With wet conditions persisting in many areas of the state in the second half of May, it is time to start thinking about and adjustments to forage strategies.
Hay Crop
Most grass hay crops and winter grains are past their optimum for lactating cow quality feed. As weather windows allow, target mixed stands and legumes that are still in the window for optimum lactating cow feed.
Return to over mature fields after all lactating quality feed is harvest and consider alternative storage strategies for over mature hay finding ways to store it separate from lactating quality feeds so it can be used for appropriate animal groups on the farm.
Corn Silage
The remainder of the growing season will have a significant impact of the outcome of the crop and while adjustments to corn relative maturities often begin by May 20 to 25 it is important to not overreact. While data suggest that yields can begin decline after late May, this is not always the case. When a good growing season follows late planting, performance and weather (yield and silage nutritional value) remains competitive.
One thing that always challenges crop performance is planting into wet soil conditions. Even as we enter late May, waiting a few extra days for optimum soil conditions is a preferred tradeoff to “mudding it in”.
If planting delays persist through the end of the May, review growing degree day (GDD) requirements for selected hybrid relative maturities and average GDD accumulation for your location. While it is not possible to predict the remainder of the growing season, using the best available information helps reduces the risk of making unnecessary adjustments.
Additional Resources
Additional resources can be found on the PRO-DAIRY Forage Systems webpage.
First cutting: Resources for success in 2022
Storage strategies for over mature hay and securing extra forages
Resources for dealing with spring weather delays
Late spring: Forage considerations beyond corn
Late planted corn for silage and GDD accumulation
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