Benton Ag Plus - September 19, 2020

BENTON AG Plus

Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, September 19, 2020

Serving rural Benton, Morrison, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties

Royalton farmer survives grain bin entrapment Schlichting cautions awareness of unloading any type of crop

BY ANDREA BORGERDING STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY ANDREA BORGERDING

Jim Schlichting stands near the bin door where emergency crew members carried him out on a stretcher. He was trapped inside the bin for two and a half hours when soybeans gradually covered him up to his chin Sept. 1 on a farm site near Royalton.

The semi was half loaded when the soybeans stopped flowing. Schlichting climbed the bin to enter through a side door. He walked along the top of the soybeans to poke and loosen any lodged grain underneath.

“I was standing there

watching the beans flow down from the sides and the next thing I knew it was up to my knees,” Schlichting said. “I was thinking, ‘It’s time to get out of here.’”

Schlichting quickly found himself lodged in the flow of soybeans with it rising around

him. Schlichting said he knew he was not going anywhere.

“I yelled for the drivers which I didn’t think they would be able to hear because there were two augers and tractors running outside,” Schlichting said.

Schlichting resolved to stay

calm and wait. About 10 minutes passed when Schlichting’s feet hit the floor of the bin and the beans stopped flowing. By that time, Schlichting was buried in beans up to his chin.

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ROYALTON – As the number of days since Sept.

1 increase, it is easier for Jim Schlichting to reflect on what happened to him on that day. His most vivid memory includes the surreal feeling that overcame him when he found himself buried chin-deep in a grain bin three-quarters full of soybeans.

“I told myself right away that it doesn’t pay to get excited,” Schlichting said as he recalled the events of the day.

“I was standing there thinking, ‘This is a little on the weird side for me.’”

Schlichting raises corn, soybean and alfalfa on his 400acre farm where he and wife, Patty, live east of Royalton.

On the afternoon of Sept. 1, Schlichting was unloading soybeans from a 17,000-bushel grain bin on a neighboring farm site. The beans were being removed from the bin with an auger and emptied into a semitruck. The bin is five rings high, and the soybeans were up to the top of the fourth ring.

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Page 2B | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

Schlichting from front leveled out in the bin and Schlichting was in no danger of being covered further.

Emergency crews, including the Royalton Fire Department and first responders, a Royalton police officer and Morrison County Sheriff’s Department, all arrived at the farm site. A First Link helicopter also landed nearby.

For two and a half hours, emergency crews, along with neighbors, friends and family, worked to uncover Schlichting. Four holes were cut into the sides of the bin to help quickly remove the soybeans.

Schlichting received oxygen while crews worked around him.

A harness was placed around him as a precaution.

“I got a little anxious when they got me uncovered down to my waist,” Schlichting said.

“I was thinking, ‘Get me out of here.’ My legs

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were hurting really bad.”

Once free, Schlichting was carried out of the bin on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance where he was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital.

At the hospital, Schlichting was given fluids and monitored for rhabdomyolysis – a condition in which a breakdown of muscle tissue releases a damaging protein into the blood. He was advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids at his release three hours later.

Schlichting visited the hospital and clinic three times that week for monitoring and received more fluids at one hospital visit.

Two weeks later, he feels back to normal.

In all of his 38 years of farming, Schlichting said he has never had a similar experience to

“I wouldn’t want to go through it again, but it’s not going to scare me.”

- Jim Schlichting being entrapped in a bin.

“I wouldn’t want to go through it again, but it’s not going to scare me,” Schlichting said.

He realized that if the bin had been fuller his experience likely would have ended different.

“I don’t think too much when it comes to working with beans,” Schlichting said. “It’s not like corn where it can bridge up and then all of a sudden collapse. I’m pretty cautious about that because you hear way too many horror stories about

that.”

In the future, Schlichting said he will pay more close attention when working in bins.

“It happens pretty fast,” Schlichting said.

“I can’t thank the fire department, first responders, sheriff’s department, neighbors, friends, family and medical staff enough for all their help.”

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Jim Schlichting walks around the 17,000-bushel bin Sept. 14 where emergency crew members cut holes to quickly remove soybeans at a farm site near Royalton. Removing the soybeans allowed crews to uncover Schlichting who was buried up to his chin inside the bin.

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The emergency crew cut four holes into the grain bin where Jim Schlichting became trapped in soybeans Sept. 1 at a farm site in rural Royalton.

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“I wasn’t in pain, and I could still breathe OK,” Schlichting said.

Schlichting could hear the drivers, slamming the side door to try to dislodge the soybeans that had stopped flowing.

A semitruck driver, Joel Popp, climbed the bin and looked inside.

“When I saw him, I yelled at him to shut the auger off,” Schlichting said.

