Corn for Grazing

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Thanks for the reply AF5 lots of wisdom there, historically what has been the tons/acre in that area and has anyone attempted cutting and baling corn or would that be just taking a short walk through hell if logistics wouldn't allow cattle on the field.
Did you use a planter or a air drill to seed in the spring.
What about existing residue, will you have to harrow or disc before seeding this spring and what crop follows corn best.

I don't know of any silage corn yields locally. We did some droughted/frozen canola this year and in 2015, and it ran about 14 tons (wet), I would have expected a lot more than that from corn, but maybe am unrealistic?

Not sure what tools you would use to cut it with, I'm told that swather reels don't get along with corn stalks very well. Discbine or haybine would need a very solid push bar out front, not sure what the crimpers would do, if anything? Not sure how long it would take a stalk to dry down late in the fall, it can take weeks for greenfeed to dry around here, and it doesn't have a stem 1.5" diameter to cure out. Could likely dry it standing up, then cut and bale, but would lose a lot of leaves.

I used air seeder, blocked off every second run in the towers. Double shooted(new word)the fertilizer at the same time, which is not recommended. Neighbor who does it every year uses an IH seed drill with runs blocked off. Another hired a planter. It needs a very black mellow seed bed. I did a small area no-till and it barely emerged eventually.

They tell me that corn follows corn best, no disease build up. Neighbor grows grazing corn on the same field every year and doesn't even add fertilizer.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

A planter is the biggest thing you can do to get the best yield.

Yes, it is tempting to think that it wouldn't matter for grazing or silage, but real world experience proves otherwise. Every seed has to emerge at the exact same time and the exact same spacing, otherwise they view other plants as competition.

[grassfarmer]

Yes, it is tempting to think that it wouldn't matter for grazing or silage, but real world experience proves otherwise. Every seed has to emerge at the exact same time and the exact same spacing, otherwise they view other plants as competition.

It's not that I don't think it matters I just don't think there is one size fits all. The best crop and best establishment we had was the year we used an airseeder. Having wide rows puts plants 30" apart across rows but real tight to their neighbour in the row. That's why I think 15" rows would be better - more checkerboard effect and less area of no plants where weeds started. I also think the obsession with every plant being identical size - the perfect monoculture - is of more relevance to grain yield if you are cropping it. Having some plants at slightly different growth stages in the fall when growth shuts down is an advantage, not a disadvantage in the grazing situation. It's why many guys advocate mixing different CHU varieties within the same stand.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

It's not that I don't think it matters I just don't think there is one size fits all. The best crop and best establishment we had was the year we used an airseeder. Having wide rows puts plants 30" apart across rows but real tight to their neighbour in the row. That's why I think 15" rows would be better - more checkerboard effect and less area of no plants where weeds started. I also think the obsession with every plant being identical size - the perfect monoculture - is of more relevance to grain yield if you are cropping it. Having some plants at slightly different growth stages in the fall when growth shuts down is an advantage, not a disadvantage in the grazing situation. It's why many guys advocate mixing different CHU varieties within the same stand.

I have no first hand experience, but research and experienced growers indicates that you will get more tons per acre with an identical picket fence stand. And like you say, narrow row spacing is better for silage, and weed competition at least according to AAFC study: https://www.topcropmanager.com/corn/research-looks-at-silage-corn-row-spacing-and-plant-populations-1239 https://www.topcropmanager.com/corn/research-looks-at-silage-corn-row-spacing-and-plant-populations-1239 I don't know how hard is it to find a 15" planter though?

[grassfarmer]

I don't know how hard is it to find a 15" planter though?

That's simple enough around here - soy beans are seeded on 15" rows so the same drill can be used for both - just change out the plates. They only use half the shanks(?) when seeding corn on 30" rows.