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‘lndustry, Farmer, Scientist Working Together Toward A Sounder Grassland Program ,
Grazing, Flexible Management Style Pay Off For Maryland Dairy Family
DAVE LEFEVER
Lancaster Farming Staff
KNOXVILLE, Md. In
1997, Myron and Janet Mar
tin and family renovated their
dairy operation in two key
ways.
They had a new freestall
bam built with a slatted floor
and manure pit underneath.
They also adopted intensive
grazing to complement the
total mixed ration (TMR)
feeding program that was al
ready in place.
The revamped management
approach resulted in a major
jump in net income from the
60-cow milking herd while
freeing up more family time.
And while Myron Martin said
he is always in the process of
learning more, he is eager to
share the reasons for his suc
cess so far.
Martin gives a lot of credit
to Marshall ryegrass for boost
ing milk production and in
creasing the stockpile of for
ages on this hilly 118-acre
farm near the Potomac River.
Marshall ryegrass is a vari
ety of annual ryegrass devel
oped over several decades in
Mississippi to be very aggres
sive in its growth, to maintain
winter hardiness, to mature
Conservationist Visits Grass-Based Dairy
Robin Heard, Pennsylvania conservationist, left, participated in a Project
Grass field day in Fulton County on May 8. With Heard, from left, Dave Ruppert,
Armstrong Co. Conservation District manager; Suzette Brought, Southcentral
Project Grass coordinator; Tom Matticks, assistant state conservationist, Clar
ion Co.; J.B. Harrold, Western Project Grass coordinator; Kenneth Booth, beef
producer; Walt Shiever, dairy/beef producer; and Darryl Emmick, New York
state grazing specialist, learn about different water ram pumps available to gra
ziers. See story on page 9.
slowly, and produce a high
yield of good quality forage,
according to information
gathered by Don Schwartz of
the Washington County ex
tension. This ryegrass variety,
and others, have been used ex
tensively in the south for more
than 30 years to improve cool
season pasture systems on
beef and dairy farms.
On the Martin farm during
the spring and fall, a large
portion of the feed for the
milking cows comes from
grazing the annual ryegrass.
During periods of good
growth, Martin said he is able
to cut the TMR in half, while
keeping milk production as
high, or even higher, than on
TMR alone.
This spring, average pro
duction per cow swelled to 85
pounds when the herd was
grazing the leafy ryegrass pas
tures, according to Martin.
“When they went out on
grass they kept right on pro
ducing,” he said.
The Martins temporarily
switched from milking twice a
day to three times a day dur
ing this “spring flush.”
Another surprising outcome
(Turn to Page 8)
The Martin family of Knoxville, Md., is well-provided by a 60-cow milking herd
managed in a combination grazing/total mixed ration approach. From left are
Glendoiyn, 14; Josiah, 6; Kenton, 6; Kraig, 7; Karissa, 7; Janetta, 12; Myron,
Janet, and Yolanda, 16. Photo by Dave Lefever
Growing Hay Is Now
Against The Law?
John Pergosky
PFGC President
Greetings to all.
As the 226th celebration of
our nation’s birth passes and
leaves us with ringing in the
ears from local fireworks dis
plays, I find my self moved by
a convergence of events that
serve as notice to me and per
haps to others that our free
dom and individual rights
have been under continuous
Pennsylvania Forage & Grassland Council
Newsletter Section July 13,2002
> President's Corner ❖
attack for a very long time.
Our founding fathers, many of
whom were farmers them
selves, were the first to battle
this assault and triumphantly
formed a great nation, free of
the heavy handed rule of King
George. That was then. Today
we struggle with affronts to
our liberty carried out in the
name of goodness by foreign
(Turn to Page 10)