Signup to receive email updates
Recent Posts
Categories
Blog Archives
- April 2018 (2)
- February 2018 (1)
- December 2017 (1)
- September 2017 (1)
- August 2017 (2)
- July 2017 (2)
- May 2017 (2)
- April 2017 (1)
- March 2017 (1)
- February 2017 (2)
- January 2017 (1)
- December 2016 (1)
- November 2016 (3)
- October 2016 (3)
- September 2016 (2)
- August 2016 (4)
- July 2016 (2)
- June 2016 (1)
- May 2016 (4)
- April 2016 (2)
- March 2016 (2)
- February 2016 (2)
- January 2016 (3)
- December 2015 (1)
- November 2015 (2)
- October 2015 (2)
- September 2015 (1)
- July 2015 (5)
- May 2015 (2)
- April 2015 (1)
- March 2015 (1)
- February 2015 (4)
- January 2015 (4)
- December 2014 (1)
- November 2014 (3)
- October 2014 (4)
- September 2014 (2)
- August 2014 (2)
- July 2014 (5)
- June 2014 (5)
- May 2014 (5)
- April 2014 (3)
- March 2014 (3)
- February 2014 (1)
- January 2014 (6)
- December 2013 (3)
- November 2013 (3)
- October 2013 (4)
- September 2013 (2)
- August 2013 (1)
- July 2013 (5)
- June 2013 (3)
- May 2013 (4)
- April 2013 (4)
- March 2013 (4)
- February 2013 (2)
- January 2013 (6)
- December 2012 (3)
- November 2012 (2)
- October 2012 (5)
- September 2012 (5)
- August 2012 (3)
- July 2012 (6)
- June 2012 (6)
- May 2012 (6)
185 Total Posts
follow our RSS feed
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Pricing Drought-Stressed Corn for Corn Silage
It is easy to see that many portions of the Illinois corn crop will be hurt badly from the drought. A prolonged and intensifying drought coupled with extremely high temperatures the last two weeks has punished this corn crop. The "good" corn will certainly be low in yield and some corn has failed to pollinate or even put on an ear. These different circumstances have farmers scrambling for options to salvage a ruined crop.
There are many different scenarios that a corn farmer can play out. Although it seems what little corn is left in fields will be worth record high prices, the most value may be in harvesting that corn for corn silage. Corn silage makes excellent cattle feed. This year we are already seeing a hay shortage due to the expansive drought and commodity prices have headed towards the sky.
Feed availability and feed costs are certainly going to be a challenge for producers this summer, fall, and winter. Drought stressed corn made into corn silage may be the answer to solving low feed inventory and high hay/commodity costs.
The question I am getting asked more and more by the hour is - "how to price drought stressed corn for corn silage?" and "How do I price my neighbor's corn field?" aka pricing standing corn. The following publication is the best I have seen so far in answering those questions.
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/oardc/downloads/43940.pdf
I would take this opportunity to remind you that if you are harvesting drought stressed corn, be aware of higher nitrate levels. Refer to "Drought ravished forages a potential danger to livestock." Many meetings are being set up around the state to discuss drought stressed corn and drought management strategies. Contact your local extension specialist for dates and locations.
Please share this article with your friends!
