By Sue Roesler, Farm & Ranch Guide
Friday November 24, 2006 11:51am CST
Duane Zent, of Lefor, combines corn to take to Red Trail to sell. Photo by Sue Roesler
LEFOR, N.D. - Sparkling like fool’s gold in the mid-day sun, the kernels of corn streaming from auger to semi-truck on the Duane Zent farm southeast of Richardton, N.D., carry extra value this year.
“This is like gold to me,” said Zent.
He and his brother, Richard, farm mainly wheat and corn, and also run a commercial cattle business, with some of the corn going to feed livestock.
But this year, all that’s changed.
Duane said their entire crop will be headed to the new ethanol plant in Richardton, Red Trail Energy, LLC.
A Red Trail board member as well as a corn grower, Zent had a feeling last year that the ethanol plant was going to be a booming market for corn. Thinking ahead, he saved all his corn crop from 2005, a bountiful year, and now has the 2006 crop, too.
“We got lucky. We knew the ethanol plant would offer a better price. The 2005 crop is stored in bins on our farm,” he said.
Now the Zents can play the market, and wait until prices are right until he brings in corn. And prices have been right consistently at Red Trail. With the price of corn from $3.20 to $3.30 most days at the ethanol plant, farmers in the area with corn to sell are going to profit - and most feel it’s about time producers got a better price for their grain.
Zent said he’s heard from several producers in the region who are already making plans to plant corn acres next year.
North Dakota State University also seems to be getting on board the corn hopper, with studies aimed at testing hardier, disease-resistant corn that can survive in northern climates and varieties that ethanol plants desire.
The Zents have actually been growing corn for grain and feed for several years.
“It’s been a nice cash crop for us,” Zent said. They have a seed dealer who they know well and trust, and have had good luck with Pioneer seed. “But there’s a lot of good seed out there. That’s just the one we use,” he added.
As he talks, Zent steers the combine through some beautiful and thick corn stalks.
“Right here in this area of the field, the corn is a lot like the corn crop we grew last year, thick and beautiful. We were getting 40 to 50 bushel an acre in every field,” he said as a wide grin spreads over his face.
It’s been a dry year particularly in the Lefor area, and not all the corn acres produced as abundantly, but Zent felt it was “a really good crop for a drought year.” The Lefor region and further south has recorded only about 5 inches of moisture since the first snowfall last year until now.
He was asked to bringt in the first semi-truckload of corn to Red<\p>Trail the end of September for a plant run through. The ethanol plant tested the corn to see if all systems were go. “It turned out great,” Zent said.
The Zents began growing corn in 1995, partially as a response to livestock producers in the region who were having to pay high costs for corn to be shipped in from the east. It was a win-win situation for both the area ranchers, and the Zents.
“The first year, we got 50 cents over the market,” Zent said.
Duane and Richard grew up on their parents’ farm in Lefor. When Duane graduated from high school, he spent two years at college in Wahpeton, then returned to help his father. In 1982, the brothers took it over.
“I like farming. There’s nothing better,” Duane said.
Zent said he likes the idea of the ethanol plant producing wet and dry distillers grains cake to include in the livestock feed mix. He said producers in close proximity like he is will be able to buy the wet cake which has to be used up quickly before it spoils. Zent said he will definitely be buying it for his livestock.
“No one in this area has ever had the opportunity to use it (dried distillers grains), and it’s big in the cattle and dairy industry,” he said.
Some of their hay turned out poor this year due to the drought, and dried distillers grain can be successfully used in that situation.
At one time, the Zents backgrounded their calves, but stopped when it became too expensive. Now, they can reconsider doing that.
“This is an opportunity for us,” Zent said.
Being an investor in Red Trail Energy is also panning out for the Zents, particularly with the news that no ethanol plant of the type the Richardton plant is has ever failed to this point.
Minnesota is well ahead of North Dakota with ethanol plants and all are doing well, according to the president of Red Trail, Mick Miller.
Like all the producers in the southwestern region of North Dakota, Zent feels it’s time that a value-added agricultural venture takes off and becomes profitable. He thinks the return to the investors, including himself, will be strong.
“It’s like a dream come true for us,” he said.
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