The Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-05-29, Page 144A i0D'1 I H'SIGNAL-STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 29,1969
Renovating pastures
234.
BY J. E. WINCH
Department of Crop Science -
Ontario Agricultural College
Univer'si'ty „of Guelph
Research, data gathered over a
period of six years under'a joint
Crop Science-ARDA project
show that it is very profitable to
renovate rough, hilly or stony
natural bluegrass pastures. There
are three keys to success: the
replacement of the grass with
birdsfoot trefoil to increase the
yield and quality of forage;
yearly., application of fertilizer to
maintain forage production; and
maximum utilization of the
trefoil by an adequate number
of grazing animals.
Renovation of rough,
untillable pastures is a means of
intensifying farm production
with a minimum of capital
investment and at the same time
solves the problem of what to do
with that low -producing,
problem field. Following the
introduction of trefoil; the 5 ield
of dry matter is increased five, to
six times over that from the
natural pasture. This production
is possible and can be
maintained for many years with
fertilizer. This means a larger
number of cattle can be carried'
on,the same area. Quite
freuently the grazing capacity
of renovated pastures have
reached 1.5 to 2 acres per
1,000 -pound animal for the
grazing season. Equally as
important as the total
production is the distribution of
production throughout the year.
With trefoil there is moire.
pasture during the midsummer
period than with bluegrass. If
this is protected by and fully
utilized with rotational grazing,
the gains of 2 to 2.5 lbs per day
usually obtained in'June will not
by reduced throughout the dry
part of the grazing season,. Such
grazing capacity, and rates. of
gain per day go a long way
,towards reaching a goal of 400
lbs of beef per acre.
Economic data from a farm
that was involved in •the project
show that not only are the
returns greater from renovation
than from °„the "alternate of not
renovating but also that the
returns from renovation are high
and equivalent to those received
from other farm cropping,\
enterprises.
The program was begun in
1964 to chemically renovate 30
of the ' 49 acres of hill land
pasture. The area was subdivided
into three ten -acre fields and
fenced : using electric fencing.
Each year one field was removed-
" from grazing, the bluegrass was
killed with dalapon and Empire
birdsfoot trefoil seed and
phosphate fertilizer broadcast
over the soil surface. Animals
were allowed into the field for
short periods of time throughout
• the renovation year to control
weeds. From 1964 to .1968 the
producing fields were grazed
rotationally by beef steers and
ewes and their lambs. 'The
number of livestock increased'
each yFar in proportion to the
pasture production.'In 1968, the
first year after completion of the
stepwise renovation program,
the remaining 19 acres were not
used for pasture and were seeded
to a grain crop. Records were
kept , of the cost over the
five-year per(od. Included were
the cost ,of renovation, taxes,
fertilizer and interest. an money
invested in cattle, sheep, land
pnd on renovation costs. Returns
on the cattle and lambs were
calculated on information
obtained from the cooperator.
The only alternate system
available to this farmer was not
to renovate the - 30 acres,. as
pasture was not available for
rent in the area. Costs and
"returns were calulated for this
alternate system and compared.
with those from renovation.
Over the period of the five
years, the returns after
deducting all costs were
approximately $37 per acre per
year. • This was about $11 per
acre higher than that received
from the alternate system.
The data, however, point out
that renovation of pasture is a
long-term proposition. During
the first two years the costs are
high, production is, low and
there is a distinct advantage for
the use of an alternate system
such as not renovating the area
or rented pasture. However,
after the period of initial high
cost is over, the net returns per
acre are double " or triple the •
annual costs and the, use of any
alternate system is a
disadvantage. These/data serve to
emphasize the "need for the
long-lived, high-producing
legumelegume birdtfoot trefoil and.
suggest Nat pasture be rented
for additional livestock,
especially . during the initial
stages of the program, to
maintain a satisfactory lever of
income.'
Does renovation pay? Can the
techniques available . for the
renovation of ' yourlow-producing, . rough pastures
be used to ' intensify- your
production? Are you willing to
spend approximately $25 per
acre for a return of about $37?
You be theludge!
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SALT ON THE FARM
When cattle chew wooden,
fence posts or eat soil beneath a
fence, at the end of winter, it
may be merely a craving for
variety after a more or less
monotonous winter diet. But the
cattle - may - also be seriously
deficient in one mineral or
another. Trace mineralized salt
mixed with the grain, .or feed
free choice In a mix with .equal
parts of a suitable feeding
phosphate, - should satisfy any
mineral need.
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Whateverthe size of the building you want
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OFU member claim; GFO
statement 'misleading'
Vice-president of the Ontario
Farmers' Union, Fllard Powers,
said today that a recent CFO
campaign committee press
release is misleading.
The press release stated that
the Ontario Milk Marketing
Board's decision to support the
CFO proposals was unanimous,
and that some directors of the
OMMB were also members of
the Ontario Farmers; Union.
Mr. Powers- ,said; - "The
OMMB's decision to support the
GFO was made- prior to my
° election as a milk board director,
and I made my views clear to the
bowed that I do not support • the
present proposals for GFO."
Mr. Powers stated he objects
very strongly to anyone misusing
his name directly or- indirectly
indicating his support for the
GFO.
Ike said that - the OMMB's
board of directors is well aware
that if a decision to support the
GFO was taken now that , it
would not, 'be -unanimous. `tI do
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not support it until changes as
requested by the Ontario
Farmers' Union are made, and
;furthermore, when and if I then
will support such ` changed
proposals for a GFO, I am quite
capable of issuing a press
statement myself," he
continued. "
"I am sick and tired of other
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Powers, "Lain deeply concerned
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really is, especially with
reference to the One General
Farm ' Organization bit. The
proposals for a GFO as presently
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to believe. The end result of the
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Ontaxio farmers if they really
know and understand what they
will vote for. The real question
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what will it do CO improve
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present propo`ganda and
half-truths, farmers are pitted
against -one another. ' and the
created cleave win be too large
to bridge. We need to finite
farmers as farmers.
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