Silage

Four things to know as milk prices cycle lower

cesar_matamoros@cargill.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Prediction of corn silage whole plant moisture in the field

jrl65@cornell.edu — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Friendshuh Farms separates corn silage to feed cows better

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

When a short, wet 2019 wheat harvest left dairies struggling with expensive and moldy straw, one farm decided there had to be a better way to feed dry cows than their Goldilocks diet. That challenge sparked an idea that would ultimately set the operation apart by separating corn silage into fodder and fines.

How is this year’s corn silage feeding?

james.smith1959@gmail.com — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Keeping silage clean: Hygienic practices for optimal feedout

rschmidt@lallemand.com — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Successfully transition your cows from one silage to another

ben.jensen@hubbardfeeds.com — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Maximizing feed's journey from field to bulk tank

kbuse@lallemand.com — Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Staying ahead of seasonal challenges with a proactive feeding program can significantly minimize silage spoilage risks and maximize herd performance and efficiency. By adopting a clean feed approach – through managing the ensiling and feeding of silage, implementing hygienic on-farm practices and ensuring the right nutrition – producers provide their herd with the best opportunity for a high-quality clean feed source and the ability to efficiently produce high-quality milk.

Mycotoxin risks within the 2024 corn crop

mhawkins@alltech.com — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Corn silage has a risk from multiple mycotoxins, with type B trichothecenes being the greatest risk. Stored corn grains may be at greater risk due to damaged kernels and a higher percentage of foreign matter.

Corn silage performance: What we can manage

jrl65@cornell.edu — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:09:19 -0400

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 and corn silage performance: Comparing grain and dairy field systems

kw566@cornell.edu — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:06:57 -0400

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

Putting your field data to work: New end-of-season assessment tool for nitrogen management of corn silage

kw566@cornell.edu — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:52:27 -0400

Optimizing nitrogen (N) management in corn silage production can help improve dairy farm profitability while reducing its environmental footprint.

The variability nesting dolls

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Although managing starch digestibility may feel like uncovering the center in a never-ending set of nesting dolls, there are many tools available to help us start to break this down. Doing so can help ensure that rations meet expected values and help farmers make the most out of purchased and homegrown feeds. It can also shed light on opportunities to improve starch digestion and ensure we aren’t missing out on valuable energy.

New report shows mycotoxins are on the rise in common feed ingredients

aldo.rossi@amlan.com — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Cows that consume feed contaminated with mycotoxins – which include natural toxins made by various species of molds – may suffer a host of various metabolic disruptions that lead to a loss of milk production, hormonal imbalance and reduced reproductive performance.

Practicing silage safety is priceless

kzm175@psu.edu — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

There are six main hazards when it comes to silage: 1) complacency and fatigue, 2) entanglement by machinery, 3) rollover by machinery, 4) fall from heights, 5) crushing by silage avalanche or collapse, and 6) silo gases. By regularly taking safety precautions at each of these hazard points, we can ensure that our farm workers return home safely at the end of the day.

Building a strong foundation for your feed program begins with high-quality silage

kzm175@psu.edu — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The foundation of most diets fed to dairy and beef cattle includes forages, but making them into high-quality silage that can be fed year-round is a challenge.

Maximizing forage quality: Key considerations for successful ensiling

rschmidt@lallemand.com — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Effective management, including the use of proven inoculants to manage the ensiling process at the microbiological level, safeguards your investment, maximizes time and resources, and is critical for optimizing your bottom line.

Preparations for bunk stability

ben.jensen@hubbardfeeds.com — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

A total mixed ration (TMR) diet has long been used to consistently offer a high-quality mix to ruminants. It allows farms to incorporate almost any ingredient into the diet consistently, safely removing much of the variation from one mouthful to the next.

Reducing the risk of clostridial fermentation in silage

usjasn@chr-hansen.com — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:03 -0400

Clostridial fermentation can be detected in silages by its unpleasant smell, slimy appearance and dark coloration. One reason for the nasty odor is butyric acid, which has a strong "rancid butter" smell.

2023 U.S. harvest analysis identifies variable mycotoxin risk

mhawkins@alltech.com — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The 2023 corn crop was challenged by a wide variation of environmental challenges. Drought in the Southwest and western Corn Belt to late-season rainfall in the Ohio Valley and eastern Corn Belt, the weather challenged the crop.

Variability is the only constant when feeding new-crop forages

Joel.Pankowski@churchdwight.com — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Variability is the one constant dairy producers can count on. Unfortunately, cows appreciate consistency and do best when things stay the same on a daily basis.

Purchased and home-raised feeds: Where are we losing the most profit for the dairy?

clm275@psu.edu — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Profitable dairy production requires a very efficient conversion of feed to milk. A combination of purchased and home-raised feeds are frequently used to provide the needs of the dairy operation.

The long or short of it: Silage is a good investment

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Silage is a critical feed for livestock, especially ruminants like dairy cattle. This high-quality feed is created by harvesting crops like corn, sorghum, cereals, alfalfa and grass and storing them in a manner that allows them to ferment and maintain their quality.

Managing and feeding haylages with butyric acid fermentations

ahall@lallemand.com — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Producers across the U.S. experienced a wet and rainy chopping season for small-grain silage and haylage.

Ensiling and preparing to feed weather-challenged crops

rschmidt@lallemand.com — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Erratic weather patterns across the U.S. have stressed many silage crops in the field. Some regions and forage crops have experienced prolonged high temperatures and drought.

Win the corn silage harvest

liang_chen@cargill.com — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:04:03 -0400

Knowing the numbers and best practices for corn silage harvest can maximize your income over feed cost.

Managing silage inventories: What to do if you find yourself short

rschmidt@lallemand.com — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Because feed costs are a very significant contributor to total running costs, they are a focal point for producers looking to reduce costs without negatively impacting animal performance and farm profitability.

[Podcast] Making the most of silage season: silage protection solutions with Silostop Agri

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0400

Hear from Chris Wacek-Driver, independent consultant for Forage Innovations, LLC, about the importance of using an oxygen barrier film to reduce silage losses and maintain high-quality silage. This episode also covers common mistakes related to silage chopping, packing and covering—as well as strategies producers can implement to avoid these pitfalls.

Hot cows hate hot feed: How to prevent contamination and boost ROI

Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Rising temperatures in summer months are challenging for highly productive cows, and this is exacerbated if feed is unstable, heating and spoiling during feeding.

You can teach an old dog new tricks

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

We’ve all heard the proverb “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” implying that once we become accustomed to doing something one way we are hesitant to change. However, when evaluating corn silage processing score (CSPS) or kernel processing score (KPS), this may not apply.

2023’s hottest new technologies earn Nexus Innovation Awards

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Progressive Dairy hosted these technologies along with PDPW on the Nexus Innovation stage – a live-format presentation that is a cross between a TED Talk and a Shark Tank pitch.