Henry Raymond

Fairfax News => Current News & Events => Topic started by: Henry on August 03, 2010, 12:37:15 PM

Title: JoAnne Captures Some Sun Flowers In A Local Corn Field
Post by: Henry on August 03, 2010, 12:37:15 PM

Hi Henry,
 
These sunflowers are part of a cornfield on Brick Church Rd.

JoAnne

(http://www.vtgrandpa.com/photos/albums/icestorm_080309/0098_G.sized.jpg)

(http://www.vtgrandpa.com/photos/albums/icestorm_080309/0086_G_001.sized.jpg)

Title: Re: JoAnne Captures Some Sun Flowers In A Local Corn Field
Post by: GamingWeasel on August 03, 2010, 04:23:05 PM

Is there a reason to plant sunflowers amongst corn (as in something symbiotic), or did they just happen to grow there?

We planted our sunflowers a bit late so they arent more than 4' high right now.

Title: Re: JoAnne Captures Some Sun Flowers In A Local Corn Field
Post by: Stand Alone Defense on August 03, 2010, 04:33:30 PM

They were planted by Jim Magnan, I'm not sure what the benefit is besides maybe some extra protein for the cows and for Jen and I to use for our wedding lol.

Title: Re: JoAnne Captures Some Sun Flowers In A Local Corn Field
Post by: mkr on August 03, 2010, 05:10:01 PM

Josh, I am sure it is for you and Jen's wedding, but made me curious and looked online about nutritional values and here is what I found.

Sunflower can also be used as a silage crop. It can be used as a double crop after early harvested small grains or vegetables, an emergency crop, or in areas with a season too short to produce mature corn for silage.
Forage yields of sunflower are generally less than corn when a full growing season is available. In one study, sunflower dry matter yields ranged from 2.0 to 3.0 ton/acre compared with 3.1 to 3.8 ton/acre for corn. Moisture content of sunflower at maturity is usually high (80 to 90%) and would require wilting before ensiling.
Nutritional quality of sunflower silage is often higher than corn but lower than alfalfa hay (Table 1). Crude protein level of sunflower silage is similar to grass hay and higher than corn silage. Generally, crude protein of sunflower decreases and lignin percentage increases after the flowering stage. High plant populations increases fiber and lignin percentage. Seed size does not seem to affect yield or quality.
Table 1: Nutritional quality of sunflower, immature corn, and mature corn silage, alfalfa hay (harvested in early bloom) and timothy bay (harvested in late vegetative stage).1
    

Silage                                                              Hay                               Sunflower   Immature corn   Mature corn       Alfalfa       Timothy                                                                               % of dry matter Total digestible nutrients   67.0   60.0                        69.0                        58.0       68.0 Crude protein                  11-12   8.2                         7.8                        18.0      11.4 Ether extract                  10-12   2.6                         2.9                         2.2      2.4 Crude fiber                                  31.0            31.0                         23.0                        31.0      31.0 Acid detergent fiber                  32.0   ---                         31.0                        38.0      33.0 Lignin                                 10-16   ---                         ---                         9.0      3.1 IVDDM 2                                 63-70   ---                         ---                         66.0      63.0

1Data from Miller, Oplinger and Collins, 1986.
2In vitro dry matter disappearance.

Sunflower silage contains considerably more fat than many other forages, (Table 1). Some producers and researchers in Oregon have experimented with sunflower/corn intercrops to increase energy content of a silage, but results of this work are not yet complete. In South Dakota trials, milk yields were reduced by 9% when straight sunflower silage was compared with corn. The nutritional quality of sunflower silage is generally recognized as adequate for dry cows, steers, and low milk producers.

Title: Re: JoAnne Captures Some Sun Flowers In A Local Corn Field
Post by: Stand Alone Defense on August 03, 2010, 05:29:53 PM

Hmmm That is pretty interesting stuff!!! Looks like I'm gonna have to keep an eye on the Magnans Milk production when they start feeding it wonder if it will go up or down?  Although Jim might put it all up at Allens barn and only feed the dry cows with it to.

Title: Re: JoAnne Captures Some Sun Flowers In A Local Corn Field
Post by: Henry on August 04, 2010, 07:08:54 AM

Is little brother Jake going to be able to make it home for the wedding??

Title: Re: JoAnne Captures Some Sun Flowers In A Local Corn Field
Post by: Stand Alone Defense on August 05, 2010, 01:36:09 PM

Yup he will be home in 8 days Henry!!!!!!!! So excited to him he is in the wedding.