Simple harvest livestock crops for the north?

Dirtslinger · #1 04/08/08, 09:30 PM

I've just tilled about a 1/2 acre of ground which I will be planting with crops I can harvest efficiently for winter feed storage (poultry, waterfowl, pigs etc). Fertilizer is horse/llama manure just applied.

I'll be doing about half of that in black oil sunflower seeds. I'm hoping the season is long and hot enough, I have my doubts but seeds are bought!

Any others? I'm thinking corn, though it may be a real pain to harvest and dry it with my busy schedule.

It's only really hot in July/Aug, frosts come mid October. Thanks for any ideas.

uncle Will in In. · #2 04/09/08, 04:28 AM

If no one around you grows corn, it's likely you don't have a long enough season.
Corn would be the easiest crop to grow on a small acerage without having any special machinery to plant or harvest it. It can be cut stalk and all and placed in shocks right in or near the field. As you need it later, the fodder can be hauled to an outdoor place and given to cattle or horses after you shuck the ears off the stalks.

Steve L. · #3 04/09/08, 05:22 AM

Mangels (stock beets).

Dirtslinger · #4 04/09/08, 09:55 AM

Yeah corn is iffy here. I'd like to try mangels but haven't found seeds yet!

mpillow · #5 04/09/08, 10:05 AM

Jung seed company has mangel seed as does Shumway. I would grow the 62 day sh2 sweet corn...freeze what you want for yourself and feed stalks. Pumpkins will produce well too if you start them indoors. I'm in central Maine.
The mangels were a big hit with my goats and beef critter as well as corn stalks and pumpkins. The corn and pumpkin make good companions.

RichieC · #6 04/09/08, 10:07 AM

Jerusalem artichokes. Although they are a but of a pain to harvest.

What zone are you in?

Beef11 · #7 04/09/08, 10:08 AM

Jung told me mangels were on back order and i might not get them this year even if i ordered them. I need to find some though.

agmantoo · #8 04/09/08, 11:03 AM

turnips

michiganfarmer · #9 04/09/08, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtslinger

I

I'll be doing about half of that in black oil sunflower seeds. I'm hoping the season is long and hot enough, I have my doubts but seeds are bought!

Any others? I'm thinking corn, though it may be a real pain to harvest and dry it with my busy schedule.

It's only really hot in July/Aug, frosts come mid October. Thanks for any ideas.

what are you going to feed the sunflowers too?

A man here leaves his corn in the field all winter, then combines it in the spring. He doesnt have to dry it. I am loking for alternatives to corn because it is such a fertilizer hog, and fertilizer is so expensive.

Dirtslinger · #10 04/09/08, 03:37 PM

Thanks for the ideas!
I'm about Z5 here.
Yes the sunflowers will mainly be for the seeds to the birds, and ideally the pigs will eat them as well.
Corn/sunflower stalks aren't usable here, no goats or cattle (yet).

mwhit · #11 04/09/08, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

what are you going to feed the sunflowers too?

I grow black oil sunflowers to feed my chickens, ducks and turkeys. I also give the goats and sheep a handful.

Michelle

FarmboyBill · #12 04/09/08, 08:54 PM

If anybody is contimplateing corn up north, you might contact openpollinated.com. They have varieties that run 75-85-87-90 & 120 day corn, either for grain, or silage, or both, so they say. AND for a small amount of acreage, you could save your seed from there on, and if you plant, save, plant that and save, plant that and save, then when you plant that again, the seed will produce the best it is going to, as its been acclumated for your soil type and area. That makes a difference in the bu at harvest, And your not paying each year for new seed that isnt acclumated for your ground type and weather, which means your paying each year for an inferor seed, when you could get a better seed free after the third year of planting it. Just remember, in saveing seed for replanting, to not save 3in off of either end, just the centers of the longest ears. Save the ends for feed. Good luck

Runestone · #13 04/10/08, 10:58 AM

My seed catalogue has mangels listed. Try this website

www.oscseeds.com

(it's in Ontario)

Dirtslinger · #14 04/11/08, 02:15 AM

Thank you, looks like they are in short supply, but I will try them anyways.

CountryCabin · #15 04/11/08, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtslinger

I've just tilled about a 1/2 acre of ground which I will be planting with crops I can harvest efficiently for winter feed storage (poultry, waterfowl, pigs etc). Fertilizer is horse/llama manure just applied.

I'll be doing about half of that in black oil sunflower seeds. I'm hoping the season is long and hot enough, I have my doubts but seeds are bought!

Any others? I'm thinking corn, though it may be a real pain to harvest and dry it with my busy schedule.

It's only really hot in July/Aug, frosts come mid October. Thanks for any ideas.

BOSS should grow good depending how far north you are, both heads and stalks the hens will love them! Break the stalks in pieces, they love the white insides.

I also plant/grow pumpkins, Spag. Squash both keep pretty good through out winter. I get them started inside real early so they have a fair amount of time to grow in a shorter season. I still have one s.squash left and in good condition from last years harvest.

Cabbage is good for the hens as well. Gives them something to peck at when confined in the real cold blustery weather. Grown a little later in the year will last a while hung by roots in a cool place.
Never had much luck with corn in the Boundry country tho.. Going to try again this year again.

Good luck and let us know how the corn goes, if you plant it.

LostnEurope · #16 04/11/08, 04:55 AM

If you can't find mangels, let me know.I am in Germany and they should be very easy to find here...If not mangels then I can garantee that they have fodder beets here..LnE

vicki in NW OH · #17 04/11/08, 05:17 AM

For corn, you might want to try Roy's Calais Flint, an heirloom from Vermont. Try High Mowing Farms website or Irish Eyes Seeds has Vermont Calais Flint (I think it's the same corn). This corn survives cold. Or maybe try Painted Mountain developed in Montana.

uncle Will in In. · #18 04/11/08, 05:47 AM

Bear in mind that you will need to store the root crops and pumpkins where they won't freeze. Digging a half acre by hand doesn't come under the EASY heading.

michiganfarmer · #19 04/11/08, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwhit

I grow black oil sunflowers to feed my chickens, ducks and turkeys. I also give the goats and sheep a handful.

Michelle

do you shuck them first?

MELOC · #20 04/11/08, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

what are you going to feed the sunflowers too?

A man here leaves his corn in the field all winter, then combines it in the spring. He doesnt have to dry it. I am loking for alternatives to corn because it is such a fertilizer hog, and fertilizer is so expensive.

oh, come on max. as full of it as you michiganers are, you mean to tell me there isn't a truck of free flint fudge somewhere out there for you? hehe i have relatives in mt. pleasant, so i know how you guys are!