In 2020, Sioux County led all Iowa counties in total corn silage production, with 919,000 tons according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Lyon (579,000), Winneshiek (386,000), Dubuque (295,000) and Clay (294,000) rounded out the top five highest producing counties.

Clayton County had the highest yield with an average of 23.5 tons per acre. Sioux, Cerro Gordo and Delaware were tied for second highest yields at 22.5 tons per acre. There were 21 counties that had an average yield of 20.0 or more tons per acre.

Yields are derived from production divided by area harvested. Only published estimates were considered in rankings of counties.

A recent mycotoxin survey of corn harvested in 2019 shows 96 percent tested positive for at least one mycotoxin, while 61 percent of samples had more than one mycotoxin. Combine that with the potential for quality issues that may mean fewer pounds of milk per ton and producers need to get a handle on what they have in their piles.

To help producers evaluate their options, I-29 Moo University asked Dairy Specialist and Assistant Professor at Iowa State University Dr. Hugo Ramirez-Ramirez, shared what he is seeing from labs in the upper Midwest and what mitigation options producers have.

Ramirez will also share several other thoughts plus pile maintenance during feed-out.

The archived webinar available at:

https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/pekv78669iqd/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal