1985-09-26 Thu Leaders of Business.pdf

20A HERALD TIMES Thursday, September 26, 1W5
AGRICULTURE
Crop types, production increase
Fewer family farms but more acreage utilized in county
By DAN WILSON
Staff Writer
GAYLORD — While the number of family
farms has decreased in Otsego County,
more crops are being grown on more acres.
Ijes Howard, Michigan State University
county extension director, also notes a division
of products from the county's 135
farms.
The trend is that the total number of
crops and the total acreage has increased in
the county," Howard said. "It has been a
gradual increase over the last 10 years.
We have had a shift — a lot fewer farms,
but a lot more acreage for farms that we do
have," he continued.
"Our agriculture is kind of split," Howard
said, "between the crop farmers and
livestock farmers. However, dairy farming
is the main one, followed by beef and hogs.
This accounts for hay and pasture (land
use).
"There is a lot of hay sold out of the county,
as well, every year," he added.
He estimated the approximate number of
acres planted each year as follows:
• 9,000-10,000 in hay;
• 2,500 of corn, as well as potatoes;
• About 2,000 acres in small grains.
"MOST OF THE corn is raised for
livestock feed," said Howard. "We probably
purchased more corn than we raised."
Howard mentioned another important
crop in this area: navy beans.
"There must be close to 1,000 acres of
these beans in the county. We have looked at
some crops like faba beans which are raised
as a protein feed for livestock, although they
really haven't worked out that well in this
area," he said.
"We are going to look at an oil feed crop
called canola," he stated. "This is used for
livestock feed." He added the county's
farmers need a protein supplement of some
kind for their livestock .
„
Howard pinpointed the best-producing
agricultural areas in the county as Elmira,
Livingston, Dover and the Charlton -
Chester township areas around Johannesburg.
"Some of the more fruited land is located
in the Pigeon River area, but it is isolated.
Harvesting our
wood resources
MATURE ASPEN is cut and harvested by Bernard
Tuczynskl's logging crew on Kenneth Schreur's property
last fall with assistance from the Otsego Soil
Conservation District.
mm
DON SKLARCZYK FARM is shown in aerial photo
near Johannesburg.
and is state owned," he remarked. "Much of
that land cannot be used for crops."
HOWARD ADDED, "The areas of Bagley
and Otsego Lake townships are very sandy,
and are not recommended for planting."
The only crops being planted now are
4
wheat and rye, the fall grains.
"The majority of crops are planted in the
spring, including barley, potatoes and
oats," he said. "The bulk of the hay crop,
alfalfa, is either planted in the spring or in
August."
MODEL HARDWOOD forest established on Alpine
Center land by the Otsego Soli Conservation District
1984 Michigan Youth Corps crew. Tom Seldel,
forestry crew leader, cuts trees marked for removal
as forestry crew member assist with felling and
stacking firewood.