Warburtons Adapt To Grazing Profits, Lifestyle
Family Built Inexpensive Parlor In Old Stall Barn
CAROLYN N. MOYER
Tioga Co. Correspondent
FORKSVILLE (Sullivan Co.) “Every grazier
does things a little bit differently and there’s usually a
reason \yhy,” ; sai4 Jim Warburton, a dairyman who
farms near the southern tip of Sullivan County.
The Warburtons began farming in partnership with
Jim’s parents in 1960. His father, grandfather and
great grandfather farmed in the same area. In 1988,
Jim and his wife, Barbara, took over the 325-acre op
eration.
In their early years of farming, the Warburtons ran
a conventional operation. Although the cows had
access to pasture, it was not considered a primary
source of nutrition. Today, the Warburtons are sold on
the benefits of grazing, both for their pocket books and
their lifestyle.
The Warburtons made the jump to rotational graz
ing in 1995, after hearing good reports from other
farmers who had traveled the same route and after
their accountant suggested they try a different ap
proach.
“We -weren’t making any money and we were
always fixing something. Then our accountant talked
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Cows are on fresh grass every 12 hours at
the Warburton Farm, operated by Jim and Bar
bara Warburton of Sullivan County.
about grazing. We’re in the Farm Bureau accounting
program and he made some suggestions and we tried
“The first year was a disaster,” he said. “We didn’t
really know what we were doing. We didn’t get the
cows out early enough. We didn’t get the fence built
early enough and we were trying to feed TMR and
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