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Alternative Agriculture (1989) / Chapter Skim
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1 Crop and Livestock Farming in Ohio: The Spray Brothers
Pages 253-265

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From page 253...
... The Spray brothers' farming operation is a full, equal partnership (Table 1~. Most other farms in the immediate vicinity are about 200 to 250 acres, although the average farm size in Knox County is 177 acres and one neighboring farm comprises 600 acres.
From page 254...
... The soybean screenings, which contain cracked and broken beans and weed seeds, are fed to the dairy cattle and to beef cattle being finished for market. Adzuki beans (PhaseoZus anguZaris, wild)
From page 255...
... Marketing strategies Premium prices are received for corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, adzuki beans, and some of the beef because the farm is a certified organic farm. On-farm facilities are available for seed cleaning, bagging, and storage.
From page 256...
... Detroit: Gale Research Co., Book Tower. Red clover: This crop occupies 100 acres of tillable land annually and is used as a hay crop as wed as a green manure crop when incorporated in the fan.
From page 257...
... Figures are calculated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation. aThe rotation is corn-soybeans-small grain-red clover hay.
From page 258...
... , storage bins for dried grain and shelled corn, an ear corn storage building, and a grain drying facility. Machinery The Spray brothers currently have nine tractors of varying ages and sizes.
From page 259...
... They attribute the success of their weed control program to five factors: (1) the rotation they use, which includes a red clover hay crop; (2)
From page 260...
... Labor The farm's 720 acres and its multiple enterprises are operated by Glen and Rex Spray and Glen's son, who is paid a cash salary. During haying season and for weed control, the farm employs additional student labor.
From page 261...
... The beef animals being fattened are fed inside but are not confined. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Crop Yields The farm visit and additional discussions with the Knox County extension agent, Soil Conservation Service personnel, and some Ohio State University faculty members (from the departments of agronomy, agricultural engineering, and agricultural economics)
From page 262...
... (tons/ acre) Spray Brothersa 145-150 48.0 45.0 80.0 6.0 Knox Countyb 111.5 34.4 42.8 65.5 Soils inventory Luray silty clay 125.0 40.0 45.0 80.0 loam Bennington 102.0 30.0 40.0 65.0 6.0 silt loam Homewood 110.0 30.0 45.0 90.0 6.0 silt loam aYield estimates obtained from Glen and Rex Spray.
From page 263...
... Marketing Strategies An important component of the financial performance of this operation is the farm's ability to market its corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and adzuki beans, as well as some of its beef cattle, at higher-than-normal market prices. This kind of marketing is possible because the Spray Brothers Farm is an Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association certified organic farm.
From page 264...
... 4.00 4.00 Cultivate (2 times) 5.00 10.00 Harvest 17.00 17.00 Total costs/acre 85.25 Soybeans After Corn Unit Cost Cost/Acre Chop stalks 6.50 6.50 Offset disk (2 times)
From page 265...
... The Spray brothers' recent investment in a seed cleaning, bagging, and storage facility complements this marketing strategy. The facility ensures a quality product and provides savings in cleaning and handling, some marketable wheat and clover seed sales, and a usable by-product (screenings for cattle feed)


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