WILL MORE FORAGE PAY? 65 



In adjusting to this system there would be some reduction in cash 

 income during the first few years. Inasmuch as such systems generally 

 result in more cattle, some farmers may find it necessary to build new 

 or to enlarge present barns, as on this farm on which $1,000 was spent 

 on enlarging the dairy barns. As was also the case with this farmer 

 others may find it desirable to buy a milking machine. In order to 

 increase the number of cows from 6 to 14 head, additional heifer calves 

 would have to be retained and this in turn would decrease receipts 

 from livestock during the first years. On many farms it would be 

 necessary to remove old fences and build new ones to conform with new 

 field boundaries. 



MORE LEGUMES IN THE FARMING SYSTEM 



Although the inherent productivity of the loess soils in the corn- 

 producing areas of the eastern Great Plains is relatively high, much 

 of this land is yielding less than it is capable of producing. Relatively 

 high rainfall, rolling topography, and too large an acreage of inter- 

 tilled crops have contributed to lowering the fertility of these soils. 

 Some of this land has been severely damaged by soil erosion. For- 

 tunately, such depleted soils respond favorably to crop rotations which 

 include legumes. Because of the high lime content, legumes do well 

 on these soils, increasing fertility within relatively few years. 



Table 16 illustrates some of the effects of giving greater emphasis 

 to legumes and to the adoption of certain conservation practices in 

 improving the soils and increasing and stabilizing income on a farm 

 located in the loess-soil area of eastern Nebraska. In 1933 this farmer 

 initiated a program of farm improvement through the inclusion of 

 legumes in the crop rotation and the adoption of soil conservation prac- 

 tices. Eighteen acres of low-producing native pasture along a creek 

 were seeded to alfalfa and brome pasture. Seven acres of wild hay 

 land were broken and are now included in the legume crop rotation. 

 An increase in corn yields from 30 to 40 bushels and in yield of oats 

 from 28 to 38 bushels per acre were considered to be a reasonable long- 

 time expectancy. There are 13,000 feet of terraces on the farm, all 

 of which were constructed by the operator with a two-bottom tractor 

 plow. The farmer has discontinued growing wheat, decreased acreage 

 of corn by 29 percent, and increased acreage of grass and legumes from 

 37 to 67 acres, or 80 percent. Under the high price level cash income 

 increased $726, or approximately 20 percent, and even with the medium 

 level the increase would be $553, or around 26 percent. In making 

 these adjustments, cash expenses remained about the same. 



In both the former and the present plan. 25 head of 400-pound 

 calves were bought each fall and. along with 5 head raised on the farm, 

 were grain-fed in dry lot for 225 days. During this period the calves 

 made average gains of 425 pounds. In the future this farmer intends 

 to buy calves of the same weights and quality ; however, they will be 

 fed in dry lot during the winter months for a period of 150 days only 

 on a ration of legume hay. cottonseed cake. corn, and a small quantity 

 of oats. (See table 16. alternative plan.) The calves will be turned 

 out on alfalfa brome pasture in the spring and grain-fed for a period 

 of 170 days. It is estimated that they will gain an average of 250 

 pounds during the first 150 days and 400 pounds during the next 170 



