Set Up Late-Planted Silage Corn for a Strong Finish |
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This item has been supplied by a forage marketer and has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hay & Forage Grower.  Excessive rainfall caused delayed planting and, compared to a normal growing season, much of the silage corn crop is behind schedule. The late start compounded with concerns of an early frost could make the season even shorter. Dairy producers may be concerned about harvesting a lower-quality and lower-yielding silage product due to the late season. “We need all of the warm weather we can get to accumulate growing degree units for the crop to mature normally with good quality,” said Jon Erickson, Commercial Agronomist with Mycogen Seeds. “This is especially important in the late summer months. An early frost can shut down the plant and negatively affect ear fill.” The goal of dairies is to make milk profitably, and a critical part of that equation is feeding high-quality corn silage. Here are three tips to prepare late-planted silage for a successful harvest.
The Corn Growing Degree Day (GDD) decision support tool from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) is a helpful tool to help guide on-farm management decisions, including harvest. This free tool provides real-time information to project crop development, estimate hybrid maturity requirements and predict the likelihood of early frost in specific locations. 2. Monitor corn development after silking. Harvest usually begins about 40-45 days after mid-silk. Producers should keep a calendar that lists 30 days after silking by field, according to Erickson. At this point, producers can begin to monitor development and weather conditions until the crop has reached proper moisture for harvest. 3. Harvest at the proper moisture. Erickson recommends harvesting at 65-70% whole-plant moisture to preserve silage quality. Harvesting when silage is too wet will cause loss of crucial nutrients and impact its quality. In addition to moisture levels, keep an eye on grain fill. If the crop was planted late, there may be less time available for kernels to fully fill. “If we can end up with good fiber digestibility, a nutritionist can add starch to get a good ration,” added Erickson. “Even if we have a frost-shortened growing season, producers who planted Mycogen brand BMR or Unified corn silage will have good fiber digestibility, which can still offer good quality corn silage to feed dairy cows.” Erickson suggests producers work closely with their nutritionist during and after harvest to assess silage quality, run tests and analyze the forage, and build a new feeding plan based on what’s in the bunker. For more information about helping silage corn reach its potential before harvest, talk to your local Mycogen Seeds agronomist and visit Mycogen.com/Silage.
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