By: Diana Johnsen
djohnsen@kcautv.com
This past summer's drought has some local farmers making some big changes.
Farmer Randy Hiemstra near Kingsley has his cattle typically eat hay and corn stalks.
But now because of rising hay prices he is replacing the hay with corn syrup.
"Last year you could buy hay for $100.00 to $120.00 dollars a ton. This year you can't find that. This year it's $300.00 dollars," said Hiemstra.
Because of those prices, Hiemstra has more than doubled the amount of corn stalk he uses to substitute hay in his feed.
He has also added more corn syrup to the mixture that he says still provides the same nutritional need that hay has.
"By using a little bit more commercialized protein and corn syrup you can still get the same nutritional needs of the cattle by using that ration."
Just in case it stays dry going into next spring and summer, Hiemstra made about 2,400 corn stalk bales this past September that would help feed his cattle next year.
"You'd rather have bails left over next fall that you didn't use cutting back and finish using up your older ones then go into your new ones rather than to run out."
Hiemstra said that he does have some hay right now but that it will only be used for future calves.
