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Kayla Proctor
Dr. John Settimi
M,W,F 8:00
08 March 2016

Corn for Silage

When one thinks of foods that use corn, what comes to mind? Many people would say
popcorn, cereals, cornbread, or even corn liquor; however, most wouldnt imagine meat such as
beef or lamb. Ruminants are fed silage, whole corn plants that have been fermented by
microscopic organisms in acidic and anaerobic storage conditions; it is broken down
significantly and appears mush-like. Depending on the livestock, different ingredients such as
soy, urea, cotton seed, and hays may be mixed with the silage to meet the animals nutritional
needs. Silage is typically fed to livestock when pasture grazing is not available to do extremely
wet, frozen, or drought conditions. For example, calves as young as 3 months old all the way to
finishing or breeding ages of cattle can be given silage to eat, though the amount included in the
diet may vary due to age, breed, and species. The corn used is the same kind that humans eat, but
must picked before full maturity when the nutrients are at their highest levels. A lot of energy
goes into growing corn in Kentucky every year, especially with 60% of the yield being used for
livestock feed. In order to produce the highest yield, one must first decide what type of corn they
wish to plant. Dent corn hybrids, either white or yellow kernelled, are used primarily in animal
food but is also used for consumption and raw material. Kentucky is one of the top producers of
white and yellow corn, but dent corn is the main ingredient used for silage feed. Table 1
compares the yields of various crops, including corn, from Kentucky with the total yields across
the United States.

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Table 1

Ke
ntucky Department of Agriculture 2015

When it comes to soil, corn is not an extremely demanding crop as long as Nitrogen,
Phosphorus, Sulfur, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Boron, Zinc, and moisture are available.
For best results, however, the corn plant should be grown in a warm, sunny climate with nitrogen
rich soil. Studies have shown that corn plants thrive better in well-drained soils, preferably a
sandy-loam, but can also flourish in heavier clay soils as long as the soil quality is improved,
monitored, and maintained.

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Graph 1

The availability of corn, supply, and demand help set the price for most food products; if
the price of corn is high, other food costs are likely to increase also. As seen in Graph 1,
nationwide, in the past 3 years, corn prices have dropped dramatically from nearly $7.00 a
bushel, during a shortage, to $3.65. Prices in Kentucky have dropped from $8.00 in 2012 to a
current price of $3.70 for each bushel. If the corn plant is sold as silage, the price is anywhere
between $28.00 and $51.00 per wet ton depending on the circumstances. Table 2 displays the
correlations between other goods and the price of corn. Both the buyer and seller take the costs
of not only corn, but milk, and straw into consideration when pricing silage. That being said, the
Kentucky Corn Growers Association predicts the price of corn to continue to decrease in the
coming months, though future weather conditions that can potentially affect grain growth cannot
be anticipated. In the past, overly wet or dry conditions have resulted in low yields throughout
not only Kentucky, but the United States, causing in a shortage of corn and an upswing in prices.

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Table 2

Source: Wisconsin University, August 2013

Proper cultivation, production, harvesting, crop care can result is higher yields and lower
prices across the country. Farmers must choose to either plant corn continuously or to rotate with
other crops such as soybean or alfalfa. The benefits of crop rotation include higher yields, less
soil compaction, fewer weeds, a decrease in plant disease, and a reduced amount of nitrogen
fertilizer needed. Though it is personal preference, many select to rotate their fields over
practicing monoculture.
The selection of Nitrogen fertilizer required for corn fields is highly important; one much
choose a fertilizer that will produce the most profit and least amount of environmental
deterioration. Table 3 gives an example of how much Nitrogen should be applied considering the

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crop, watering system, and tillage. The type and amount of fertilizer depends on cropping
system, location, drainage, and tillage; taking these into consideration, the addition of Nitrogen
to corn in Kentucky ranges from 50 to 200 pounds per acre. Corn for silage extracts nearly 10
pounds of Nitrogen from the soil per 1,000 pounds of dry matter. More nitrogen must be supplied
by the fertilizer or soil than is needed by the crop because approximately 1/3 to 2/3 of Nitrogen
goes unabsorbed and is no longer available to the plant.
Table 3

Nitrogen rate for irrigated corn: Due to increased risk of available N depletion from crop uptake, leaching and
denitrification, apply 25 lb N/A more than the maximum shown in the appropriate recommended range above.
2
Poorly drained soils that have been tilled will require about 25 lb/A less N.
3
N rates can be decreased 25-50 lb/A on poorly or moderately well-drained soils if 2/3 or more of the N is applied
4-6 weeks after planting.
4
Nitrification inhibitors are most likely to be valuable on these soils.
Source: M.S. Smith, K.L. Wells, and G.W. Wells, University of Kentucky. Fertilization and Liming for Corn

