Producers Getting A Handle On Cattle (Continued from Page E 22) fed steers. Producers also toured the Outdoor Farm Show in Onta rio, Canada, on September 10, 2002, where they met with four cattle handling equip ment manufacturers and ob served demonstrations of those handling systems. Six farmers participated in this tour. As the producers began to compile materials needed for making handling facilities, it became apparent that fence posts were an item that the group could purchase together to reduce the individual cost to each person. A tractor trail er-load of posts was ordered for seven different producers at a substantial savings to the group. A paid laborer was also hired to help construct facili ties. Of the thirteen farms that participate in the Seneca County beef discussion group, seven were directly involved in improving their cattle han dling systems. An additional fifteen farms requested writ ten materials on cattle han dling systems, designs, and layout. Two grant-purchased reference books were sent to those farms building a facility. The Seneca County beef discussion group gave input into the original grant idea and remained active through out the project with meetings, farm visits, and collaborative efforts among its members. Five producers gave an oral evaluation to the larger Sene- GEHL QUALITY IN STOCK AT BINKLEY & HURST I Side Extensions Not On Spreader In Stock End Gate & Tandem Axle Included SUPER CASH PRICES OR SUPER FINANCE RATES PENDING CREDIT APPROVAL. QUALITY NEW GEHL FROM BINKLEY & HURST BROS. Binkley & Hurst Bros. Inc has a New Gehl 1410 Box Spreader In Stock for a Reliable Performer and Great Price! 410 Bushel Rating with Hyd. Endgai Built to last with a 12-Year Guarantee. See Binkley & Hurst Soon' Other smaller econom. CENTER PIVOT DISC MOWER READY TO CUT YOUR RYE TODAY! CHOOSE A QUALITY QEHL MACHINE FROM BINKLEY & HURST BROS. TODAY! MODEL 2412 Cut Your Fields Down To Size! Gehl swing-frames give you the capacity ai maneuverability of a self-propelled mower conditioi er at a pull-type price plus the advantages of hit speed disc culling technology • Nine disc cutterbar delivers 11-foot, 7-mch cut • Wide conditioning rolls for uniform, fast drying • Full-width skid shoes protect the cutterbar • Simple drive system for more reliability • Change from windrow to swath In seconds ■ without tools Heavy Duty Wheel Rakes by GEHL From Binkley & Hurst SPECIFICATIONS WR4IB WRS2O Number of fmgerwheels 8 10 Wheel diameter 55-1/8 55-1/8 (1400 mm) (1400 mm) 40 40 19 5 (5 88 m) 21 8' (6 56 m) 10 (3 m) 10 (3 m) 175/70x14 175/70x14 1027 lbs 1716 lbs (467 kg) (780 kg) ,‘ r gSUI Trailer-Type VJcnu V-Rakes 2 Raking Width Rakes In Stock We ' 9ht ca County group regarding the impact of this project on their farms. The discussion group con cept worked very well because producers were centrally lo cated in an area that allowed convenient local meetings. Producers recommended cost sharing of materials in future projects and would like to see other related components de veloped, such as fencing and water. Walt Prouty, Seneca Coun ty producer, said, “The meet ings helped me very much in developing my system and my veterinarian likes working here much more now,” Other comments related to the value of learning from other farmers and gamering the shared knowledge of the group. As a result of the cattle han dling systems project, eight farms have made improve ments to their cattle handling systems, ranging from equip ment modifications to im prove cattle flow to building a brand-new facility from scratch. Five additional farms are in the planning phase and will build or renovate their systems this coming spring. A spring beef tour is planned to tour the participating sites and to talk with producers about the improvements they made.. There is considerable ongoing interest by farmers in cattle handling facilities. Wright was very pleased with the results of this project and would like to continue her efforts on an even larger scale. SPECIFICATIONS Capacities cu. ft. (m 3 ) Heaped, single beater .. Heaped, double beater Struck level. Struck level, liquid slides Bushels Dimensions Inside width of bed, in (m) Overall width Inside bed depth, top of flare Inside bed length ... Overall length. Loading height Height to top of upper beater taders in stock! iced box st Ready For Delivery Teeth per wheel Working width Transport width Tire size “I believe this project was very successful in achieving the desired outcomes, and this project could serve as a model for efforts across the