Producers are seeing lower milk prices from January 2025 highs. While this downturn still reflects basic supply and demand, there are significant differences compared to recent cycles: strong cull and beef prices, earning component incentives, corn silage quality by region and a younger generation of managers.

Nearly half of the corn acreage in New York state is harvested as corn silage. The correct crop moisture content is critical for nutritional value and proper ensiling.

Understanding and implementing all the best management practices every season for producing high-quality corn silage that are under your control is critical. Making yourself aware of the impact of the growing environment each season through early sampling and testing is the first step. Benchmarking it annually and addressing those impacts with proven and cutting-edge technology will provide the consistency your herd thrives on and is critical to your bottom line. 

Effective feedout goes beyond simply removing the plastic, tires and defacing the silo – it is about preserving quality and maximizing return on investment. Without proper management, silage can spoil quickly, leading to unnecessary waste, reduced feed efficiency and potential for digestive issues for your herd.

Silage can be difficult to introduce into an animal’s diet, but once it is established, moving from one crop to the next produces a new set of challenges. When changing types of silage, or from crop to crop, here are some things to consider.

Sometimes diving deeper into a topic simply serves as a reminder to focus on the basics. The findings of a recent project largely align with this lesson.

Soil health is a key focus of corn growers who are working towards sustainability goals and safeguarding their operation against increasingly challenging growing conditions.