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Finding alternatives in a drought year
High corn and bean prices are putting pressure on cattle producer margins. Professor of animal science at Illinois State University, Dr. Paul Walker says if there isn’t rain soon – there won’t be any fall grazing.
He says that means producers will need alternatives even earlier. “Those producers who want to make a decision to stay in the business,” he says, “have a lot of alternatives to feedstuffs. But they’re not without a cost.”
Walker says with the CRP acres being released for emergency haying and grazing there are options available for low quality forages.
Since the early 2000’s producers have had co-products like DDGs and soybean hulls available for alternative feedstuffs – but as grain prices increase – those prices have, too. “The problem right now,” he says, “I bought a load of soybean hulls yesterday for $280/ton. My previous load was purchased in May for $140/ton.”
Walker tells Brownfield alternatives that were once reasonable in prices are now also becoming expensive. “DDGs are twice as expensive as they were earlier in the year,” he says.
Walker says before making any decisions – farmers need to evaluate what options are available and can work best with their operations.
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