WILL MORE FORAGE PAY? 23 



Development of production plans was managed so that information 

 would be provided regarding the way in which greater production and 

 use of forages affected certain parts of the farm business. Particular 

 attention was given to changes in kinds and numbers of livestock 

 handled; to the need for new outlays of capital; to the effects upon 

 the level of cash expenditures, receipts, and net cash farm income : and 

 to requirements for power and labor. More forages were introduced 

 into the farming systems through crop rotations that contain higher 

 proportions of grass and legume forage crops than are provided by 

 the present cropping systems. These rotations are identical with some 

 of those in use today. They were selected without reference to their 

 specific effects upon conservation of soil resources. It was assumed 

 that any crop rotation that increases the proportion of land in mixtures 

 of grasses and legumes is desirable from a conservation point of view, 

 even though it falls short of providing a given degree of conservation 

 of soil resources. Capabilities of soils on the three farms were not 

 developed in detail. This aspect was considered broadly, however, in 

 selecting the rotations. 



Alternative production plans for the three farms are offered without 

 claim that they represent combinations of enterprises that would give 

 the maximum level of net farm income. Undoubtedly, other farming 

 S3'stems making heavy use of forages that would be more profitable than 

 these may be developed. The proposed plans illustrate rather far- 

 reaching changes in organization of the three farms. In contrast to 

 these, many farms of the Northern States already are developed around 

 heavy production and use of forages. On some of these, however, 

 forages might be made more profitable by producing higher-quality 

 grasses and legumes and by using them more effectively. 



Throughout the development of production plans for the farms, 

 use was made of both experimental findings and experiences of some 

 20 farmers of the Northern States who produce and use large quanti- 

 ties of forages. Calculations as to income and expense were based 

 upon the two sets of prices paid and received by farmers outlined on 

 pages 14 and 15. 



A 240-ACRE CASH-GRAIN FARM OF THE CENTRAL CORN BELT 



As much as 75 or 80 percent of the crop acreage of some level, all- 

 tillable cash-grain farms in the heavy soybean-growing area of the 

 central Corn Belt is in corn and soybeans. Production of forages is 

 low. Little livestock is kept. Income is obtained largely from the 

 sale of grain and soybeans. Crop acreages now common on a typical 

 240-acre farm in this area are shown in table 6. Slightly more soybeans 

 than corn are grown under the present plan. Under the medium level 

 of prices, a net cash farm income of about $4,300 would be expected. 

 This would be stepped up one-half under the high level of prices. 



Utilization of a large quantity of forage on farms of the Corn Belt 

 is possible by finishing beef cattle on pasture (fig. 1). This kind of 

 cattle feeding appeals to many farmers. Feeder cattle are laid in on 

 the farms in September or October, roughed through the winter, 

 turned onto high-quality pasture in the spring, and either finished 

 off late in the summer by feeding grain on pasture or in dry loi for 

 a brief period. The fat -slaughter cattle are marketed after about 



843G66"'— 49 4 



