Silage

The use of summer annuals is nothing new to most U.S. producers. In fact, these products have been used with great success in forage production and as cover crops for decades.

For most grain and livestock producers, the only time you want to hear “frosted” and “corn” in the same sentence is when you are thinking about breakfast cereals. However, due to late planting in many areas and cooler than normal temperatures in August, frosted corn may be a reality in many locations. Will your crop mature before it frosts?

No two dairy operations are the same. Differences in location, milk markets and individual operational goals, plus a wide range of forage options, means producers increasingly are tailoring rations and forages to fit their specific needs.

This summer, some areas have experienced drought weather conditions, causing an impact on the corn silage crop. Under these conditions, yield losses of 40 to 50 percent are possible if high temperatures and limited rainfall coincide with silking and reproductive stages.

For many dairy farms in the U.S., corn silage and haylage supply a significant portion of the herd’s dietary energy and protein needs.

Corn silage is a high-quality feedstuff that allows you to capture high-moisture corn and a roughage source that can be used in all aspects of the beef cattle industry – feeding cows in confinement, growing cattle and finishing cattle in feedlots.