MN corn growers

M Nut · Aug 26, 2013

Can any of you central MN farmers recommend a place to take my corn silage for nitrate testing? The more I read about this stuff it scares me to feed it without having it tested. I asked both my neighbors and neither one knew where to have it tested, as they always allow it to go through the silage process in their silos/bunks before feeding. They (and the articles I read) say once it has been stored for a month or more the dangers of nitrates are nothing to be concerned about. I was hoping to green chop some and feed directly to the cows to supplement poor pasture, but think I should test it first.
Thanks for any pointers.

paul · Aug 26, 2013

I never tested for N, but this place is 5 miles from me, all my soil tests go there. New Ulm.

http://www.mvtl.com/

Paul
MN Valley Testing Lab

randallinMo · Aug 26, 2013

Take a sample to a local feed supplier. They will know where to send it. "My opinion" is that nitrate fears are way over extended. Last year in Central MIssouri we had an extreme drought. Hundreds of acres of corn were chopped for silage just in my neighborhood. LIterally thousands of bales of corn silage were baled and wrapped for silage bales. The rage at the time was "look out for high nitrates". As far as I know, NOT ONE sample came back with high levels. I personally have NEVER seen a sample of corn silage that was high in nitrates. Obviously, it exists....but not to the extent that we think it does.

806Jr · Aug 26, 2013

There is a DHIA test lab in Sauk Centre that does .

JMS/.MN · Aug 26, 2013

Stearns County DHIA lab, 800-369-2697. 825 12th st south. (SW part of town, west of Hwy 71, north of I 94). There is also a Dairyland Lab in Sauk Rapids. 320-240-1737. Don"t know what they test.

JD Seller · Aug 26, 2013

Just about any feed dealer should know where you could send a sample locally. The same people usually do fed test as the nitrate test.

When I chopped drought corn I do not cut the stalk very low. The nitrates are higher in the lower stalk as the corn matures.

I have always heard of the danger but have rarely seen any corn silage that tested too high.

Also when did you put nitrate on your corn??? I think if you spring applied all of the nitrogen then there is less change of issues. The danger is more with side dressed nitrogen.

paul · Aug 26, 2013

It seems to be one of those things that hardly ever really bothers, but if you win the lottery on it it would very devastating, so need to test in drought conditions....

We have feed fresh green corn to cattle for decades and no problems, but its the whole plant, and rather limited feeding, has worked for us, last year I cut and baled a sandy hill of corn that was waste high, probably feed every other day, worked out.

Just always a risk, even if low one.

Paul

M Nut · Aug 26, 2013

Thanks guys. Jim, I'll start with yours first as they are the closest. Jd Seller, the corn was planted June 3rd with 200lbs of fertilzer per acre applied. No side dressing of additional Nitrogen was used. I checked with my local feed store and the answer was "I'm not real sure......but I think there is a place in Sauk Rapids or Sauk Center, or someplace like that" so that didn't help me much.

MN corn growers

M Nut

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paul

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randallinMo

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806Jr

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JMS/.MN

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JD Seller

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paul

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M Nut

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