1586 Jeff Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I have a neighbor that picks his ear corn and would like to bale the corn stalks What is the best way to cut the stalks from the roots after picking so that they can be bales? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R190 Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 shredder or as some call it a stalk chopper Google IH #60 Shredder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP from Central PA Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Best way would be a newer Hiniker or similar flail mower that also windrows them, stalk chopper is fine too, just have to rake.............even a batwing works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
801486 Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 An MC rotary scythe works great or a stalk shredder pulling a wheel rake. https://www.google.com/search?q=mc+rotary+scythe&client=ms-android-verizon&prmd=sivn&sxsrf=ALeKk0076oscFsUidFcNPsBMpXrkUbhUgA:1601585476764&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjL1q3ropTsAhXQG80KHbXbAHcQ_AUoAnoECBEQAg&biw=592&bih=280 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Mule Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I've done it 3 years in a row. I use a batwing brush hog and travel as fast as I can with the rpm's a little on the low end. I try to keep it from completely pulverizing them to a fluff. Works great. Then I use my big wheel rake to rake it up. The hardest part is to get the stuff dry enough it wont mold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleman Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 What are corn stalks good for? In the old days we raked them into 3 foot tall rows and burned them, just to get them off the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihrondiesel Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 TONS of them baled in my area for bedding and feed. I do custom baling, we did about 6,000 bales last fall. Rake them with a Rowse Ultimate V-rake and bale them, not many people want them shredded around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardDSalyer Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 8 minutes ago, oleman said: What are corn stalks good for? In the old days we raked them into 3 foot tall rows and burned them, just to get them off the field. Harvesting and Feeding Corn Stalks The person who originated the adage, “It beats a snowbank” may have been thinking about feeding corn stalk bales. However, like most forages there can be quite a bit of variability in nutritional value. Over the past several years we have submitted over 40 different samples of corn stalk bales through our office. Usually the bales fall into two different ranges. Those that are lower quality are usually between five and six percent crude protein and around 48 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a dry matter basis. Those which test with more feed value are about seven percent crude protein with a TDN somewhere around 52 percent on a dry matter basis. The primary difference between those of “lower” and “higher” quality seems to be the harvest method. Those stalks which were harvested directly behind the combine and not shredded are usually of higher quality than those that were mowed, raked and baled. By far, the best method to utilize corn stalks is to harvest them with four legged harvesting machines (cows). In addition to using less labor and being less expensive, cattle will only harvest the highest quality parts of the plant (leaves, husks, grain) and leave the lower quality stalk in the field. This is especially vital in drought years since there is significantly less risk of cattle consuming toxic levels of nitrate because the highest concentration of nitrate in the corn plant is contained in the lower stalk. Unfortunately, a lack of fencing, water and in some cases, the need to plant a subsequent crop limits grazing of corn stalks. On average, stalks baled after corn harvest contain about 6 percent protein and 50 percent total digestible nutrients which is below the protein and energy level required to winter a beef cow as illustrated in the following table. Nutrient requirements of 1,300 pound beef cow with average milking ability Stage of Production Crude Protein % Crude Protein # TDN % TDN Pounds Mid Gestation 6.9 1.5 49 10.8 Late Gestation 7.7 1.8 53 12.5 Early Lactation 9.1 2.2 55 13.4 The small amount of money spent on a forage test can be valuable when feeding any forage. It is a valuable investment. Not only can you find out the nutrient value, you can also test for nitrate levels, which could be a problem in some fields this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleman Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 4 minutes ago, RichardDSalyer said: Harvesting and Feeding Corn Stalks The person who originated the adage, “It beats a snowbank” may have been thinking about feeding corn stalk bales. However, like most forages there can be quite a bit of variability in nutritional value. Over the past several years we have submitted over 40 different samples of corn stalk bales through our office. Usually the bales fall into two different ranges. Those that are lower quality are usually between five and six percent crude protein and around 48 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a dry matter basis. Those which test with more feed value are about seven percent crude protein with a TDN somewhere around 52 percent on a dry matter basis. The primary difference between those of “lower” and “higher” quality seems to be the harvest method. Those stalks which were harvested directly behind the combine and not shredded are usually of higher quality than those that were mowed, raked and baled. By far, the best method to utilize corn stalks is to harvest them with four legged harvesting machines (cows). In addition to using less labor and being less expensive, cattle will only harvest the highest quality parts of the plant (leaves, husks, grain) and leave the lower quality stalk in the field. This is especially vital in drought years since there is significantly less risk of cattle consuming toxic levels of nitrate because the highest concentration of nitrate in the corn plant is contained in the lower stalk. Unfortunately, a lack of fencing, water and in some cases, the need to plant a subsequent crop limits grazing of corn stalks. On average, stalks baled after corn harvest contain about 6 percent protein and 50 percent total digestible nutrients which is below the protein and energy level required to winter a beef cow as illustrated in the following table. Nutrient requirements of 1,300 pound beef cow with average milking ability Stage of Production Crude Protein % Crude Protein # TDN % TDN Pounds Mid Gestation 6.9 1.5 49 10.8 Late Gestation 7.7 1.8 53 12.5 Early Lactation 9.1 2.2 55 13.4 The small amount of money spent on a forage test can be valuable when feeding any forage. It is a valuable investment. Not only can you find out the nutrient value, you can also test for nitrate levels, which could be a problem in some fields this year. We never had any livestock except the work animals (always mules) and hogs for food and market, neither considered corn stalks food. We probably were not on top of