Extension Communications |
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9-21-98 Contacts: WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT CORN? AMES, Iowa--As they enter what's expected to be a record soybean harvest and near-record corn harvest, Iowa farmers have several options, says an Iowa State University farm economist. "Storage could be a problem, even with a lot of elevator storage space available, because 30 percent of last year's crop is still on the farm," says Roger Ginder, ISU professor of economics. "The real question is where that corn is stored and what local markets, if any, it could impact." Ginder outlined three standard options for farmers to handle the large expected harvest. Farm program-related options also may be worth consideration, he added.
Ginder said elevators have emergency approval from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to store grain under warehouse receipt contract outdoors this fall. Normally, warehouse receipt grain cannot be stored outside, but Ginder suspects some elevators will take advantage of this emergency provision to ease storage and transportation concerns. "The same emergency measure was taken during the 1994 harvest," Ginder said. "Likewise, this year elevators must put a surety for every bushel of warehouse receipt grain stored outside. The grain must be off the ground by the end of January." The combination of a large carryover and early harvest will mean that temporary storage options will be used earlier this year while the weather is still warm, said Charles Hurburgh, director of the ISU Grain Quality Lab. Even though the overall crop quality is good, he said, warm grain spoils more rapidly and must be well aerated to prevent abnormal rates of deterioration. For more information about marketing options, contact your county Iowa State University Extension office or field extension agricultural engineer. ENGINEERING FIELD SPECIALISTS: 9/21/98 - lm |
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