Special Report
(Continued from Page E 6)
60 percent of our research in
New Zealand and the level of
funding is about to rise to ap
proximately 30 percent in Ire
land.
Conclusion
There is huge potential for
pasture-based, grazing dairy
farms in the northeastern U.S.
However, although you can
leam from the obvious mis
takes that other countries
have made (e.g. over-invest
ment in unnecessary capital
items, supplementing well-fed
cows to “balance the diet”,
etc.), you will not be able to di
rectly transfer their system
into your region. Pick the
most appropriate manage
ment practices and research
them within your system.
14 REASONS WHY AGRICULVER SHOULD
BE YOUR ONLY CHOICE FOR SEED!!
AgriCulver Seeds provides:
1. the most extensive forage quality
research program in the Northeast,
and perhaps the U.S.
*=> Over 750 individual
plots under research
or observation.
o Over 350 replicated
grass plots in the NE.
<=> Over 1000 quality &
digestibility analysis run in 2002.
2. the most consistent silage sampling
& analysis methods, trademarked:
Consistent Silage Analysis™
3. the most prestigious brand
of alfalfa-WL, bringing six
decades of innovation to
alfalfa producers.
4. the best genetics available from
around the world.
5. the most extensively researched
BMR sorghum-sudan in the
Northeast-DB Bovine Bounty.
6. the most developed production
systems, addressing animal nutrition,
nutrient management and
conservation practices.
GO WITH THE BEST CHOICE
SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY AND INSIST
ON AGRICULVER SEEDS
The Premier Forage and Pasture Specialists
Trumansburg, NY 14886 (^0
Phone: 1-800-836-3701 vffl/
AgriCulver Seeds www.agriculverseeds.com §§rvl3
I continue along on my road to recovery from the stroke I
had in April. I am maintaining contact with the NRCS staff as
well as the latest in grazing as time and health allows. I keep
myself current and knowledgeable about the things happening
at NRCS.
One of the newest programs to come to out of the 2002 Farm
Bill is the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). This is a very im
portant program for grassland farmers in the U.S. and I would
like to try and explain some of the main points of the program
for those who are unfamiliar with it.
The GRP is a voluntary program that you can sign up for
that allows a landowner to restore and protect grasslands. At
the same time that you are protecting your grasslands you can
Duane E. Pysher
NRCS Grassland
Management Specialist
Trial proven varieties & mixes:
7. Fetione Ryegrass-
The highest yield &
digestibility, 2001 WNY
Coop Ext. 10% higher
dNDF than Agway’s variety.
8. Elgon Ryegrass
#l at Cornell
#2 at Penn State
*
9. Spring Qreen FestidoMum-
The highest digestible fiber (dNDF) out
of 35 varieties, Ist cut 2002.
10. Pizza Orchardgrass-
Nearly 6% higher digestible fiber than
Baridana, and 400# more milk/ton than
Pennlate.
11 .Glacier Thnothv-
The highest yielding at Cornell, 1.3 tons
more DM than Climax. 8-10 days earlier
and 3% higher dNDF than Climax.
12. HavMaster Mix-
The highest yield and 3rd dairy banquet 5
out of 35 for lbs. milk/A. ££££^^££l
13. Bunk Builder Mix
#l out of 35 for 6 hr. & 30 hr. fiber
digestibility, #2 lbs. milk/A after 5 cuts.
14. All-Weather Mix
#l in lbs. of milk/A out of 35 after 2 years
of testing.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 13, 2003, Foraging Around-E7
be grazing them. Grazing operations are supported by the pro
gram as well as plant and animal biodiversity.
If you are like me, by now you are saying what does Congress
hope to get from this investment? Well, they are simply con
cerned with conserving and protecting two million acres of
grasslands.
I contacted Jana Malot of the Natural Resources Conserva
tion Service in McConnellsburg to find out more about the
GRP. Jana is the state manager of the GRP program and she
provided me with some details and the philosophy behind the
program. She indicated that in Pennsylvania there is a move to
commit grassland to this program so as to preserve the better
soil types containing those grasslands. In other words, we just
do not just want your junk land. Jana stressed that NRCS
wants to manage these grasslands for good grass cover regard
less of whether it is being grazed, hayed or just plain grass
cover. She is not looking for weeds, but grasses. Wildlife en
hancement is the second objective of the program. Grassland
preservation is the primary goal.
You as a landowner can enter into an agreement with the
U.S. government and offer your grasslands for an easement
(permanent or 30 years) or a long-term rental (10,15,20 and 30
years).
In addition to these two agreement types a restoration agree
ment is also offered. The restoration agreement becomes part of
the land agreement and can provide funding of the restoration
costs of the grasslands. In other words, the government is help
ing by providing money to improve the grassland functions of
the land. In 2003 in Pennsylvania only seed
ings are being cost-shared. However, this
may change in 2004.
Does this seem too good to be true? Well,
there is more good news. All of the enroll
ment options that I listed allow a producer
to graze the land using common grazing
practices that maintain the viability of the
grassland. Haying, mowing and harvest of
seed are subject to restrictions during the
nesting season. The GRP prohibits the pro
duction of crops (excluding hay), fruit trees,
and vineyards that would disturb the soil
surface. Many of these practices would be
controlled by what is contained in a farmer’s
conservation plan.
Isn’t this a breathe of fresh air? Just think,
a producer has land that the government
will take control of and pay them for, from a
minimum 10-year rental up to a permanent
easement. In addition, the landowner can
graze the land or make hay subject to the
conservation or grazing plan limitations.
I think I hear someone saying: “Sure and
they only want blocks of 1,000 acres so the
big guys get the break again.”
I want you to know that blocks of 40 or
more contiguous acres are eligible to be en
rolled in the program. These acres must be
private lands and in grass.
The only adjusted gross income limit is if
you have exceeded $2.5 million in income
over the three tax years preceeding the ap
plication year. Now, I know most of you will
have trouble enrolling because of adjusted
gross income. Okay, maybe you won’t have
trouble, but I suggest anyway that you check
out the rules and exemptions affecting eligi
bility and program enrollment.
I suggest that you contact your local
USDA Agricultural Service Center to find
out more about the program and hopefully
enroll in it while you are there. I think you
will be happy that you did. I have tried to
give some of the basics of eligibility and en
rollment. The folks at the Ag Center will be
able to give you the entire rundown on the
program and how you will fit into it.
If you would like information on grazing
or the GRP you can contact me by e-mail at
HYPERLINK mailto:duane.pysher@pa.us
da.gov duane.pysher@pa.usda.gov; tele
phone me at (717) 237-2221 or write to me at
home at 320 N. Walnut St., Wemersville,
PA, 19565.
Lancaster Farming
Check out our Website!
www.lancasterfarmina.com