The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-12-24
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DEPARTMENT FOR THE ACRICULTURISTS
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an address before the Radio Farm
School of the Blue Valley Creamery
Institute, the University of Illinois
soils expert strongly urged that live
stock producers plan for at least a
small field of alfalfa for the 1926
season.
eff proof were needed for alfalfa's
adaptability to climate, the past crop
season supplied it in great adund-
ance," according to DR.. Burlison. "In
all probability the asst season was one
of the most unusua which we have
had throughout the central states for
a generation. 1t looked for while
as though we would have an ideal
season. Crops were put out in fine
style; then the weather turned very
dry just about the time forage and
hay crops were coming into active
growth in many parts. This means
about the time alfalfa was cut out
for the first or second time. Then
the season for a time was wet, dry
again, and in many parts of the corn
belt, rains have been unceasing since
the first of October. If we have ever
had a season which would put crops
on record as to adaptability, this is
one of them. We have never had a
season when the dry weather hit for
age crops during the month of June
much harder than they were hit this
year.
''The important fact in this con.
nection is that alfalfa showed what
it could do. Where ever this crop
was well established, it went right
along and did best to the very great
satisfaction of all. Where the grass
crops such as timothy and blue
grass did practically nothing, alfalfa
came right through the dry weather
and served both tor pasture and for
hay. Unquestionably, the last sea-
son was an alfalfa season.
"What are the profits from alfalfa
If We figure alfalfa worth approx
mately 500 per ton, this means an
average of about $50 gross per
acre for the four tons. The cost OF
producing alfalfa per acre averages
about $50 to $34 per acre, leaving a
handsome profit, all things consid-
cred, of $50. In some instances the
returns will be higher and in others
lower, the results depending very
largely on the type of soil and the
managerial ability of the grower. Al
any rate, alfalfa has a place on al
most every farm, particularly where
livestock of any class are grown
And, in planning the crop system fol
1926, why not consider a small acre.
age at least to be put into one OF
Americas greatest crops-alfalfa
o.
Expert Favors Fall Calving ON the
Average Farm
Fall calving instead of spring calv-
ing on the average farm, and espec-
tally the dairy farm, was vigorously
advocated by Prof. H. H. Kildee,
widely-known dairy expert, in talk
broadcast for the Radio Farm School
of the Blue Valley Creamery Insti-
tute. Prof. Kildee is head of the an
imal husbandry department of the
Iowa State College.
while the practice of the average
Middle Western farm in having the
larger number of cows freshen in
the spring that they may produce
milk during the pasture or cheap
feed season. is also in keeping with
Natures plan, experienced dairymen
have found that they can go Nature
one better by planning for fall calves
or at least distribution of the calf
crop throughout the year," Prof, Kill
dee said. He then presented the
pro and con of the question in this
graphic manner:
"If the cow freshens in the spring,
her production is added to the large
volume of milk already produced at
this season of the year with the re-
suit that further surplus is added to
flooded market, reacting unfavor-
ably on the price. Then there is SER
ious interference with proper care,
feeding and management of the
cows during the busy season incident
to crop production and harvest. Fin
ally, there is the decreased milk and
fat production through the year
which is a result of spring freshen-
ing, for flies, hot weather and scanty
pastures produce conditions that are
unfavorable to milk production and
the comfort of the COW.
"The fall freshened COW, on the
other hand, gives MAXIMUM produc-
ton on dry feed and silage, and
when the production declines in the
spring, she is turned on grass which
stimulates a larger milk flow. Hence,
cows with reasonable care, produce
satisfactorily during the winter at a
time when the other work is not so
rushing and the farmer has ample
time to care for and milk them. Au-
thorities have claimed that 10 to 20
per cent more milk and butterfat will
be produced by cows that calve in the
foil -, IL