Phosphorus and Potassium are also required in large amounts to increase corn quality and
yield to about 120- 160 bushels per acre. 30 to 40 pounds per acre of phosphate (P2O5) and 100
to 150 pounds per acre of potash (K2O), an alkaline potassium compound, is best for silage corn.
In silage production, all of the nutrients absorbed into the plant will removed from the soil as the
entire plant is harvested. This differs from grain harvesting of the corn crop where residues are
left on the ground to provide organic matter and nutrients for the soil. The deposition of
phosphate and potash must be done in the first half of the season. Since Phosphorus and
Potassium are both found in soil, the amount of additive is relative to the amount found in the

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soil by ways of a soil test. Below, in Table 4, are the recommended phosphate and potash rates
per soil.
Table 4
Recommended rates of phosphate and potash application (in lb/A) for corn, as related to soil test value.

1 Where soil test values indicate extremely low levels of P in the soil (less than 5) and where fertilizer P must be
broadcast and disked into the soil, up to 200 lb of P2O5/A may be beneficial
Source: M.S. Smith, K.L. Wells, and G.W. Wells, University of Kentucky. Fertilization and Liming for Corn

Due to deficiencies, Zinc and occasionally Boron may be required by corn crops. Levels
can be detected through testing the soil. Liming, spreading finely ground lime onto soil in order
to decrease acidity, is also practiced while growing corn. Corn crops do not fare well in acidic
soils below 5.0 pH or zinc deficient soils of 6.5 pH and greater. Therefore the best pH level for
corn soil is 6.0.
There are different methods of tilling land for corn. Conventional tilling, once the most
popular technique, is achieved by first moldboard plowing then disk plowing or harrowing. Less
than 15% of organic residue is left on the ground following harvest. The machinery used in
conventional tillage is widely available and it is also used to help manage weeds. The downside
to conventional tillage is the risk of erosion and compaction is increased. Conservation tillage is
becoming more and more popular among farmers because of the increase in leftover residue and
the reduced amount of erosion, runoff, and compaction. A minimum of 30% of the soil must go
unplowed in order to be considered conservation tillage. The implements used for this are
initially a chisel plow, followed by a disk plow to help smooth the soil. More uncommon is a

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type of conservation tillage known as no-till. This method, given its name, is where no tillage
occurs between the previous harvest and current planting. There are plenty of advantages to zerotill such as less erosion, compaction, fuel used, and labor costs. On the other hand are
disadvantages in the form of weeds, dependency on herbicides, difficulty depositing manure, and
slower warming up of the soil. Of these, Conservation tillage, leaving 30 to 70% or the land
unplowed, is becoming the choice of tillage across the United States.
Two type of popular seeds used for growing silage crop are dent and high sugar corn
which share similar yields of about 160 bushels per acre. High sugar corns do not grow ears and
all the sugar is accumulated in the stalk rather than in the kernels with dent and sweet corns. The
location of the sugar does not matter in silage corn as the entire plant is harvested. Studies have
also shown similar animal performance with both dent hybrids and high sugar corns. In order to
reduce disease and increase resistance, crop rotation with soybean or alfalfa is encouraged along
with using hybrid seeds. No one hybrid is resistant to all crop disease in corn such as stalk,
seedling, root, and stalk diseases and ear rot. My Patriot Supply offers 220 seeds of non-GMO
heirloom yellow dent corn for $1.50 along with other vegetables at a reasonable cost.
The majority of corn plants in Kentucky are watered with only rain, as they are planted in
early to mid-Spring, but still produce high yields. While some northern states must begin
planting corn later than April, this is not the case in Kentucky. In the bluegrass state, farmers can
plant seeds between April 1st to mid-May depending on location, as seen in Table 5, and still reap
high yields. A good rule of thumb to follow is to not plant corn seeds until the soil temperature at
2 inches deep is 50F for about three to four days. This helps ensure that the soil is going to be at
optimal temperatures to encourage and support germination; many times corn crops planted in
March must be replanted later due to the soil temperatures being too low.

