A44-Uncaster Farming, Saturday, March 4, 2000
Site Index Looks At
(Continued from Page A 43)
tilizer is injected below the sur
face, “that can minimize the
phosphorous coming off,” said
Sharpley.
Producers should focus on in
corporate the manure or other
phosphorous-rich resource two
inches or deeper in the soil. The
greatest loss of phosphorous
comes from broadcasting it on a
surface that is frozen or snow
covered.
Also, areas of the field near a
stream, with 8 percent slope or
higher, and clay fields with
runoff, need special manage
ment.
In the future, nutrient man
agement plans could use the site
Cooperatives:
An Inside Look
MARTINSBURG (Bedford Co.)-Penn
State Cooperative Extension will host a
“Coopera-tives: An Inside Look” workshop at
the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park in
Martinsburg on March 9,2000 from 9:00 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m.
“Cooperatives are an excellent way for
groups of producers to work together to mar
ket their product,” said Melanie Barkley,
Bedford County extension agent. This work
shop is designed for producers to gain a better
understanding of the cooperatives they do
business with every day. “Producers will learn
how to work with cooperatives for mutual ben
efit,” said Barkley.
For more information you can contact the
Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in
Bedford County at (814) 623-4800. Cost for
the workshop is $5.00. The fee includes mate
rials and lunch.
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index as a critical measurement.
If Pennsylvania adopts a
Maryland-type, phosphorous
based system of nutrient man
agement, the site index could be
crucial. It may point to changing
many procedures, including
changing field boundaries or
other methods, applying less
manure, or other ways of man
aging the resource.
“Some risk is acceptable and
some unavoidable,” Sharpley
noted, regarding how much
phosphorous can be placed into
the soil. “We have to decide
what risk level we’re willing to
accept.”
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(ContlniMd from Pag* A3i)
investment on its potential
return on investment (ROI),”
said Hilty.
He suggested prioritizing in
vestments by the payback
period. The first investments
you should make are the ones
that will pay off themselves in
one to two years. For major in
vestments, such as an expan
sion, the payoff period should be
seven to eight years.
The next recommendation
was to analyze enterprises on
farms. “Identify your profit cen
ters,” said Hilty. “Examine the
profitability of each enterprises
and consider alternatives for
those enterprises that aren’t
making a profit.”
Here’s An Invitation
Get Your Business or Product Advertised
Animal Health & Housing
This new 40-plus page book
let with health tips and recom
mendations from veterinarin and
animal housing experts is sched
uled to be inserted in the April 8
issue of Lancaster Farming. In
addition to this 50,000-copy run,
the Animal Housing Guide will
be distributed at the follow
agi icultrual shows and exhibits
Ag Progiess Days
All-American Dairy Show
Empire Days
Keystone International
Keystone Farm Show
PA Farm Show
The guide will feature articles
written by leading experts in
the following areas:
♦ Principles of biosecurity
♦ Proper Handling and injection
of pharmaceuticals and
vaccines
♦ Strategic parasite control
♦ Animal handling and welfare
concerns
♦ Important concepts of resides
and antibacterial resistance
BUT TIME IS SHORT
Advertising Deadline is Saturday, March 11, 2000
For ADVERTISING RATES, and a Discriptive Brochure
Farmers Get Advice
In Lancaster Farming’s New Booklet
A Reference Guide To
♦ Synchronized heat programs
♦ Molds and mycotoxins
And other subjects of current
interest.
In addition, the 8”X11”, pa
per-cover booklet will include
features on farmers who excel in
the following areas with tips on
how they do it.
♦ Dairy Ventilation
♦ Mastitis Prevention
♦ Dairy Heifer Management
Contact the Advertisng Department at:
Lancaster Farming,
Box 609,1 E. Main Street
Hilty’s ninth recommendation
was emphasizing your strengths.
“Farmers no longer have to be
a jack-of-all-trades,” said Hilty.
He encouraged farmers to do
what they enjoy and do it well.
His final recommendation
was to manage expenses.
“Farmers should manage their
expenses to 65 percent of their
income,” said Hilty. “They
should also separate non
productive expenses from pro
ductive expenses.”
Minimizing the non
productive expenses and focus
ing on productive expenses can
help farmers remain profitable.
During the afternoon session,
Hilty also spoke about manag
ing volatile markets, costs, and
Ephrata, Pa. 17522
Ph0ne:(717)626-1164
disasters. Several of his sugges
tions from the morning session
were reiterated during this ses
sion. He also emphasized that
farmers must understand their
profit equation.
The profit equation is price
multiplied by volume minus ex
penses equals profit. “Anytime
you’re faced with a management
decision, you should consider
how it affects the profit equa
tion,’’ said Hilty.
During his presentation, Hilty
divides his top ten management
suggestions into the different
parts of the equation that they
help farmers to manage. He also
gave benchmarks for farmers to
follow in the different
♦ Beef Nutrition & Handling
♦ Swine Early Weaning,
Segregation, & Nutrition
♦ Ventilation & Housing
Practices For Swine
Farmers can reference contact
lists of health and housing
experts, including:
♦ Veterinarians
♦ Management Consultants
♦ University & Extension
Experts