Pioneer Hi-Bred is recommending that producers across the country concentrate on the moisture levels of corn as a signal that their crop is ready for harvest. This important step will help ensure a high yield for the producer. Read more below for more tips on the correct time to harvest.
“If growers wait for brown leaves, especially with today’s modern corn genetics that stay green later in the growing season, they may miss their harvest window totally,” says Bill Seglar, Pioneer Hi-Bred nutritional sciences veterinarian. “Instead, they should be looking at moisture content as the key corn silage harvest indicator.”
In order to achieve optimal moisture content, growers need to pay close attention to when corn tassels. This provides an estimate for the correct silage harvest window – approximately 40 to 45 days after tasseling, Seglar says. He suggests growers look closely at their fields two to three weeks before the date estimated by the crop’s tassels and assess the kernel milkline. University of Wisconsin research shows that while a two-thirds milkline is the optimal maturity indicator for corn in the 63 percent to 68 percent moisture range, weather and growing variables may result in a much larger moisture variability range.
“The only way a producer will really know the moisture content is to collect a representative sampling of the crop for determination of whole plant moisture content,” Seglar says. “Growers who expend efforts to evaluate their samples will have the reward of higher-quality corn silage as an end result.”
A sample of nine to 10 stalks (chopped with a landscaper’s chipper/shredder and dried in a Koster crop tester or microwave) is recommended for evaluating moisture content. If the crop is not at its most favorable moisture level, it can be expected to drop 0.5 percent to 1 percent per day under normal weather and growing conditions.
Additionally, Pioneer inoculants – such as Pioneer® brand 1132, 11C33 or 11CFT – work best when the crop is harvested at the correct moisture level. If the harvest window is missed, the benefit from inoculation will be less than ideal in reducing shrink losses, enhancing nutrient availability and/or improving bunklife properties during feedout.
Correct moisture content and use of well-researched inoculants are important for maximizing silage quality. Forage experts recommend a combination of other silage management practices for best results as well. These include ensuring proper chop length and kernel processor settings; packing tractor weight; appropriately sized storage structures; covering and sealing silage securely; and using appropriate feedout practices.