The new prospectus for an abundant supply of dry feed for south Florida
cattle needs and for a sizeable surplus is based upon sufficient evidence that
the improved farm lands of this area can produce exceptional yields of high
quality forages. Table 4 contains a list of some of the crops adapted to the
Everglades and some crop waste materials therein available in large quantities.
This list has been subdivided as to the season of availability and the feed
characteristics of the crop or parts.

 Agriculture in south Florida is confronted with two problems that will
delay the mechanization of forage feed making and processing, although mechanical
dewatering should eliminate a large part of the gambling aspects heretofore asso-
ciated with harvesting and processing. There is a need for much research work
on the selection of crops, development of varieties to fit specific requirements,
and testing of cultural practices that will provide quality materials, at low
cost, over long periods, and within conditions of balance associated with other
items of good farm management.

 The second and the major problem to an efficient forage crop processing
program would be the necessity for field crews to keep a balanced supply of
raw material at dehydrator for around-the-clock operations, a condition of para-
mount importance for maximum efficiency and the lowest unit costs in artificial
dehydration. There is no need to list the inherent limitations and frequent
troubles associated with available harvesting equipment, because the machines
were never intended to handle crop-tonnage as it can be produced in the
Everglades.


 Mechanical Dewatering As An Aid to Silage Making

 The responses of different crop materials to mechanical dewatering, table
3, may be highly important factors to be considered in silage making. J. A.
Newlander and W. H. Riddell of the Vermount Agricultural Experiment Station and
others have established:-

 The principles of making good silage
 are proper moisture content (60 to 70
 percent) and good packing.

 The data in table 5 indicates that high quality silage can be made from
high moisture forage materials after dewatering and without additives or preser-
vatives. Special attention is called to the dewatered celery-top-silage data
in table 5.