Popp yelled at Nate Rothstein, the other driver, to shut off the auger. Popp and Rothstein proceeded to try to get Schlichting out. Popp entered the bin and Rothstein threw a strap down to Popp.

Popp managed to uncover Schlichting’s one arm and they tried to pull him free.

“They started pulling and I knew it wasn’t going to work,” Schlichting said. “My shoulder is in bad shape and so it was too painful.”

They called 911 for help freeing Schlichting.

By that time, the soybeans

BENTON AG

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 | Page 3B

Mindful farming

Kaschmitters manage nutrient application to promote soil health

BY JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER

farmers are restricted from applying nitrogen on cropland in the fall or on frozen soils in vulnerable groundwater areas under the Groundwater Protection Rule. While parts of Benton County are considered vulnerable areas, the Kaschmitters are not affected by the inability to apply nitrogen during this time because of practices they have already implemented.

“When it comes to applying fertilizer in the fall, most farmers aren’t doing that,” Glen said. “The nitrogen rule is a good thing. It was developed with input from the agriculture community.”

The rule was established to prevent nutrient runoff when weather conditions do not allow for nutrient absorption.

When the soil temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the nitrification of converting nitrogen to ammonia does not occur. The process is more stable when soil temperatures are warmer in the spring and summer.

“As farmers, our purpose is to manage the land in the most

efficient way possible to deliver a high-quality product,” Glen said.

SAUK RAPIDS “We’ve made changes to – Brian and Glen our farm to become more Kaschmitter understand conservative as we’re the importance of farming able.” mindfully.

The single greatest “We can’t tear down a change the brothers made field and rebuild the soil,” to nutrient management Brian said. “We have to was choosing to apply be able to sustain the land nitrogen twice to the year after year in order to corn fields. They apply raise a good crop.” fertilizer once before The Kaschmitter seeds are planted and then brothers and Brian’s wife, once during the growing Brenda, carefully manage season. nutrient application “When we apply on their 850-acre crop nitrogen, we have to make farm near Sauk Rapids sure it goes on gradually with the assistance of so it doesn’t leach away,” local organizations Glen said. “Otherwise, it and programs that could get into the air with help determine the a hot, windy day.” best practices for the They then test soil condition and the the soil’s nutrient Kaschmitters’ farming composition and apply goals. manure accordingly The family raises following best corn, soybeans, alfalfa management practices. and grass hay, and a herd “In the eastern half of beef cows. They also of the state, the soil is run a custom soybean low in pH but high in roasting business which phosphorus,” Glen said. the family began in 1987.

“So when we spread Until last year, the manure, we look at Kaschmitters managed phosphorus levels to a farrow-to-finish hog apply to the soil versus facility where they raised nitrogen.” about 1,500 feeder pigs Brian agreed. each year.

“Whether we’re Across Minnesota, applying for phosphorus or nitrogen, we look at removal rates and make sure what is applied will be utilized,” he said.

The Kaschmitters closely monitor their irrigation system by using 12- and 24-inch meters that measure soil moisture. These readings help the family decide when and how much water to apply to the fields.

“We have to be Glen and Brian Kaschmitter discuss their manure careful because when management plan Sept. 11 at their farm in rural Sauk nitrogen is converted to Rapids. The Kaschmitters apply manure following best nitrates that’s easily lost management practices. with the infiltration of

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER COYNE

Glen and Brian Kaschmitter farm 850 acres of cropland in rural Sauk Rapids. The brothers carefully manage nutrient application on their fields to promote soil health, reduce runoff and meet the Kaschmitters’ farming goals. Not pictured is Brian’s wife, Brenda, who is also a part of the business.

water,” Glen said.

Every year, the family works with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District to appropriately apply fertilizer to the soil.

Kaschmitters page 7B

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by Roger Strom delayed mail. In a recent interview he said, Pharmacists Association found 20% of “Everything already takes additional time, adults over 40 who take medication for a and so that adds cost. Even if it’s not delivery cost, chronic condition get those pills by mail. Earlier this it’s the cost of time. If you start to remove those last year, mail-order prescriptions grew 21% from the key delivery options, you put rural communities in a previous year to bring their share of the prescription complete bind.” drug market to 5.8%, the highest share in at least two The problem is made even worse with 14.5 years. million people in rural areas who don’t have There’s a whole lot of blame for the problems access to broadband with an estimated 18% of the within the postal system, with plenty of speculation population that still pay bills by mail. and accusations. The bottom line for many is whether Rural areas also depend on the postal service or not they can rely on a system that has become a for voting, and with the massive number of mail-in life-line for rural America. ballots this year, things could get a whole lot worse One more point to make: Unlike their city between now and November. Even those who do have counterparts, rural carriers do not generally earn a polling place, there is a shortage of voluntary poll overtime, so when the mail is heavy or weather is bad, workers who, because of their age, are in the category they work extra for free. With the increased reliance of high risk for getting the COVID-19 virus. on Amazon and other online companies, our mail In Minnesota, there are many small towns that vote carriers are delivering more packages than ever, often only by mail because they are not populated enough going the extra step of bringing deliveries to your to open up polls. There are 130,000 Minnesotans who door. receive a mailed ballot every election because they Don’t forget to thank them and maybe leave an live in a town with fewer than 400 people. envelope with a little extra for their service.

