DEWITT —
One of the first drought-stressed corn fields in the county to be harvested this year yielded only 46 bushels of grain per acre in a field that normally yields 185-200 bushels, according to Joe Dierickx, president of the Clinton County Farm Bureau.
And the moisture was 32 percent. The moisture content for safe storage is about 15 percent. Dierckx did not identify the location of the 80- acre field.
Dierickx also noted that corn plants across the county are staying green instead of drying down like normal this time of the year.
He said that because of the drought and the additional stress of extreme heat during the growing season there is not a big enough ear for the plant to put nutrients into.
“The plant has more capacity than what the ear can take in,” he said.
Looking at another ag industry in the county, dairy farmer Lee Barber, DeWitt, said milk production during the drought has held pretty steady, but the extreme heat during the summer greatly affected the conception rate among his cows, which will effect milk production in the future.
And he said that because of the high cost of the feed he has to buy, including dairy quality hay from his usual supplier in Canada, he will have to cull cows more closely.
Meanwhile, a dairy industry association in Pennsylvania is petitioning for a hearing about the current federal milk pricing order for dairy farmers.
“Due primarily to drought and fast-rising grain and forage costs, many U.S. dairy farmers face their worst net income squeeze ever —even worse than in 2009,” the petition says.
“USDA’s monthly ‘All Milk Price’ vs USDA data for ‘Monthly Dairy Costs of Production Per CWT of Milk Sold’ show this progressive red ink bath for January (-$4.05) through June (-$8.35).
“The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority, under the enabling language for federal milk orders, to act upon evidence presented at a hearing to adjust regional farm milk prices when, according to the law, the parity prices of such commodities are not reasonable in the view of the price of feed, the available supplies of feed, and other economic conditions which affect the market supply and demand for milk and its products.”
The petition also says, “We urge you to hold this hearing in a drought-stressed dairy region so REAL dairy farmers may attend.
“No prevailing ‘other economic conditions’ exist to justify failure to act.”
Barber said he chopped some drought-stress corn, which was tested for nitrates and was safe for feeding to the cows, and probably will have to feed more stressed corn silage this winter.
He said he has been in the dairy business all his life. He and his wife. Luanne, are now in business with their daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Randy Franck and their grandson, Brandon Franck.
He said there are 12 dairy farms in Clinton County.
Local News
September 10, 2012
Stressed corn yield: 46 bushels per acre
Corn yield coming in short, according to farmers
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