ISU Extension
IA State Univ.
IA Dept. of Ag
IA DNR

Northwest Area Extension

October 2003

In this issue
Harvest Facts
Managing Your Pastures, Cows and Corn
COOL Information for Dairy Producers
Dairy Programs for Fall 2003
Pork Board Study

Harvest Facts
by Paul Kassel, ISUE Crops Field Specialist

Grain moisture content for safe storage. 

• Soybeans – sold by spring                   14.0 %

• Soybeans – stored up to one year        12.0 %

• Corn - sold by spring                          15.5 %

• Corn – stored 6 – 12 months               14.0 %

Harvest losses – rules of thumb.

Soybeans

• 4 soybeans per square foot equal one bu/a loss.

• be sure to include soybeans in uncut stubble.

Corn

• 2 kernels per square foot equal one bu/a loss.

• one ear per 125 feet of 30-inch row equals one bu/a loss.

• one ear per 100 feet of 38-inch row equals one bu/a loss.

Hidden losses when soybeans are harvested at less than 13% moisture.

• 0.5 bu/a acre loss per point of grain moisture. example – soybeans combined at 10% grain moisture equals a 1.5 bu/a loss (13% minus 10% equals 3% times 0.5 bu/a loss/point of moisture equals 1.5 bu/a loss).

• actual losses are based on 40 bushel per acre yield levels; losses are greater when yield levels are in the 50 to 60 bu/a range.

• this hidden loss does not include extra harvest loss that may occur when soybeans are combined at less than 13% moisture.

Cost of over drying corn - with on-farm high temperature drying systems.

• you lose about 4.0 cents per bushel per point of moisture for every point of moisture that corn is dried below 15.5 percent moisture.

• this includes the cost of extra grain shrink and extra energy costs to dry it

• this assumes normal gas and electric costs for on-farm high temp drying and a cash grain price of $2.00 per bushel.

Example – corn dried to 12% moisture compared to 14% moisture (for long term storage) represents an 8-cent per bushel loss.

Managing Your Pastures, Cows and Corn
by Beth Doran, ISUE Beef Field Specialist

Although recent rains have stimulated some autumn re-growth of pastures, consider light grazing management to allow the forage plants to regain their vigor.  Continued supplemental feeding of hay or grain on pasture or in a dry lot will lessen grazing pressure and speed recovery.  All indications, thus far, indicate that the supply of dry hay, including medium and low-quality hay and hay in large round bales, will be short throughout much of the U.S.  A word of caution - do some shopping!  In hay shortage years, prices are high for most qualities of hay.  Price the hay relative to the nutritional quality and avoid paying medium-to-high hay prices for low quality hay.  Use good storage methods to avoid unnecessary hay losses.

Manage your cows.  If your pastures are short, then consider weaning the calves now.  Research at ISU indicates that even with supplemental feed, such as creep, a calf will continue to nurse the cow.  It takes more energy to feed a lactating cow compared to a cow in mid gestation without a nursing calf.  Body condition score your cows at weaning, paying particular attention to young cows weaning their first calf and cows beyond their prime age.  They are most likely to be thin at this time.  If the rest of the cows are thin at weaning, you need to analyze where there may be problems.  For instance, were the pastures too short and if so, why were they too short - lack of moisture, overgrazed, winterkill?  If pasture growth was sufficient, then you may need to analyze your health program or the genetics of the cowherd.  Weaning a big calf at the expense of cow body condition is not the answer nor are hard-keeping cows.

Four options for using drought-damaged corn are green chopping, ensiling, storing dry stover or grazing the cornstalks.  Each has advantages and disadvantages.  Green chopped corn provides an immediate source of feed.  However, potentially high levels of nitrates may be produced in drought-damaged, fresh forage.   Producers are encouraged to have green chopped corn tested for nitrates.

Nitrates are less of a concern when drought-damaged corn is ensiled because some of the nitrate is converted to other forms of nitrogen in the ensiling process.  The biggest problem in harvesting drought-damaged corn for silage is cutting the plant at the proper moisture content.  Corn should be stored at 65-70% moisture in a bunker silo and at 60-65% moisture in upright silos.  Drier corn stover should be considered for possible stacking or baling.  It should be dried to 20% moisture or less to avoid spoilage and should be harvested before excessive leaf loss occurs.  High nitrates can be a concern in stover.  Hence, it is advised to test it for nitrate level.

Last, if you plan to graze cornstalks this fall, there are some procedures you need to follow.  First, wean the calf.  There isn't enough energy in cornstalks to support a lactating cow.  Second, check for dropped ears before you turn the cows onto the cornstalks.  If there is a lot of corn, there are two options - limit the amount of acres for daily grazing or limit the amount of time the cows can graze daily.  In either case, the intent is to reduce acidosis and founder.  Last, supplemental feed needs are likely to be minimal the first month of grazing.  Trace mineral salt and vitamin A may need to be added, but grazing cattle are able to select the crop residues with the highest digestibility and protein concentration.  Protein and phosphorus supplements may become necessary as winter progresses.

