Baling corn stalks....I don't have a clue!

[Crazy Farmgirl]

Yesterday I was contacted by a local crop farmer who has a bunch of corn that will not mature and offered that if I wanted to bale it I could have it. I have heard of this being done but don't know squat about the process. Can someone give me a tutorial.

The round baler I have is "supposed" to be able to do it (NH 640 silage special) and so is my haybine (NH499). What I don't know is when to cut? still green? standing dry? What is a safe moisture content to avoid spoilage? What about nitrate content? What other "issues" should I be concerned with?

Would appreciate any advice or even links to good resources on the good/bad and how to.

Thanks in advance!!

[wildsawmill]

contact your local extension office
i just got back from mine had my sweet corn tested & its deadly for nitraite (only 3' tall & tassled out )
they said i could feed it to hogs as long as the corn wasnt the only feed
so im planning on bailing mine for the pigs
raing/sprinkleing now have to waait
extension office said the nitrate level would be worse the first 3 days after a rain

[Galloway2]

if you have access to a flail shredder use it instead of the 499. If the corn has any height a 499 won't work very well.

Some flail shredders windrow it. If not you will need to rake.

Cut anytime green or not, leave 2-3 inches of stalk (highest in nitrates). let it dry rake it and bale it. Do check for nitrate levels. As long as it isn't the only feed they are eating everyday, you can utilize it.

[vclavin]

Lady at the bank said a guy baled his corn, fed to cows, has 120 dead cows!!! OOOOPS
Valerie

[Banjo]

Lady at the bank said a guy baled his corn, fed to cows, has 120 dead cows!!! OOOOPS
Valerie

Is that for real?

[vclavin]

Lady at the bank said a guy baled his corn, fed to cows, has 120 dead cows!!! OOOOPS
Valerie

Is that for real?

Yes, very for real!! She didn't say who it was but the cows really did die from eating the corn.
Nitrate poisoning big time!! They are warning everyone to have tested any feed you are not sure about that has been heavily fertilized in this drought.
Valerie

[JSCATTLE]

I'd go cut some and send it off to have it tested for nitrates . If it comes back good cut it with the hay bine or flail . bail it when you think it's ready and leave it outside or test the moisture content before you put it in the barn .

[wildsawmill]

mine tested nitrate poisened so i cut it & bailed it small squaires
extension office said i could feed it to hogs but its deadly for cows
so the pigs will get it

[Banjo]

mine tested nitrate poisened so i cut it & bailed it small squaires
extension office said i could feed it to hogs but its deadly for cows
so the pigs will get it

Maybe I'm a little slow but,.....why won't it kill hogs? And also I'm wondering about sweet corn and garden stuff that has been heavily fertilized.....on human health.

[wildsawmill]

the extension office guy said the pigs digestive system is different . i didnt have a clue
our corn,pasture & garden is only fertilized naturaly, manure, compost & organic sea minerals. no commercial nitrogen for about 6 years

[Crazy Farmgirl]

Thanks for the replies. I am having it tested for nitrates. I also found a guy who will rent me his silage bagger and since ensiling seems to be the safest method I'll probably go that route.

[TexasBred]

the extension office guy said the pigs digestive system is different . i didnt have a clue
our corn,pasture & garden is only fertilized naturaly, manure, compost & organic sea minerals. no commercial nitrogen for about 6 years

Very different and they don't handle fiber well at all. They might hunt thru it and find the little bit of corn there but the rest will be a total waste.