WILL MORE FORAGE PAY 



33 



*T*> ***".*/*£ 



;s-wis.-i2io 



Figure 3. — Dairy cows make heavy use of pasture like tliis mixture of alfalfa, 

 Ladino clover, and bromegrass. Forage and concentrates may be interchanged 



over a wide range in the rations of dairy cows. The better the forage the more 

 grain it may displace. 



Production plan 2 could not be carried out without new investments 

 in livestock, buildings, fencing, and equipment. A total outlay of 

 sc>. 5()0 under medium prices would be necessary compared with the 

 present plan. But net cash farm income would be greater under plan 

 2 than under the present production program. Under the medium 

 level of prices the increase would approximate $1,400. This increase 

 in net cash farm income would provide for the interest and for repay- 

 ing the $6,500 needed for new investments, if all were borrowed, in 

 6 years. 



Total labor requirements would be 2y 2 to 3 times greater under 

 plan 2 than under the present plan. To handle the 25-cow dairy enter- 

 prise would necessitate employment of one hired man throughout the 

 year. Cost of this labor was included in computing the above net 

 cash farm income. With the help of one man. the farmer would have 

 to work only about 40 percent more hours than at present. Half of 

 the additional hours would represent work on livestock in December 

 through February. 



Under plan 2 a fairly good balance would exist between feed pro- 

 duction and feed requirements of the livestock handled. But there 

 would be a surplus of 67 tons of bromegrass-alfalfa hay which would 

 be sold. It would be possible, however, for this forage to be utilized 

 through feeding out a small number of beef calves without adding 

 greatly to the labor load of the farm. About 15 head of calves could 

 be handled. Because there would be no surplus of corn under plan 2, 

 some 525 bushels would have to be bought in order to finish the calves 

 out. When all elements were reflected in net cash farm income, the 

 addition of 15 head of feeder calves to plan 2 would not be profitable. 

 Xet cash farm income would be larger when the surplus hay was sold 

 than when put through feeder calves as pasture and hay and supple- 



