Harvest is starting in many parts of Indiana right now and many more combines will start rolling in the next few weeks. Dairy farmers are finishing up with chopping corn silage. So how is this done?
There is a pretty small window to get this done. Corn silage needs to be about 60-68 percent moisture, so once it's ready it needs to be chopped pretty quick. This corn is also pretty green, especially compared to the brown corn that is shelled using a combine later in the fall. The corn that's brown has significantly less moisture in it.
The red chopper head (lower left) chops up the whole corn stalk and spits it out into the wagon as you can see above.
Unlike shelling corn, corn silage involves the entire plant being chopped up. This is great feed for dairy cows! Corn silage is a great energy source, something lactating cows need a lot of.
This is what it looks like once it's all chopped up. Cows LOVE corn silage!
My brother has been busy in the field chopping silage.
The corn is so tall! Keep in mind my brother is 6'1''
My brother checking the corn cobs while taking a break from chopping in the field.
Since I can't just drive over and hop in the tractor with him, I drove a few hours to see some amazing folks I call family. We're not actually related, but it doesn't matter. They're awesome. After milking and feeding calves, I got to ride along for a few hours to chop corn silage. What an awesome day!! Very thankful to have the opportunity to do this.
Just because the sun sets doesn't mean the work day is over...especially this time of year
This is the semi, which was filled with silage (see above photo) unloading it into the bunker silo.
Silage needs to be air tight or mold can grow. The tractor drives over it to compact it and then it is covered with white plastic and tires to hold the plastic down.
Ingredients
- Halibut filets, thawed
- Fresh rosemary
- Lemon juice
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
- Dried rosemary
- Dried thyme
- Dried dill weed
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
- Heat a skillet on the stove until it's very hot
- Momentarily remove the skillet from heat, add some dried rosemary, thyme and dill weed. Immediately add olive oil. (Amounts of dried herbs depend on your preference)
- Add some balsamic vinegar and swirl the pan to mix everything
- Add lemon juice
- Put the skillet back on the burner
- Add the halibut filet (repeat process for each filet, or you can add multiple to your pan at a time)
- Cook 1-2 minutes on each side to sear it
- Line a baking sheet with foil and spray foil with non-stick cooking spray
- Place the filets on the baking sheet and add fresh rosemary and some lemon juice
- Cook for 5-10 minutes in the oven until the fish flakes
- Remove from oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving
LOVE the combination of rosemary, thyme and dill but I would not have thought to put them together with fish. I can't wait to give this a try.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info about the corn. I can't wait to show my 10 year old just how tall corn fields grow!