December 15, 2008

Contact: William Cox, Cornell University, 607-255-1758 or your local Cornell Cooperative Extension
Note: The comparative summary & two 2008 summaries are attached & may be reprinted

Northern New York Corn Silage Trial Results Now Online

“Most dairy producers are selecting their corn silage hybrids for 2009 now, so they can receive the early purchase discount from their seed companies. Unbiased yield trial results from Cornell University are an extremely valuable tool for hybrid selection,” says Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Field Crops Educator Stephen Canner.

The results of corn silage hybrid trials at two Northern New York farm sites are now online at http://www.nnyagdev.org/_fieldcrops.htm#Corn.  Tables for trials at Sackets Harbor and at Madrid list results for eight varieties of 80-89 day corn, two dozen varieties of 90-95 day corn, and six varieties of 96-100 day corn. Canner has also prepared a comparative study of the better than average hybrids tested in Northern New York through 2007.

The annual variety trials are funded by a Northern New York Agricultural Development Program grant. Cornell University Crop and Soil Sciences Professor William J. Cox leads the annual research in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension associations of Northern New York.

Across Northern New York, corn is grown for silage on approximately 103,186 acres, according to the 2002 Census of Agriculture).

Other on-farm nutrient management research funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has helped North Country farmers reduce costs by showing that high-quality, strong-yield corn crops can be grown with less nitrogen fertilizer. Project results are posted on the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program website at www.nnyagdev.org.  # # #