The farm field you are viewing is typical of fields in Jefferson County. They range anywhere from a few acres to hundreds of acres in size. Usually, there are several different types of soil in the same field. This was caused by the mixing of the soils during the last glacial period, thousands of year ago. This may account for the variation in corn plant heights throughout the field. Many farmers will work closely with a crop consultant or nutrient management planner to determine how much plant food the corn crop will need to produce maximum yields. They will take soil samples from the field and have the soil analyzed at a testing laboratory to determine how many nutrients are already in the soil. The manure and fertilizer rates applied to the field are based on the soil test results. Over applications of manure and/or fertilizer can lead to environmental pollution and is not profitable for the farmer. Too little manure or fertilizer will reduce the corn yields. During September or October, you may see the farmer begin harvesting corn from this field. The whole corn stalk may be chopped into fine pieces and trucked back to the farm to be used as corn silage. Corn silage is the feed produced by the fermentation of whole corn plants that contain more than 50% moisture. Corn silage is stored by chopping the whole corn plant putting it in an upright silo, bunker silo, drive over silage pile or silage bag. Corn silage must be compressed or packed tightly to eliminate air to make good quality corn silage. Too much air in the silage storage structure can cause the feed to mold or spoil. It takes about three weeks for the stored corn silage to complete the fermentation process. The end result is forage that has a light, pleasant smell with only a slight vinegar odor. Cows love to eat this high energy feed. Approximately two thirds of the corn grown in Jefferson County will be harvested for silage. Cow nutritionists help the farmer determine the “recipe” for the dairy cow’s diet. Depending upon the age of the cows in a certain group in the barn, and where they are in their pregnancy or milking cycle, the nutritionist develops a feed recipe to meet that group of cows need to maximize the cow health and their ability to produce high quality milk. Corn that hasn’t been harvested for silage will eventually be harvested as grain corn. This corn is harvested using a tractor called a combine. The corn kernels are harvested off the cob and the rest of the corn plant is left on the field to protect the soil from erosion and help add organic matter back to the soil. The primary use for the corn grown in Jefferson County will be used to feed the estimated 65,000 head of dairy and beef cattle in Jefferson County. Corn that is not fed directly to livestock will be sold for other uses such as ethanol, corn syrups, dextrose and starch. After the corn is harvested, the farmer may apply manure to add nutrients back into the soil to prepare for next year’s corn crop according to the nutrient management plan for the field. Most fields are planted on a rotation of several years of corn and then several years of another crop such as grass to keep the soil healthy and fertile.
