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Nebraska Crops May Be Cut for Silage

08/02/2012

( KLZA ) The condition of Nebraska's corn and soybean crops is worsening in the drought and corn prices bounded this week to a record high. Pastures are drying up and hay supplies are nearly out. Some farmers will be chopping down their corn stalks for silage. Extension livestock specialist Daniel Loy says that takes special equipment. ( Play Audio :09 seconds )
Ag officials say what corn can be harvested will be ready early, perhaps six weeks early. Combines will likely be running this month for a rare August start to harvest.
With renewed warnings prices on many grocery items will rise due to continued drought, the worst in five decades, corn prices hit a new record high on Monday as the USDA report finds 90-percent of the crop is in drought-stricken states. Some farmers look to chop down their wilting corn stalks for silage as pastures have dried up and hay supplies are dwindling. Loy talked about some of the services custom operators offer. ( play audio :14 seconds )
Loy says corn stalks that look dry often still have moisture inside. ( play audio :16 seconds )
That process takes three to four weeks.

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