1961 — First two Harvestores erected — one for haylage and
the other for corn silage. At the same time the first two auto
matically fed bunk feeders were installed. A push of a button
does the feeding.
1962 — Erected two more Harvestores, extended one of the
feeding bunks and built a third one, forming an arc around
the central feeding auger.
PLANNING!
steers. Feedlots will become larger and “time
clock” feeding will take over. Cattle will be fed
automatically, six to eight times a day. All ra
tions will be premeasured and premixed as they
are fed, providing a perfectly balanced ration.
Low moisture grass silage, com silage and high
moisture com will form the bulk of the feeding
requirements in the Com Belt. Sorghum silage
and low moisture grass will be fed in the soutn.
Trench or bunker silos in the south and southwest
will be replaced by upright structures on all but
the largest farms. Even then, the “silos in the
ground” will be mechanized. Bam cleaners will
become a common sight in feedlots as operators
continue to mechanize every phase of their oper
ation. Indoor feeding will become more preva
lent as operators strive not only to control the
feeding of their animals, but their environment
as well.
Hogs
Confined feeding and farrowing of hogs will
be stepped up greatly in the next couple years.
Many operators will completely control the en
vironment of these hogs. Inside feeding with
climatic controls will be commonplace in the
Com Belt. Fewer hogs will be run with cattle
as beef farmers turn to heavier silage feeding.
Units for feeding out 5,000 head a year will not
be uncommon. Average operators will turn out a
minimum of 1,000 head annually. S P F hogs
will probably become prominent as operators
strive for greater efficiency. Pasturing or partial
confinement on pasture will only be practiced by
smaller operators. Silage feeding (com silage
and low moisture grass) to sows will be com
monly practiced. “Limited feeding” is fast being
adopted by hog farmers in an effort to produce
leaner meat with a better feed conversion ratio.
Putting hogs on limited feed results in a slightly
longer feeding period but this is offset by a better
market price and lower cost of gain. Manure
problems will be greatly increased with these
larger setups; however, we don’t believe lagoons
are the answer. More and more bam cleaners, and
augers, are being installed in these units. Me
chanical removal of manure into holding tanks
looks promising. The manure is turned into a
liquid which can be pumped out into a tank
spreader, and from here it is spread on the fields
to take advantage of its fertilizing value.
SYSTEMATIC FARMING
Some fanners, like Mr. Knute D. Knutson, Rt.
No. 3, Janesville, Wisconsin, have a sixth sense
for planning their own systematic operation that
matches the best of them.
Lake many successful farm operations, some
of the basic improvements on the 375-acre Knut
son farm came slowly over the years ... but they
all fit into one master plan that is now beginning
to pay off in a handsome way.
"We re not trying to buila a show place here,"
proclaimed the Norwegian-born Knutson. "We re
directing our every effort and plan toward a busi
ness farming operation that will make money."
It was back in 1944, just after the Knutsons
moved on their newly acquired farm that the
step-by-step plans started falling into place.
"Even though we have had a basic aim in our
planning, we have always allowed for flexibility.
This is essential in any good fanning operation,”
observed Knutson. “Change is part of our busi
ness."
The past, present, and future as illustrated,
shows why the Knutsons’ operation is die success
that it is.
Son Don, at right, has just obtained
a degree in animal husbandry from
the University of Wisconsin and is as
suming a major role in the expanding
farm operation. "He'll take over more
and more as time goes on," his father
exclaimed. 'This is one reason we are
planning and investing so strongly for
the years ahead."