2009 Iowa Corn Silage Yield Trial and Rye Cover Crop Demonstration

Abstract

<p>Corn silage is harvested from about 1.8% of Iowa corn acres. Most corn silage is harvested in the northeast and northwest portions of the state where the majority of dairy herds are located. In these regions, corn silage is a major portion of the row-crop acres. Because no independent yield trials are being conducted on corn hybrids for silage, a coalition consisting of ISUE Field Specialists, NICC instructors, the NE Iowa Dairy Foundation, and several seed corn representatives initiated a corn silage hybrid trial at the NE Iowa Dairy Foundation farm in 2008. This is the second year of the corn silage trial. Results from 12 corn hybrid varieties are presented in this report as well as data on rye coverage planted between corn crops in 2008–2009.</p>