When corn is chopped for silage, the entire stalk is used. When corn is combined(shelled) or picked, the dried stalk remains in the field. If left to disintegrate over winter, it is great for the soil. Shredded (or flailed) corn stalks also make great bedding. This is referred to as corn fodder. We like to have lots of baled corn fodder on hand; it's much more absorbent than straw in the heifer pens.
Saturday was our marathon corn fodder baling day. Jim had loaded up four wagons on Friday afternoon so the guys could begin unloading in the morning. We had five guys lined up to help unload while Jim baled. I was the gopher... I moved some empty wagons around, did the barn work, made lunch, ran everyone where they needed to go, and just, well...gophered!
The fodder in this corn field is all raked and ready to be baled...
Jim is headed back out to fill another wagon...
Baling...
Unloading...yes, it was that dusty!
By the time they quit on Saturday afternoon, they had unloaded 10 wagons. That's 1100-1200 bales of fodder!
Jim has since baled several more wagon loads, but they'll remain backed in the barn, unloaded until we need them. It's good to have this job about finished. Some years we remember baling fodder well into November.
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