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Show by Justin Scfcarff Although top yield potential can be bred into a corn silage variety, its actual tonnage, under commercial growing conditions, depends largely on what both before the farmer does and after planting the seed. This is one conclusion of an extensive survey recently completed in Utah by Germain's, western Inc., a seed firm. Utah com 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 he your growing conditions, says, "is the key to big yields. Patterson is familiar with big yields. Over the years, he has averaged 30 tons per acre, compared to the state average of about 18 tons per acre. Patterson targets for a final plant stand of 21.000 plants per acre. He is switching to h rows from rows because of a new chopper that operates better at the narrower width. While favoring varieties that have big ears, leafy plants, Patterand good standability, son considers height is of less There's not much importance. weight up in the tassels, he says. He applies Ight applications of herbicides each year, rather than an excess in a single year which might damage growth." Harvesting takes about four weeks, so Patterson tries to start around August 26th in order to "get the entire crop off before frost. John Larkin grows 300 acres of com silage near Brigham City for direct feeding to his cattle. His planting of Funk's last season stood well, was extremely leafy, and had good grain content." His scheduled planting date of April 20th to 25th was delayed until May 5th because of bad weather. Larkin prefers harvesting when the kernels are well dented but when you harvest 300 acres, you have to start earlier than at the ideal maturity. Soil differences provide Larkin with a built-iharvesting Some of our land is schedule. sandy, some is heavy," he The corn in the explains. sandy soil can be planted earlier, it matures earlier and can be harvested earlier. Larkin prefers a plant population of from 25,000 to 30,000 h rows. During plants on the growing season, he flood irrigates about every ten days. He applies lots of manure which is readily available from his feedlot. Cardell Nielsen, who manages the feed yard and farming operation of E.A. Miller & Sons at Hyrum, averaged 27 tons of com silage per acre last season on 390 acres. - h Spider mites have not been a problem here, but Nielsen has applied a control for com root worm for the past four years approximately one month serious before harvesting. Ivan Cowley has farmed in the Richfield area for almost 20 years. He grows 100 acres of buys an additional 400 acres of the crop for his feedlot 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, Cowley claims that the weather is very likely the major determinant in the final harcorn silage vest. Cowley and 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 irrigate after planting and then have a cold spell, Cowley continued, germination falls off. The ground temperature is just too cold. 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 25th. Corn can stand a frost early in the season better than at harvest time. Connard Stanworth, a Delta area farmer, tests varieties for two years before going to large-scal- e Varieties planting. for our fields." he claims, must have tolerance for soils with a high salt content." Stanworth emphasizes thorough ground preparation because you just can't throw seed on the ground and expect it mid-Ma- y to grow. He prepares the ground in the fall, applies barnyard manure in the fall and winter, and adds nitrogen in the spring. He schedules planting for May 1st and irrigates immediately afterwards. In early August, a control for spider mites is applied. Stanworth selects varieties that dty down well, don't seep in the pit and have good cob growth grain is more important than stalks." He considers the alfalfa, barley, and corn silage that he grows a complete feeding program for our dairy cows. - Reid Gale, considers of Riverton, variety selection ex- tremely important because some varieties have too long a growing season and wont mature by harvest time. Move your equipment over the ground as few times as to warns, possible," Gale ' prevent tight packing of the soil. He prefers fertilizing in fall and preparing the ground in spring. For a relatively short growing season." John explained, 7 has proven very successful. But for longer he congrowing seasons, a top yielding tinued, "G-456- silage variety possessing high grain content, has excellent adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions. Worth Bragging About with only The U.S. of 1 of the worlds population employed on its farms produces 25 of the worlds food. one-tent- The Times-New- 8A Nephi, Utah Put one of our bankers in boots on your team and he'll drive as hard as you do. You take care of your herd, we'll take care of your money. Nielsen applies barnyard CSQJjffO(7 MEMBER FDIC s April 29, 1976 n manure in the fall and winter and commercial fertilizer is plowed under in the fall. He irrigates by pumping water into eight-inc- h gated pipes. Small gates in the pipes open to allow a gentle flow of water into each row. This method soaks the ground without' causing any erqsion. says Nielsen, "and has contributed very much to increased yields. h dtafiiCs OF UTAH, N.A. |
