Corn supply abundant despite delayed harvest
Posted on November 17th, 2009
DELAWARE, Ohio – Though Ohio’s corn farmers are experiencing the frustrations of late-season rains interfering with the 2009 harvest, consumers need not worry about availability nor the cost of food and other corn products.
In fact, 2009’s corn yield is likely to be one of the most robust seasons on record. As winter weather approaches, corn farmers are using modern farming and business practices to harvest and store history’s second-largest corn crop in Ohio and nationwide – despite unfavorable weather conditions.
"Ohio’s farmers are dependent like no other on weather and market trends beyond their control,” said Ohio Corn Growers Association Executive Director Dwayne Siekman. "Year after year farmers prove they can supply enough corn for the markets.”
Recent Harvest Facts from USDA
The USDA projects this harvest season to be one of the most robust on record nationwide.
Ohio leads the nation with a projected 165 bushels per acre grown on the same amount of land—3.12 million acres—as last year. Bushels per acre last year in Ohio averaged around 135.
The national average for bushels per acre is 163.
Ohio farmers are focused on managing risks, and they implement a number of different strategies to sell their harvested crop. Instead of selling an entire harvested crop, portions can be stored for future use at grain facilities or in on-farm storage systems and sold and distributed at later dates.
Siekman also noted that, regardless of the late harvest, corn prices have not seen volatile fluctuations. Farmers are receiving six cents per pound for their 2009 harvested corn, which means corn still has little impact on the cost of food and many other products that contain corn. Instead, food prices will continue to be driven primarily by energy costs, global demand and grocery manufacturers’ marketing and labor costs.
Farmers utilize other business techniques and technologies to ensure that there is enough corn to ensure a reliable corn supply. Innovation helps farmers use far less fertilizer, pesticides and fuel per bushel of corn during the planting and developmental stages. This leads to fewer emissions for more sustainable, efficient operations that provide enough corn for food and other corn products.
Substantial rainfall prevented corn from drying out this season and has kept farmers out of their fields, but harvest technologies help farmers mitigate weather delays to continue supplying food, feed and fuel:
Seed varieties: Corn seed is available with multiple traits, including varieties with earlier maturities that permit earlier planting and harvesting to sidestep unpredictable weather.
Grain dryers: Corn can be dried in an industrial dryer using propane heat to attain established moisture content for corn storage.
Digital grain testers: Farmers are able to quickly measure their crops’ moisture content using handheld, portable devices for improved accuracy.
GPS equipment: Satellite-guided machinery allows farmers to plant and harvest more accurately for better productivity in less time.
"With the best interest of consumers in mind, our farmers will only continue to progress their industry knowledge and abilities for increased harvest efficiencies and for a consistent corn supply” said Siekman.
About Ohio Corn Growers Association
The Ohio Corn Growers Association represents the interests of more than 20,000 corn growers throughout the state. OCGA works in Washington and at the Ohio Statehouse to ensure that government participation in legislation is beneficial to Ohio's growers. Farmers provide food, feed and fuel to power Ohio. For more information, go to http://www.ohiocorn.org.
In fact, 2009’s corn yield is likely to be one of the most robust seasons on record. As winter weather approaches, corn farmers are using modern farming and business practices to harvest and store history’s second-largest corn crop in Ohio and nationwide – despite unfavorable weather conditions.
"Ohio’s farmers are dependent like no other on weather and market trends beyond their control,” said Ohio Corn Growers Association Executive Director Dwayne Siekman. "Year after year farmers prove they can supply enough corn for the markets.”
Recent Harvest Facts from USDA
The USDA projects this harvest season to be one of the most robust on record nationwide.
Ohio leads the nation with a projected 165 bushels per acre grown on the same amount of land—3.12 million acres—as last year. Bushels per acre last year in Ohio averaged around 135.
The national average for bushels per acre is 163.
Ohio farmers are focused on managing risks, and they implement a number of different strategies to sell their harvested crop. Instead of selling an entire harvested crop, portions can be stored for future use at grain facilities or in on-farm storage systems and sold and distributed at later dates.
Siekman also noted that, regardless of the late harvest, corn prices have not seen volatile fluctuations. Farmers are receiving six cents per pound for their 2009 harvested corn, which means corn still has little impact on the cost of food and many other products that contain corn. Instead, food prices will continue to be driven primarily by energy costs, global demand and grocery manufacturers’ marketing and labor costs.
Farmers utilize other business techniques and technologies to ensure that there is enough corn to ensure a reliable corn supply. Innovation helps farmers use far less fertilizer, pesticides and fuel per bushel of corn during the planting and developmental stages. This leads to fewer emissions for more sustainable, efficient operations that provide enough corn for food and other corn products.
Substantial rainfall prevented corn from drying out this season and has kept farmers out of their fields, but harvest technologies help farmers mitigate weather delays to continue supplying food, feed and fuel:
Seed varieties: Corn seed is available with multiple traits, including varieties with earlier maturities that permit earlier planting and harvesting to sidestep unpredictable weather.
Grain dryers: Corn can be dried in an industrial dryer using propane heat to attain established moisture content for corn storage.
Digital grain testers: Farmers are able to quickly measure their crops’ moisture content using handheld, portable devices for improved accuracy.
GPS equipment: Satellite-guided machinery allows farmers to plant and harvest more accurately for better productivity in less time.
"With the best interest of consumers in mind, our farmers will only continue to progress their industry knowledge and abilities for increased harvest efficiencies and for a consistent corn supply” said Siekman.
About Ohio Corn Growers Association
The Ohio Corn Growers Association represents the interests of more than 20,000 corn growers throughout the state. OCGA works in Washington and at the Ohio Statehouse to ensure that government participation in legislation is beneficial to Ohio's growers. Farmers provide food, feed and fuel to power Ohio. For more information, go to http://www.ohiocorn.org.
