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Show Hidden Gold Saves High Protein Feed Proper Fertilizers Essential War Need Good pasture will provide live stock growers with "hidden gold" in the form of beef-making feeds that will conserve vitally needed protein pro-tein crops, if proper management methods are followed. "Pasture must continue to occupy 'more essential place in the nation's na-tion's livestock producing program until the war's end for several reasons." rea-sons." a statement by the Middle West Soil Improvement committee points out. "Shortages of labor and . machinery have shown no signs ol marked improvement. The scarcity ' of high protein feeds continues. Because Be-cause of these facts, farmers will foave to rely on pasture crops as a major source of sustenance for their ivestock. "Grains will, of course, be fed but . !armers will want to use every tmshel of grain where it will help nake the most meat "Practical experience of success-Jul success-Jul livestock growers has demon-itrated demon-itrated that high-producing pasture tombinations will yield a beef pound- --' I Sci f -.r. ? a I Pastures Aid Increase age per acre that compares favorably favor-ably with the return from crops with higher seeding, tillage and harvest har-vest costs. For instance, a mixture & alfalfa and brome grass made more than 3 pounds of beef an acre daily in a test in Michigan. "Bringing pastures to a high pro- i duction level and maintaining them at this rate requires good management manage-ment methods. This 'means following follow-ing a soil conservation program that builds up fertility and provides plant ioods that will assure a good stand of legumes and grasses. In such a program the use of a fertilizer containing con-taining phosphorus and potash plays an important part. "Where a permanent pasture crop s planned, farmers will find generally gener-ally that a top dressing of fertilizer this fall will pay for itself many tunes in producing earlier and more succulent grass for spring grazing next year as well as a heavier powth' later. "Agronomists at state colleges and experiment stations are glad tc cooperate with farmers in providing formation covering the most effective effec-tive use of fertilizers on pasture crops. One important fact should be torne in mind in considering the Mil's nutritional needs. This fact is that while crops such as alfalfa and lovcr add to the soil's nitrogen supply, sup-ply, they eat up its phosphorus and Potash reserves." |