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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 AGRI DIGEST 9
Seed .....
Grain Corn & Silage Corn: Is There a Difference? Courtesy of Premier Pacific Seeds
tion to selecting for the leafy (LFM) trait in their silage
F
armers, when
selecting corn vari- hybrids. The leafy trait is a natural genetic anomaly that
eties are becoming produces taller plants with broader leaves. The ears on
more and more interested on the leafy hybrids are fully developed with soft digestible
two important traits; is it a kernels. This breeding work has resulted in a line up of
silage or grain hybrid? Other exceptional leafy hybrids.
decisions they pay attention If you are growing corn exclusively for silage then
to include whether to take choosing hybrids that have performed well in your local
advantage of the Roundup forage yield trials is one way of taking the guess work
Ready® Corn 2 attribute and out of the selection process. The goal is to produce high
is the seed Poncho 250™ quality silage that will result in higher milk and beef pro-
treated? A few years ago lit- duction. It is important to choose hybrids that consis-
tle corn planted was tently yield above the average and keep in mind that the
Roundup Ready® Corn 2 to best silage hybrids usually have a high grain percentage.
over 75% projected to be Consistency is another important characteristic to keep
Roundup Ready® Corn 2 in in mind. One year of data at a single site doesn’t really
2006. give a good indication of a hybrids ability to perform
Poncho 250™ is an insec- under a variety of conditions year after year.
ticide seed treatment that pro- Every farmer knows that growing conditions can and
tects your corn from early do vary considerably from one year to the next. Why
season corn insects such as gamble by choosing a hybrid that has yet to prove itself
wireworm. In 2005 about over time or worse has not even been trialed in your
10% of the corn seeded was area? If you want to be sure that the data you are refer-
Poncho 250® treated. This ring to is a fair representation then make sure that the
year over 50% of the corn trial was conducted by a third party. The Pacific Field
planted will be Poncho 250™ Corn Association does an excellent job of providing trial
treated. data to farmers in British Columbia.
There are some breeding Two long term consistent leading varieties in the
advancements and other Pacific Field Corn trials are Maizex LF 753 (755 RR)
information we should keep and LF 881. Both are true silage hybrids with high
in mind while we make our digestibility. LF 753 (LF 755 RR) is a very early corn, at
selections. Breeding work in 2350 heat units with very high grain content. Maizex LF
corn hybrids has become 881 RR is a medium season corn with incredible yields.
increasingly specific to use Over the last four years it has been the top variety in the
over the years. The selec- local BC trials.
tion traits for making a great
grain corn hybrid are not the NEW ORCHARDGRASS SOON AVAILABLE
same as the selection traits FOR BC FARMERS
for a great silage hybrid. Premier Pacific Seeds Ltd. is again introducing a
Silage hybrids are bred proven Orchardgrass for use in coastal British Columbia.
specifically to produce more LG-31(experimental designation) was bred to create an
milk per acre and more beef elite Orchardgrass variety that is able to persist for
per acre since they typically longer periods of time under heavy traffic. Its outstand-
have more total digestible ing feature is its sunken crown as well as a larger crown.
nutrients per acre than grain This enables LG 31(experimental designation) to with-
corn hybrids. The following stand traffic and appear less “Clumpy” in the field. It has
table provided by Maizex excellent regrowth after cutting or grazing. It is a great
Seeds Inc. summarizes the yielder and persists extremely well under coastal condi-
main differences between tions.
silage and grain corn Significant improvements have also been made on
hybrids: resistance to various leaf spots, rusts, and other diseases.
Maizex Seeds Inc. has This superior disease resistance combined with versatili-
focused a great deal of atten- ty and persistence make LG-31(experimental designa-
tion) another winning Orchardgrass variety soon to be
SILAGE CORN GRAIN CORN released in BC and registered under a new name. Ask
Stalk Taller, more flexible stalk with thin rind Shorter, stiffer stalk with thick rind your seed representative for this variety.
Leaves More and broader leaves above the ear Fewer leaves above the ear
Ears Lower on the plant with greater chance Higher on plant with lower chance
of multiple ears at lower plant populations of multiple ears at moderate plant populations
Kernel Soft kernel to maximize digestibility Hard kernel to withstand harvesting and storage
Helping Farmers Produce
Maizex tops
Financial Success Corn Trials... again!
At BDO, we assist you to:
Make sound business decisions - Great grain & digestability
Plan cash flow
Maximize return from government programs - High yielding
Improve operations through comparison
benchmarking "Puts more milk in your tank!"
Solve succession issues
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Call your local seed supplier today!
Call Rick Hirtle or Lorraine Allen 1-888-832-7171
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