~ DIGIT 16SOZ W2(jy n. I I V 01.45 No. 33 Grazing Lowers Capital Investment, Improves Herd Health JAYNE SEBRIGHT Lancaster Farming Staff Editor’s Note: This is the third article in a special June Dairy Month series on “Dairy Profit Possibilities. ” HANOVER (York Co.) Cow health and a low capital in vestment are the two reasons why Jeff Wolfe decided to graze his dairy herd. “I have higher profit returns because I have lower feed costs,” said Wolfe. “Last year my pur chased feed costs averaged $6.12 Facility Siting: . Building Long-Term Relationships That Work ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) Animal confinement housing siting involves more than select ing a space. According to A 1 Wenger, “Siting has to include an obvi ously early and very thorough evaluation of the current land use, the neighbors, of the kind of people that are already there, the kind of farmer that was farming it before, the type of township it’s in, the kind of reg ulations it already has, the way they treated other development, and the direction you can see that township is going as far as development.” Importantly, said Wenger of Wenger Feeds, Rheems, before moving any ground, “talk to nearby neighbors personally and early,” he told about three dozen poultry producers and agri industry representatives Monday afternoon. Wenger spoke during the Penn State-sponsored Poultry Noah, left, and Oliver, 3-year-old twins of Rob and Bonnie Wentworth, taste-test an orange milk punch with new Lancaster County Dairy Princess Elizabeth Young last Saturday at the Farm and Home Center. Turn to page 816 to read about the pageant. Photo by Andy Andrew* Four Sections per hundredweight even with the drought.” Jeff and his wife Sandy milk 63 cows and raise about SO head of replacements on 90 acres of pasture ground in Hanover. Their herd is a mix of Jerseys, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, and crossbred Holsteins. “Holsteins are difficult to keep on pasture,” said Wolfe. “You would have to supplement with a total mixed ration be cause a Holstein eats a lot and (Turn to Pago A 32) Management and Health Semi nar at Kreider’s Restaurant in Manheim. Being “proactive” rather than “reactive” can save hassles tlmej-nWney, and the reputation of a business and an industry. “You end up winning battle and losing wars,” he said, if you blatantly ignore opposition and if you treat the “guardians,” those landowners that will react intelligently to your plans, with indifference. Location is a problem every where, Wenger noted. “Just up the street, they’re looking to put a cemetery in, in Manheim Township,” he said. “It’s being objected to because it’s too ‘creepy.’ “This isn’t just us, it’s every body,” Wenger said. That in cludes churches, parking lots, car washes, “you name it,” he said. “And of course, confined animal feeding operations, im agine that.” (Turn to Pago A 37) Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 17, 2000 Jeff Wolfe of Hanover grazes 63 cows on 90 acres of pastureland. Freshening the herd In the springi Wolfe keeps his cost down by purchasing little renting the farm, and hiring custom work. Photo by Jayne Sebright Practical Research Part Of PDA Budget EVERETT NEWSWANGER Editor HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) - A rehearsal of the accom plishments to date of the agri cultural research projects funded by the Pennsylvania De partment of Agriculture was part of the Agriculture Research Symposium held last week in the Capitol East Wing. Hosted by Samuel Hayes Jr., Pennsylva nia ag secretary, the reports cov ered such subjects as dairy quality assurance, mastitis, agri cultural odors, international markets, E.coli, salmonella, and aquaculture. “We need original research,” Hayes said. “But of utmost importance is practical applied research that helps farmers do their job today. The common denominator is PDA with research that affects agri culture’s profitability in a posi tive manner. “We have a great domestic market place and we have the responsibility to feed, clothe, and shelter the people of Amer ica. But we also have products available on the international markets. And we must position ourselves in this global arena.” To do this, research is done in foreign countries with political, cultural, demographic and in frastructure analysis. One major benchmark of a good possible foreign market for Pennsylvania products relates to the consump tion of electricity. In addition, the country is investigated not only for ability to pay but also the willingness to pay. In other research projects, it was found that Pennsylvania $32.00 Per Year ranks very high in loss of milk production from high somatic cell counts. One study shows we loose $73 per cow from this re duced milk production. This equates to $1.3 billion lost prof its in the industry. High SCC problems are the number one deterrent to profitability in our Sunday is Father’s Day, a day to celebrate with family and thank your dad for the impact he’s had on your life. It’s a reminder that fathering is a year-round responsibility, and one that Chet Hughes, Lancaster County extension agent, takes seriously. Turn to page B 2 to read how Hughes and his children, Allison, 14, and Andy, 11, build strong bonds. Photo by Lou Ann Good 600 Per Copy country. The research projects are looking at antibacterial proteins produced from bovine immune cells to form a natural deterrent to high SCC. While eliminating many of the prob lem bacteria, there are no unde sirable chemical residues. This (Turn to Pago A3l)
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