Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-28
The present prospects are that the

The present prospects are that the
corn crop will be fair. but rather late
in maturing, owing to the %unfavor.
able season. After corn is frosted
unless 1t is put in a silo. promptly
there is a great loss in feeding value
With the silo, very immature corr
Will make good feed. Now is the time
to consider the silo and get 1t ready
for the corn o
AT the present time there is perhaps
no farm Improvement being consid-
cred by more farmers than the silo
1t 1s also true that the subject of sflos
and stlage is one which to many Is
very complicated and vague. In many
instances in the northwest there are
good reasons for the consideration OF
this really important farm improve
ment.
1t is realized that there must be a
change from the strictly one-crop
system to a more diversified one. That
SUCH g change is necessary there are
very few who will not admit. Even
II grain farming still remains profit
able there is no reason why the
farmers of the northwest should not
engage in stock raising more extens-
lively. It 10 known that where stock
are kept the farming is carried on
with less difficulty because of the fact
that the work is more evenly dis
trtbuted throughout the year, and
that the proper condition Of the soil is
more easily maintained.
When he silo is considered it will
generally mean that corr will be
grown for the purpose OF filling the
silo, which will mean a cultivated
crop to destroy weeds and conserve
moisture. That such a practice is
valuable is proven by the fact that
old Fields. planted to corn and given
good cultivation, when put back into
wheat will often nearly double their
former yield. Many farmers resort
to summer fallow to ecu this same
compllshes h same results as sum-
met fallowing, and the corn, when
intelligently used, is a profitable
crop.
A silo full of good corn, and alfalfa
In the barn will make it possible to
keep a bunch of live stock on every
farm and return to the soil a good
portion of the fertility removed, as
well as active organic matter which
Eroductiveness of the soil.
Silo Stands for Conservation.
The present era will be considered
one of unprecedented agricultural
progress. During h past fifty years
practically all our farm machinery
has been developed and brought into
talk OF conservation. The govern
ment Is making every effort to con-
serve our natural forests, water pow
ers, coal, petroleum., etc.
With the farmer the question must
not be alone how much he can raise,
but also how much he can get out Of
what he does raise, and how much
of this he a return to the soil as
working capital. This idea of con-
stock and dairy localities of our
country with silos, from Maine to
Oregon, and from Canada to the
Gulf, until a recent writer put it, IA
good dairy or stock community car be
judged by the number of silos on the
horizon, just as an oil district may be
known by the number Of derricks in
use."
The silo. in the strictest sense Of the
word, is a c~onservator of farm re-
sources. 1t has been shown in many
experiments that practically 40 per
cent Of the value Of the corn crop is
wasted when the stalks are left in the
field. 1t is also known by all who
feed corn fodder that there is almost
SO per cent waste in feeding this for
age, n hen all the crops grown on
the farm are sold. ant o fed, the
land eventually becomes depleted.
Silo Essential to the Northwest.
There is perhaps no region where
the silo will prove more valuable than
on the northern edge Of the corn belt.
There is no question but that this re-
gion will, in the e future. keep a
great many more cattle. The long
winters make it necessary to preserve
a large amount Of feed in convenient
form, for carrying the cattle through
the winter months.
From our experience on the I. H. G.
farms during the past three winters,
are satisfied that the corn crop
put in the silo and fed out, will give
us from two to four times as much
feed as if fed as dry fodder. We also
find that a small amount Of silage will
keep the stock in good shape, and
with straw or other coarse roughage
they will come through in good,
thrifty condition. For these reasons
the silo is essential to this region.
It Is really not q question Of
whether a man with 15 or 20 head Of
cattle to winter can afford a silo or
not. The facts are that he cannot at
ford to be without one. There is no
question but that within a very few
years the silo will be a part Of the
farm improvements on every farm.
Many farmers who have had expert
ence with a silo say that they are
satisfied they lost the cost of a silo
every year they did not have one.
That is, they have found it essential
to grow a cultivated crop. and there
is no rop that will take the place Of
corn in the rotation for this purpose.
It is also true that in order t. get the
full value out Of the corn crop 1t,
must be fed to live stock, and that
with the silo for putting this corn
into, there is enough added profit
every year to practically pay for the
silo used.
Reasons Why 1 Am Going to Build
q SilO."
Comparative Value OF Feed.
An acre Of corn yielding 30lbushels
is worth at present 60 cents atbushel,
or $1s per acre. for the grain. This
acre put into the silo will make 10
tons Of silage. This is a cost OF $3.50
pA kNn I1rs %I,n sol1- ~ vi = - -.