The use of foliar fungicides in corn grain production has gained favor over the past few years. As grain prices increased, savvy producers realized that the investment in a well-timed fungicide application could pay huge yield dividends at harvest. Corn silage, another valuable crop especially when chopped for high-performance dairies, can benefit from a foliar fungicide application as well. The return on fungicide investment for the corn silage producer can be more tons per acre of higher-quality silage.
Corn growers have learned that the yield increases associated with some fungicides stem not only from a decrease in leaf diseases, but also from a general increase in plant health. By reducing the incidence and severity of fungal leaf disease, the corn plant is better able to convert light energy into starch, protein and sugars. Healthy plants are also better able to deal with the environmental stresses often encountered during the growing season. In silage, since the entire plant is harvested, the plant health aspect becomes even more valuable.
Foliar fungicides vary in their formulation and mode of action, and only a few products are labeled for applications to corn grown for silage. Headline® fungicide, manufactured by BASF, is the fungicide most widely used by corn growers in North America. Data from research plots and field trials have shown very positive responses to Headline applied to corn silage. A trial in Plainfield, Wisconsin in 2008 showed an average of 1.62 tons/acre (at 70% moisture) increase from a Headline application over an average of 35 hybrids. This yield increase translated to an average of 2,837 additional pounds of milk per acre using the standard dairy industry tons to milk calculation. The results from a trial in Unity, Wisconsin were even more impressive. Averaged over 21 different hybrids, the Headline application resulted in an extra 3.26 tons/acre and an increase of 3,986 pounds of milk per acre.
Silage quality can also be maintained by a timely application of Headline. Trials grown in Wisconsin, Maryland and New York showed increases in fiber digestibility and corresponding increases in milk per acre when compared to an untreated check.
Another important benefit of a foliar fungicide application is the increase in “stay green” or late season plant health. This increase in plant health means a wider silage harvest window. Whether your customers are large operations with hundreds of acres of silage to cut or smaller operations waiting on a custom chopper, cutting silage at the proper moisture is an important step in harvesting quality corn silage. Keeping the crop healthy and green for a longer period of time can pay huge dividends in the feed bunk.
After starting with the right hybrid, your customers can help maintain the nutrition potential of that silage crop with a timely fungicide application. A foliar fungicide such as Headline can be a management tool in your customers’ quality silage plan.
This article was written by Mark Schultz, a sales agronomist for BASF Plant Science. He can be reached at mark.schultz@basf.com.
