A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 15, 2003 Penn State Cooperative Extension Capitol Region Dairy Team BEGIN PLANNING FOR SPRING LABOR NEEDS Galen Kopp, Extension Agent—Dairy, Lebanon County, Pa. As the sun lingers longer each evening in the western sky and blustery March yields to rainy April, many dairy producers’ thoughts turn to crops and field work. They dream of spending warm days in the fields harvest ing the first hay crop and plant ing their favorite com hybrids. Dairy producers should pause from their daydreaming to pon der how the daily bam work will continue when the fieldwork be gins. Dairy farm businesses that produce their own crops need to recognize that their labor and management requirements in crease dramatically during plant ing and harvest times. In many cases dairy managers give priori ty to field work because they know how critical it is to harvest and plant in a timely manner. When the same workforce that is normally employed for bam work is pressed into service in the field, stress results. Workers will either rush through their bam work in order to get into the field, or a skeleton crew will be left to do the work that normally em ploys more people. In either case, the result is usually a reduction in the quality and quantity of care given to the milking herd. The costs of reduced care and management are not always un derstood, but honestly consider these questions: How much less dry matter will cows eat on a given day because the feeder didn’t have time to clean out the feedbunks? How much milk production will this cost me? If the herdsman wasn’t driving the pack tractor on the bunker silo, would he have diag nosed that cow with ketosis be fore she developed a displaced abomasum? So we don’t watch for heats as closely in May and June, we can always catch back up on breeding during July and August, right? It should be clear to you at this point that stretching the regular workforce to cover the demands of peak planting and harvest time may not be your best plan. The costs associated with neglect ing some aspects of cow care and management may greatly out weigh the cost of hiring addition al labor. Let’s take a look at three different labor options. Option one is to turn to the services of custom equipment op erators. You could simply stop using the dairy workforce to per form field operations and hire others to do it. This frees the dairy workforce to continue their regular work routines, but you still must manage the decision making with regard to fieldwork. Consider this option, especially before you invest in new field equipment. Option two is to hire additional labor to operate the field equip ment. Once again, this frees the dairy workforce to stay at their regular jobs while others do the fieldwork. There are a few disad vantages with this option. Field work is often performed on a last-minute basis, you must wait for the weather to be right and then try to get everything done in a short period of time. It is often difficult to schedule people to work for you on short notice, es pecially if they also work at other jobs. Another disadvantage is that there is little opportunity to train people in advance on how to operate the equipment. Option three is to bring in sea sonal help for certain parts of the dairy operation. Milking, calf feeding, cleanup, and bedding are dairy jobs that someone must perform year round. Dairy pro ducers can hire and train addi tional labor to cover these jobs during the busiest parts of the crop season, and they can sched ule these types of jobs in advance. This frees the regular workforce (often family members or long term employees with equipment operating experience) to do field work on a short-notice basis. It also allows them to stay in the field for extended periods with out the interruption of milking and feeding. There are costs associated with whatever option you choose. Choosing not to employ addition al labor will lead to hidden costs in the form of lost productivity. An adequate supply of well trained labor is the only way to ensure that you can both provide plenty of high-quality care to the milking herd and complete the fieldwork in a timely manner. Start planning now so that you will have a well-trained work force in place before the pressure begins. Pennsylvania STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) The Pennsylvania Cattle men’s Association has announced it will present two additional scholarships this year to young persons who are planning a ca reer in the cattle industry. Funding for one of the $5OO scholarships is provided by Pfizer Animal Health Company, Inc. in connection with Pfizer’s Decto- cational school, etc.; and possess Applications must be post- More information about PCA, max Extra Education Dollars leadership skills and show inten- marked on or before March 1. the Beef Expo and other beef in (“DEED”) program. The second tions of eventually serving the Winners will be awarded schol- dustry activities is available on $5OO scholarship is provided by beef, dairy, and/or veal industries arships at the annual Pennsylva- the PCA. Website at www.ppcat the Pennsylvania* * "in some-manner:- -- fcifS" A&tofriSfldif Bsit- c *■ *• ’ 111 1 ’ 1 ’ J j Walk Down Memory Lane IH Prototype Dealership Open For Tours June 26-28 This building was built in 1946 based on International Harvester’s prototype specifi cations. Today Frank Bartlow IH Dealership showcases much of the history connected with IH tractors and equipment. It will be open for tours during the Red Power Roundup, June 26-28. MILLVILLE (Columbia Co.) The showroom has floor-to- nity. The grand opening was cele — The Frank Bartlow Interna- ceiling glass windows that illumi- brated with square dancing and tional Dealership, Millville, nate the International Harvester/ plenty of food. For