Corn silage is an essential component of dairy and beef nutrition, providing high yields of energy-dense, digestible forage. While brown midrib (BMR) hybrids are renowned for their digestibility, their yield drag and agronomic challenges can make them difficult for many growers to manage effectively. Fortunately, growers can achieve exceptional silage quality without relying on BMR hybrids by focusing on hybrid selection, plant health, and harvest timing. New this year, Pioneer® brand TonnEdge hybrids deliver high tonnage potential, superior agronomics, and excellent plant health. These non-BMR hybrids offer a reliable balance of yield and quality, enabling producers to meet their forage production goals.
Hybrid selection is the foundation of successful silage production. TonnEdge hybrids excel by combining strong agronomics, including disease resistance and drought tolerance, with high tonnage potential. These traits ensure plants maintain health through late-season stress and reach their full genetic potential. While fiber digestibility in non-BMR hybrids is more influenced by the growing environment than by genetic differences, selecting hybrids with robust agronomic performance is crucial.
Maintaining plant health throughout the growing season is critical for achieving high-quality silage. Diseases such as leaf blight and tar spot can significantly reduce fiber digestibility and limit late-season starch accumulation. In high-risk environments, applying fungicides can protect plant health and help the crop reach its yield and quality potential. Adequate fertility management, particularly ensuring sufficient nitrogen and potassium levels, is equally important. These nutrients prevent plants from cannibalizing their stalks, a condition that lowers both yield and digestibility.
Harvest timing is another essential factor in producing high-quality silage. Monitoring the milk line is one of the most reliable methods for determining when to harvest. For healthy plants, harvesting at the ¾ milk line stage maximizes starch content and yield. High chopping is another practice that can improve forage quality. Raising the cutter head leaves the less digestible lower stalk in the field, significantly increasing fiber digestibility and energy density. Although this practice reduces total yield, the trade-off is often worthwhile, as increased starch content and digestibility enhance the nutritional value of the forage.
Post-harvest practices also play a key role in silage quality. Kernel processing is essential for maximizing starch digestibility, with a goal of fewer than four whole kernels per 32 ounces of silage. Adjusting chop length based on moisture content further improves digestibility and packing density, particularly when silage is too dry. The use of advanced silage inoculants, such as Pioneer® brand 11CFT, can further enhance silage quality. These inoculants produce enzymes that modify cell wall fibers by decoupling them from lignin during storage, enabling more extensive fiber digestion by rumen bacteria. Additionally, 11CFT inoculants promote lactic acid production, preserving sugars and extending bunk life by reducing spoilage and heating at feedout.
By selecting the right hybrids, maintaining plant health, and using proven harvest and storage techniques, producers can achieve high-quality corn silage with excellent digestibility and nutritional value. TonnEdge hybrids, combined with practices such as timely harvest and the use of inoculants like 11CFT, provide the tools needed for superior forage production and optimal animal performance.
Contact your local Pioneer sales team to learn more about our competitive corn silage lineup.
The Pioneer® brand corn silage lineup offers high-yielding genetics, proven agronomic and defensive traits, and advanced seed treatment options to help dairy producers maximize tonnage, energy, and quality. And, the Pioneer Silage Zone® Resource Center is a one-stop source for silage management information. The overall depth and breadth of the Pioneer forages product portfolio is driven by the company’s leadership in plant health and nutrition.
Pioneer, the flagship seed brand of Corteva Agriscience, is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Learn more at Pioneer.com/forages.
