2 MISC. PUBLICATION 7 02. U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



other sources of raw materials. So too, on farms forages frequently 

 compete directly with cash crops that are important sources of income. 

 Their adoption or expansion hinges directly on the question of their 

 profitable utilization. For an individual farm, the shift may involve 

 a whole series of adjustments that call for time, money, and manage- 

 ment. It may mean application of lime and fertilizer, purchase of 

 seeds, fencing of fields, erection of farm service buildings, and buying 

 new farm machinery. Additional livestock enterprises or greater em- 

 phasis on existing enterprises may be needed as well as a recast ing of 

 the whole program of farm labor and its distribution. The relative 

 importance of these factors varies from farm to farm and from area 

 to area, making the question of profitable utilization of farm forages 

 one on which farmers everywhere need assistance. 



Important segments of the information currently needed to make 

 clear-cut appraisals are lacking. Research has not yet been developed, 

 nor has farmer or rancher experience been sufficient to permit wide 

 generalizations. The immediate problem then becomes one of fitting 

 together what is available, supplemented when necessary with the best 

 judgment of competent workers, so that a first approximation may be 

 made toward the answers that are needed, and the way pointed toward 

 more detailed studies that will provide more definite answers. 



The hypothesis upon which this study rests is that it is desirable to 

 shift more of our land resources to production of forage if producers 

 can find ways to utilize the forage efficiently and profitably. Three 

 major assumptions are made: (1) That surpluses of cash crops such 

 as cotton, wheat, and corn may again prevail and that profitable alter- 

 native uses for some of the land now producing such crops will be 

 needed; (2) that increased production of livestock and livestock prod- 

 ucts would be desirable from the standpoint of dietary deficiencies and 

 consumers' food preferences: and (3) that a shift to forage crops 

 from the cash crops which may be in surplus will tend to retard erosion 

 and help to maintain soil fertility. 



The analysis logically falls into three parts: (1) A review and ap- 

 praisal of pertinent experimental data and inquiry into the experience 

 of limited numbers of farmers and ranchers who have pioneered in 

 forage production and utilization; (2) a more intensive appraisal of 

 opportunities for profitable forage expansion and use in important 

 farming systems in representative areas of the country; and (3) the 

 aggregate effects of additional forage production ami use on farms. 

 This report deals with the first or reconnaissance phase and work is 

 now going forward on the second. 



In addition to consideration of effects on individual farms the aggre- 

 gate effects that might result from more widespread production and 

 utilization of forages also need study. As acreage in grasses and 

 legumes expands, what crops will be displaced? Will significant 

 changes occur in volume of crops that periodically are in surplus, such 

 as corn, cotton, and wheat? What changes may we expect in volume 

 of milk and meat produced and from what areas will much of the in- 

 crease come? Will there be shifts in relative importance of different 

 classes of livestock and in quantity and quality of livestock produc- 

 tion? Will we be able to provide the meat and milk now needed to 

 improve the national diet? Will the market for oilseed meals and 

 other supplemental feeds increase or decrease as forages increase and 