Adapted from 2003 drought information (Steve Barnhart, ISU Extension Forage Agronomist) and Corn Crop Residues (SP-44) 

COOL Information for Dairy Producers
by Chris Mondak, ISUE Dairy Field Specialist

What is COOL?  COOL stands for Country of Origin Labeling, which became a requirement for agricultural commodities. The theory behind the law is that meat and other commodities with the “Born in the U.S./Raised in the U.S.” label may have advantages in U.S. markets.

What is the impact of COOL?  The regulations require that retailers inform consumers about the country of origin for the specified covered commodities, such as beef. Since retailers will require documentation from the packers, expect that packers will be requiring the same proof from their sources – you, the producers. As things stand now, Sept 30, 2004 is the current deadline for mandatory COOL compliance.

What information will producers have to supply to buyers and packers? Producers will have to provide documentation about the place of origin and place the animals were raised. Recommended record-keeping strategies include:

• Eartags

• Calving records or books

• Herd inventories

• Purchase receipts for purchased replacements

• Sale bills from sold animals

Most dairy record-keeping systems include the required information.  Probably the biggest impact will revolve around purchased replacement animals – be sure you get documentation that specifies the country of origin and all farms or lots where the replacements were housed until coming to your farm.

The rules also apply to those raising animals for dairy beef. Calves born in Spring 2003 will come under the effect of COOL because packers will need country of origin verification on all animals by the fall of 2004. Producers are advised to have documentation about animals’ origin and sites of farm and feedlot to supply to potential buyers. Animals without adequate records will not be able to be sold through retail outlets, and will only be allowed to be sold for food service or processed food.

More details about COOL can be found at the Iowa Beef Center website: www.iowabeefcenter.org.

Dairy Programs for Fall 2003; Coordinated by ISU Extension

November 6-7
Employee Management Seminar; Iowa State Bank – Basement Meeting Room.  Orange City, IA

Instructors: Jorge Estrada, Leadership Coaching International, and Richard Stup, Penn State University

This seminar is designed for the dairy owner/manager/herdsman and other persons working in management positions in agriculture. The sessions will include information on work organization and scheduling, monitoring performance, delegating and empowering, communication skills, conflict resolution, team building, compensation and benefits, and performance assessment.  Following the 2-day seminar, participants can take advantage of one-on-one coaching sessions with the seminar instructors to discuss problems pertinent to each person’s situation.

November 11
Feeding Management Workshop- for Dairy owner/managers and dairy employees responsible for feeding a dairy herd.

County Edge Dairy (Gerrit and Darren Davelaar) 1718 270th St., Inwood

Instructors: Lee Kilmer, Dale Thoreson, Phil, Jardon, Ed Kreykes, Merlyn Ryks      

Includes demonstrations and hands-on practice on the topics of feedbunk scoring and management, mixing order and times, determining forage dry matter and adjusting rations accordingly, feeding and monitoring cows in the critical close-up and fresh cow stages.

November 19- 21
Hoof Trimming School

Instructor: Karl Burgi, professional Hoof Trimmer

The 3-day school will provide one-on-one training for up to 6 individuals seeking skills needed to trim hooves. 

Hoof Health Seminar - Nov. 19, 12:30 pm - 3pm will be held at the Boyden Community Center. This seminar is open to all interested in learning concepts of preventative hoof care and management practices that promote sound feet and legs in dairy animals.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Call Chris Mondak at the Sioux County Extension
Office, 712-737-4230.

Pork Board Study Shows Consumers Rate Pork Farming More Favorably Than Expected
By Dave Stender, ISU Extension Pork Field Specialist

A recent study funded by check-off dollars had two objectives.  To understand what producers think consumers say and believe about their pork production operations, and to find out what consumers actually say about pork producers and their pork production operations.

First, producers were surveyed; they thought that 37% of the public would have a negative opinion about pork.  However, when the consumers were surveyed, only 16 percent had a negative opinion.  Fifty-eight percent of consumers surveyed have a positive opinion of the pork industry.  Eighty four percent are either positive or neutral toward the pork industry.

There was not a significant difference in consumer responses in any state, so there was no difference in whether the consumer lives in a key pork-producing state or another state.  There was a difference in how consumers feel about different sizes of pork production operations.  Consumers who characterize the typical pork farm as a small or mid-size farm have a more positive view of producers regarding their concern for their animals, for the environment and for the community. 

The research shows that most consumers don’t recall seeing or hearing recent pork farming or farming-related stories.  Many consumers have no opinion on the issues that the pork producers handle daily.  The research shows that if consumers have an opinion, it is far more likely to be favorable than unfavorable.  Asked about pork producers’ most admirable qualities, consumers said commitment, business sense, hard work and dedication to the land.

Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold.  The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health and pork safety.  For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Producer Service Center at 800-456-PORK or check the Internet at www.porkboard.org.

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