WEST UNION - Widespread hail in Northeast Iowa will give farmers some extra marketing opportunities for corn as the silage harvest gets under way.

Tuesday's U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report said 97 percent of the state's corn is at or beyond the milk stage, about a week behind the five-year average. Research shows the optimum time to harvest silage is when whole-plant moisture is between 65 percent to 70 percent, or when the milk line is halfway up the kernel.

Farmers and livestock experts said the silage harvest will last two to three weeks.

Summer hail storms destroyed or severely damaged more than 600,000 acres of crops in Northeast Iowa.

Farmers were counting on thousands of those acres to feed livestock, especially in Fayette, Chickasaw and Hardin counties, which have heavier concentrations of dairy farms and beef feedlots.

Dale Thoreson, an Iowa State University livestock specialist in the region, said many producers will have to buy silage to feed cows and cattle, providing grain farmers some immediate sales. Farmers with slightly damaged corn also may have the opportunity to sell it as feed instead of worrying whether grain buyers will reject or discount it.

"My guess there's going to be a lot of corn damaged by hail that will end up in a silage bunker instead of the grain bin," Thoreson said.

Currently silage is worth about $21 per ton, plus a $7 to $8 per ton harvesting and hauling fee, Thoreson said. A ton of silage typically costs seven times the current price of a bushel of corn.

"I've done the math so many times on this. It's what it always works out to be," Thoreson said.

Though a little late, Thoreson said tonnage should be good on non-damaged corn. The local average is 25 to 30 tons per acre. Hail-damaged corn will vary widely from 20 tons per acre to nothing.

Mike Strief, a West Union dairy farmer, said his farms were spread out enough that he still has 300 acres to chop for silage. He lost 300 acres of corn dedicated for grain.

"I'll get 25 to 27 tons per acre," Strief said. "Some isn't worth chopping (in the area). One guy decided to sell his cows."

Thoreson warned farmers to check hail-damaged corn for molds and toxins, which can be harmful to livestock.

The report said low humidity and clear skies last week allowed crops to make some progress. Corn and soybeans statewide are mostly rated in good to excellent condition.

Nearly all the soybeans in Iowa are at or beyond the setting pods stage, while 29 percent are turning color.

Cattle on feed recorded good gains last week thanks to optimal weather conditions.