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Corn Silage Dry Down Update: Week of August 30, 2022

Follow corn silage dry down rates for various locations in Pennsylvania.

Updated:

August 31, 2022

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Corn silage harvest. Photo by Zach Larson

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With the help of Extension Educators across the state, we will monitor moisture levels of various hybrids as producers ready for silage harvest. Measurements for the week of August 30 are reported in the table below:

County	Hybrid	Maturity	Planting Date	Moisture % - 8/22	Moisture % - 8/30	Method
Lancaster	Dekalb DKC 49-44	99	5/18/22	63%	49%	Koster Tester
Lancaster	Pioneer P1197	111	5/18/22	72%	67%	Koster Tester
Schuylkill	Pioneer P0843	108	5/11/22	68%	57%	Koster Tester
Schuylkill	Pioneer P0506	105	5/12/22	69%	64%	Koster Tester
Potter	Pioneer P8034	80	6/14/22		80% (8/27)	Koster Tester
Potter		92	5/25/22		74% (8/27)	Koster Tester

Optimal moisture content for silage harvest varies slightly based on the structure used for storage. For maximum corn silage quality, use the following as a guide:

Horizontal silos: 65-70%
Tower silos: 63-68%
Oxygen-limiting silos: 55-60%
Bags: 65%

As individual hybrids dry down, silage moisture should be monitored to insure optimal moisture content during harvest. To learn more about how to calculate your own moisture sample using a microwave oven, check out this video from Penn State Extension.

Stay tuned to Field Crop News for weekly updates on these hybrids as they continue to dry down.

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