In the last few years, companies like Bayer developed corn hybrids better suited for the growing season on the Prairies, said Desjardins.
“Even in areas where corn was just not a possibility five years ago, I would encourage those growers to grab a new seed guide and see how short season our hybrids do go. At Bayer, we've put in a huge investment into early season corn and we're continually improving our performance on earlier and earlier hybrids,” she told Farms.com.
If a producer is interested in trying out silage corn, they should be aware of the importance of proper startup investment for corn, said Desjardins.
“Corn is not a good competitor. It doesn't compete well with weeds, it doesn't compete well with each other,” she said.
It is recommended that producers invest in a corn planter or rent one to get the corn on the right track.
“Starting off with a planter and having singulation, which means perfectly spaced plants, so you have proper row spacing in between the rows as well as within the row, is the key to a good successful start in corn,” said Desjardins.
While the seed cost for corn may surprise some first-time growers and while they should invest in some new equipment, silage corn is still a strong option for producers on the Prairies, said Desjardins.
undefined undefined/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo