SD Corn

Despite media outlet, Bloomberg’s recently released story titled, “Ethanol Eats More Corn Than Cows,” cattle, chickens and the rest animal feed industry still rank number one when it comes to consuming corn.

Bloomberg uses the direct corn use numbers showing that ethanol will consume 5.1 billion bushels and livestock will consume 4.6 billion bushels making a 500 million bushel difference. But they don’t take into account the amount of distillers grain being consumed (ethanol’s co-product which displaced the need for 1.2 B bu of corn) and the amount of exported corn being consumed by cattle (around 1.5 B bu).

It’s important for people to remember that corn ethanol production only uses two-thirds of the kernel. The rest is retained as DDG’s, a high protein and highly efficient animal feed which can be fed to cattle, hogs, poultry and aquaculture. The ethanol industry is expected to produce 42 million tons of it in 2012.

So let’s add up the overall usage of corn produced in America.

Ethanol = 3.4 billion bushels

Livestock = 7.3 billion bushels

Investigating just a little further clearly shows that livestock still eat twice as much of America’s corn when compared to ethanol making Bloomberg’s piece just another short-sighted folly by the mighty media.

National livestock organizations continue to attack American ethanol and the renewable fuel policies which have been put in place to encourage domestic energy production and provide American’s with a supply of clean-burning fuel. Attack after attack by sending letters to media and law makers about how ethanol is hurting their industry by causing a rise in input and retail costs. Well it’s time to share the other side of the story with facts instead of greed-driven fiction.

For far too long, these industries made billions in profits off of family farmers who raised their feed at a net loss which not only bankrupt thousands of producers, but cost the federal government plenty as well. Since ethanol production has increased, government support for farmers has declined.

The most recent attacks on ethanol have been targeted at the Renewable Fuels Standard, a policy put in place to ensure domestic energy security and save consumers money.

In regards to the ethanol policy’s effect on the cattle industry, a recent study out of Texas A&M revealed that the RFS has indeed not hurt producers as industry profits have risen since implementation.

The same organizations shedding tears about ethanol have producers saving money and increasing ration efficiency by utilizing ethanol’s co-product, distiller grains.

A recent article from Agriculture.com said, “DDG swine rations appear to be a success story within both the hog industry and the ethanol industry…they can save a little money with DDGs, sometimes they can save a lot.”

If you want to talk corn prices, according to the Farm and Policy Research Institute, ethanol’s market impact on corn prices totals $.53/bushel. And that will continue to fall as FAPRI lists the expiring ethanol tax credit, VEETC as being responsible for $.02/bushel of the total. Ethanol’s effect only goes so far as growing exports and appetites around the world also play into the rising corn prices, which have actually tailed off considerably since this summer.

In regard to retail meat prices, it’s funny how the groups fail to mention corn’s actual cost share of the meat you buy.

Our country continues to progress in terms of growing commodities and producing renewable energy as farmers continue to meet the demands for food and fuel. Limiting or diminishing that progress only sets our country back to having broke farmers and record foreign oil demands at the expense of many and the benefit of few. Its’ time for agriculture to work together as a whole with industries building off of each other in order to feed the world’s seven billion people and beyond.

Corn Comments Podcast with Jim Woster.

There’s a lot to be thankful for this year in agriculture. Good weather has blessed our state with good yields as South Dakota farmers are set to share their second largest corn crop on record helping to provide food, feed, fuel and fiber to people and livestock around the world.

Don’t forget about GrowingOn 2012 Part 1 – “Managing Crop Risks in Volatile Times” with Iowa State University’s,  Steven Johnson. Events will take place at 6 sites in South Dakota including: Aberdeen, Watertown, Huron, Mitchell, Yankton and Sioux Falls. There is no cost but pre-registration is required. You can do so by clicking here.

As the sun sets on the 2011 corn harvest in South Dakota, the work is far from over. While some may be putting equipment away, a number of farmers utilize their resources by baling corn residue for bedding, feed or even biofuels. Another option is to graze livestock in those fields. Consider it the second harvest.

By late fall in South Dakota most pastures have been grazed meaning it’s time to bring the livestock herds home for the winter. But a number of farmers take advantage by grazing their corn field(s) either close to home or a pasture allowing their ruminants to clean up dropped ears and chopped stalks. As a bonus, those cows leave behind their own organic nutrients enriching the soil.

Farmers who raise livestock know spring can be a muddy time and the need for plentiful bedding always comes in handy during calving season.  Corn stalk bales stand up well to mud and wet snow but can also serve as a forage source. Corn residue is not a highly nutritious feed source but it mixes together well with other products and is very inexpensive.   

The newest use of corn residue is biofuels. Cellulosic ethanol from corn stover has become a reality in both South Dakota and Iowa as this process continues to become additionally efficient and cost-effective. This innovation is needed in order to reach the advanced biofuel amounts in the Renewable Fuel Standard providing American motorists with an additional source of clean-burning fuel from leftovers found in the field.

With that said, protecting and caring for the soil is always at the top of any farmer’s agenda. Grazing and gathering of corn stover need to be done in a conservative manner leaving behind plentiful amounts of crop residue to protect and enhance the soil. That residue provides cover preventing erosion and adds to the soil’s organic matter increasing water and nutrient holding capacity.

Late August and early September, or when the corn fields start turning from green to gold usually marks the start for corn silage season in South Dakota. Chopping corn for silage is a very popular practice, especially among cattle feeders as silage contains high energy nutrients and is easily digestible.

Keys to a good silage crop include early planting, high plant population, narrow rows and a high grain yielding hybrid variety that matures slightly later than average. While some farmers plant certain varieties of corn better suited for silage, cutting hail-damaged or stunted corn is also an option.

Corn silage is ideally harvested when the corn ears are well-dented and the plant begins to turn brown and dry. Silage that is harvested in the milk and dough stages will yield fewer nutrients per acre and may not ferment correctly. Late cut silage that includes brown and dead leaves will produce a quality feed, but will yield as much as 30% less.

As the corn is chopped, the plant is still alive as it continues to breathe producing carbon dioxide and heat. When the plant cells stop breathing, the plant begins to ferment and will continue for around three weeks while the silage preserves. The less air reaching the corn silage the better, as it’s important to properly cover the pile or fill the silo with temperatures between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Properly packed and heated silage will have a light-green to yellow color with a vinegar type odor.

As of September 11, corn silage harvest in South Dakota was 41% complete. That’s 13% behind last year and 1% ahead of the five year average.

Click here to view more photos Corn Silage Harvest 2011 in South Dakota.

Corn Comments Podcast with Jim Woster.

Farmers are continuing to meet demands for food, feed fuel and fiber year after year while continuing to improve our environment by protecting the air, soil, water and wildife on their farms.

South Dakota farmers and ranchers are the True Environmentalists.