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"Producers seeking answers to
questions about this year's corn silage crop in central and southern
Illinois might want to attend two programs later this summer," said
Mike Hutjens. "The sponsors are Effingham-Clay Farm Service and
Breese Agri-Pride FS. On Aug. 2 the Breese program will be presented
at Agri-Pride, and on Aug. 3 the program will be offered at Sigel
Park in that community.
"U of I Extension specialists
will be on hand at both locations, along with FS agronomy and
livestock nutritionists."
Dairy and beef managers are
encouraged to bring four to six cornstalks of each variety they are
planning to harvest as corn silage with them when they come to
either location, Hutjens noted.
"These stalks will be processed
through a commercial yard chipper and analyzed by near-infrared
equipment to measure protein, fiber and neutral detergent fiber
digestibility –NDFD -- plus dry matter content," he said. "If your
corn silage hybrid analyzes 30 to 35 percent dry matter, 8 percent
crude protein, less than 26 percent ADF -- acid detergent fiber,
less than 45 percent NDF and over 55 percent NDFD, you have quality
corn silage and it is time to harvest."
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Cornstalks brought for
estimation should be taken from 17.5 feet of a typical row, he
noted. Livestock producers can bring in cornstalks starting at 9
a.m. These will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis,
with results available within a few minutes.
A complimentary lunch will be
provided at noon each day, and the program will end at 2 p.m. or
when all samples are finished.
"Corn silage continues to be
the most economical forage resource for Illinois dairy managers,
supporting high milk yield and components," said Hutjens. "With
low-quality legume-grass first and second crop forages, corn silage
may be the answer for the 2004-05 feeding year."
For
more details about the program, contact FS at (888) 374-2748 or
(217) 342-9231.
[University
of Illinois news release]
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