The Raymer enterprise., 1914-08-27
DAIRY ON A DRY FARM
MAY BE MADE PROFITABLE UP
TO CERTAIN LIMITS.
Summer Grazing. Winter Fodder and
Ample Supply Of Grain Are Three
Questions to Be Considered
Rye Makes Good Crop.
by PROF. THOMAS SHAW


That dairying in dry areas is less
profitable and more difficult than in
humid areas or on lands supplied with
irrigatipg waters will be apparent to
those who have thought upon the sub
ject This does not mean, however.
that II may not be made successful up
to certain limit on the ranch In the
dry area.
In the prosecution of dairying under
any conditions, three questions come
up for consideration. The first is sum-
mer grazing. the second is winter fod-
ders. and the third is the supply Of
grain that Is needed. Wherever all
these may be grown on the farm In
sufficient quantity. dairying may be
successfully carried on.
In dry areas the first OF these is the
most difficult OF attainment The pas
ture problem Is the most difficult OF all
problems which the dry land farmer
must face, but this problem is by no
means unsolYable. The difficulty with
grass pastures in dry country arises
from the fact that from these the farm
er may only get what nature gives
him. whereas in growing other crops
he is enabled to stimulate growth
through the conservation of moisture.
But there are other than grass pas
lures that will aid him materially in
his work.
In all dry areas winter rye may be
made to furnish much pasture. II may
be sown for such use almost any sea-
son when termination may be secured.
Where the rain falls in the growing
season 1t may be sown say In June. the
time when moisture Is abundant. 1t
may be grazed during all that sum
mer and again the following spring.
When rain falls In the late autumn and
winter the rye Is best sown when the
autumn rains begin to fall When rye
is grown for pasture 1t must be grazed
SO as to prevent iointing. Usually rye
pasture may be followed by summer
fallow, but to this plan there may be
exceptions
Grains mixed in character may be-
sown autumn or spring to provide pas
ture This may be sown In mixtures.
Those should be chosen which are the
least costly for the time being. The
grazing of these crops will cease in
time to summer fallow the land. The
time for sowing them will depend on
the season when moisture falls.
There are locations also In which
the pasture problem may be made
much simpler to the dry land farmer.
II his ranch is adjacent to rough lands,
he may get his pasture from these in
some instances, because 1t is open
range. In other instances he may Sc
cure title to 1t at nominal fee. Ranch
men thus situated are so far fortunate
in their location.
The pastures, especially In the au-
tumn, may be supplemented with fod-
der corn where the elevation Is not
too high for growing the same. In yet
other instances pastures may be grown
that will give higher yields than those
which nature furnishes unaided. Such,
for instance, is bronze grass and pos
sibly few other grasses.
The fodder problem is not SO diff.
cult. Folders are grown usually by
the aid, more or less. OF conserved
moisture. The two leading folders In
most localities will be oat hay, barley
hay. and, most Of all, alfalfa. In many
areas these will be supplemented by
fodder. Even the straw OF certain
grains may be made to serve an excel
lent purpose along with other suitable
adjuncts. as straw in dry areas is more
valuable than in those OF frequent rain
fall.
The grain problem TO the dry land
farmer is easy. He can grow grain al
most any season which gives abundant
yields. II he can furnish this factor
SO that 1t can be fed without thresh-
ing the grain he Is SO much farther
ahead. This he can do In many areas
by growing mixture OF oats and peas
or white hulless barley and peas, and
cutting them little under ripe.
The dry land farmer who dairies
should be careful not to overstock. He
is more affected by the weather than
the one who farms by the aid of irriga-
tion. In an unusually dry season he
may have some difficulty in providing
enough food II the ranch is stocked be-
yond Its power to provide food. The
plan is good also which combines
grain growing with dairying on the
dry land farm.