E4-Foragmg Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 19, 2003 *Huge Potential 9 (Continued from Page El) York to learn about grazing potential in the area. “There is a huge potential along the northeastern sea board, and a lot more money can be made,” John said of the opportunities for produc ing milk on grass-based sys tems. However, farmers interested in grazing here need to make sure they don’t lean too hard on grazing models from other countries such as Ireland or New Zealand, warned the Roches. The unique set of fac tors involved in each location call for different approaches. “The key to profitable pas ture systems is maximizing production and utilization of pasture that is, maximizing the milk produced from pas ture,” the Roches pointed out. Tom Roche, Irish dairy farmer, discusses graz ing with a PFGC confer ence participant. “This is not the same as pro ducing milk solely from pas ture. “The most profitable sys tem will probably combine high stocking rates with pur- chased feeds and will have moderate-yielding cows which calve seasonally. If Ireland wasn’t limited by quota and if New Zealand wasn’t limited by milk price and grain price, this is probably the system they would use.” According to the Roches, however, these systems that rely heavily or almost entirely on grass might not be most appropriate in the U.S. where supplementary feeds are read ily available and milk quotas do not exist. “All systems have their limitations, and it is for this reason that each system must be assessed within the context it is being used and the posi tive attributes can then be ex tended to other systems,” they noted. The Roches outlined key areas where they believe Northeast dairy farmers can improving grazing profitabili ty. These include CARLISLE FARM SERVICE 260 York Road 717-243-4419 ALLEN HOOVER REPAIR RR 1, Box 227 570-966-3821 ECKROTH EQUIPMENT 4910 Kemsville Road 610-366-2095 • applying adequate nitro gen and other fertilizers to grasslands; • offering supplements dur ing periods of grass deficit; • considering buying grain supplements rather than pro ducing this may be more cost-effective; • developing a simple feed ing system, particularly for providing energy in the diet of the milking cows; • avoiding unnecessary cap ital costs; and • researching appropriate pasture management strate gies. “Don’t believe confinement system operators or feed mer chants when they tell you that pasture is a poor quality, un balanced feed and that you therefore need to complement it,” John said. “Pasture will not result in the same milk yields as high-input systems becasue of the difference in dry matter intake and energy CHAMBERSBURG FARM SERVICE 975 S. Main St. 717-264-3533 ILLA] ABC GROFF, INC. 110 S. Railroad Ave, 717-354-4191 LEBANON VALLEY IMPLEMENT 700 East Linden St 717-866-7518 PA FORKS EQUIPMENT, INC. 4404 Glover Rd. 610-252-8828 SMITH’S FARM EQUIPMENT 30 Acker Rd. 717-567-3562 [ILOH. N. FARM RITE, INC. 122 Old Cohansey Rd. 856-451-1368 “There’s a lot more money to be made.” John Roche, dairy nutri tion scientist with Dexcel New Zealand speaks at the PFGC conference. expended in grazing and walking. “However, high quality spring pasture is every bit as nutritious as a TMR and only a fraction of the cost.” KLINGEI STANLEY’S FARM SERVICE RD #1 Box 46, Off Rt. 125 570-648-2088 ECKROTH BROS. FARM EQUIPMENT Rt. 443 & 895 570-943-2131 OW PA OL