Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1913-06-12
SAVE THE. FODDER

Although 1t is too late in the season
to consider doing anything with the
corn for ensilage purposes we should
not overlook the fact that to save the
fodder which we have already cut is
not only our duty but is very impor-
tant from the standpoint of having
sufficient feed for our livestock dur
ing the winter months.
OF the many ways to save the corn
crop the use of the silo is perhaps the
best, and yet only a few of the farmers
In the corn belt have taken advantage
of this means of saving the corn crop
this season and we should begin
right now to investigate the silo
problem so that we can erect
one next year. The silo not only
saves 80 to 40 per cent of the corn's
nutrition that would otherwise be
lost, but it affords a green and suffi-
cient feed during the winter months.
Crop reports sent out by the govern
ment show that the farm value of
hay as quoted October list, is some
what less than it was October list,
1911, but yet it is higher by a con-
siderable amount than usual In other
words this indicates that the amount
of rough feed available throughout
the country is less than normal and
for this reason we should put forth
extra efforts to save all the fodder and
other rough feed we have as II. viii
como in mighty handy before spring.
When we consider the increased farm
value of hay and the fact that If
fodder is left standing in the field
from % to 40 per cent of it's feeding
value is lost We will realize how i'm
portant 1t is to form our plans now to
save this fodder in the best possible
shape.
Perhaps you have not done so, but
you have seen your neighbors leave
the corn fodder in the fields during
the winter months and haul it in day
after day as 1t was required. This is
bad practice. to say the least. and we
hope that no reader Of the Service
Bureau will be found guilty of this
practice this season. Late fall rains
coupled with occasional sleet or snow
storms not only waste considerable
amount Of the fodder but make It
extremely difficult to handle If left in
the field, Fodder left exposed in this
manner loses its feeding value through
the loss of protein caused by the
action Of the elements and by the
wasting of leaves due to handling.
The next best practice is to stack
the fodder as soon as the corn is
picked. 1t is good idea to locate
tho stack somewhere convenient to
the feeding rack or on the south side
Of a grove where the fodder can be
fed during the cold winter mornings
by scattering 1t on the ground where
the animals will be protected from
the cold northwest winds.
This brings us to the subject of
shredding fodder, which is the most
important and by far the best way OF
saving fodder crop. The husker and
shredder now in common use cuts the |
stalks in longitudinal sections,-into |
small bits which puts 1t in much |
more palatable form. 1t has been |
found that live stock will eat much |
more of the stalk when shredded than |
when fed whole. The machine used |
for this purpose will deliver the corn
in busked condition The cost of .
shredding varies, of course, in differ (
ent localities, but figuring the aver
age cost Of husking corn and storing
it, the expense of shredding is prac- I
tically the same. Then you will not
only get the corn husked and stored
but you will have your fodder in a
convenient form for storing and feed I
ing. 1t is good plan to store the /
shredded fodder in the hay NOW or In
some place where it can be covered.
If 1t is impossible for you to do this,
stack the shredded fodder close to
where You intend to feed 1t. This
will not only save labor, but will re-
duce losses in handling and hauling
the shredded fodder. Another advan-
tage of shredding the fodder which is
often overlooked is the convenience
in handling the stable manure. II is
perhaps unnecessary to call the Corn
Belt farmers attention to this fact
Let N plan right now to 1t least
stack our fodder and II possible use Q
shredder.
Yours very truly,
III c SERVICE BUREAU