Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-10-03
Back to Grass Move Hailed
AS Revolution in Agriculture
Ne,U Development
In SiLage COmbats
Excessive PLOaU-UD
WNU Features.

Excessive PLOtU-UP
WNU Features.
Hailed by agricultural lead
ers as a beneficial revolution
destined to counterbalance the
plow-up trend of recent years,
a back to grass" movement
offering far reaching possibili-
ties for soil conservation is de-
veloping with increasing use of
grass and legume silage.
In Wisconsin, the Carolinas,
New England, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri,
Texas and other states, dairymen in
increasing numbers are utilizing
grass for silage. Thousands Of tenn
porary silos have been built for stor-
age. In still other areas King Corn,
long regarded as the major crop for
silage, soon may find its widespread
use challenged by grass. Thus the
way is opened for farmers to in
crease their acreage of soil-building
legumes and to cut down soil-deplet-
ing row crops.
This revolution is being made pos
sible by improved technology in the
dairy industry that has reduced the
cost and increased production Of
major grass silage preservative-
dried whey powder. Use of grass
silage has been retarded because
the preservatives were either hard
to apply, damaging to machinery
and silos, too expensive or not avail
able. With whey powder now in
large supply and at cost farmers
can afford, expansion in use of grass
silage is possible.
Putting in more legumes and
grasses will mean reversal Of
the plow-up trend Of recent
years. Such measures were
necessary to produce foods, fats
and fibers needed to win World
War II and to feed hungry mil
lions overseas in the postwar
era.
The extent of that plow-up is
shown in comparative crop acreages
of today and eight years ago. In
1947 paintings of So principal crops
totaled BAT APT 1000 acres, according
to the U. S. department of agricul-
ture, compared with 321, 1887 900
acres in 1889. That is an increase
of 25,54O,OOO acres.
Drain on Fertility.
Heavy war and peacetime crop
ping has pulled fertility out of the
soil. Farsighted farmers realize that
this fertility must be replaced. Many
want to get back to rotation that
gives them deep-rooted legumes
such as alfalfa and clover. The
legumes will help rebuild worn down
organic matter supplies and open
and aerate tightly packed soils. In
creased organic matter will improve
filth and make the soil a better
storehouse for plant food and rain
fall.
The need for more grass and
legumes is emphasized by this
years corn crop. Production was
seriously cut by late spring planting,
a 1Coult VI d1lo SOld "SdlllSl,
and the damaging floods that fol-
lowed. Even if recent department
of agriculture estimates of 2,437 ,OO0,-
900 bushels are fulfilled, that will
be $780, 100000 bushels short of last
years record crop. More grass
will be required to maintain dairy
and meat production.
Moro 1r,ee l,, 4Lroa
fold advantage, points out Zenas H.
Beers, executive secretary of the
Middle West Soil Improvement COM
mittee:
I 1t provides the low-cost, high
protein feeding value of leg
umes and grasses.
1t restores depleted organic
L.matter supplies.
7 It furnishes a protective COW
~. ering for the soil, slowing
down erosion, saving moisture,
topsoil and essential plant food
elements.
Most grasses and legumes are
perennials. Thus the cost of seed,
land preparation and labor required
to produce ton of grass silage is
considerably less than that required
to produce ton of corn forage.
Aid to Pocketbook.
Important to the farmers pocket
book, too, is the fact that a cash
market is provided right on the
farm by grass silage combined with
pasture and hay production.
Corn always has been the top
silage crop. 1t is easy to preserve
when cut at the right time. 1t needs
no added preservative. Corn is high