'Phenomenal' tonnage observed in fields

Corn is chopped for silage at Erdman Dairy near Chenoa on Sunday / CIFN photo.

CHENOA – If the corn being chopped for silage is any indication of how corn yields will turn out this fall, we could be in for quite a harvest around here.

Jeff Meyer with Erdman Dairy of Chenoa just started chopping corn silage in the past week.

“The tonnage has been phenomenal,” Meyer told The Central Illinois Farm Network in this week’s area field update.

Though the corn is still a little wet, Meyer was pleased with late season rains in July and early August which helped to fill ears out and keep leaves full on the plants, which all appear healthy. Meyer gives credit to Pioneer seed products from local dealer Atkins Seed Service for helping out his operation over the past couple of years.

“We’ve got some fields opened up to keep a better eye on it but so far, we’ve been really pleased,” added Meyer. “I don’t have any complaints.”

The ideal whole plant moisture level for silage chopping is 68 percent, which is 32 percent dry matter.

“Usually when we get started, we start at about 70 percent moisture and then hopefully if everything goes right, we try to get everything up by 65 percent moisture.”

Meyer and others on the farm have their work cut out for them for the next several weeks as they put up 10, 12x500 foot silage bags. After that, they will do a week’s worth of custom work for neighbors before putting high-moisture corn in the silo.

“It’s definitely about go time,” noted Meyer.

Erdman Dairy milks 600 dairy cows, mostly Holsteins and Guernseys. The operation also feeds out about 20,000 sows a year for Carthage Hog Supply and farms 1,200 acres.

“We have a lot of irons in the fire,” said Meyer.

Labor is always an issue on the farm, so Meyer feels they can never have too much help as they are always looking for extra hands.

Despite the rush of the season, Meyer hopes to keep the stress level low this harvest.

“I’ll try not to make my wife too irritated with me at times, so I hope everybody wishes me the best of luck on that.”