December 22, 2007

Contacts: William J. Cox, Cornell University, 607-255-1758; Jon Greenwood, Greenwood Dairy, Canton, 315-386-3231; Everett Thomas, W.H. Miner Institute, Chazy, 518-846-7121

Which Corn Silage Hybrids Should You Plant in 2008?
Evaluation from Northern NY Variety Trials Now Online at www.nnyagdev.org

Northern New York � A critical decision for farmers is which varieties of corn to plant each year. The annual results of Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP)-funded corn silage hybrid trials conducted on farms in Canton and Chazy, NY, will help producers evaluate which hybrids will return the highest quality and best yield for their farms and their dairy herds in 2008. The Evaluations of Corn Silage Hybrids for NNY for 2008 Fact Sheet is now available online at www.nnyagdev.org. 

Cornell University Crop and Soil Sciences researchers Bill Cox and Jerry H. Cherney worked on the two Northern New York trials hosted by the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy in Clinton County and by Greenwood Farms at Madrid in St. Lawrence County. Cox says, �The results from these trials reflect well the yield and quality of corn silage that was planted during the first half of May of 2007 in New York, and provide an excellent opportunity to compare hybrids for yield and quality before selecting hybrids for the 2008 growing season.�

Varieties Can Excel in NNY
Cornell Cooperative Extension Field Crops Educator Peter M. Barney has overseen corn variety trials in St. Lawrence County for 30 years. He says, �The corn variety trials give the grower a good look at many varieties grown under the same set of conditions. Using the data they can select varieties to try on their own farms with a feeling of confidence that they will perform. Through the years we have seen varieties excel under Northern New York conditions that have become multi-year varieties for many farms.�

Cox says, �The 2007 growing season in Northern NY was more favorable for corn growth than in Central/Western NY. Temperatures were ideal throughout most of the growing season at both NNY trial sites. Although three of the four months were dry at Canton (5 miles from the Madrid site), 7.20 inches of precipitation were recorded in July, insuring a high-yielding corn crop at Madrid. At Chazy, growing conditions were almost perfect for corn growth until well into August when dry conditions set in. Nevertheless, corn yields were also excellent at Chazy.�

According to Ev Thomas, Vice President of Agricultural Programs at The W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, �Growing conditions in 2007 were about as good as it gets in the Champlain Valley, a fair test of seed companies �best and brightest� hybrids. Each year we rely on the results of these trials to select hybrids for the Institute farm as well as to advise farmers as to the hybrids that best combine yield and forage quality.�

Two Hybrids Above-Average in 75-85 Day Group in NNY
Two hybrids at Madrid and at Chazy had above-average milk yields in the 75-85 day Relative Maturity(RM) group (Tables 1 and 2). The hybrids, HL S011 from Hyland and 377BWR from Doebler�s, had much above-average milk yields at both sites. The hybrid TA240-11 from T.A. Seeds had much above-average milk yield at Madrid. The hybrid 286XRR from Doebler�s had much above-average milk yields at Chazy. When averaged across sites, HL S011, TA240-11, and 377BWR had much-above-average silage yields. The six hybrids in the 75-85 day RM group averaged 27.4 tons/acre at Madrid and 23.1 tons/acre at Chazy.

Five Hybrids Above-Average in 86-90 Day Group in NNY
Five hybrids at Madrid and at Chazy had above-average milk yields in the 86-90 day RM group (Tables 1 and 2). The hybrids HL S034 from Hyland, 38N87 from Pioneer, HL SR35 from Hyland, and 8866RR from Garst had above-average milk yields at both sites. The hybrid TA270-11 from T.A. Seeds had much above-average milk yields at Madrid. The hybrid 52P81 from Dyna-Gro had above-average milk yields at Chazy. When averaged across sites, HL S034, HL SR35 and 38N87 had much above-average silage yields, and 38N87 had above-average milk/ton values. The seven hybrids in the 85-90 Day RM group averaged 28.0 tons/acre at Madrid and 25.2 tons/acre at Chazy.

Nine Hybrids Above-Average in 91-95 Day Group
Nine hybrids at Madrid and at Chazy had above-average milk yields in the 91-95 day RM group (Tables 1 and 2). The hybrids TMF2N422 from Mycogen, TA310-02F from T.A. Seeds, 38K47 from Pioneer, 946LRR from LICA, 53K69 from Dyna-Gro, and TMF2L416 from Mycogen had above-average milk yields at both sites. The hybrids EX2604 from Growmark FS, DKC45-82(RR2), a DEKALB brand, and N29-A2, an NK brand, had above-average milk yields at Madrid. The hybrids 53B04 from Dyna-Gro, N27-B5, an NK brand, and DKC41-57(YGPL/RR2), a DEKALB brand, had above-average milk yields at Chazy. When averaged across sites, TMF2N422, TA310-02F, 38K47, 946LRR, TMF2L416, 53K69, and EX2604 had above-average silage yields in the 91-95 day RM group. When averaged across sites, TMF2N422 and N29-A2 had above-average milk/ton values. The 18 hybrids in the 91-95 day RM group yielded 27.4 tons/acre at Madrid and 24.1 tons/acre at Chazy.

Four Hybrids Above-Average in 96-100 Day Group in NNY
Four hybrids at Madrid and two hybrids at Chazy had above-average milk yields in the 96-100 day RM group (Tables 1 and 2). The hybrids DKC50-48(YGCB/RR2), a DEKALB brand, and 964L from LICA had above-average milk yields at both sites. The hybrids 99S7 and 98BS7 from LICA had above-average milk yields at Chazy. When averaged across sites, 964L, DKC50-48(YGCB/RR2), and 99 S7 had above-average silage yields in the 96-100 day RM group. When averaged across sites, DKC50-48(YGCB/RR2) and 98BS7 had above-average milk/ton values. The six hybrids in the 96-100 day RM group averaged 28.5 tons/acre at Madrid and 24.4 tons/acre at Chazy. Overall, the 96-100 day RM group yielded the highest at Madrid and the 86-90 day RM group yielded the highest at Chazy.

According to the 2002 Census and national agricultural statistics, corn that is grown on 103,186 acres in Essex, Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis & Jefferson counties is harvested into 449,500 tons of corn silage annually. To learn more about agriculture in Northern New York and to download the Evaluations of Corn Silage Hybrids for NNY for 2008 fact sheet visit the Field Crops: Corn information section at www.nnyagdev.org on the Web.

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program selects and prioritizes research the results of which can be practically applied to farms in the six-county region of Northern NY: Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton and Essex counties. The Program is led by Co-Chairs Jon Greenwood of Canton, 315-386-3231, and Joe Giroux of Plattsburgh, 518-563-7523.