Source: CORNELL UNIVERSITY submitted to
CORN SILAGE PRODUCTION IN NEW YORK
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0190326
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
NYC-125411
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2001
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2007
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Cox, W. J.
Recipient Organization
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
ITHACA,NY 14853
Performing Department
CROP & SOIL SCIENCES
Non Technical Summary
Corn silage yields less in New York compared with other dairy states.If New York dairy producers wish to remain competitive, corn silage yields and quality must inprove. The purpose of this study is to improve the management practices of New York corn silage producers, which should improve profitability of the New York dairy industry.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2051510106075%
2051820106025%
Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1510 - Corn; 1820 - Soybean;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
1) Determine if the insertion of forage soybeans into the second or third year of the corn phase of the 4-year corn/4-year perennial forage rotation will improve corn silage productivity. 2) Compare the yield and quality of full-season (105-110 day), medium- season (100-105 day), and early-season (95-100 day) hybrids at two locations in central and western New York. 3) Identify new hybrids, especially brown midrib and leafy hybrids, which have exceptional silage quality traits and acceptable dry matter yields.
Project Methods
1) We will compare four rotations (continuous corn,corn-soybean,corn- soybean-corn-corn,and corn-corn-soybean-corn) on a dairy farm in New York from 2002 through 2006. We will measure the yield and quality of corn silage and forage soybeans in the different rotations. 2) We will plant full-season, medium-season, and early-season hybrids at two planting dates and compare their yields and quality. 3) We will plant brown midrib and leafy hybrids that have not been entered by seed companies at two locations in our corn silage hybrid testing program.

Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the 2007 winter meeting season, the PI gave over 20 extension meetings, primarily to farmer audiences. During these meetings, the PI shared final research findings on seed treatment effects on corn growth, corn silage yields, and corn silage quality. Also, the PI presented final data on the agronomics and economics of twin-row and narrow-row corn silage production. The PI also presented the findings at the Northeast Branch Agronomy Society Meetings in Pennsylvania to share with other Northeast agronomists as well as the national Agronomy Society Meetings in New Orleans. Finally, the PI wrote a news article on the topic of corn silage hybrid selection in New York. PARTICIPANTS: Twin and narrow-row studies-Table Rock Farm in Wyoming Co., NY-Willard DeGoyler; Southview Farms in Wyoming Co., NY-John Noble; Ron Robbins-Old MacDonald's Farm in Jefferson Co.; John Greenwood in St. Lawrence Co., NY; Ev Thomas-Miner Institute in Clinton Co, NY TARGET AUDIENCES: Dairy producers in New York including the Northeast Dairy Producers Association.

Impacts
Outcomes are primarily in our corn silage hybrid recommendations. Each year we send out the results of our corn silage hybrid testing program in the fall to members of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA) as well as our field crop educators who disseminate the results to other dairy farmers in their counties. Many dairy producers use the results of these tests to select corn silage hybrids, based on the yield and quality results of our trial. We get the data out in late October/early November so that dairy producers can take advantage of the early-buy discounts that seed companies provide through mid-November. Dairy producers receive a "win-win" result by selecting the best hybrids at a reduced cost. Dairy producers also used the results of our seed treatment work to help them decide whether to use seed-applied insecticides on their corn silage in 2007.In 2007, we sent out the results to the NEDPA members and our field crop educators on 11/12/07 and the results were used by NEDPA members in hybrid selection and the field crop educators included the results in their county newsletters.

Publications

  • Cox, W.J, E. Shields, and J.H. Cherney. 2007. The effect of seed treatments on corn growth following soybean. Crop Sci. 47: 2482-2485.
  • Cox, W.J., E. Shields, D.J.R. Cherney and J.H. Cherney. 2007. Seed-applied insecticides inconsistently affect corn forage in continuous corn. Agron. J. 99: 1640-1644.
  • Cox, W.J. J. H. Cherney, and E. Shields. 2007. Clothianidin seed treatments inconsistently affect corn forage yield when following soybean Agron. J. 99: 543-548.
  • Cox, W.J., J.J. Hanchar, Knoblauch, W.A. and J.H. Cherney. 2006. Growth, Yield, Quality, and Economics of Corn Silage under Different Row Spacings. Agron. J. 2006 98: 163-167.
  • Cox, W.J., E. Shields, J.H. Cherney, and D.J.R. Cherney. 2007. Seed treatment studies in New York on corn silage. Northeast Agronomy Abstracts, Penn State University, 24-27 June, State College, PA.
  • Cox, W.J., E. Shields, D.J.R. Cherney, J.H. Cherney. 2007. How much does corn rootworm damage affect corn growth and silage yield? Agronomy Abstracts, 4-8 November, New Orleans LA.
  • Cox, W.J. and J.H. Cherney. 2006. Recommended corn silage hybrids. What's Cropping Up?. Vol.16, Nov-Dec issue. p.1-2. Dep. of Crop and Soil Sci., Cornell Univ., Ithaca NY.
  • Cox, W.J., J.H. Cherney, D.J.R. Cherney and M. Davis. 2006. New York corn silage hybrid tests-2006. Dep. of Crop and Soil Sci. Extension Ser. 06-6.


Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
This project has addressed different management practices that affect corn silage production in New York State. The project leader has conducted corn silage hybrid trials at five locations in New York annually since the inception of the project. The project leader, working with an agricultural economist, determined that narrow row and twin row corn silage production was more economial than corn silage production in conventional 30-inch row spacing. The project leader, working with an applied entomolgist, tested different seed-applied insecticides in the absence of pests to determine if new commercial seed treatments have any phytotoxic effects on corn growth, silage yield, and quality. The project leader, working closely with an applied weed scientist, determined the optimum time to apply glyphosate to Roundup Ready corn hybrids to optimize corn growth, silage yield, and quality. The project leader, working closely with a forage quality expert, determined the earliest time that corn silage harvest can commence without comprimising yield and quality. The project leader, working closely with his graduate student, determined the optimum cutting height for different corn silage hybrids harvested at different moistures. All this work has been published in scientific journals, written up in annual extension reports, and presented annually at Cooperative Extension workshops in New York.

Impacts
Members of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association receive our annual corn silage hybrid testing report before discounts from seed companies have expired. Many dairy producers select their hybrids based on our testing results, which saves them thousands of dollars. Also, 15 NY dairy producers have opted to buy a narrow-row corn silage planter, despite the added cost, because our research showed that narrow-row corn silage is the most economical. Our research showed that seed-applied insecticides are not phytotoxic to corn but also do not increase yield or quality in the absence of pests. We recommended to dairy producers not to purchase hybrids with seed-applied insecticide unless a known pest problem will be present. We determined that corn silage yield can suffer greatly if growers delay glyphosate application so more growers are applying glyphosate in a more timely manner. We also showed that corn silage harvest can commence at 68 pct moisture without a compromise to yield and quality so more growers are harvesting earlier. Finally, we demonstrated that silage yields will decrease by 11 pct if dairy producers raise harvest cutting height but that quality will improve. We recommended in high-yielding years, such as in 2004, 2005, and 2006, that dairy producers increase cutting height because yield is above-average. We estimate that 100 dairy producers have followed this practice over the last 3 years.

Publications

  • Cox, W.J., Hahn R.R. and Stachowski, P.J. 2006. Time of weed removal with glyphosate affects corn growth and yield components. Agron. J. 98: 349-353.
  • Cox, W. J., Hanchar J.J., Knoblauch W.A. and Cherney, J.H. 2006. Growth, yield, quality, and economics of corn silage under different row spacings. Agron. J. 98: 163-167.
  • Cox, W. J., R.R. Hahn, P.J. Stachowski and J.H. Cherney. 2005. Weed Interference and glyphosate timing affect corn forage yield and quality. Agron. J. 97: 847-853.
  • Lewis, A.L., W.J.Cox and J.H.Cherney. 2004. Hybrid, maturity, and cutting height interactions on corn forage yield and quality. Agron. J. 96: 267-274.
  • Cox, W.J. and D.J.R. Cherney. 2002. Evaluation of narrow row corn forage in field-scale studies. Agron. J. 94:321-325.
  • Cox, W.J. and D.J.R. Cherney. 2001. Row spacing, plant density, and nitrogen effects on corn forage. Agron. J. 93: 597-602.
  • Cox, W.J. and D.J.R. Cherney. 2001. Influence of brown midrib, leafy, and transgenic hybrids on corn forage. Agron. J. 93: 790-796.
  • Cox, W.J., J.H. Cherney and E. Shields. 2006. Poncho seed treatment does not affect corn silage yield when following soybean. Agronomy Abstracts.
  • Cox, W.J., J. Hanchar, W. Knoblauch and J.H. Cherney. 2005. Narrow and twin row corn silage production in New York. Agronomy Abstracts.
  • Cox, W.J., J.H. Cherney and D.J.R. Cherney. 2005. Evaluation of narrow-row forage in field-scale studies. Proceedings of the 14th International Silage Conference, Belfast, Ireland, 3-6 July, 2005.
  • Cox, W.J., J.H. Cherney and D.J.R. Cherney. 2005. Evaluation of narrow-row forage maize in field-scale studies. Proceeding of the 20th International Grassland Congress. Dublin, Ireland, 26 June-2 July, 2005.
  • Cox, W.J., R.R. Hahn, and J.H. Cherney. 2004. Impact of weed interference on corn silage yield and quality. Agronomy Abstracts.
  • Cox, W.J., Lewis, A.L. and J.H. Cherney. 2003. Hybrid, maturity, and cutting height interactions of corn silage hybrids. Agronomy Abstracts.
  • Cox, W.J. 2001. Narrow row corn silage production. Northeast Agronomy Abstracts.


