On your mark…set…go for silage harvest!

BY Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team

A few weeks ago, we talked about the increased variability we are seeing in our 2024 corn crop, and what things should be considered to ensure good silage results. Since then, the midwestern corn crop has moved along quickly, and harvest has begun in parts of Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois. The heat wave we are experiencing this week will likely increase the rate of maturation for the rest of our marketing area, so we need to keep an eye on our crop to ensure a timely harvest.

If you haven’t already, now is a great time to have a discussion with your nutritionist and other team members that will be involved in the silage harvest. Identify or reaffirm your goals for the season, and how you will best achieve them. Here are a few things to discuss and agree on:

Whole Plant Moisture: As the single largest factor in determining proper fermentation and preservation of quality, you need to have a target number in mind for your total crop average. Once this is determined, consider the acceptable range in which you can harvest to achieve that average. If your end goal is 67 percent moisture, most years you will begin harvest at 69-70 percent, and likely finish around 64-65 percent. Of course, this depends on how many days it takes you to harvest, and what weather conditions are during that time. Typically, whole plant corn will decrease by .5 percent moisture per day in September, but this can vary depending on our daily temperature.
Cutting Height: Cutting height can influence yield and quality of your silage. For those looking to maximize tonnage, a typical cutting height is 6-8 inches. The higher you cut from this point, the more you reduce fiber content and increase energy in the silage, but you will reduce yields. Whole plant moisture can also be influenced by cutting height. The lower stalk of the corn plant typically holds more moisture. Therefore, a lower cutting height will drive whole plant moisture higher, and the inverse will drive it lower. You can use this as a tool to adjust moisture content while in the field harvesting. Most producers find a happy medium between 10-15 inches. It is worth having this discussion and adjusting during harvest if needed.
Theoretical Length of Cut: Depending on your storage structure and nutritionist preference, consider what is optimum length of cut for your situation. Typical cut length is ½ to ¾ inch. Longer particles will provide more effective physical fiber but can be more difficult to pack and achieve desired densities in storage. Shorter particles can pack easier, especially in upright silos where gravity is doing the work. With modern equipment today, the ability to process silage with heavy duty kernel processors has allowed for a trend in longer cut lengths while running a tighter tolerance on the processor rolls to smash kernels, cobs, and stalks. This higher degree of processing allows for better packing while still achieving good physical fiber. Decide as a team what your goal is, and then monitor your silage during harvest using a shaker box and kernel processing score.
Kernel Processing: As variable levels of grain maturity are likely this year, it is important to decide how often and who is going to monitor kernel processing as the crop is being harvested. With the increased capacity of forage harvesters today, it is more important than ever before to have a plan for this, as a delay in an adjustment can mean more tons harvested with inadequate results. One simple way to monitor this is using the 32 oz cup method. Gather 32 oz of silage, pour it in a pan and add water. The fiber portion of the plant will float and can be removed. Allow time for the grain to settle to the bottom, and then it can be removed and analyzed. A good rule of thumb is to have two or less whole or half size kernels in this size sample. The good news is that modern equipment can be adjusted very easily to accommodate for the desired results.

Although there are other factors to discuss, having a plan to monitor and adjust during harvest for these four will help you achieve your desired results for silage quality. With the fast turnaround from most silage testing labs, it is a great idea to send in a few samples each day to ensure you are getting the results that you desire.