Farmers seek to bank 2006 corn crop

Agricultural economists are advising corn growers to store their fall harvest this year, telling farmers they can reap higher prices for their crop if it’s held off the market to satisfy post-harvest demand from the state’s booming ethanol industry.

Trouble is, finding a place to store the corn – and a way to pay for storage – might be more trouble and expense than the future higher prices can offset.

In an early September customer advisory, Ag Management Services market consultant Rich Balvanz said what the industry calls “carries” – higher prices paid for deferred delivery of stored crops – may prove…