Dairy I Manuel Peña, Regional Dairy Educator
A corn silage dry-down event for dairy farmers and forage growers in the east central region, where participants can submit corn silage samples for free to assess their dry matter content. This information helps them to determine the appropriate time to harvest their corn for silage maximizing forage quality. Farmers have only one chance to do it right every season, we want to support those decisions.
Dry matter (DM) data are important for determining the appropriate harvest timing for corn silage. Measuring whole-plant DM provides a more reliable indication of harvest readiness than using kernel milkline alone, since the relationship between kernel maturity and whole-plant moisture can vary among hybrids and growing conditions.Harvesting corn silage at the appropriate DM content for the storage structure helps support proper fermentation, minimize storage losses, and preserve the nutritive value of the crop. Corn harvested too wet can result in poor fermentation and nutrient losses through seepage, while overly dry silage can be more difficult to pack, increasing the risk of mold and other storage losses. Over three consecutive Wednesdays, from August 26 through September 9, we hosted a corn silage dry matter sampling event. Farmers had the opportunity to submit corn silage samples at no charge and receive DM results to help evaluate crop maturity and harvest timing. Providing timely DM information can help farmers make more informed harvest decisions based on actual whole-plant moisture conditions. These decisions can contribute to better preservation of nutrients and forage quality during storage and provide more consistent information for subsequent dairy diet formulation.