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A dusting of December pics

RSL

Well-known member
Crazy days around here. Cows are out on grass, although the snow is getting deep around here. We tried an experiment with corn here this year. It is the first and last time for a long time. The frost in August actually turned the corn into first rate calf feed as it locked in the protein around 12% and kept the cobs from filling, reducing the energy quite a bit. We grazed our weaned calves on meadow/brome alfalfa (foreground) and then turned them into the corn the first part of December.
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We have actually been running the tractor some, but it has been to get out of the driveway, not to feed cows (we are up to just over 10 bales with horses, bulls and the 4 we have fed to calves to get them settled and through the last 4 days or so. The pics were taken a few days ago before our last 8 inches and winds.

Christmas Concert goers...
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Grade 6 Handbell choir
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Grade 1 to 3
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Grade 1s
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Hayguy

Well-known member
am considering some corn for next year, was wondering why it will be your last. looks like the calves are doing well on it.
 

RSL

Well-known member
I think for many people corn works really well, but it doesn't fit with our operation. Here is my listing of why it hasn't fit for us...
1. cost - I am fairly comfortable that we will run $0.72 to $0.80 per day on a 1000 pound cow unit. Our swath grazing is running around $0.36, our winter grazing on native pasture is running around $0.27.
2. agronomics - we don't own a corn planter, sprayer, etc. Booking and coordinating all that stuff was fun, but also a major PITA.
3. fertilizing and spraying - this was the first time we bought fertilizer since 1992 and the first time we have sprayed in 6 years. I found this was kind of counter to my personal preferences
4. cash flow - corn is highly productive, but it ties up a lot of cash. Per acre cash costs $82 seed, $18.50 insurance, $15 seeding, $11 spraying, $45 fertilizer, etc. Our swathgrazing cash costs (there are some other hidden non cash costs) - $10 seed, $7 insurance, $5 diesel fuel
5. production risk - corn is riskier in our climate than oats/barley
6. chasing cows - chasing cows that get out in corn is a PITA. I am not even sure I would be comfortable taking the saddle horse out in corn stalks and expecting them to really do a job.
7. bare dirt - I don't like the bare dirt showing between the rows of corn. Personal bias.
8. no opportunity cost advantage - this is probably the biggest reason guys grow corn around here. They get twice as much feed on a quarter section, thus freeing up another quarter to grow canola. 40 bushel canola at $12 is equal to a lot of calves, so the corn provides a real advantage. We just have cows, so don't create that opportunity for ourselves. It works out to be cheaper for me to pay cash rent and grow more swath grazing.

FWIW - I would encourage you to try grazing corn. I think it has real merit for a lot of guys.
On the positive side - we had a very good variety (pleased with that), very good agronomic assistance and custom operators, corn makes a nice windbreak for calves.

Our next experiment is probably going to involve rake bunching hay. :D
 

Hayguy

Well-known member
thanx for the reply,so many times you hear only the good and not the other side. after listening to this forum last sept. i swath grazed my second cut with very favorable results.
 

per

Well-known member
Big Muddy rancher said:
per said:
Rake bunching hay sounds intriguing. Keep up posted.

I did that with my dump rake on both Second cut Alfalfa and a little bit of prairie wool. Haven't turned cows on it yet.

How big was that dump rake you acquired? I kind of like the idea.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
per said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
per said:
Rake bunching hay sounds intriguing. Keep up posted.

I did that with my dump rake on both Second cut Alfalfa and a little bit of prairie wool. Haven't turned cows on it yet.

How big was that dump rake you acquired? I kind of like the idea.

Mine is 24 ft. Which I purchased for $250. I did check and they still make and sell them Brand Spanking New for the Paltry Sum of only $5,200. :D

I think they make them up 42 ft. Better get Soapweed to locate you a good used one in Nebraska.Get a road trip out of it anyways. :lol: :lol:

You can see it in action in the photo contest this week under old machinery but don't vote for it cause that old chuck wagon is the neatest. :D
 

per

Well-known member
I wondered if that was yours. I already voted for the wagon. Do they make them bigger than 42 feet? How big do mowers get?
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
per said:
I wondered if that was yours. I already voted for the wagon. Do they make them bigger than 42 feet? How big do mowers get?

I think the mowers are 18 ft max but i could be wrong. I have seen some cutter bars that are a center pull for clipping stubble wider. Not sure of a brand name.
 
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