Question:
“Due to Hurricane Irene, some producers in NY and VT got a lot of wind and their corn is down. They are looking for some advise on what to do next. Can you give some guidance on what to do with corn that is down? Inoculant, when to chop, any equipment do a better job picking it up than others, etc.?”
-Dave
Answer:
- Check the extent of damage => the stage of maturity and condition of root/stalk. If they are intact, the kernels will still accumulate starch and fill; if the corn is early, like at silk stage, the plant will be able to straighten up better than one at dough/dent stage. There are some concerns if you leave the plant like that until the time of harvest: higher diseases/pests, problems if there is a drought for the remaining period until harvest due to the damaged root system and the ear loss.
- If the stalk is crushed or broken, they will dry fast and probably the only choice is to ensile fast but make sure that it'll reach the appropriate DM%.
- I recommend Biotal Buchneri 500 to treat the forage since we want to make sure that it ferments fast and the likelihood of aerobic instability is strong under these conditions.
- About the equipment, a chopper with a rotary head will not do as good job as one with independent head – with this "older style head" you have to follow the corn rows and thus it is not as fast.
- Lastly, do they qualify for insurance?
Question:
“Cereal silage is being harvested when the temperature ranged from -5 to 10 degrees C. at 70% plus moisture. What concerns would you have and how would you deal with them?”
-Dave
Answer:
Dear Dave,
Obviously this does raise some issues. As you know, as the temperature decreases, the rate of biological processes decreases, which includes the growth and fermentation rates of the bacteria required to ensile the crop. This is coupled with the fact that the cereal silage crop is usually low in natural lactic bacteria, as it is mature material. Confoundingly, this also means that it is more likely to be carrying a high level of yeasts and molds, leading to potential issues with aerobic stability. Thus it is important that the material be treated with something that is going to minimize yeast and mold growth in the silage, and something that will get going at the low ambient temperatures. If this is a microbial, then it itself will generate heat as it grows, and so in large silage structures filled in the dead of winter, typically we still see the silage reaching temperatures in the 20′s (Celsius). Check to see that the microbial has been tested and or proven in commercial use in these wintery conditions.
Preventing yeast and mold growth basically boils down to one of two options: Lactobacillus buchneri-based inoculants or the application of a propionic-acid based chemical additive at the rate recommended and validated by the manufacturer. Of the LB-based inoculants, only those containing a high dose rate (400,000 CFU/ g silage; 600,000 CFU/g HMC) of the strain L. buchneri 40788 have been reviewed by the US FDA and allowed to claim improved aerobic stability.
The final issue then is preventing the product from freezing in the tank while during chopping. This can be at least partially obviated by using an applicator with an insulated reservoir (e.g. the DE 1000 from Dohrmann). Additionally, with the Biotal brand inoculants we have tested the inclusion of 10% anti-freeze in with the inoculant in the applicator reservoir and have found this effective and to have no negative effect on the viability of the Biotal products.
Under no circumstances should a dry applied product be used on this type of material.
Best regards,
The Silage Doctor
Question:
“Our dairy producers will finally have a couple of days without rain and are starting to harvest high moisture corn. I’ve received several reports of a blue-black mold growing on the corn kernels, it sounds like many cobs are affected. I have information regarding drying and storage to prevent or reduce further mold growth. Do you have any comments regarding putting up and storing HM Corn?“
Answer:
I would basically re-iterate what I said in my note and recommend they put it up at 28-32% moisture as HMC treated with Buchneri 500 at the HMC rate. The Pedio will get it anaerobic, stopping the mold growth, far quicker than any dry down will. And then the LB will reduce the mold numbers during storage.
But do beware of toxins that may come in on the crop from the field. The mold you describe could include Penicilliium, which is capable of producing a number of nasty toxins.
Best regards,
The Silage Doctor
Question:
“In parts of New York, we have corn fields that were flooded. Many producers plan to harvest this as HMC rather than as corn silage. Should they use an inoculant or an acid (like propionic) on this material at time of harvest? If they use an inoculant, do they have to increase the application rate? “
Answer:
Both additives can be options to treating high moisture corn.
Applying a propionic acid based-product is more expensive, and it should be applied at high doses (4-8 lbs/ton) . Low levels are not effective and could actually stimulate the production of secondary metabolism by surviving fungi (e.g., mycotoxins).
Lactobacillus buchneri 40788 has been proven to be effective at preserving HMC (ground and whole kernel) in several scientific publications. It is FDA-approved for improved aerobic stability using the application rate of 600,000 cfu/g of HM corn; it is a 50% higher dose compared to the dose applied to other crops. There is also a combination product (“Buchneri500″) that has a homolactic bacteria in addition of L. buchneri 40788. This would result in a faster degree of anaerobiosis after sealing the silo and effective control of mold growth during early fermentation, and L. buchneri would protect the material during storage and feed-out. The application rate of this product is 750,000 cfu/g of HM corn, as stated on the label.
The moisture content of the material should be > 26% (ideally 28-32%), so the bugs can be active and subsequently effective, and also to maximize starch digestibility. If the material gets out of hand and becomes really dry, then a prop acid additive would be the preferred alternative , but must be used at the manufacturer’s full recommended rate for the DM of the crop. Using propionic acid at below the recommended rate has been shown to potentially stimulate mycotoxin production.
Best regards,
The Silage Doctor
