Craig September 14, 2020

Brooks (Rural Roots Canada) – Testing your feed grade grain as it comes off the field can help your livestock’s health and your bottom-line.

Mike Witkowicz is the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for the Ag Exchange Group.

He says farmers who are feeding their grain to their livestock need to keep a couple of things in mind when it’s coming off the field.

“What’s the quality for your stored feed?” asks Witkowicz.

“Did it go in wet? Did it go in warm? Because if it did, then you have the potential for toxins to form, which is bad for your animals.  So make sure you test if it goes in wet or warm, you get it out and get your grain tested.

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Witkowicz says farmers also need to take into consideration that the crop in the bin might be worth more if it is sold.

“Your stored feed may actually be worth something for milling and have some better prices.”

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He says it takes more management of your crop, but it could return revenue to your bottom-line.

“Now I realize that incurs a few extra costs for transportation handling, but we’ve seen spreads in the last year of 45 to 60 dollars a ton between a number one and a feed.  So, I think for $60 a ton, it is really worth looking at and how it matches to your plan and then executing on it.”

Witkowicz spoke at the RRC Virtual Ag Days in July.

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Craig

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