The area accumulated approximately 125 CHU last week bringing the total for the season to 2643. Corn silage harvest is underway. Silage moisture is still high, however, most of the early harvest is fed as green chop to replace hay or stored in bunker silos. Several fields still have green strips which is the result of late germination. Although the fields are not uniform, pod set appears to be average.
Hay supply is still quite short in the area.
A number of growers are counting on corn silage to meet their forage needs. Establishment of new seedings has been inconsistent this year. Establishment is particularly poor where the cereal nurse crop was harvested as grain. Night time temperatures have been cooler this past week, down to 2 -3 degrees at night in some areas. Some farmers have started plowing, mostly of cereal stubble and the odd forage stand.