A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
If unmarketable corn has been removed from the field (rejected loads, corn removed to prevent volunteer corn) there are a variety of options for disposal, though feasibility varies significantly.
If volumes are large and viable grain is not to be returned to the field, one of the more feasible options may be to grind corn (tub grinder, roller mill etc.) and return it back to the field.
This will have equipment expenses for grinding and spreading, but will benefit from organic matter, nutrient value of the returned corn and significantly reduced volunteer corn.
Stockpiling or burying unmarketable corn would be options, but would take up considerable space or require significant effort given corn volumes.
Corn infected with DON can potentially be used as a feedstock for anaerobic biodigesters. However, only a limited number of digesters capable of handling grain corn exist in the province.
Grain corn will likely require grinding and ensiling prior to feeding a digester, as whole kernels will simply sink to the bottom of the digester.
Composting grain may be an option, but requires significant water addition and active management.
Landfilling contaminated grain is costly. Above transportation, costs in excess of $100/tonne can be expected from municipal landfills.
Burning compromised grain to produce heat is a possible alternative. Corn as a heating fuel is currently three times less expensive than propane or heating oil.
However, specialised furnaces or boilers are needed, and would only be feasible if the heating system already exists. Impacts of DON release in combustion exhaust would also need to be investigated.
Grain corn contains significant levels of fertility. Crop removal data in Ontario from NMAN software suggests 83-42-29 lb of N-P-K for every 100 bu.
While grain corn is not expected to decompose in time to provide significant fertility credits for the following crop, it will still contribute to soil fertility maintenance.
Using NMAN removal values, the P and K from a 180 bu/ac corn crop would provide 76 lb/ac of P2O5 and 52 lb/ac of K2O, or roughly $70/ac of fertilizer value for soil fertility.
This would be an added benefit of any strategy returning grain material to the field.
OMAFRA Field Crop Team
Coming Events:
Dec. 12 – Garlic Workshop. This workshop will focus on the production and pest management of growing garlic in Ontario. For more information, go to onvegetables.com/2018/09/26/garlic-workshop-dec/
Workshop will be held at 1 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario.
Register by contacting OMAFRA’s Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC) by calling 1-877-424-1300. Space is limited, so register early.