Favorable conditions for silage harvest
By Darren Kulicamp | September 28, 2022
Corn silage harvest is in full swing across Michigan, thankfully with favorable harvest conditions in many regions thus far.
At DF Seeds we have been busy collecting silage plot data from our on-farm research plot trials where we evaluate our experimental, newly released and tried and true hybrids in our Legacy Seeds Ration Choice® corn lineup.
Legacy Seeds Ration Choice corn is DF Seeds’ answer to provide livestock producers with the best dual purpose and silage specific corn varieties that offer improved starch and fiber digestibility, high starch content and exceptional tonnage that corn silage growers demand.
The silage testing we do at DF Seeds takes out the guess work for growers in identifying the hybrids that provide the highest quality feed. Each of the hybrids in the Ration Choice program go through multiple years of testing from their first year of introduction as an experimental variety on through the following years that it is sold to establish a consistent picture of performance.
When it comes to testing, a representative sample of each hybrid is cut and weighed in the field. Samples of each are labeled and sent to the same labs many farmers use for their feed analysis. From the lab results hybrids are ranked based on feed characteristics. The main components that are considered are NDFd30, Total Tract NDFd, 7-hour starch digestibility, and starch kd rate. These main components combined with yield, result in a Milk Per Acre and Beef Per Acre value determining which hybrids are ultimately the best within their maturity groups.
Silage plot results will be available soon, contact your DF Seeds representative to see how your favorite Legacy Seeds Ration Choice hybrids performed this year and to see what is new for 2023.