state. The key to success is the dis cussion group format for meetings, where producers en courage each other in moving forward on making plans and setting up work days.” As she moves forward, Wright has identified what has worked and what needs to be improved for the future success of her work. “The challenges of this project in clude the time limitations that farmers face in making de sired improvements and the financial outlay for materi als.” Wright plans to continue consulting with those produc ers who are in the process of building cattle handling facili ties. She has been compiling resources on cattle handling and will continue to act as a resource person for anyone in terested in this topic. In the future, Wright plans to apply for additional grants to ex pand this collaborative work ing model across the state. For more information on af fordable cattle-handling sys tems, contact Martha Wright at NWNY CCE Dairy, Live stock, and Field Crops Team, (585) 394-3977 ext. 36, or email maw32@cornell.edu. For more information on the CCE Grants Program for In novative Small Farm Educa tion, or for general small farms information, visit www.smallfarms.comell.edu. M 51177 .180 (5 10) 215 (6 10) 104 (2 95) 125 (3 54) .177 60.9 (1 55) . . 92,5 (2 35)* .22.6 (0 58) . 128.3(3 26) 196 4(4 99) 47 8(1 21) 63 8 (1 62) GEHL Super Deal On A ' Super Blower Model 1580, 1000 RPM with the highest blow ing capacity on the market. Gehl high-capacity blowers will help get your silo filling done in short order • 1,000 rpm • Many convenience features • Twin spinners rifle material at nearly 35 mph • Twin-sided fan disc with paddles on both sides • Split rim sheets feature a replacement inner liner Both Models In Stock Model 1580, 1000 PTO, Model 1540, 540 PTO 12’ Model 133 Rothsville Station Rd., P.O. Box 0395 ' Lititz, PA 17543-0395 (717) 626-4705 • 1-800-414-4705 • Fax 717-626-0996 €& 2S Sf“ rTT ?,f* , ® r !' Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 19, 2003, Foraging Around-E23 50 Cows, 50 Years Of Success Dan Deniable Cornell Coop. Extension Cortland County January 13-18 was an excit ing week for New York dairy farmers who use pasture. A series of dairy grazing confer ences were conducted across the state. The conferences were made possible through funding provided by the Cor nell Small Farms Program, the New York Pasture Associ ation, and the New York Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. They took place in six different locations so thaj nearly every New York farmer was within an hour and a half of one of the meetings. The conferences featured two well-respected farmers as keynote speakers, David Surprenant from Illinois and Larry Shearer from Massa chusetts. Both were enthusias tically received by the audi ence for their practical knowledge and willingness to share their own experiences. In addition, each of the meet ings included other presenta tions that were of specific in terest to farmers in the local area. In this article, I’ll discuss Larry’s presentation. Larry has been recognized as an outstanding farmer by MSI 287 M 51217 280 (7 90) 340 (9 60) 162 (4 60) 204 (5 79) 287 216 (6 10) 260 (7 36) 125 (3 54) 150 (4 25) .217 ~ .60 9(1.55) . 97 (2 46)* 22.6 (0.58) 192(4.48) 268.1 (6 81) 46 8(1.19) .62 8(1.59) .60 9(1.55) 92 5 (2 35)* 22 6 (0.58). 154 3(3 92) . 224 4 (5 70) 47.8(1 21) 63 8 (1 62) . 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One Super Oeal! .. cquippi 72’ Wide Bucket, Universal Quick Attach See Binkley & Hurst Bros. Today the Northeast Sustainable Ag riculture Research and Educa tion Program, and serves as a “Farmer-Educators” for NE SARE. His presentation de tailed his long experience in the dairy industry and the changes he has made to his business through the years to meet his family’s goals. Larry’s father bought the family farm in 1929, the year Larry was bom. At that time it included both an apple or chard and a small dairy herd. Larry studied horticulture at the University of Massachu setts and expected to take over the apples, but, instead, his fa ther turned over management of the dairy to him after he graduated. After managing the dairy operation as an employee of his father for more than 10 years, Larry told his father that he wanted to either buy the family farm or move to another farm. At the time, he was married and had three children and was ready to be on his own. His father sold him the farm for $30,000, which was half the assessed value, and Larry set about changing the farm to suit his needs. (Turn to Page E 26) 1