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SEED GUIDE-6
 

2024-2025 PRIDE Seeds Product Guide

You can find all of our products on the website, including supporting performance data and create your own personalized guide called My Guide. You can also download the digital version of our printed product guide which includes product comparison charts. 

 

 

 

4 Tips for Making Top Quality Corn Silage

Jul 14, 2022, 10:57 AM by Tyler Allen (Disabled)
Corn silaging season is a busy time for farmers and retails. The following article has some top tips to consider when cutting your corn silage crop.

Corn silaging season is a busy time for farmers and retails. Below are a few tips to consider when cutting your corn silage crop.

Tips #1: Harvest at the correct moisture

  • Ideal whole plant moisture for harvest: 62-68% moisture (38-32% dry matter).
  • 62-68% moisture range can correlate with 1/2 to 3/4 milk line progression, but doing a harvest sample is the best way to check whole plant moisture before cutting the whole field
  • Different storage methods will require different ideal whole plant moistures for optimal ensiling conditions
  • Approximate dry-down rate: 0.5%/day

Tip #2: Get the right chop length

  • The theoretical length of cut (TLC) also known as target chop length: 1/2” to 3/4”
  • Silage chopped at the TLC will pack more firmly and have increased palatability for livestock
  • Particles that are cut too coarse will reduce packing efficiency and can cause silage to spoil due to poor fermentation
  • Particles cut too fine can reduce palatability and is a less effective source of roughage

Tip #3: Packing the pit properly

  • The purpose of packing the pit is to remove excess oxygen that can inhibit the ensiling process.
  • Typical rule of thumb: 800lbs of tractor for every ton of silage delivered to the pit per hour
  • Want to pack approx. 6” of silage particles at a time to avoid the development of air pockets between layers

Tip #4: Consider using bacterial inoculants

  • These bacteria work in anaerobic conditions which is why getting the right chop length and good packing is critical
  • Lactic acid-producing bacterial inoculants are alive and inactive until rehydrated with moisture from the chopped silage (one of numerous critical reasons for ideal harvest moistures) and can greatly improve ensiling process
  • Consider this: Bacterial inoculants may have a greater benefit on corn silage particles that are immature, damaged from heat and drought stress or has had exposure to heavy frost
  • Depending on the operation, a Lactic acid-producing bacteria inoculant may not be necessary but a heterofermenting bacteria (L. buchneri) can be used to increase improve bunk face management
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