Hello All,
In many areas of the U.S. farmers are being told to brush hog corn fields
all but a row for the insurance man to look at because high nitrate levels
*can be* toxic to livestock.

All drought corn used for silage needs to be tested the internet says for
nitrate levels and gives levels.
(quick Google search).

I do not remember hearing the above in past drought years but maybe was so?

I can't remember working on the family farms in Kansas us not able to at
least use the corn for silage.
What is  different ? (or not?)

I wonder about nitrate levels in drought corn pollen used by bees? Thoughts?

Brush hogging corn which did not produce ears would scatter the pollen and I
expect bees would collect. I plan to start feeding pollen patties soon to
give bees a better source of pollen.

The landscape is burning up with no rain in  the forecast. 100F. for next 7
days. 107F. predicted for next Wednesday. Queens have shut down but not
seeing honey pulled from supers yet in the areas we checked but all honey
needs pulled as soon as possible.

having been through many droughts I see feeding starting soon and lasting
until start of winter.
Hard to get bees to raise winter bees in large numbers with these temps.

Providing we can get the honey off before long I expect the crop to be
larger than last year judging from the hives we checked.

 corn prices are rising and the surplus (was 4-5 years before ethanol) is
about gone.

Congress was going to raise the amount of ethanol allowed to 15%  (now 10%) 
which can
not be used in pre 2002 automobiles. Ethanol is sold to the highest bidder
and was shipped out of the U.S.at times last year (USDA).( even tax payer 
subsidized)

bob

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