Document Type

Other

Publication Date

8-1-2009

Keywords

harvest, wet corn, costs

Extension Number

ExEx 5056

Department

Economics

Description

Producers with slowly maturing corn—either from a shortage of growing degree day units or from weather damage—face increasing unit costs of production due to potential grain drying. Corn in storage needs to be 85% dry matter before long-term storage is considered. Corn stored with moisture levels higher than 15% will mold, spoil, and bridge. Corn producers with cattle have a few more options than cash grain farmers. Silage and wet corn piles can provide feed for the operation with no additional drying costs. However, you still need to consider moisture levels for each of these storage options before choosing a storage method (fig. 1). The most-common options available to producers include taking a dock for shrink at the elevator, heat drying on the farm, air-drying the corn in the grain bin, or a combination of those options. The most cost-effective option for you depends on your estimatation of the energy needed to drop the moisture content.

Comments

Updataed August 2009.

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