Bethany Fuller | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | April 29, 2008

Even though 100 dairy farms in Iredell County have sold out, crop and livestock sales are up as a result of careful planning, the use of genetic crops, increased seed quality and modern techniques, according to Iredell County Cooperative Extension Services Director Ken Vaughn.

Vaughn said some farmers enlist global-positioning system to control the soil chemistry and fertilizer levels.

“Well, we have to learn how to be chemists, some of these crop chemicals you put out today,” Snow Creek Road resident Sam Hall said.

Hall said farmers have to mechanize because manual labor isn’t dependable anymore.

Over the years, farmers have had to re-evaluate if they are growing what the consumer wants or what they want the consumer to have, said cattle farmer Jim Dobson.

“You have to make do with what works for you,” he said.

Dairy farmer Andy Gray said he and his brother have started using several techniques to increase milk production, including selecting the gender of the stock they breed.

A lot of the guess work has been taken out of dairy farming. Many farms use computers to track their heifer milk production.

“I have to admit they teach me a few things,” Andy’s father, Reid, said of Andy and his brother.

Photo: Brothers Andy and Jimmy Gray still run their family’s dairy farm, in western Iredell County. Bruce Matlock photo

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