(5) Reliance on supplemental hay feeding in the summer is 

 steadil}' increased and pastured forage is steadily decreased 

 as the ratio of cows to cropland is increased. 



(6) The level of fertilization of each meadow species is increased 

 to the low and then to the medium level of fertilization. The 

 increase in level of fertilization occurs at different ratios for 

 each species in each milk response and milk price combina- 

 tion; however, the order in which the levels of fertilization 

 occur are the same. 



In the series in which hay is sold, the alternative of harvesting 

 three cuttings of hay is utilized a great deal. At ratios above 0.35, the 

 two series are identical; no hay is sold because the opportunity cost 

 of utilizing it on the farm is too high. Below this ratio the alternative 

 of selling hay at $27 per ton prevents the plan from becoming more 

 extensive. 



Some general recommendations on adjusting cropping patterns 

 can be obtained by ranking these adjustments from lowest to highest 

 opportunity cost. In order, these adjustments are: 



(1) Utilize all available cropland. 



(2) Add a few acres of corn silage. Corn silage should be steadily 

 increased in acreage as more cows are added. 



(3) Shorten the meadow series of the rotation to 5 years. 



(4) Add alfalfa at the low^ level of fertilization. 



(5) Begin to utihze supplemental hay feeding in July and August. 

 Supplemental hay feeding should be steadily increased as 

 more cows are added. 



(6) Increase the level of fertilization from no commerical ferti- 

 lizer to the low level of fertilization. 



(7) Stop selling hay. If the price of hay were higher than $27 per 

 ton, it would pay to intensify further before stopping hay 

 sales. 



(8) Plant 2 years of continuous corn on some land. The ratio of 

 the acreage of corn silage to the acreage in new seedings 

 exceeds 1.0 at this level of intensity. 



(9) Increase the level of fertilization of alfalfa to the medium 

 level. 



(10) Increase the level of fertilization of clover and 3-4-5-year 

 grass to the medium level. 



(11) Decrease acreage harvested as pasture while continuing to 

 increase supplemental hay feeding in all pasture periods. 



The series of adjustments from (7) to (11) apply whether or not 

 hay can be sold. The first six adjustments apply only when hay sales 

 are not an alternative. When hay can be sold it pays to make the 

 first six adjustments regardless of the ratio of the cows to cropland. 



17 