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
Corn (Zea mays L.) silage in the northeastern USA yields more in narrow (0.38 m) than conventional (0.76 m) rows. Dairy producers, however, have considered converting from conventional to twin rows (0.19 m on 0.76 m centers) because twin rows are more compatible than narrow rows for herbicide application on glyphosate-resistant corn. Two hybrids were planted in field-scale studies in New York in 2003 and 2004 to evaluate growth, yield, quality, and economics of corn silage under conventional, narrow, and twin row production systems. Narrow rows had greater dry matter yield (17.6 Mg ha-1) than twin (17.2 Mg ha-1) and conventional rows (16.6 Mg ha-1). Row spacing did not affect in vitro true digestibility. Narrow and twin rows had greater fixed and variable costs, associated with equipment requirements. Partial budget analyses, however, indicated greater expected increases in annual profit with the conversion from conventional to narrow rows for 262 ($18201) and 525 ha ($38317) or to twin rows for 262 ($8246) and 525 ha ($17584) of corn silage. The use of glyphosate-resistant corn in twin rows, however, may provide an advantage by delaying herbicide application until mid-June, thereby increasing the probability of a timely first harvest of perennial forages. Dry matter content at harvest, however, averaged 326 g kg-1 in narrow vs. 314 g kg-1 in twin rows increasing the probability of corn silage harvest before a fall frost. Dairy producers should consider economics as well as timely harvests when considering corn silage row spacing systems.

Impacts
Many New York corn silage producers will need to purchase a new corn planter within the next few years. This study gave them agronomic and economic information on the performance of corn planters at different row spacings. I have delivered a presentation of the results of this study in numerous meetings in New York and have written extension news articles on the results of this study. This study gives New York corn silage producers a realistic look at the agronomics and economics of corn silage production under different row spacings. Corn silage producers in NY will use this information on which corn planter to choose when purchasing their next corn planter.

Publications

  • Cox, W. J., Hanchar J.J., Knoblauch W., and Cherney, J.H. 2006. Growth, yield, quality, and economics of corn silage under different row spacings. Agron. J. 98: 181-185.
  • Cox, W. J., and Cherney, J.H. 2005. Timing corn forage harvest for bunker silos. Agron. J. 97: 142-146.
  • Cox, Hahn, R.R., Stachowski, P.J., and Cherney, J.H. 2005. Weed Interference and glyphosate timing affects corn forage yield and quality. Agron. J. 97: 847-853.
  • Cox, W.J., Hanchar, J.J., Knoblauch, W., and Cherney, J.H. 2005. Corn silage production under different row spacings. Agronomy Abstracts.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Corn planting and the first harvest of perennial forages overlap in the northeastern USA in some years.The use of glyphosate-resistant corn may help dairy producers lessen their workload during this time by allowing for a timely glyphosate application after completion of first harvest of perennial forages.We evaluated two hybrids to determine the optimum timing for glyphosate application on corn forage yield and quality. Glyphosate application at the three to four leaf stage(V3-V4) vs. weed-free corn resulted in the same dry matter(DM) content at harvest, DM yield, forage quality and calculated milk yield. Glyphosate application at the V5-V6 stage vs. weed-free corn resulted in 3 percent less DM content at harvest and 25 percent less DM yield. Dairy producers in the northeast USA should apply glyphosate by the V3-V4 stage in competetive growing conditions, which may overlap with perennial forage harvest in some years. Dairy producers should hire custom applicators if they cannot apply glyphosate themselves by the V3-V4 stage.

