Corn growers eye results of a lacklustre growing season
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
by SARAH VAN ENGELEN
Last year Arkona area hog and cash crop farmer Tony Rombouts waited to harvest his corn crop and paid a high price, an estimated 20 per cent of his yield.
The season’s snowfall started early and a 40 inch accumulation kept him out of his fields until spring.
Faced again this year with the same challenge of letting his corn dry in the field or at an elevator, Rombouts chose not to wait.
Frank Huybers, Wyoming, Ontario, started harvesting Nov. 10, when his corn fell below 25 per cent moisture. He usually harvests when moisture falls between 18-22 per cent.
“If my corn was testing at 35 per cent moisture, I would be waiting and worried about an early snow fall again,” says Huybers. He explains that last year’s early season snowfall meant he couldn’t harvest his corn until just before Christmas.
Rombout and Huybers aren’t alone with concerns about corn moisture and this year the quality of the crop is also in question.
Lindsay Barfoot, Agricorp account lead, grain sector, says that corn quality problems are the most serious north of Highway 7. The Ontario government agency, which delivers government and non-government risk management programs, has seen damage reports from 39 counties. He says callers wonder what they should do with their high moisture corn and express concerns about the increased moisture leading to mould. Barfoot also says there are more concerns about corn reaching maturity in areas farther north.
Greg Stewart, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs corn specialist, says corn that hasn’t reached proper maturity may end up being classified sample grade because of its lighter weight. Grade one corn weighs 56 lbs per bushel and sample corn is 46 lbs per bushel. Stewart says because sample grade’s nutritional content may not be affected, it can be used to feed livestock, although the volume fed may have to be increased to form a complete feed ration.
Debbie Brander, Agricorp account lead, product management and industry relations, advises farmers to report damage as soon as they see it so that Agricorp can help with insurance claims. Insured customers may qualify for corn salvage benefit of $0.49 per bushel for their sample grade corn (up to their guaranteed production), she writes in a Nov. 5 email. If necessary, Agricorp customers who cannot use their sample grade corn should seek elevators or buys who will accept it.
Agricorp ends its insurance coverage of corn Dec. 15 unless an insured grower has reported damage due to an insured peril. Because every situation is different, an adjuster will work directly with insured growers reporting damage to discuss their options, writes Stephanie Charest, an Agricorp spokesperson in a Nov. 17 e-mail. BF