Farmers: Anyone chopping corn already?

**00clone** · 08-03-2012, 10:31 AM

Heard someone mention the possibility of farmers starting to just chop their corn for silage because of the drought, then saw a news story about the same.

Was curious if anyone's pulling the plug for the year and where they are farming.

**Let's Go State** · 08-03-2012, 10:32 AM

Saw some in Nebraska. I think it's too late for some. Fields are dead brown around here.

**bawbie** · 08-03-2012, 10:33 AM

I heard from a couple farmers that the corn can't even be used for silage because it's too dry and has too many nitrates in it.

**Tre4ISU** · 08-03-2012, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

I heard from a couple farmers that the corn can't even be used for silage because it's too dry and has too many nitrates in it.

Yes it can but it has to sit for awhile until the nitrates reduce.

**MNclone** · 08-03-2012, 10:58 AM

Ive seen a couple fields chopped up here in MN. The corn right next to pne of the chopped fields was 6 feet tall and had one lousy ear per stalk.

**agrabes** · 08-03-2012, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by 00clone

Heard someone mention the possibility of farmers starting to just chop their corn for silage because of the drought, then saw a news story about the same.

Was curious if anyone's pulling the plug for the year and where they are farming.

My family's custom harvest business is in full swing chopping corn in southeast Iowa starting this week.

**CyForPresident** · 08-03-2012, 11:21 AM

Haven't seen it yet in Eastern Iowa, but in order to do it you need to add lime and let it ensile. It can't be feed straight out due to high nitrate levels in the stalk, an effect due to the drought.

Crop does not look as terrible as a I originally thought, but the true test will be in the combine.

**cyflier** · 08-03-2012, 11:24 AM

I have seen a couple guys chopping between Villisca and Clarinda.

**vortex** · 08-03-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by cyflier

I have seen a couple guys chopping between Villisca and Clarinda.

Lots of chopping has gone on in Villisca.

**isufan** · 08-03-2012, 11:35 AM

Around Greenfield, there has been some chopping done. Some of it was too dry this week.

Had the agronomist out last night looking at stuff, we are guessing a total farm average yield around 120-130. Probably going to be running corn by Labor Day.

**CarrollCyclone** · 08-03-2012, 11:37 AM

Pretty much every field that isn't irrigated in Nebraska is being chopped now or has already been chopped.

**cyclonedave25** · 08-03-2012, 11:37 AM

My uncle has a farm down in southern Illinois and he chopped some of his corn for silage at the beginning of July.

**cyfan4St8** · 08-03-2012, 11:42 AM

I have two growers that i do agronomy business with and they will be probably taking a couple fields out late next week depending when we get the nitrate test back and know how low we can cut the corn at. And the only reason they are taking this corn out for silage is because this varieties didn't hold up in this kind of conditions and didn't hardly put out any ears. And this is north of the Ames area 20-30 miles.

**cyflier** · 08-03-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by vortex

Lots of chopping has gone on in Villisca.

well played!

**Wesley** · 08-03-2012, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by cyfan4St8

I have two growers that i do agronomy business with and they will be probably taking a couple fields out late next week depending when we get the nitrate test back and know how low we can cut the corn at. And the only reason they are taking this corn out for silage is because this varieties didn't hold up in this kind of conditions and didn't hardly put out any ears. And this is north of the Ames area 20-30 miles.

Was that a Monsanto brand?