Corn Agronomist Corn is a versatile crop that can be planted from early to late spring. In the fall, producers have the option of harvesting corn for either silage or grain. Many producers are reevaluating their cropping systems and increasing their use of corn silage in dairy and beef feeding operations. Advantages and disadvantages Corn can produce high dry matter yields with one harvest.
Corn is a good crop to recycle nutrients from manure and maintain water quality.
Corn silage is easily ensiled and results in palatable forage with relatively consistent quality and higher energy content than other forages. Corn silage production requires less labor and machinery time than other harvested forages. Thus, the cost per ton of dry matter produced tends to be lower for corn silage than for other forages. Offsetting these benefits of corn silage are some disadvantages relative to other forages. There are few established markets and transportation costs are high, so the crop must be fed on or near the farm where it is produced.