By Blake Jackson
Wisconsin farmers are reporting a growing season, especially corn, resulting in unusually large harvest volumes across the state. At some grain elevator sites, the abundance has led to visible piles of corn stored outdoors due to limited storage capacity.
United Cooperative is among the organizations managing the overflow. At their facility north of Appleton, millions of pounds of corn are temporarily stored in the parking lot. President and CEO David Cramer said multiple sites are facing similar circumstances because storage bins are full. “We’re actually making space and moving grain,” Cramer said. “We’ve got rail freight coming in as fast as we can get it to come in and try to keep as much of it off the ground as possible.”
Cramer noted that resorting to outdoor piles is rare and highlights how strong this year’s crop has been. In some parts of Wisconsin, farmers are reporting unusually high yields. “They’re talking 20 to 30 bushels over their all-time record (high yields) in some areas,” he said.
A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report supports these observations, projecting corn production to increase nearly 13 percent from last year, both nationally and within Wisconsin. Farmers planted more acres, and the average yield per acre is expected to be about 5 percent higher than in 2024.
Kevin Jarek, a regional crops and soils educator with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, said there have only been a few years when elevators became this overwhelmed. Jarek recalls seeing similar scenes in 1994. He added that strong yields in top corn-producing states like Illinois and Iowa mean rail transportation is limited, slowing grain movement.
With many operations lacking adequate on-farm storage, some producers turned to silo bagging systems to handle excess grain. “If you drive around Wisconsin and you see these bright white plastic tubes on the farms or in fields, those are silo bags,” Jarek explained.
Despite the strong harvest, low commodity prices continue to challenge farmers, who faced high production costs for fuel and fertilizer. Many producers are hoping that delaying grain sales by storing it longer may lead to improved market opportunities.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotokostic
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Corn