this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Mule Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Cheap bedding for cows. That's what I use them for. And they can eat what they want to, but I feed free choice hay as well. Mainly I want bedding for calves to lay. Especially when its damp and wet out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1480x3 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Been a couple yrs since i did any. Our use is bedding, not feed but they eat a lot of it also. We chose fields that have been no-tilled since they were alfalfa. Fields are smooth with no rock on top so when they get DRY we mow with a 6 row discbine and just follow a few minutes behind with baler. They are quite "chopped" and very fluffy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbyfarm Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 52 minutes ago, 1480x3 said: Been a couple yrs since i did any. Our use is bedding, not feed but they eat a lot of it also. We chose fields that have been no-tilled since they were alfalfa. Fields are smooth with no rock on top so when they get DRY we mow with a 6 row discbine and just follow a few minutes behind with baler. They are quite "chopped" and very fluffy. I see a few guys mowing with discbines. I would think it has to be hard on the machine. Most here use a Woods batwing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperWD9 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Last year we went over the stalks with the rolling basket to brake it away from the root ball them took the bar rake over it carrying it slightly so we wouldn’t get a lot of roots or dirt. Then the small square baler came out on the 856 it was a slow ride but worked great and the cattle love them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillman Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 13 hours ago, oleman said: What are corn stalks good for? . they are excellent for plugging green and orange plows✔️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Seems to me like you'd suck up a lot of rocks, which would be hard on the baler. Just too many rocks around here for us to even consider it. A crew of 30 wouldn't be able to pick them all in some areas, and next year it a whole new crop will get rolled up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958560 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 I usually bale about 100 corn stalk bales for bedding for sheep barn and calving pen. Have a neighbor who chops/windrows in one pass, makes very nice bedding that can be spread by hand with a pitchfork. Have been using skid steer for last 8 yrs, but still best way to bale them. Last year he broke down, so we raked with an 18 wheel v rake. Much courser in the bale, and it is hard on rake and baler pickup teeth. Haven't replaced a tooth in pickup last 7 yrs on 2 different balers, but have a dozen to put in after last years taking corn stalks. Best route as mentioned is to have cows process the residue. I was no till for 6 years until 19 when we were drowned by 2 yrs of rain in one season. Hope to get back to no till next year. Nothing looks better than planting corn into last years bean stubble with previous years corn cobs and some trash still on field. Cant even see the soil. Able to save moisture and control weeds much easier and I dont need a man in front of me with a tillage tool burning fuel and wearing out iron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Mule Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 21 minutes ago, Matt Kirsch said: Seems to me like you'd suck up a lot of rocks, which would be hard on the baler. Just too many rocks around here for us to even consider it. A crew of 30 wouldn't be able to pick them all in some areas, and next year it a whole new crop will get rolled up. We have rocks too. Havent had any trouble. Heck even if you do suck one up through the pickup the chances are even slimmer of it landing on the outside of chamber the worst it can do is scratch your insides. If it winds up in the middle no bid deal. I only bale 50-100 a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxxum 140 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 We bale 1,000-1,500 per year with our 8480 balers. We either run them through a stalk chopper then the vrake or the neighbor just bought a vhoppibg head we just rake behind the combine and bale them. Let the stalks sit a day or two after combining or chopping they seem to be dry then . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R190 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 windrow attachments work fine in the early part of the season but if you get a lot of damp weather its best to chop them leave them lay a day or so then rake and bale them if you have nice sunny days and dry mature stalks just about any procedure works good as days get shorter your windrow for nice baling gets shorter. wet corn straw baled will mold and steam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1480x3 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 2 hours ago, R190 said: windrow attachments work fine in the early part of the season but if you get a lot of damp weather its best to chop them leave them lay a day or so then rake and bale them if you have nice sunny days and dry mature stalks just about any procedure works good as days get shorter your windrow for nice baling gets shorter. wet corn straw baled will mold and steam We have baled them in winter and Mar/Apr time frame, just got to be dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP from Central PA Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Honestly, I had the best luck with waiting for them to dry before chopping them................It always seemed once they got wet after chopping it took forever, and sometimes never to dry. We baled them here with a small square baler. I really liked them for bedding. I might try to buy some big squares off a local and grind them in with my hay to stretch that out this winter. I think my roto grind would make them into a nice blend with hay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IH Forever Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 My Dad has a NH 68 baler that has a chopper in place of the pickup. Many years ago we used it to bale some for hog bedding if we didn’t have enough straw. Some guys around here will grind them and mix 2 round bales of hay to 1 of stalks to feed to cows. They say they really eat them well when they are ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1480x3 Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 1 hour ago, IH Forever said: My Dad has a NH 68 baler that has a chopper in place of the pickup. Many years ago we used it to bale some for hog bedding if we didn’t have enough straw. Some guys around here will grind them and mix 2 round bales of hay to 1 of stalks to feed to cows. They say they really eat them well when they are ground. Seems like there was a chopper that could go on my JD round baler replacing the pickup, may have been aftermarket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorenzo Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Here’s what there worth around here. we don’t like to remove all that organic matter from the field but a few people are doing it I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.