Impacts
Dairy producers will become more aware on the importance of timely weed removal. This research demonstrated that a delay in weed removal via glyphosate application for 2 weeks(i.e. V3-V4 to V5-V6 stage of corn growth)will delay harvest by a week in the fall( because of lower DM content) and reduce forage yields by 25 percent. Dairy producers in New York will become more timely with their weed control programs because of this research.

Publications

  • Cox, W.J., and J.H Cherney. 2005. Timing corn forage harvest for bunker silos. Agron. J. 97: No.1 (Jan-Feb issue).
  • Cox, W.J., R.R.Hahn, P.J.Stachowski, and J.H. Cherney. 2005. Weed Interference and glyphosate timing affect corn forage yield and quality. Agron.J.97: In Press.


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
The challenge for variable N rate management is to identify specific field areas that respond to specific N levels.We evaluated two corn hybrids at two N rates(110-130 vs. 165-185 kg/ha at three sites and manure vs.manure + 55 kg/ha at two sites) to determine if corn responded differently to N and hybrids within fields. Spatial yield variability existed at all sites in a dry year, but at only two sites in a wet year. Spatial yield difference variability in response to N existed at only two of 13 site-year comparisons. Although the late-spring soil NO3-N concentrations in the upper 30 cm were less than 25 mg/kg on 15 to 25 percent of the manured fields in the wet year, spatial yield difference variability in response to N did not exist. At a nonmanured site, spatial yield difference variability in response to N existed with temporal yield stability across dry years (r= 0.96). Surprisngly, corn responded to the higher N rate on 25 percent of this field where yields were least, but not where yields were greatest. Apparently, variable N rate management of corn requires more information than soil NO3-N concentrations and yield maps. Spatial yield difference variabiltiy between hybrids existed at only four of 15 site-year comparions, despite hybrid interactions with sites. Adoption of variable hybrid selection is unlikely if hybrids that show interactions with sites do not show spatial yield difference variability within sites.

Impacts
Corn grain growers will not adopt variable N rate management in New York or variable hybrid selection within fields.Corn grain growers, however, have been urged to purchase yield monitors on their combines to conduct split-planter hybrid studies on their farms because of the strong interaction of hybrids with farms in this study.

Publications

  • Katsvairo,T., W.J.Cox, H.M van Es, and M. Glos. 2003. Spatial yield response of two corn hybrids at two N levels. Agron.J. 95: 1012-1022.
  • Katsvairo,T., W.J.Cox, and H.M. van Es. 2003. Spatial growth and N uptake variability of corn at two N levels. Agron.J. 95: 1000-1011.
  • Lewis, A.L., W.J.Cox, and J.H. Cherney. 2004. Hybrid, maturity, and cutting height interactions on corn forage yield and quality. Agron.J.96: 267-274.


Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
Corn (Zea Mays L.) hybrids may respond differently to harvest date and cutting height because of differences in neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD). Brown midrib, leafy, and dual-purpose hybrids were harvested at 280, 350, and 420 g/kg dry matter (DM) contents at 15, 30, and 46 cm heights in 2001 and 2002 to determine optimum harvest management for each hybrid type. Most forage quality characteristics had hybrid x harvest date interactions as indicated by the 73 g/kg decrease in NDFD of the brown midrib compared with 20 g/kg decreases of the other hybrids between 350 and 420 g/kg DM content. Milk/Mg, a forage quality index, declined (1523, 1487, and 1417 kg/Mg), but DM yields increased (13.2, 13.6, and 14.1 Mg/ha) so calculated milk yields were similar (20333, 20200, and 20,233 kg/ha) as DM content increased, suggesting a broad optimum DM content for harvest. The sharp decline in NDFD, however, raises concern about harvesting the brown midrib hybrid above 350 g/kg DM content. Calculated milk yield had a hybrid x cutting height interaction, as indicated by no change in the leafy, a 6.2 percent decrease in the dual-purpose, and a 12.6 percent decrease in the brown midrib hybrid, as cutting height increased from 15 to 46 cm. An increase in cutting height is not recommended for the brown midrib hybrid because of minimal forage quality improvement and further decreases in its inherently low DM yields.

Impacts
Corn silage producers in New York now have some information to help guide them in corn silage harvest decisions. It is expected that corn silage producers will increase their cutting heights for most hybrids (except brown midrib hybrids) in high-yielding years to improve silage quality, but not in other years because of about a 10 percent decrease in silage yields.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period