Planting Date Effects on Corn Silage Yield and Quality

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Joe Lauer, University of Wisconsin – Madison

We have written quite a bit about planting date effects on corn grain yield (high moisture and dry corn).  What about its effects on corn silage?  As planting date becomes more delayed, there is an increased likelihood that fields intended for grain will be harvested for silage, especially if the year remains cool.

Figure 1. Corn forage yield response of full-season hybrids (104-108 RM) to planting date during 2003 to 2012 at Arlington, WI (N= 235 plots).

Figure 1. Corn forage yield response of full-season hybrids (104-108 RM) to planting date during 2003 to 2012 at Arlington, WI (N= 235 plots).

The grain yield response of full-season hybrids to planting date at Arlington for the last 10 years has been described previously.  These treatments were established using 8-row plots; four rows were harvested for silage Continue reading →

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    Farmers Ecouraged to Contact Insurance Provider about Haying or Grazing a Cover Crop this Spring

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    FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT INSURANCE PROVIDER ABOUT HAYING OR GRAZING A COVER CROP THIS SPRING

    Wednesday, May 8, 2013

    News Release from the USDA Risk Management Agency, Contact: Dustin Vande Hoef, 515-281-3375.

    DES MOINES –Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged farmers with cover crops to contact their insurance provider if they are interested in haying or grazing after May 10, 2013.  The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has provided new guidance that insurance providers may allow farmers to continue to hay or gaze the cover crop until May 22, 2013. Continue reading →

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      Planting Progress

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      OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERACurrent planting progress released from the USDA National Ag Statistics tells the current story across the corn belt. Nationally, corn planting stands at 5%, mostly outside the main corn growing areas.  The I-states (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana) all only have a few percent planted per state. Average nationally planted by this point is over the last five years is 31%.

      Cold conditions are slowing the planting progress limiting the ability of the soil to warm because of overall cool temperatures.  Continue reading →

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        Drought of 2012-13 – Over or Not?

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        OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABy Dennis Todey, State Climatologist, South Dakota… The answer to this question is largely a matter of location. For much of the eastern Corn Belt late season precipitation in the fall of 2012 reduced the impact of drought issues. Continuation of precipitation throughout the winter and into early spring has eliminated drought status on the US Drought Monitor and is creating wet conditions in locations along with flooding in some locations. In the central Corn Belt, the additional precipitation in the winter and early spring has reduced drought levels to slightly dry or moderate drought conditions. Western and northern parts of the Corn Belt still have large areas of D2-D4 drought conditions because of Continue reading →

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          Speed Science

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          Want to learn a lot about crops, climate, culture, and change, all in a short period of time?  Check out the Speed Science Resources available on our website.  They include both factsheets and short videos and are approved for use in educational, research, and extension settings.  Factsheet topics vary from the nitrogen cycle, to cover crops, to drainage water management.  The videos cover climate change, soil core sampling, modeling and analysis of soil, and many other topics.  Here’s an example of a video.  Check it out and tell us what you think!

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            Sustainable Corn

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            THE PROJECT

            Sustainable Corn is a five-year project gathers data from 26 field sites in eight Midwestern states and focuses on ways to best promote the long-term sustainability and productivity of corn-based cropping systems.  We are assessing the environmental, economic and social impacts of shifting weather patterns and increasing long-term climate variability on the system. Extension and education programs are working with farmers, teachers and students to connect them with project analyses and promote collaborative learning. Continue reading →

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