Corn Silage May Be the Answer to Nebraska's Forage Shortages

Nationally, corn stocks and current crop estimates are adequate to support December corn futures trading between $4.50 and $5.00 per bushel.

For Nebraska farmers, tight forage supplies in central and western parts of the state, combined with high hay prices, may make locally produced corn silage a viable option.

Corn silage is usually priced at one of three points: standing in the field, packed in the silo, or delivered to the cattle at the bunk. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) research suggests that corn silage priced standing in the field should be valued at 7.65 times the price per bushel of corn.

When comparing nutrients in feeds to one another, they should be compared on a price per pound on a dry matter basis consumed by the cattle. Corn silage priced at $56.68 per ton, with 35% dry matter and a total digestible nutrient value (TDN) of 72%, would cost $0.11 per pound of TDN.

Harvesting drought-stressed corn as silage may be an option to salvage the crop and produce needed forage. However, caution should be used in harvesting if high nitrates are present, as ensiling can reduce nitrates by 40-60%.