770 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



telling us abeut feeds and their value, especially corn silage, and it la 

 time that this wonderful feed was classed where it rightfully belongs. 

 If made of very green corn no one will object to its being called a raugh- 

 ago, if left to mature until the proper time to cut it, then its exceeding 

 value as a largely concentrated feed should be emphasized or else a new 

 term invented by which we could distinguish it. I hope some of the 

 knowing ones will take the pains to clear up this matter. 



G— Regarding Pasturage, Alfalfa and Other 

 Forage Crops. 



VALUE OP PASTURAGE AND GRAZING. 



By J. R. Sage, Director Iowa Weather Bureau. 



In the Iowa crop report for 1904 the value pl-iced upon pasturage and 

 grazing was ninety milion dollars for the stale, or an average of nearly 

 $400 per farm of 160 acres. This item includes the forage consumed by 

 farm animals in pastures through the season, and in meadows. grj,in 

 fields and corn fields after harvest. This was put forth as a conservative 

 estimate, but it appears that there are some who *^liiuk the valuation is 

 too high. In a note to the editor of The Homestead, Mr. C. Chambers, 

 of Bussy, Iowa, takes exception and files a motion for a more specific state- 

 ment as the lawyers say. Very we'.'; Mr. C.'s demand to be shown the 

 basis of that estimate is valid, even without his added statement that he 

 once lived in Missouri. There is nothing sacred about a crop estimiate, 

 that it should be placed beyond revision and correction if necessary. 

 After a thorough study of the matter, and consulatlon with scoree of 

 practical farmers, I have reached the conclusion that heretofcup we have 

 not givdn due credit to that part of the soil's product which i? harvested 

 by live stock, and is not measurable in bushels or tons. So an honest 

 effort has been made to read just the account between the cereals and for- 

 age crops, giving to each ite equitable share in estimates of the year's 

 output. 



Now, inasmuch as we cannot reckon the value of pasturage and f^raz- 

 lag by the bushels or ton, we must make an estimate on the basis of the 

 value of farm animals and* dairy products. This involves consideration 

 of two questions, viz.: 1st, what percentage of the growth of li^a stock 

 and the output of the daift-y is derived from the pastures and grazing 

 lands? 2d, what is the total value of the yearly output of farm animals 

 and tbe dairy? In answer to the first inquiry the general opiniffln has 

 confirmed my conclusion that from two-thirds to three-fourthc! of the 



