Based on the Phase I analysis of the 6 machinery systems, the 

 number of systems was reduced from 6 to 2 for study in Phase II. The 

 2 systems selected were: crushed, field cured, and haled; and crushed, 

 baled, barn dried without heat. These are the more common systems 

 found on farms. 



Phase II Analysis 



Phase II of the analysis was designed to include combinations of 

 the 2 most profitable harvest systems, the most profitable grain feeding 

 system, 3 harvest starting dates, 3 cow number options, and 52 weather 

 patterns. 



The 2 forage harvesting systems were: crushed, field cured, and 

 baled; and, crushed, baled, and barn dried without heat. The grain 

 feeding method was the milk-grain ratio of 1 pound of grain to 4 pounds 

 of milk. The 3 starting dates of harvest were June 1. 15, and 30. The 52 

 weather patterns were those of the period from 1910 through 1961. 

 Variations in intensity of land use and consequent sales and purchases 

 of hay were represented by 3 herd sizes on the 100 acres of cropland. ^ 5 

 The 3 herd sizes studied were 75 cows, 100 cows (])oth with hay purchase 

 or sales allowed), and cows varying according to the number needed to 

 consume the harvested forage. None of these situations reflect an actual 

 course of action taken by farmers with respect to ratio of cows to crop- 

 land because farmers tend to cull their herd a little heavier when feed 

 supplies are short. It is doubtful if a dairyman could buy and sell 

 enough animals of the desired quality to obtain the degree of variability 

 in herd size assumed when cow numbers are permitted to vary in re- 

 sponse to forage supply. These 3 situations tend to bracket the alterna- 

 tives within which dairymen operate. 



Influence of Date of Cut and Weather 

 Pattern on Forage Balance 



75 Cows and Selected Hay Harvesting Systems 



The influence of hay purchases and sales on farm income is im- 

 portant in the analysis because of the many and varied problems in- 

 volved under actual operating conditions over time. Usually when one 

 farm is short on hay, other farms are also short on hay, and relatively 

 higher prices for hay purchases prevail. When hay supplies are plentiful 

 on the individual farm, this usually means that all farms have plenty 

 of hay and relatively lower prices prevail. Many farmers alleviate the 



-5 Harrington, D. H., Andrews, R. A., "Net Incomes and Resources Valuations 

 of Optimum Organizations for Dairy Farms in Northern New England," Agr. Expt. 

 Sta. Bui. 490» 1967. 



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