Corn silage update

M Nut · Aug 25, 2013

Thanks to many of you for opinions on Thursday evening. My plan was to chop about 5 acres of corn for silage this weekend, but upon looking closely, getting advice from two trusted neighbors, and the fact that we have 50% chance of rain Sunday and Monday nights, I waited. The corn has more moisture in it than I first thought. I did chop one row to feed to 44 beef cow/calf combinations as their pasture is about gone. This also gave me a chance to try my chopper after putting in two new bearings and a new shaft, and also a chopper box that I bought this spring and hadn't used yet. Both worked great. At this point I'll just take it week by week. I am back to work full time now, so farming is done evenings and weekends only. Sky is dark to the west and my hopes are up! (We did get a 12 rain drop shower just as I started chopping tonight. My brother thought that may be a sign we were getting too anxious. I hope he is right!)

caseyc · Aug 25, 2013

If the corn is wetter then you thought be careful with nitrate levels. You"ll kill your cattle fast.

Casey in SD

M Nut · Aug 25, 2013

I appreciate your concern. I certainly don't want to do that. I thought the nitrate levels were most worrisome if the corn was too dry due to drought conditions? My neighbors said don't let it dry out too much or that is when nitrates will be a concern.......

806Jr · Aug 25, 2013

Shouldn"t be a problem with the nitrates in the corn as long as it isn"t all burnt up from drought. Yours sounds like it is plenty wet so I wouldn"t worry about it. My brother in law has been chopping daily for a week already for his milk cows and hasn"t had any problems. This is in west central Minnesota

Nick m · Aug 26, 2013

If I remember right, the nitrate levels are the highest when there's been a drought, then you get a bunch of rain at once. I went through the same worries as you last year.
I had a dairy farmer lined up to chop it, then we got a couple rains and it came back around, so we canceled. If you do end up chopping it, you can run a little through your chopper to get a sample and give it to your local feed nutritionist to test for nitrates. I think it cost me all of $15 and had the results in a couple days, which were fine.

caseyc · Aug 26, 2013

That's about what we deal with here every year. The rain usually stops around mid July. Labor day is when most start chopping and by then some rain has returned so nitrate levels become a concern. It's just habit around here to get samples tested.

Casey in SD

Corn silage update

M Nut

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caseyc

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M Nut

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806Jr

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Nick m

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caseyc

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