Drought 2012 and Hay Production

As the drought of 2012 continues, farmers are trying to harvest as much grass hay as possible from pastures.

Farmer cuts hay a little closer to the creek on August 2, 2012.  This farmer is trying to get some more round bales off this pasture in response to demand for round hay bales from local cow and horse owners.

Farmers who own feeder cattle are trying to decide whether to continue feeding out the cattle using 8 dollar corn or sell the cattle---risking a possible loss on the cattle---in order to be able to sell their corn on the market. 

Here in Will County, Illinois, my dad has learned from surveying our corn field that while the corn ears along the road do not look so terrible, once you go into the field about 4-6 rows, the corn ears become much smaller.  My dad hypothesizes that the corn along the road had the benefit of better air circulation during the sweltering heat of July.  My dad is hoping to get 80 bushels per acre corn.

High Commodity Prices influence farmer's decision to plant more corn acres

On the eve of the USDA's March 31, 2011 Farm Acreage and Stock Report, one Will County farmer was increasing his corn acreage by plowing up an alfalfa field.  The farmer said high corn prices influenced the decision to plow up the hay field early.   The alfalfa field could have produced a good crop of hay, but the farmer decided to take advantage of high corn prices by increasing his corn acreage.  Also influencing his decision was the fact that he already had enough hay fields to meet his hay customers' demand.

Commodities such as wheat, corn, and soybeans have increased steadily since the 2010 harvest.

An alfalfa field gets plowed under in order to make room for more corn acres in response to high prices for corn

High commodity prices influenced this Will County farmer to plow up an alfalfa field earlier than originally planned in order to increase corn acres on his farm