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
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cropping systems.
“Grazing encourages the nitrogen cycle to work
better,” he said. “Intensive cropping puts a net
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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)
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