NDSU Extension Tool Helps Corn Producers Navigate Silage Decisions Amid Drought
The extreme heat and dry weather in North Dakota's 2026 growing season has left corn producers with a difficult decision: harvest their crops for grain or chop them for silage. With potential feed shortages looming due to the drought, Ron Haugen, a North Dakota State University Extension farm management specialist, is helping farmers determine the value of standing corn.
A major concern for producers who planned on harvesting corn for grain is whether chopping it for silage would be a more valuable option. To address this question, NDSU Extension has revised a publication outlining how to calculate the value of a standing corn crop for silage, taking into account factors such as yield, price of substitute feed crops, and harvesting and hauling costs.
The updated publication is available in print and for download on the NDSU website. Additionally, an Excel spreadsheet decision tool has been developed by NDSU Extension specialists to help producers input their own numbers and make informed decisions about their corn silage. The tool includes features for adjusting the corn silage price and estimating yield calculations.