Corn harvest--what's with this?

4,214 Views | 19 Replies | Last: 6 yr ago by CHP Bear
HunterBear
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Yesterday on the 4th we drove both west and north of Waco. Saw a lot of corn fields that had recently been harvested, but without exception each cut field I saw had three or four rows left standing together, 100-200 feet long or so, usually more or less out in the middle of the field (not at the border). A few large fields had two or three sections of rows left standing. I can't recall seeing this before and was trying to figure out what the reason or purpose was. Anyone know about this?
NoBSU
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Crop insurance. Sample strips left in fields for insurance adjusters.
ABC BEAR
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NoBSU said:

Crop insurance. Sample strips left in fields for insurance adjusters.
You're wrong, it's a corn maze for aggies.
Buck Whiskey
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Weed harvest isn't until August.
LIB,MR BEARS
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NoBSU said:

Crop insurance. Sample strips left in fields for insurance adjusters.
I didn't know this. I always thought it was left for seed for following years.

Sincerely,
City Boy
NoBSU
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LIB,MR BEARS said:

NoBSU said:

Crop insurance. Sample strips left in fields for insurance adjusters.
I didn't know this. I always thought it was left for seed for following years.

Sincerely,
City Boy
Drought is an obvious problem but some untimely rain can get in the ear and grow a bacteria that creates a toxin. The toxin is a carcinogen and is monitored for commercial corn. Either case, the farmer is trying to salvage some of the crop and has to leave the strip up for the adjuster to examine maturity. They rate the loss and payout of crop insurance off the mature ears. I am sure one of the Dorr could explain it better. My wife is a Hoosier and I was a lender in farm country years ago so I pick stuff up.
Moondoggie
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After living around the farmers in rosebud for a year, all I know is that they leave feed corn up until it fully dries at this time of year. Don't know why some of the crop was left, but I truly doubt that it was left out for crop insurance when they want the corn bone dry for harvest anyway.
Illinois Bear2
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LIB,MR BEARS said:

NoBSU said:

Crop insurance. Sample strips left in fields for insurance adjusters.
I didn't know this. I always thought it was left for seed for following years.

Sincerely,
City Boy
They can't use seed for the following year. It's illegal if they bought hybrid seed from a seed company. Most farmers don't want save seed anyway as next year's seed will have improved genetics, hopefully. Most corn in upper Midwest is harvested with moisture around 20%, Then we dry it in propane dryers to lower the moisture to around 15%. Then it can be stored in grain bins without rotting. We can't leave it in the field to dry more since it will start snowing before the moisture content drops far enough.
Illinois Bear2
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We leave a few rows for the pheasants, makes for great hunting in November!
LIB,MR BEARS
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Illinois Bear2 said:

We leave a few rows for the pheasants, makes for great hunting in November!
THIS is something I can understand!!!
whitetrash
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Illinois Bear2 said:

We leave a few rows for the pheasants, makes for great hunting in November!


I had to read your post twice. First thought you said you left a few rows for the peasants.
NoBSU
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whitetrash said:

Illinois Bear2 said:

We leave a few rows for the pheasants, makes for great hunting in November!


I had to read your post twice. First thought you said you left a few rows for the peasants.
LOL. Around the country, some do leave rows for Society of St. Andrew & Harvest of Hope.
Mitch Blood Green
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I thought it was left for making cob pipes.
Pecos 45
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or toilet paper
“If you have a job without aggravations, you don’t have a job.”
Malcolm Forbes
Grimm
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So does the rest go to silage or ethanol or what? It seems like 95% of the corn "producers" around Waco are living off insurance payments...
NoBSU
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Grimm said:

So does the rest go to silage or ethanol or what? It seems like 95% of the corn "producers" around Waco are living off insurance payments...
There is an acceptable level of the aflatoxin for human and animal consumption. They harvest to early to keep it lower. They test at the mill for payment but that test is not accepted by crop insurance. If it is too high it can be mixed with "clean" corn to reach the maximum level for animal feed. Blended level, blended (lower) cost.

I too have known farmers to leave some corn or soybeans up for hunting, but the four rows is a minimum amount of rows for crop insurance assessment. Think representative sample.

I know nothing about ethanol. This study abstract answers your question. The toxin is not found in the distilled alcohol by the solid waste of the process is useless for feed unless treated.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/526887/

Treatment = increased costs
So, lower price for the grower (crop insurance claim).
NoBSU
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I have more experience with fruit, but untimely heavy rain in fruits can cause the fruit to crack and damage your yield. With corn, the bacteria risk increases if the rain hits right before the ears droops. The rain goes into the ear and affects the conditions for the bacteria that causes aflatoxin to flourish.

Rain is most times a blessing, but sometimes a curse. I have lots of trouble with black rot in grapes and cracking in cherries & tomatoes. I try to plant crack resistant varieties. I love vine ripened tomatoes. If I get a huge rain at night, I pick early the next morning.

I have some Concord grapes that come from cuttings of family and friends that passed decades ago. There are better varieties to grow, but it is fun to sit down with my old friend Bruce and have some jelly or young wine that comes from his deceased dad's vines.
CHP Bear
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pitchman said:

After living around the farmers in rosebud for a year, all I know is that they leave feed corn up until it fully dries at this time of year. Don't know why some of the crop was left, but I truly doubt that it was left out for crop insurance when they want the corn bone dry for harvest anyway.
I've had enough. You city slickers just don't get it. Simple answer, farmer ran out of toilet paper. End of story.
CHP Bear
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Pecos 45 said:

or toilet paper
You got it.
Illinois Bear2
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CHP Bear said:

pitchman said:

After living around the farmers in rosebud for a year, all I know is that they leave feed corn up until it fully dries at this time of year. Don't know why some of the crop was left, but I truly doubt that it was left out for crop insurance when they want the corn bone dry for harvest anyway.
I've had enough. You city slickers just don't get it. Simple answer, farmer ran out of toilet paper. End of story.
You think there are no husks left on the ground after the combine picks the corn? Hahahaha! Speaking of city slicker.
CHP Bear
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Illinois Bear2 said:

CHP Bear said:

pitchman said:

After living around the farmers in rosebud for a year, all I know is that they leave feed corn up until it fully dries at this time of year. Don't know why some of the crop was left, but I truly doubt that it was left out for crop insurance when they want the corn bone dry for harvest anyway.
I've had enough. You city slickers just don't get it. Simple answer, farmer ran out of toilet paper. End of story.
You think there are no husks left on the ground after the combine picks the corn? Hahahaha! Speaking of city slicker.

On our farm we always used the husks with corn. It was kind of like Charmin. Much softer than the straight husk.
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