Short-Stature Corn Gains Ground in US Dairy Industry
US dairy farmers are turning to short-stature corn as an alternative to traditional brown midrib (BMR) hybrids, which have seen a decline in availability. According to USDA estimates, corn silage production has increased by about 30% since 2024, with around 885,000 acres harvested for silage averaging 22 tons per acre and producing nearly 19 million tons statewide.
Short-stature corn is about one-third to one-half shorter than conventional hybrids, resulting in ears that are positioned closer to the ground. This growth habit offers several agronomic advantages, including improved water-use efficiency, greater standability, and increased resistance to lodging caused by high winds and extreme weather.
Preliminary results from a regional study conducted in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa compared BMR, conventional tall, and short-stature corn hybrids. The study found that short-stature corn followed the same favorable pattern as tall hybrids in terms of dry matter yield, nutritional consistency, and starch concentration.