Open Pollinated Field Corn

chrisl · #1 02/06/12, 06:51 AM

I was wondering if anyone had a supplier for open pollinated field corn ( not sweet corn). I got a 10 acre patch I want to plant this spring for livestock feed. I've done a few Google searches but only come up with a few by the bushel or 50 lb bag dealers. It should take about 200 lbs / 26000 seeds per acre to plant. Would like a few more choices.
Thanks in advance
Chris

wvstuck · #2 02/06/12, 06:55 AM

I ran into the same thing a few years ago. I bought 50 lbs and seeded it, carefully bagged the ears and protected the tassel to ensure it didn't cross pollinate with the wind. Now I have more than enough seed each year.

No one I've run into sells quantity for the bigger fields, everyone has switched over to Monsanto and other GMO stuff for field corn it seems.

I'll be watching this thread too... Maybe somebody knows something we don't

wwubben · #3 02/06/12, 07:20 AM

The albert lea seed house sells it by the bag.I believe each bag has 80,000 kernels in it.They also ship by ups.Google albert lea seed house.

unregistered168043 · #4 02/06/12, 07:23 AM

I thought the 'rule of thumb' was 10 lbs per acre? If so, then 2 50 lbs bags should do just fine.

wwubben · #5 02/06/12, 08:18 AM

The seed house recomends 22,000 to 28,000 seeds per acre.Go to the site and click down towards the bottom of the organic seed corn site to find the seed you are looking for.www.alseed.com

FarmboyBill · #6 02/06/12, 08:46 AM

I thought it was a bag every 2 acres. NOBODY sells seed corn in bulk. Its all sold in max 50lb bags.

I went to Open pollinated seed corn dealers online and found a bunch of them

FarmboyBill · #7 02/06/12, 08:47 AM

RH Shumways sells around a doz or less varities. U can see them online.

ronbre · #8 02/06/12, 08:50 AM

there are lots but Bountiful Gardens has a good selection

FarmboyBill · #9 02/06/12, 09:00 AM

Ive already (Hopefully) got mine sewed up at $65 a bag, AND I AINT TELLING WHERE, as they have a limited supply. Thought I had it sewed up at !/2 that, but the guys here in Okla, and nobody had any corn here last year, so hes got no extra to sell this year.

chester5731 · #10 02/06/12, 01:26 PM

www.openpollinated.com is where I bought mine last year. I bought wapsie valley and planted 22,000 seeds per acre. I sent a sample to Midwest Labs in Nebraska and it tested 59.9 test weight and 11.8% protien. The cows eat it like candy.

oldmanriver · #11 02/06/12, 02:56 PM

i planted 2 and 1 half acres with a 50 ib bag and had some lelt over

FarmboyBill · #12 02/06/12, 06:31 PM

If I set my planter right, I imagine I could plant at least 5 acres on a bag. How far was the seed spaced?

Chris. U call that 10 acre field a patch. I dare you to hand pick it and call it a patch when your done LOL.

tyusclan · #13 02/06/12, 07:38 PM

Yellow Dent is one of the most popular (and my personal favorite) varieties of open-pollinated field corn. My local feed store always orders it for me when I need it. It's gonna come in 50 pound bags, but I've always been able to get as many bags as I need.

It's usually cheaper than any of the online or catalog companies too.

chrisl · #14 02/06/12, 07:41 PM

Sorry I got some of you hung up on my seed requirement, but an average lb of corn has approximately 2000 seeds so my exact seed requirement would be 13lbs per acres, but that's just an average so when going to the field its better to have to much than not enough so that's where my 200 lbs came from.

Farmboy 10 acres is a patch, back in the 80's my grand dad, dad, sister, and myself hand picked 80 acres when corn picker broke. We always hand picked at least 20 acres every year up until few years back (ground ear corn, cob and all makes good feed lot feed for calves).

Most of the seed I have found by the time I add shipping I could buy roundup ready hybrid cheaper.

Chris

YuccaFlatsRanch · #15 02/06/12, 07:47 PM

"Most of the seed I have found by the time I add shipping I could buy roundup ready hybrid cheaper."

But you buy again next year too. Can't save seed from the hybrid.

lonelyfarmgirl · #16 02/06/12, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisl

Most of the seed I have found by the time I add shipping I could buy roundup ready hybrid cheaper.

Chris

THIS! This is the down fall of the honest American farmer.

FarmboyBill · #17 02/06/12, 09:17 PM

Whatever you say Chris, BUT I still say. U pick a 10 NOW and then tell me. NOT what you as a kid and your dad and grand did who knows how long ago. I helped my dad and L Brother pick a 15 and a 5, and I can tell you, even with Florie and Dixies help. It was all I wanted to be a part of.

FarmboyBill · #18 02/06/12, 09:18 PM

ty What breed of yellow dent do u plant??

chrisl · #19 02/07/12, 06:52 AM

Lonely and Yucca the average corn yield on this 10 acres is 180 bu to the acre, that equals approximately 1800 bu of corn at $6 = $10,800- $800 ( very liberal input cost estimate) that leaves me with $10 grand I could very easily afford next years RR seed beans at $45/bag.

I guess that my point, where are these OP seed dealers at, and why is it not cost effective. I can find many OP garden seed dealers but very little for true crop production.

Anyway if anyone has some contacts in the Midwest I would appreciated it, otherwise I guess I will have to go back to the money making way. (RR Hybrid)

Thanks,
Chris

wwubben · #20 02/07/12, 08:14 AM

Op corn will not yield even close to hybrid corn.You do not want to plant op if maximum profit per acre is your aim.You can plant a conventional hybrid and get a good yield if you want to get away from rr.