Planting

Most commercially available legume seeds, and some grass seeds, are coated. Seed coatings may be calcium carbonate, a polymer or a type of clay.

Seven dollar corn. Fourteen dollar beans. Bring out the plow and disk. Tear up the hay ground, pasture and CRP. Let’s make some real money.

Sound familiar? All across much of North America, farmland devoted to forage production was rapidly converted to row crops to take advantage of attractive grain prices.

As an agronomist, I have advised producers on seed selection for grain corn, silage corn, small grains and hay species for two decades now.

Since hybridization of corn maize became popular in the 1930s, yields have made a steady increase.

One of the best ways to accomplish pasture renovation is by frost seeding, sometimes referred to as overseeding. It is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to establish legumes in existing grass pastures, hayfields and in cereal grains to establish cover crops.

One question frequently asked by dairy producers is: What are the most important characteristics when selecting corn hybrids for silage?