Organic Dairyman Profits From Doing What He Believes (Continued from Page 26) “The public wants milk that’s made on grass,” he said. Stoltzfoos, a member of Lancaster Organic Farm er’s Cooperative, said that a cheesemaker recently contacted the co-op saying he wanted milk from cows that are fed no grain al all, only grass. He was especially interested in conjugated linoleic '.cid (CLA) content of the milk. Studies have shown that CLA content is significantly higher in grassfed animal products and has benefits to human health, including cancer-fighting properties. Spring Wood Farm was certified by Pennsylvania Certified Organic in 1995. According to Stoltzfoos, going organic was a natural step after the switch to grazing. “With grass, you don’t need chemicals (pesticides and herbicides),” he said. The biggest challenge in organic grass production is supplying enough nitrogen without a commercial product. Using compost made mostly from manure on the farm, Stoltzfoos can provide a lot of the grass’s nitrogen needs in a stable form. He supple ments with manure from the farm’s organic turkey operation. Good clover populations in the pastures also help supply nitrogen to the grasses. According to Stoltzfoos, grazing is a better way to TRUE-TEST Mgt. Systems Livestock Scales Power Fencing kH'UK «, HTW ' hS / «3 I M ©BOO H IB Systems H| NZ-Quality W 1 * • Energizers • Insulators MSSS • Insulated Wire • Fence Reels • Hi Tensile Wire DCI/'ACDT •Strip Grazing dcKAcRT */iM«to*e • Silverod America’s 01 • Step-in Pot Choice of High , Acce . sori . Tensile Products (World’s Largest) Fixed Knot Fence Keystone Fence Supplies 1820 W. Main St. • (Right along Rt. 322, 2 miles west of Ephrata) j&S?' 866-453-9336 Your One Stop Shop For Fence Supplies promote nitrogen utilization by plants than row cropping systems. “Grazing encourages the nitrogen cycle to work better,” he said. “Intensive cropping puts a net drain on the soil, even if you’re organic.” The goal is to spread two tons of compost per acre each year. When he falls behind, the pastures show it, Stoltzfoos said. Last year, for example, he was busy irrigating paddocks and didn’t get all the compost spread. He suspects that was at least part of the reason for a dip in milk production this spring. Controlling flies and internal parasites without chemicals is a challenge in organic cow care, Stoltzfoos said. He uses diatomaceous earth in the feed to help control parasites, but admits that it is ineffective against coccidia organisms. Animals under 6 or 7 months are especially susceptible. “We’re not immune to losing one or two,” he said. Keeping energy levels high in the feed ration is another precaution against the weakening effects of parasites. For fly control, an apparatus with hanging pieces of material sweeps flies off the backs and sides of cows when they come in for milking. The blue lights of an attached “bug-zapper” then attract a number of the flies to their electrocution. (Turn to Page 29) Gripple Speed Brace Kit & Free Tools I 1 H Speed Brew Post Pounders VtyMN *»G«0 Fault Finder New Equine * Equi Rail *,Equi Hot ♦ Equi Kote Contractor Proven Quality @ Affordable Pricing Wheatheart Wheitheirt Makes Your Fencing Keystone HSP Fencing Sy»tetn» WWW.M-l.Mt
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