Study: Land values, irrigation needs increase when ethanol plant opens

Irrigation needs within a 30 mile radius often increase when an ethanol plant opens, a study from Kansas State University shows. (File photo) K-State agricultural economists take a look at 15 years of data MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University agricultural economists have found that the growth of ethanol plants in the state over the past 20 years has had an impact on irrigation and land values. Gabe Sampson, an agricultural economist with…

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Rising Feed Costs Being Felt

Jeff Lehmkuhler, PhD, PAS, Associate Extension Professor, University of Kentucky Looking back on 2020, the year had its share of pull your hair out and scream moments. Just as we were nearing the end, another slap in the face came as grain commodities began to run up on the trade market. This is a good thing for our crop growers who struggled in 2020. My brothers-in-law reminded me of this at Christmas how…

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Valuing Corn Stalk Bales

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator What value should be put on baling corn residue? Photo credit Troy Walz. With dry conditions still plaguing much of the state, baling corn residue following harvest might be an optional roughage source if hay supply is getting tight.  What value should be put on baling corn residue? Figuring out the true value of corn stalk bales can be a bit tricky, but breaking down the costs can…

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Grazing Corn Stalks or Corn Residue?

Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension Educator Grazing corn residue can be very beneficial to the cow and the producer’s bottom line. Photo credit Troy Walz. There are 8 lbs of grazable dry matter per bushel of corn.Leaf and husk make up 39.6% of the dry matter in corn residue.Intake on corn residue fields will be close to 2% of bodyweight.Check questionable fields for excessive corn before grazing. Having corn stalks to graze is a…

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Corn residue: cheap grazing for cattle

Grazing corn can benefit both cattle and cropland. by Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension Grazing drought-dried corn and cornstalks offers cattle inexpensive, nutritious forage, say two University of Missouri (MU) Extension specialists. Many corn and livestock growers turned to longtime MU Extension Livestock Specialist Eldon Cole to ask about grazing dried-up corn after persistent drought in southwestern Missouri this season. Cole says damaged corn makes suitable grazing for cattle — with some…

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Limit Feeding Cows Corn as an Alternative to Hay

While hay is often used to feed cows through the winter, current prices make corn a competitive option to feeding hay. Photo credit Troy Walz. Feed costs make up the largest expense in a cow-calf operation. While hay is often used to feed cows through the winter, current prices make corn a competitive option to feeding hay. Considering corn has a higher energy content than hay, the cost of feeding hay is often…

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Drought increases risk of forage poisoning

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought increases the chance of nitrate poisoning and prussic acid poisoning. High concentrations in plants and water can harm or even kill animals. High nitrate, mostly concentrated in grass stems, causes quick death, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Jill Scheidt. Nitrate in the blood blocks oxygen uptake. Without oxygen, cows die quickly. Quick testing is vital to helping animals survive, Scheidt says. Most MU Extension centers offer diphenylamine-sulfuric acid…

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Is That Corn Crop Worth More as Silage or Grain?

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef EducatorGalen Erickson, Nebraska Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist There are three points in time where corn silage is often priced: standing in the field, packed in the silo, and delivered in the bunk. Photo credit Troy Walz. Ongoing dry and drought conditions in many parts of the state are supporting hay and forage prices as we look towards this fall. Perennial dryland hay production in many parts of Nebraska…

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K-State Corn Production Schools scheduled for Winter 2020

Six schools across the state will focus on each region MANHATTAN, KAN. – K-State Research and Extension, in partnership with Kansas Corn, is hosting six one-day Corn Production Schools at locations across Kansas this winter. Three Corn Management Schools will be offered in early January 2020 in Montezuma, Parsons and Wichita. Three will be held in February in Oakley, Salina and Olathe. Each school is free to attend and will provide in-depth training…

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Stalks and Syrup

Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Associate Extension Professor, University of Kentucky This fall many producers are questioning if they will have enough hay to get through to spring. Tight hay supplies are making it difficult to find hay as well. Several folks were asking about baling soybeans that had empty pods and Dr. Teutsch addressed this in a previous article (http://news.ca.uky.edu/article/uk-offers-considerations-grazing-harvesting-drought-stressed-soybeans). Now questions regarding options for corn stalks are beginning to surface. Stalks can be…

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