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Table 5

In order to not only have ones corn crop germinate simultaneously, but also emerge at
the same time, planting depth much be taken into consideration along with soil temperature.
Depending on the temperature, the seeds should be planted 1 to 2 inches deep in the soil and in
rows 30 inches apart. For earlier, colder conditions 1 to 1 inches is the encouraged depth,
while between April and May, 1 to 2 inches is preferred; Midwestern studies have reported 2
inches as the depth for producing the highest corn yields. One must be aware of the soil
temperature, as planting too deep where the temperature is lower can result in slow germination,
disease, insect harm, damage to the crop, or low yield. The depth of planting seeds is very crucial

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in non-tilled areas to increase the chances of concurrent germination and emergence. If not by
hand, seeds are placed in the ground by seed planters. These come in various forms from push
power to hydraulic power being pulled by farm equipment with the latter being more efficient on
larger fields.
Weed, pest, and disease management is extremely important while growing corn for both
grain and silage. While weeds compete with corn plants for light, water, and nutrients, they also
assist in supplying a favorable environment for pests and diseases; all of which can later create
problem for harvest. In order to begin a pest management program, one must assess the weeds
present in their field and select the appropriate herbicide. Tilling land helps reduce the
occurrence of weeds, so the use of herbicides is highly significant on no-till land. There are
restrictions for individual types of herbicides such as crop or weed height. These guidelines must
be flowed appropriately to avoid yield loss or crop injury.
Table 6

Source: Weed Biology and Management, Section, Weed Management

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Three common types of weeds found in Kentucky that affect corn crops are smooth
pigweed, giant foxtail, and large crabgrass; all of which are considered summer annuals. These
three, along with other types of weeds native to Kentucky, are listed above in Table 6. It is best to
identify the weeds present in the field while they are under 4 inches tall or about 2 weeks prior to
sowing corn seeds to prevent competition between the weeds and seedlings, while continuing to
weed scout weekly for 8 to 10 weeks after planting. Pigweed, Image 1, can be managed by crop
rotation, tillage, mulching, and herbicides containing thifensulfuron, such as DuPont
Harmony SG. Giant foxtails and large crabgrass is best managed also with crop rotation,
tillage, and mulching. Along with pigweed, giant foxtails and large crabgrass can be treated with
the topramezone chemical found in Amvac Impact. It is critical to follow the directions and
regulations of each herbicide as instructed by the individual company.
Image 1

Smooth Pigweed (right)

Photo credit: Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming.

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When growing crops, one should constantly lookout for diseases and insect pests. Every
year, insects are a major source of loss in corn. The use of soil insecticide at the time of sowing is
important, especially amongst crops in non-tilled land. Rootworms damage the corn plant by
hatching larvae in late spring which feed on the roots. This is when most of the damage to the
crop occurs, but as the larvae mature into adults during June, they feed on the ends off leaves or
silks if available. In order to manage rootworm, crop rotation with alfalfa or soybean is
encouraged a minimum of every two years. Soil insecticides, listed in Table 7, may be used to
help diminish the rootworm population also.

Source: Purdue University Department of Entomology, Field Crops

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Wilted upper leaves or newly unrolled leaves with holes in them, are signs of the
common stalk borer in corn. Dead heart, or brown dying shoots, is caused when these stalk
borers enter into the stalk at soil level and move upward through the plant. They most frequently
attacked corn plants are from 2 to 24 inches tall and along fence lines and in weedy or non-tilled
areas. Infested plants may not grow edible ears, are smaller upon harvest, or can possibly die.
Insecticides cannot be used between planting and early July while the borers are active as it will
push them toward other crops, resulting in a larger infestation. Also, no insecticides have been
found to work on the borers once they have entered the corn plant. Proper weed management and
the spraying of residual insecticides before planting has been proven to help reduce the amount
of stalk borers.
Diseases not only affect humans and animals, they harm plant species too. A couple of the
most common diseases that impact corn crops are Gray Leaf Spot and Anthracnose. The severity
and impact of these diseases on the corn depends on plant maturity and if it has been subjected to
stressing factors such as other diseases, insects, drought, poor soil quality, or excessive plant
population. These two diseases have both a leaf and stalk rot stage; stalk rot weakens and lodges
the stalk making harvesting difficult. Leaf rot damages the leaf and reduces the amount of
photosynthetic area; both result in loss of yield. To prevent Gray Leaf Spot and Anthracnose, one
should appropriately manage the soil, weeds, and insects. Since fungi ultimately causes stalk rot,
fungicides are available to treat these diseases but are an expensive out of pocket cost for corn
growers. Many farmers take economic factors into consideration when choosing to use
fungicides on their crops.
Corn crops, such as Dent, that are grown for both silage use and grain are known as dualpurpose. In Kentucky, about 40% of the corn grown is used in foods and for raw materials such

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as corn syrup, food starch, and ethanol fuel. The corn for these products will be harvested upon
maturity, while the silage crops will be harvested before then; when nutrient levels inside the
plant are at its highest. Grain production, used for human and animal consumption, and raw
materials occurs between the pollination stage (about 65 days after seedling emergence) and full
maturity (noted by a completely full feeling ear. See Table 8 for developmental stages). Of these,
only the ear is harvested and will later be canned, sold whole, ground into meal, processed for
starch or oil, and possibly later converted into ethanol. Timing is key when gathering corn,
especially for silage. A corn plant with 60-70% moisture content, 30-40% dry matter, and well
dented kernels is prime for silage.
Table 8

Moisture content can be determined by using a commercial moisture test with 1- 5%

accuracy, or by performing an at-home test involving a scale that provides precise measurements
and a microwave. To conduct this home test, one must take a few whole plants, them into inch
pieces while keeping all parts evenly mixed. The following step is to weigh a plate, weigh out
100 grams for a sample, place it on the plate as even and flat as possible, record the collective
weight, and place a paper towel on the plate to prevent moisture from forming under the sample.

