SD Corn

South Dakota Corn Growers Vice President, National Corn board member and Chester, South Dakota farmer Keith Alverson talks about the 2012 corn crop, the drought, benefits of ag drainage and the advantages of practicing minimum tillage.

Something astounding is taking place across the Midwestern parts of United States. America’s farmers have been taking to their corn fields in combines, gravity wagons, grain carts and trucks. Their mission? To harvest the next corn crop in order to meet the future demands of food, feed, fuel and fiber in the United States and around the world in a sustainable manner.

Farmers take this task very seriously and many have taken the steps necessary in order to succeed. From adapting to new seed technologies, investing in precision equipment and changing to no and lesser tillage practices. Farmers are continuing to meet demands while bettering the environment and improving their operation’s efficiencies.

Those efforts continue to pay off for South Dakota’s farmers as today’s state crop report raised average corn yields by one bushel per acre from last month’s report to 139, which is also up four from last year’s crop. South Dakota farmers are expected to produce 667.2 million bushels of corn this year making it the second largest crop in state history.

Technology and innovation used to produce more while using less…the trend of the American farmer, our True Environmentalists continues on.

Aaaand there off… as combines slowly creep across the South Dakota plains, farmers have begun harvesting their 2011 corn crop. Normally, most farmers would harvest their soybeans prior to corn but this year of course has been very unique in terms of weather and crop maturity. Yet again Mother Nature has again showed everyone who’s in charge.

A wet spring delayed some plantings but a hot and dry July and August pushed the crop progress along nearly catching up to the five year average. The dry field conditions have farmers ready to go as the extremely wet fall of 2009 has not been forgotten. While most fields are not quite ready, there has been some crop taken out and it will be interesting to watch the continued progress as corn harvest continues.

The latest report from USDA shows that as of September 25^th, 2% of South Dakota’s corn crop had been harvested. That progress is equal compared to last year and 2% behind the state’s five year average. 

While combining corn isn’t necessarily a race, most farmers would admit that they’re ready to shift gears and put the pedal down on this fall’s harvest gathering next year’s supply of food, feed, fuel and fiber.

September 18-24 marks National Farm Safety Week. While encouraging safety on the farm is not a new trend, it is a very important one. Farming continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations in the American workforce today. The folks providing our world with an abundance of food, feed, fuel and fiber work around potential hazards daily on the farm. Whether it’s working on machinery, climbing in and out of grain bins or working with livestock, there are risks involved.

Farm safety doesn’t just involve farmers and their families, but also rural communities and the people that live around them. Respecting each other on highways, gravel roads and intersections is key to maintaining safety for all. With harvest time approaching quickly in South Dakota, please use caution with the many combines, semi’s and grain carts traveling down the public roads.

While accidents are bound to happen, farmers can perform the most simple safety practices to prevent injury and even death.

1. Know your machinery inside and out.
2. Do not wear loose clothing.
3. Conduct regular equipment maintenance and inspections.
4. Be aware of your surroundings while operating equipment.
5. Educate your own family on farm safety practices on all parts of your farm.

For more information on this subject, check out the South Dakota Safety Council’s fact sheet on Farm Place Safety.

I would like to end this post by repeating our friend, Jim Woster’s weekly words on Corn Comments by saying, “Farmers be careful in your work, and thanks for what you do!”

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 Commecnts 10.4.10 with Jim Woster.

South Dakota Corn would like to wish all farmers a safe harvest. Thanks for all that you do.