WILL MORE FORAGE PAY? 39 



Other crops may be substituted in this system, including improved 

 pasture, alfalfa. Johnson grass, crimson clover. Caley pea's, and Sudan 

 grass. 



In a 3-year trial 19tW— L6 this system produced an average of 191 

 pounds of beef per acre per year. Only the grain sorghum requires 

 reseeding. In addition to the seeding and cultivation of the grain 

 sorghum, the principal yearly cash cost was about $6 per acre for ferti- 

 lizer. 



FOR DAIRY COWS 



In the Black Belt of Alabama. (2) a farm-size experimental dairy 

 on 80 acres of land of relatively low fertility was started in 1941. 

 One purpose in establishing this unit was to determine how much of 

 the feed required could be produced on the farm. Seventy-two acres 

 were divided into three fields and fenced so the farm could be man- 

 aged to obtain maximum grazing the year round. Field Xo. 1 con- 

 tained IS acres of oats and black medic followed by Johnson grass. 

 Field Xo. 2 had 18 acres of Caley peas followed by Johnson grass. 

 Field Xo. 3 had 36 acres of permanent pasture consisting of black 

 medic, white clover, and Dallis grass. 



In order to take full advantage of the grazing, the cows were bred 

 to freshen in the spring. During the winter they were in field Xo. 1 

 on fall-seeded oats, supplemented by stacked Johnson hay. About 

 March 1 they went to Caley peas in field Xo. 2. where they grazed 

 until the plants began to bloom. Then they were removed to field 

 Xo. 3, which is permanent pasture. The pasture was grazed in spring 

 and summer as long as it supplied nutritious green feed. When graz- 

 ing on this field was reduced by drought or frost. Johnson grass in 

 fields Xos. 1 and 2 was grazed. After harvest of oats in field Xo. 1 and 

 Caley pea >eed had matured in field Xo. 2. the Johnson gra>- was cut 

 and stacked for winter feeding. When rainfall was good the Johnson 

 grass made a second crop, which was left standing for grazing after 

 frost. 



The 1941-45 summary of the data for this experimental dairy farm 

 follows : 



Capita] investment 1 $3,913 



Cash receipts 2,335 



Cash expenses 1,175 



Net cash income 1, 1(30 



Acres in farm 80 



Acres in pasture 36 



Acres in crops 36 



Acres in woods 8 



Number of milk cows 25 



1 Land 82.230. livestock 81.135, other $54& 



All roughage required was produced on the farm. An average of 

 about 83^ tons of cottonseed meal or peanut meal was bought each year. 

 The farm supported 25 cows or 1 for each 3 acres, again demonstrating 

 for the Black Belt the technical feasibility of a year-round grazing 

 system. For the 1941-15 period, this farm produced an average yearly 

 net cash farm income of $1,160, not including milk-subsidy payments. 

 When the receipts and expenses are adjusted to a medium price level 

 (as defined on pp. 14 and 15). the net cash farm income would be about 

 S685. With the high price level the net cash farm income would ap- 

 proximate S970. or nearly $200 below the actual results of wartime 

 prices. Thus, with the actual situation and the two assumed price 

 levels, this experimental dairy farm would yield a net cash income, 



843666° — 49 G 



