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Show RANCH & GARDEN Edition April, 1976 New com strains by Increased silage forecast Justin Scharff Although top yeild potential can be bred into a corn silage variety, its actual tonnage, under commercial growing conditions, depends largely on what the farmer does both before and after planting the seed. This is one conclusion of an extensive survey recently completed in Utah by Germains, Inc., a 100 year old western seed firm. Utah corn silage growers recognized for consistently obtaining high yields in different growing locales were polled to learn the key to their success. Lewis Patterson, a Roy area farmer, has been growing com silage for almost half a century. Selecting the right variety for your growing conditions, he says, is the key to big yields. plants and good stan-dabilit- y, Patterson considers height is of less Theres not importance. much weight up in the tassels, he says. He applies light applications of herbicides Patterson is familiar with big yields. Over the years each year rather than he has averaged 30 tons per an excess in a single acre compared to the state year which might damage average of about 18 tons per growth. acre. Harvesting takes about Patterson targets for a four weeks so Patterson final plant stand of 21,000 tries to start around August plants per acre. He is 26 in order to get the entire switching to 30 inch rows crop off before frost. from 32 inch rows because John Larking grows 300 of a new chopper that acres of com silage near operates better at the Brigham City for direct narrower width. feeding to his cattle. His While favoring varieties planting of Funks that have big ears, leafy last season stood well, was extremely leafy and had good grain content. His scheduled planting date of April 20 to 25 was delayed until May 5 because of bad weather. Larkin prefers harvesting when the kernels are well when you dented but harvest 300 acres you have to start earlier than at the ideal maturity. Soil differences provide Larkin with a built-iharvesting schedule. Some of our land is sandy, some is heavy, he explains. The com in the sandy soil can be planted earlier, it matures earlier and can be harvested earlier. Larkins prefers a plant population of from 25,000 to 30,000 plants on 28 inch rows. During the growing season he flood irrigates about every ten days. He applies lots of manure which is readily available n from his feedlot. Cardell Nielsen who manages the feed yard and farming operation of E.A. Miller & at Hyrum, Sons averaged 27 tons of com silage per acre last season on 390 acres. Nielsen applies barnyard manure in the fall and winter and commercial fertilizer is plowed under in the fall. He irrigates by pumping water into eight inch gated pipes. Small gates in the pipes open to allow a gentle flow of water This into each row. method without soaks the ground any causing erosion, says Nielsen, and has contributed very much to increased yields. Spider mites have not been a serious problem here bu Nielsen has applied a control for corn root worm for the past four years approximately one month before harvesting. Ivan Cowley has farmed in the Richfield area for almost 20 years. He grows 100 acres of corn silage and buys an additional 400 acres of the crop for his feed lot cattle. Over the years his yields have averaged from 22 to 25 tons including a top yield of 35 tons per acre. While admitting that variety selection is important the Cowley claims that weather is very likely the major determinant in the final harvest. Cowley plows 30 tons of barnyard manure per acre into the soil. He then works the ground and irrigates. After the ground has dried Cowley works up a shallow seed bed and plants. This procedure, he claims, allows time for the soil temperature to get high enough to germinate the seeds. If we cold after spell, Cowley con- tinued, germination falls off. The ground temperature is just too cold. pH ELECTRONIC G7 SERVICE W SERVICE CALLS irrigate planting and then have a SERVICE INSTANTLY! RADIO-DISPATCHE- D RADIO, TELEVISION & MAJOR APPLIANCES Fast, Prompt, rofes&tonal Ikrtoce Andrea Felt, Miss Utah, admires ear of a corn silage that variety possesses high grain content and top yield potential and is well-fille- d Agrifacts . . . In 1825, the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture offered a gold medal worth $50 to any person who shall have earned on farming without using any ardent spirits on his property, except when prescribed by a physician, for a period of two years. There was no claimant for the premium. Products of home stills for many years was the chief cash crop of farming. adaptable to Utah growing conditions. Photo, courtesy LEWIS Electronics widely Geramin's Inc. PH.637-126- 4 OVER 1000 PAIR Many styles to choose from. Come see a Iways welcome. YOUR BUDGETSHOE STORE FATJMILY SDO0EI8 33 W. Main, Price In Carbonville j Cowley rotates three crops alfalfa, then two years of corn followed by two years of barley and then back to alfalfa. He hopes to move his planting date from to about April 25 Corn can stand a frost early in the season better than at harvest time. mid-Ma- y Connard Stanworth, a Delta area farmer, tests varieties for two years before going to planting. Varieties for our fields, he claims, must have tolerance for soils with a high salt content. large-scal- e |