several years, closed in 1972, but will open for McCormick Dee ring wares that the annual IH Pancake Days at tours June 26-28 during the Red were on display. For the past 35 tracted crowds and promoted Power Roundup at Bloomsburg years, a 1928 10-20 McCormick sales. Fairgrounds. Deering tractor with rubber tires, Today Tubby Bartlow, Frank’s The International Harvester owned by Bartlow’s grandson °* ns the building. With the (IH) prototype building evokes Rollie Bartlow, has been on dis- bdP, of family, mends, and the nostalgia that only “Red Power” play. During the open house, J® 0 *! International Harvester fans can understand. Sort of like many other IH tractors, Cub Ca- Collectors Club of Centrad Peim- McDonald’s golden arches, the dets, IH equipment, refrigerators, prototype building design was freezers, air conditioners, and IH bS the U.S. as >-«>d “J Sf JSrtS r 3 an T lH , d “ lers L hl P- j _ The Bartlow building is unique p o wer Showdown for the past In 1946, the first day of deer m that it incorporates a basement two years season, Frank Bartlow began beneath the showroom and parts t j, e ‘ Pe( j p ower Roundup, construction based on the IH room. The basement has a j une 26-28, at the Bloomsburg Company’s specifications. Offices 12x12-foot door on the north end Fairgrounds, busses will provide are made of knotty pine and for easy excess to the street. This transportation to the Bartlow glass. The parts room houses bins enabled a large area to store Dealership, about a 15-minute constructed of lumber from trees equipment that was delivered to drive from the fairgrounds, harvested on the land on which it the dealership. Bartlow and his family will be sets. Bartlow sawed and planed The building also served as a at the site to answer questions the wood himself. social gathering for the commu- about the prototype building. Lancaster Dairy Day Set For Feb. 18 The new 2003 Lancaster Coun ty Family Dairy Day will take place at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. This year’s family dairy day will focus on dairy farm strategies for surviving and prospering during times of low milk prices. There will be dynamic speakers on the program, more than 25 exhibitor displays and demonstrations, and a producer luncheon. Dairy farmers are invited to attend for part of the day or the entire pro gram, and the whole family is welcome! Also new this year, the Penn State Family Living program will offer pressure canner gauge test ing at no charge to attendees, and an optioned afternoon program for farm spouses on “What’s New in Home Canning.” The 2003 Lancaster Dairy Day will be a day for dairy producers, their families, and industry to mix and mingle. The cost of lunch is $5, payable at the door, with the remainder sponsored by area exhibitors. Walk-ins are wel come but we would encourage pre-registrations that will allow us to plan for meal numbers, so please register by February 10. Cattlemen’s Association Offers Scholarships Association from special gifts to the PC A. The applicants must meet the following criteria: be a high school senior or currently en rolled in a two- or four-year col lege; demonstrate interest in the beef, dairy, and/or veal indus tries; express assurance in fur thering education in college, vo To register, call (717) 394-6851, or send your name and the number attending to: Lancas ter County Cooperative Exten sion, Attn: Dairy Day Registra tion, 1383 Arcadia Road-Room 1, Lancaster, PA 17601. To travel to the Farm and Home Center, follow Rt. 30 to Rt. 72 (Manheim Pike exit). Turn right and follow 72 south toward Lancaster. Go approx. 100 feet. Turn left between Marine Sales and Honda car dealership onto Service Road. At stop sign, go straight. You may park in front of the center. The schedule is as follows: •9:00 a.m.: Displays and exhi bits open. Pressure Canner Test ing, all morning (bring your dial gauge pressure canner lid) CONCURRENT SESSIONS •9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: “Strate gies in Nutrition to Increase Profits,” Dr. Bob Munson, New Bolton Center and Bruce Kreid er, White Oak Mills. “How is Your Dairy Business Perform ing?” Vinton Smith, Penn State Extension Dairy Farm Manage ment Agent. •10:25 a.m.-ll:10 a.m.: security on Dairy Farms,” Dr. Those interested in applying for the Pfizer DEED scholarship and the PCA scholarship need only fill out one form to apply for both scholarships. However, only members of Pennsylvania Junior Cattlemen’s Association or appli cants whose parents are members of the PCA are eligible for the PCA scholarship. Charles Gardner, DVM, Agway. “Crop Insurance Strategies,” Nevin Dourte, Ruhl Insurance. •11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: “Strat egies for Using Your Farm Re sources,” Glenn Shirk, Shirk’s Dairysense Building Your Plan for the Transfer of the Farm Business,” James R. Clark, Esq., James Clark & Associates, Will ow Street. •12:15 p.m.: Lunch and Visit Trade Show. •1:15 p.m.: “Strategies for Suc cess in Your Dairy Farm Busi ness,” Dr. Lou Moore, Penn State. •2:00 p.m.: Emerging Tech nologies Forum, Dr. Arlen Mills, extension veterinarian, with se lected industry exhibitors. Optional Program for Spouses: •1:15 p.m.: “What’s New in Home Canning,” Nancy Wiker, extension agent, family and con sumer sciences. •2:00 p.m.: “Who Gets Grand ma’s Yellow Pie Plate? Consid erations for Transfer of Personal Possessions,” Robert Thee, PhD, extension agent, financial man agement. “Bio- •3:00 p.m.: Trade show closes. quet on Thursday, March 27 before the Pennsylvania Beef Expo in State College. To obtain scholarship applica tions or for more information, contact the Pennsylvania Cattle men’s Association, 862 Webster Drive, State College, PA 16801, phone/fax: (814) 238-5888, e-mail to llw@psu.edu.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers