Similar to corn stover removal, impacts on soil health include nutrient removal and residue removal, grazing corn stalks should also consider soil compaction. Nutrients removed from a field when corn stalks are grazed are much lower than most farmers think
Stover is the stalks, leaves, husks, and cobs left after corn grain harvest. Removing corn stover removes valuable nutrients from the field and increases the potential for soil crusting, erosion, and—long term—reduced water infiltration rates due to reduced soil organic matter levels.
In the October 9, 2024 Badger Crop Connect webinar, Dr. Harkirat Kaur, assistant professor and extension specialist in corn agronomy, discussed the 2024 corn performance trials and their harvest progress and outlined selection criteria for successful corn hybrids in Wisconsin cropping systems.
In Wisconsin, it seemed like every passing rain cloud dropped an inch or more of rain, and those clouds just kept coming. Combine record moisture in some areas with high humidity and clouds, and it was the perfect storm for slugs, molds, and diseases to infiltrate our crop fields and cause damage.
In the September 11, 2024 Badger Crop Connect webinar, Dr. Harkirat Kaur, a new extension specialist at UW–Madison, introduced herself and shared her background, education, and research experiences.
In the September 11, 2024 Badger Crop Connect webinar, Kevin Jarek discussed the challenges faced in corn silage and dry down this year.
We’re starting to see some foliar diseases come into corn in WI, which may affect harvest timing and management. We’re not overly concerned; however, the time is right to be proactive and scout, scout, scout!
The August 14 Badger Crop Connect webinar featured Dr. John Goeser, Animal Nutrition Lead for Rock River Lab; Consultant for Cows Agree Consulting; and adjunct assistant professor in the UW–Madison Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences. Dr. Goeser reflects on the corn silage growing season to this point and offers late season and harvest management options.
The August 23rd Badger Crop Connect session features discussions by two speakers. The first is Dr. Joe Lauer, Corn Agronomist, UW-Madison Professor and Extension Specialist. Joe Lauer shares timing, drydown, other corn silage related advice, and research results. The second speaker is Dr. Brian Luck, Biological Systems Engineer, UW-Madison Associate Professor, and Extension Specialist. Brian Luck shares information on silage harvest machinery setup, real time evaluation of kernel processing, and other potential technology to implement on a chopper.
Beef cow-calf producers are feeling the pinch of low pasture and hay yields due to drought conditions across the state. Corn silage is another feed source that can be used to help meet the herd’s nutritional needs.
Corn silage is unique compared to other multicut forage systems, such as alfalfa, as there is only one opportunity to harvest the crop annually. Therefore, farmers, agronomists, and agricultural professionals must dilligently monitor corn silage acres to identify the optimal harvest time to maximize forage yield and quality, as well as to ensure the proper moisture content for ensiling.
Whether it’s reducing nitrates leached to groundwater, phosphorus to our water bodies or increasing soil organic matter and microbial biomass, the answer is generally yes. But in trying to integrate cover crops into a cropping system, what are the considerations–species selection, seeding, benefits and drawbacks–that need to be addressed along the way?
