cost of corn...

[anthonyjames]

I have already been shopping my feed mills around here for feed by the ton for my layers and broilers. And what difference. I noticed the price around Sept go up about $1 per 50lbs of feed.

Here are the ton prices I have been getting:

Layer : Mill 1 - $392, Mill 2 - $388, Mill 3 - 330
Broiler : Mill 1 - $495, Mill 2 - $400, Mill 3 - $342 with meat by product, $341 meat by product replaced with soy

Can already tell I will drive the 30 minutes to get to Mill 3 this year.

 

[chickened]

Make sure the grain you are storing is not processed. If it has been processed it will mold in the best kept conditions. By processed I mean intact with the protective natural hull or shield still on the grain not like cracked corn, rolled oats etc.
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[chickened]

Lets not forget the bad rap that GMO seed gets. A large farm can have cost increases when a group of people tell him to not use a certain seed which may be cheaper (Round-up ready beet seeds anyone?" can effect the low grain prices we all have enjoyed in the past. Enviromental restrictions have driven up the costs more than gas, shortages or any other factor just ask a farmer.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
My local mill says they legally cannot put any meat/fish product into their mixers, since the mad-cow thing happened a few years ago. They won't even get it for me.
So I drive 30 minutes to another mill, further out in the country that will order it for me, but I've not yet asked them to mix up a mix for me...
I buy whole oats and use the fish meal mixed with alfalfa meal as a supplement for the high protein.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
True, but you could rotate between buying new hybrid seed and reusing 2nd generation seed. That's what I do. This year I'm using 2nd generation seed, which has (for me) still out performed OP/Heritage seed. Hybrid seed corn is very expensive ($300 bushel, or so). Of course, a bushel will plant 2.5-3 acres so it does go a long way (and its yield is amazing). Since I don't plant nearly that much I usually buy a little off a neighbor. I save some seed and plant from this, and then go back to seed corn every other year. I've not tried to go a 3rd generation yet (but it would be a neat experiment).

Most of us probably would be unable to completely grow our own feed, as we lack the space and time requirements (especially if we forgo the modern, and expensive, equipment). But I will be making a dent in the field bill this year. I'm growing Amaranth, oats, sunflowers, buckwheat, and barley. Also a huge patch of mangels and rutabagas. I'll be harvesting the grains by hand. I have no idea what percentage of my feed I will be growing, but my target is 25% (I don't think I'll make that target this year, but it depends on yield). I usually get 3-5 bushels of free corn each year from a local hog farmer. I get all the corn that gets spilled on the ground, as its mixed with stones (which he can't feed to the pigs). Add to this the food scraps, and we are making a nice dent in the feed bill.

I hope your neighbor isn't re-selling patented seed....you can both in end up in trouble if he is. Our neighbor was fined $50,000 for reselling seed.

 

[marquisella]

I'm in shock...Went to buy a monthly supply of whole oats, and it went up over $2 per 100#. Its now $13.95. Started out this fall at $8.25.
I can't imagine how much commercial feed will go up once this price increase hits them, probably already has.

I'm going to have to seriously think about the number of birds I will keep.

 

[Bossroo]

Has anyone noticed in the news... that a midwest state, which is Billions in the Red, and their Governor is proposing belt tightening pay/ pension/ benefit /funding / other expenditure cuts to lower operating costs. Unions are vociferously protesting, many schools not in session due to teacher strikes, some legislators have left the state for places unknown . . . are we all not so far behind?

 

[terri9630]

Quote:
People can't see past their own wants. I don't understand why they can't/won't see that they pay a bit more for their benifits or get laid off because the state can no longer afford them. I'd pay more for my benifits if it meant I kept my job so I could care for my family. If they don't like the cuts they have the option to start looking for another job. It's the same everywhere.

 

[chickened]

If the benefits they are protecting are as economically sound as the unions claim then they should be made available to everyone. Only problem is it is not sound... economically that is.
Quote:
People can't see past their own wants. I don't understand why they can't/won't see that they pay a bit more for their benifits or get laid off because the state can no longer afford them. I'd pay more for my benifits if it meant I kept my job so I could care for my family. If they don't like the cuts they have the option to start looking for another job. It's the same everywhere.

 

[anthonyjames]

I am in this state and I find it offensive of the law makers to run over the border and not do what they were hired to. And I work for a company that 3 years ago docked all employees:

Managers and below 10%
Senior Managers 15%
Officers 20%

Loss of bonuses and 401k matching.

this we we got a partial match back on our 401K and we are expected to get possibly some of our bonuses back.

For me that was an overall 20% paycut with reduced pay and bonus loss. I am glad I still have a job and insurance for my family. As someone stated earlier they should be thankful they still have jobs.

They are PO'd because of the loss of collective bargining. Well, our state has nothing to bargin so out it goes and I am all for it. My wife is a teacher and I told her if she took off work to go to Madison she may as well stay there.