull calves bom on dairy farms can be used for meat FMi tts ißpsrtsest sf tafcr Ml MMMmks $31.00 Per Year Tbh regular column from Penn Department of Dairy end Ani mal Science features the research fadings, student opportunities, and reports on otter Important topics generated In the Department. The back Issues of the column are archived on LeneetUr Farming’s Internet www.buieiut9ifeniUng.com home page. Look for them. 60£ Per Copy Silage feeders should also check high pHs in feed, using a test strip, to ensure they don’t go over a pH of S, to prevent botulism. With the dty weather followed by rain in many parts of the state, the nitrates in com silage “are higher today than two weeks ago,” said Paul Craig, regional forage specialist. Forage testing will be critical in this drought year, Craig told those at the Geld day. (Turn to Pag* AM) production in several different ways: (1) bob veal with live weight less than 150 pounds; (2) (Turn to Pag* ASS)
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