Thielen Farms harvested their corn as high-moisture corn. You harvest it a little earlier than dry corn, you then run it through a roller mill, and then pack it in a silo to let it ferment. Microorganism convert sugars in the corn to lactic acid, which lowers the ph. At a low ph, very little spoilage occurs because microorganisms can't grow, so deterioration stops. The corn is preserved - at a higher feed value - than traditional dry corn, and can be fed at a later date. It is all about preserving the corn for later use at the highest nutritional value possible.
Corn is traditionally not planted in this area because there usually is not enough moisture for it to mature and that means you have lost the considerable amount of money associated with planting costs. So, some farmers take a chance that the weather will be favorable and hope for the best. This was a year that worked for corn in this area. They might never grow corn like this again. So enjoy this truly unusual corn harvest.
Can you believe it? Thielen Farms planted corn, and it actually grew. I never thought the day would come, but it did. Matt is over six foot tall so you can see how good of a year it was for corn. Remember, this is the middle of Kansas where it usually doesn't rain enough to grow corn.
I just could not resist having my photo taken in the corn field.
Yes, Matt, you really can grow corn at Thielen Farms - in a wet year.
Sam loves to ride in the farm equipment. I drove up near the grain truck and little Sam looked out the window at me. I was surprised to see him.
The corn on the left is what is looks like after it is harvested while the corn on the right is what it looks like after it has been run through the roller mill. Why roll it? It increases surface area for fermentation both in the silo and in the rumen - where the bugs (microorganisms) in a ruminant convert the feedstuff/corn to volatile fatty acids. The animal uses the VFA's (acetic, proprionic, and butyric acids) for energy.
The finished product - a silo full of rolled, high-moisture corn. The tractor is used to spread the corn and then pack it to eliminate the oxygen in the pile. The goal is to have 'anaerobic' microorganisms do the work to lower the ph. Aerobic (or bugs that need oxygen) produce unfavorable fermentation results and, therefore, corn that has a much lower nutritional value at feedout.
Hallie, Anna and Garrett made a straw house in the wheat stubble that was left over from wheat harvest in late June.
Sweet Sam
Hallie and Anna gathered straw for the their house/bird nest. It was an absolutely gorgeous evening and sunset.
Sweet Hallie
Sweet Hallie
Hallie, Sam and Anna - doing what farm kids do in the harvest field - they climb and explore.
Anna has a unique sense of harvest field fashion.
Garrett, Anna, Sam and Hallie
Matt, do you always have two pair of sunglasses? By the way, I love the pink ones on your shirt.
Anna
Joey repairing the combine
Dumping corn from the combine to the grain cart.
Garrett helped Kevin fuel the combine. Here they are returning the hose to the tank.
Kevin and Garrett fueling the combine.
Garrett dropped corn from the combine bin.
Garrett on top of the combine.
Sweet Anna
Thielen Farms harvested their corn as high-moisture corn. You harvest it a little earlier than dry corn, you then run it through a roller mill, and then pack it in a silo to let it ferment. Microorganism convert sugars in the corn to lactic acid, which lowers the ph. At a low ph, very little spoilage occurs because microorganisms can't grow, so deterioration stops. The corn is preserved - at a higher feed value - than traditional dry corn, and can be fed at a later date. It is all about preserving the corn for later use at the highest nutritional value possible.
Corn is traditionally not planted in this area because there usually is not enough moisture for it to mature and that means you have lost the considerable amount of money associated with planting costs. So, some farmers take a chance that the weather will be favorable and hope for the best. This was a year that worked for corn in this area. They might never grow corn like this again. So enjoy this truly unusual corn harvest.
Can you believe it? Thielen Farms planted corn, and it actually grew. I never thought the day would come, but it did. Matt is over six foot tall so you can see how good of a year it was for corn. Remember, this is the middle of Kansas where it usually doesn't rain enough to grow corn.
I just could not resist having my photo taken in the corn field.
Yes, Matt, you really can grow corn at Thielen Farms - in a wet year.
Sam loves to ride in the farm equipment. I drove up near the grain truck and little Sam looked out the window at me. I was surprised to see him.
The corn on the left is what is looks like after it is harvested while the corn on the right is what it looks like after it has been run through the roller mill. Why roll it? It increases surface area for fermentation both in the silo and in the rumen - where the bugs (microorganisms) in a ruminant convert the feedstuff/corn to volatile fatty acids. The animal uses the VFA's (acetic, proprionic, and butyric acids) for energy.
The finished product - a silo full of rolled, high-moisture corn. The tractor is used to spread the corn and then pack it to eliminate the oxygen in the pile. The goal is to have 'anaerobic' microorganisms do the work to lower the ph. Aerobic (or bugs that need oxygen) produce unfavorable fermentation results and, therefore, corn that has a much lower nutritional value at feedout.
Hallie, Anna and Garrett made a straw house in the wheat stubble that was left over from wheat harvest in late June.
Sweet Sam
Hallie and Anna gathered straw for the their house/bird nest. It was an absolutely gorgeous evening and sunset.
Sweet Hallie
Sweet Hallie
Hallie, Sam and Anna - doing what farm kids do in the harvest field - they climb and explore.
Anna has a unique sense of harvest field fashion.
Garrett, Anna, Sam and Hallie
Matt, do you always have two pair of sunglasses? By the way, I love the pink ones on your shirt.
Anna
Joey repairing the combine
Dumping corn from the combine to the grain cart.
Garrett helped Kevin fuel the combine. Here they are returning the hose to the tank.
Kevin and Garrett fueling the combine.
Garrett dropped corn from the combine bin.
Garrett on top of the combine.
Sweet Anna
5 comments:
Thanks for the pictures of corn harvest and the kids! Would it be possible that you know more about that corn business than the average person.....you really did go to class all those years as a student at KSU....I am impressed! Your sister Debbie
Nice corn crop!!! Would that be Monsanto/Dekalb?
I do believe her nickname was the Silage Queen, and is sounds like you do know your stuff! Thanks for sharing the pictures and your silage knowledge.
Mary Kay, many of your pictures are truly amazing. It seems as if you are able to capture the honest, hard-working spirit of the Kansas farmer in your family members, the love in their hearts, and the beauty in their soles. Please keep sharing. Your journey has been and is still fascinating.
That picture of Garrett throwing the grain has to be submitted to some kind of magazine or something. Really!!! Do it!!! It's fabulous.
Corn harvest is officially over!!! Not that I am an expert but it appears fermentation has begun. I feel like I need to throw some big words around and act like I know what is happening out there in that big corn pile. It was good to have you out this weekend. We look forward to another visit. Kelly (aka Garrett, Anna & Sam's Mom)
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