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SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 | Page 7B

Pricing corn silage

by Nathan Drewitz

was harvested at 70% moisture, it yielded 19.5 tons of silage which is only 6.4 bushels of corn per acre. Environment may also play a role in the amount of grain in a silage sample. Testing samples for moisture and feed quality is one way to help decide what the silage is worth and can help eliminate some of the questions around quality. Also remember that storage and labor costs are tied up in the price of grain. If you are not the one doing the work, make sure to properly adjust the price based on the harvest costs that would have occurred in harvesting the grain.

There are different ways to price corn silage other than using the above estimation.

Many of these options are easily found online and free to use. Penn State, Iowa State, Kansas State and Wisconsin all

Kaschmitters from page 3B “It’s important to work with programs, and we work with good people,” Brian said. “We wouldn’t try any of it if we knew there wasn’t a benefit to farming differently.”

Brian was a longtime board member on the Elk River Watershed Association before it dissolved into a joint organization between Benton and Sherburne counties.

Not only is this important for soil health and long-term sustainability of the land, there is also a financial incentive to apply nutrients responsibly.

“Fertilizer costs went way up in the ‘80s and farmers became more aware of what they were spending,” said Glen who worked as an agronomist before returning to farm full time with his brother and sister-in-law. “Nitrogen, in particular, went crazy.”

For reference, 40 years ago when farmers would apply nitrogen,

As always, the price that suits the needs of both parties as best as it can is the end goal.

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A buffer strip is established along a private drainage ditch at the Kaschmitters’ farm in rural Sauk Rapids. The family uses buffer strips to prevent runoff from nearby cropland.

the cost to do so was about $0.08 per pound.

Now, the cost is between $0.24 and $0.40 per pound.

To further assist with nutrient management, Glen and Brian implemented a buffer strip along their drainage ditches nearly a decade ago, and use cover crops and no till farming practices on certain fields.

While all of these practices have made crop farming more desirable for the Kaschmitters, it has become ever more important as they continue farming in a

location prone to urban sprawl.

“It’s great for the community,” said Glen about the growing population. “But people have to understand agriculture is a large part of this community.”

Together, the Kaschmitters choose to implement practices that benefit their operation and the community that surrounds them. And, they are not alone.

“While Mother Nature controls what we do and how we farm, most all farmers farm in a way that is good,” Brian said.

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removal rates at 3.6 pounds of phosphorus per ton and 8.3 pounds of potassium per ton of silage. Remember, yield and quality are also important when determining a fair price for corn silage or dry hay.

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have their own versions of corn silage pricing calculators and can all be found using a simple internet search. Each one takes a slightly different approach to pricing corn silage, so make sure to experiment with them to decide which one best fits your needs and situation.

Remember, the person buying the crop is also thinking about yield, quality and price versus other options.

While the above calculators and estimations can help determine a fair price, I always recommend looking at past production costs to help determine price. Determining a price that accounts for nutrient applications and removal, pest management, seed costs, and all equipment and labor costs is the surest way to determine a fair price for both your silage and hay sources.

This can be relatively easy if you keep records of expenses throughout the year. While nitrogen applications have to be made every year due to its mobility in the soil, phosphorus and potassium are less mobile and therefore need to be accounted for through removal rates.

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‘Tis the season for questions surrounding pricing corn silage in field. Agreeing on a price for corn silage can be difficult and getting a fair price requires knowledge of both the expenses, such as the cost of fertilizer and field operations, and markets (grains, straw, mild and silage). This can make obtaining a fair price hard to come by if you are not aware of the resources around you.

There are a few rules of thumb that are usually used. One of the more common methods for corn silage standing in the field is that it might be worth six to eight times the price of corn grain. This is based on an estimate of six to eight bushels per ton of silage.

However, this may not be the best option as data from the University of Wisconsin showed anywhere between a 3.6 to 7.5 bushels of grain per ton of silage at 65% moisture. Moisture does make a difference when estimating yields. In field trials when corn was harvested at 65% moisture and yielded 125 bushels per acre, it resulted in 16.7 tons of silage which is 7.5 bushels of corn per ton of silage. In those same field trials, when corn

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