The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-09-08
BANKERS AND oATTAE MEN.

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Throughout the section of country
where many c,tlle are fed the bankers
are posted on the various phases OF
:eed growing and beef making as well
as the best farmers. This feature of
banking is peculiar ard is necessary
owing to the freedom with which the
banks loan noleN to the men who feed
steers. Thus the market experts seek
the opinion of the banks to ascertain
the number of cattle on feed and the
probable TINE Of marketing and the
farmer may get many up to date sug-
gesticns from his banker.
Recently the asher of a prosperous
country bank in considering the sub
ject of rough feed expressed the opin-
ion that shredded fodder Was not
utilized by the stocklnan as 1t should
be. He pointed out that he fodder
contained according to the tests of var
ious experiment stations from thirty to
forty per cent of the feeding qualities
of the crop and said ii MI We're to
waste such a proportion of their avail
able assets they would not be able to
continue in business. The amount of
feed wasted in the corn feds of the
territory around Sioux City is appalling
| and not until there is some plan of
using this will the people come any
where near living up to their oppor-
tunitieS.
The labor involved is the only ele-
ment that is held out by farmers in
opposition TO using this fodder and
much of this objection is prejudice.
The writer has personally handled
many acres of corn fodder under, in
many cases the most adverse circum-
stances and would as lief do so as
perform other farm labor. 1t is not
easy work yet the man who is willing
TO do honest work and to plan to do it
| nj 49,, ~ - r-Ct @ lti(1 hnnT1a tnHGLr
without objection or serious fatigue.
The machinery now for sale for the
purpose makes handling corn fodder
much more in line with other farm
work than was the case a few years
tgo. :,
If the farmers of a neighborhood will
club together and shred their corn as
they do their threshing Of grain 1t will
ceturn them greater profits than
thrcshing oats which may be fed in
the bundle or run through a cutter.
Every farm wastes enough feed in the
corn stalks that annually goes to make
poor feed in the stalk fields to keep
many head Of cattle that will add to
the income and assist materially in
maintaining the farm fertility and in
growing larger crops. The average
farm hand objects to cutting corn or
handling the fodder.
Hiring help to shred during the short
DAYS of early winter is expensive and
the figures of the cost of ~shredding
published from time to time are based
IN that plan. Small shredders do slow
work and the larger ones do not,in most
neighborhoods. get enough to do to
make running one profitable at rates
that keep the cost within a profitable
range.
The loss of the feeding value of the
corr stalk is one of the wastes of the
farm and it will sooner or later have tc
be remedied. Just how that will be
accomplished may be a question as yet
The silo would solve it e~ffectually anc
II many of US will put considerable OF
our corn into silage it will max the
rush Of work at husking time SO much
less. AS the value of land increases
better methods of using all its products
must be reached and the saving Of the
corn fodder Is one of the most neces.
sary wastes to overcome.