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Next one should place a 10-16 ounce covered glass of water in the microwave to help capture
unabsorbed microwaves, the sample plate will go in the microwave along with the glass of water,
and both will be heated on HIGH for five minutes. Once the five minutes is up, weigh the plate
and sample, record it, change out the glass of water, microwave on HIGH for two more minutes,
then weigh and record the sample weight after the time is up. One will continue to change out the
water upon each round, microwave on HIGH for two minutes, then weigh and record the weight
of the sample until it no longer changes more than a gram. This final weight is the samples dry
weight. To figure out the percent of moisture, simply subtract the final weight from the original
100 grams; if the difference is between 60- 70 grams, the corn stalk is ready to be harvested for
silage.
Once the crop is deemed harvestable for silage, the entire plant is removed from the
ground and chopped into small pieces by a Forage Harvester machine. Then the plant pieces are
compressed to reduce the level of oxygen, placed in anaerobic storage containers such as silos or
silage bags, and left for lactic acid bacteria and plant enzymes to carry out the fermentation
process. If processed correctly after roughly four months, the pH levels of the silage will be
between 3.8 and 4.0 and will result in low product loss.
America is a grain-based society using them for human consumption, food additives,
alcohols, cosmetics, raw materials, animal feeds, and fuel alternatives. The cost of corn, being
one of the most important grains, affects many products in the United States from corn-based
groceries to meat to fuel subsidies. Though farmers cannot control the weather or change in
climate, they can regulate proper planting, care, and harvesting techniques to help ensure greater,
higher quality yields in the future.

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Works Cited
Magazine or Journal Article
Bessin, Ric. "The Common Stalk Borer in Corn." UK Cooperative Extension Service (2003): n.
pag. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Nov. 2003. Web.
Bitzer, Morris. "A Comprehensive Guide to Corn Management in Kentucky." University of
Kentucky College of Agriculture. Ed. James Herbek and Rick Bessin. University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture, n.d. Web.
Jenkins, Amanda R. "Kentucky Farm Business Management Program." Agricultural
Economics (2013): n. pag. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, June 2013. Web.
Laurer, Joe, and Ryan Sterry. "Pricing Corn Silage." Agronomy Advice (2013): n. pag. University
of Wisconsin- Agronomy Department, Aug. 2013. Web.
Lee, Chad D., ed. "Corn for Grain & Silage." Cooperative Extension Service (n.d.): n.
pag. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. University of Kentucky College of
Agriculture, July 2013. Web.
Mueller, J.P, J.T Green, and W.L Kjelgaard. "Corn Silage Harvest Techniques." National Corn
Handbook. Purdue University, n.d. Web.
Rowlett, Russ. "U.S. Commercial Bushel Sizes." U.S. Commercial Bushel Sizes. University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, July 2001. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.
Roth, Greg W. "Crop Rotations and Conservation Tillage." Conservation Tillage Series 1 (1996):
4. Print.
Smith, M. S., K. L. Wells, and G. W. Thomas. "Fertilization and Liming for Corn." University Of
Kentucky College of Agriculture (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.
Vincelli, Paul. "Disease Management." Disease Management. N.p.: Pearson Professional, 1997.
33-41. Print.
"What Is Silage? | Biotech Learning Hub." BioTechLearn.org. The University of Waikato, Nov.
2007. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.

Internet
"Corn Tillage Systems." Corn Agronomy. University of Wisconsin- Agronomy Department, 16
Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.

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Duffy, Michael D. "Continuous Corn versus Corn/soybeans: Do the Relative Prices Change the
Profit Comparison?" Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Iowa State University, n.d.
Web.
"Integrated Weed Management." University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
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Smith, M. S., K. L. Wells, and G. W. Thomas. "AGR-105 FERTILIZATION AND LIMING FOR
CORN." AGR-105 FERTILIZATION AND LIMING FOR CORN. University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

Chapter in Book
"Corn Pest Management." The Agronomy Guide. N.p.: Penn State, n.d. N. pag. Print.
Green, J. D., and James R. Martin. "Weed Biology and Management." Weed Management 15.4
(2014): 27-32. Print.