Imperial Valley press., 1945-01-04
FARM NEWS
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
SERVICE

Imperial county dairymen were
urged to grow an abundance of high
quality roughage and to balance
their herds with feed supply by G. E.
Gordon, extension specialist in
dairying of the Agricultural Exten-
sion Service, University of Califor-
MIA, in his monthly report to dairy
herd improvement associations.
Feed represents half or more
than half of the tCtal cost of pro-
ducing milk and butterfat," Gordon
said in his report. The develop
ment of a good high-quality feed
supply and the liberal use of that
feed in line with needs of the cows
in the herd will go a long way to-
ward increasing the efficiency of
production.
Roughage, including pasture, hay
and silage, is the cows natural feed
and makes up the larger portion of
the ration for dairy cows. It usually
provides at least two-thirds of the
total nutrients required, even i'll
cases where liberal grain feeding is
practiced.
THE feed situation is better than
it was year age. Many dairymen
are feeding concentrates to their
cows to maintain as high production
az possible.
THE size of the herd should be
adjusted with the program for the
production of roughage fer the
coming year. If there is not enough
feed available to feed all the cows
literally through the winter season,
it would be better to Gull some of the
lcW-producing COWS now and give
the available feed to the better cows
that can make more efficient use of
it. Such practices will not only in
crease the milk production per COW,
but will also increase the total milk
and butterfat production of the en-
tire herd"
Gordcn urged dairymen to consult
the farm advisor regarding their
feed problems for 1945.
CITRUS FOhECASlS
Citrus production forecasts for
1945 are given by the California
Crop and Livestock Reporting Serv-
ice as of December l. The forecasts
assume that no excessive Geld injury
may occur during the winter months.
There has been no frost injury 10
citrus crops in any Of the important
citrus producing states previous TO
December /.
Present California prospects point
to Navel and miscellaneous orange
crop about II per cent less than last
wear. while the Valencia crop may
be about II per cent larger. Rams
and natural conditions over the
southern counties have been faVcr-
able for growth since early Novem-
ber. although previous to that time
average fruit sizes were s'naiief
than usual. 1t follows that the final
number of boxes produced will de-
mend to an important extent en- the
ultimate sizing of oranges IN tne
southern counties. Grapefruit moi.
cations point to a total crop, about 8
per cent greater than 1943-44, Wniie
the 1e44-45 lemon crop is indicated
10 be about 81 per cent ABOVE Ihe
1894 crop.
december l indications point TO a
production of all oranges and tan
perines in the United States that M
the aggregate is about the same as
the 1894 crop. The national pro-
spective grapefruit crop is l3 per
cent less than that OF l943,44.
Grapefruit loss from the OCTOBER
hurricane in Florida was relatiVeiy
heavier than that of oranges.
other forecasts for California are
valencias 3s,197 900 boxes; Navel
and miscellaneous, 1,720,oOO boxes.
Total oranges for all producing
states 1O6,4,OO0 boxes.
Grapefruit production in Canior-
MIA is forecast at 100000 boxes IN
the desert valleys, and 1,975'ooo
boxes in other areas. Total Tor all
producing states is forecast at a.
TAI, 900 boxes.
Lemon production for California
is forecast at 1891, 900 boxes.