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Hit the harvest window for maximum corn silage value

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It can be difficult to time corn silage harvest at the perfect moment, when starch content is high and yield potential is at its peak. It pays to maximize your ability to hit that moment and get the most out of your crop.

Each year and every crop present different challenges. Weather, soil type variation and irrigation management are a few variables that can drastically impact corn drydown. As the crop matures, keep inspecting crops and taking notes of progress so you can make informed harvest plans. In particular, be sure to note the silking date. The corn plant approaches silage harvest maturity around 35 to 45 days after silking.

Maturity at harvest has a dramatic impact on the nutritional value. As the plant matures, starch content increases, which accounts for most of the improvement in feed quality. However, high dry matter (DM) content reduces fibre digestibility. Although the fibre digestibility drops at a slower rate than starch increases, growers should manage harvest dry matter to balance these two trends. Superior late-season plant health helps improve starch content and slow the decline of fibre digestibility.

Harvesting before plants reach optimal dry matter levels reduces yield per hectare and starch deposition, resulting in hidden economic loss. Harvesting corn silage at dry matter levels below 30 percent not only reduces yield, but also may result in seepage and undesirable fermentation.

Research suggests that unprocessed silage achieves its maximum net energy yield at 34 percent DM (66 percent moisture). Corn silage processed with a kernel processor achieves a maximum net energy yield of 37 percent DM (63 percent moisture), if properly processed. Sampling is the best way to monitor plant maturity and harvest timing.

A quick way to determine if a corn silage crop is nearly ready for harvest and will produce a high yield is to break a cob in half and look at the kernels. A whitish line on the kernels, the milkline, shows where the solid and liquid parts of the kernels are separated. This line progresses from the outer edge of the kernel toward the cob. When the milkline reaches the cob, a black layer will be visible. Silage harvest typically begins when the milkline reaches the halfway point in the kernel.

Milkline progression only provides a rough reference point, however. It’s important to test a representative sample from the field to determine the dry matter level more accurately. Process plants in a chipper/shredder and determine DM with one of several methods. You can send a sample to a lab, or check it using a drying oven, a food dehydrator or an old microwave.

DM is affected by storage structures - each has a different target. A DM of 32 to 38 percent works for most silage bunkers and drive-over piles. You may need 35 to 40 percent DM when using a silage bag. Upright silos vary by structure type. Harvest your corn silage at the correct dry matter range for the storage structure you have on hand and adjust to meet your feeding needs.

Timing is critical, so it can be a challenge to produce a high corn silage yield. Corn plants lose an average of about one percentage point per day when they hit the optimum moisture range. Adjust the start of harvest to maximize the amount of time the crop is in the correct range. Try to plan harvest so a continuous supply of corn silage cut at the proper moisture level arrives at the storage structure. This can be difficult because you can’t account for breakdowns, weather and other interruptions. Still, carefully planning which fields to harvest first often pays off in higher-quality ​corn silage ​with higher yields. With thoughtful planning and good data, you can manage the drydown period to work for you.

Contact your local Pioneer® Seeds if you require further information on how to achieve a high-yield corn silage harvest.

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