This Forage Corn "Tillers" Like Wheat

This Forage Corn Tillers Like Wheat CROPS Miscellaneous Plant a seed of MasterGraze and as it grows it ll look like you planted half a dozen The unique forage corn from Masters Choice Hybrids is the only known brown mid-rib variety BMR that tillers like wheat It produces 75 percent of the bulk of a conventional corn silage varieity but in only 60 days which leaves plenty of time for multi-cropping Like all BMR varieties it s low in lignin and high in digestibility Our customers use it for haylage baleage and grazing says Kristen Cameron Masters Choice Hybrids It can produce up to 7 tons per acre with no special tillage Even average soils will produce five tons an acre MasterGraze can be planted from early spring until late fall needing only 60 days of heat and soil temperatures above 55ü First introduced in Illinois it s now grown from Florida to North Dakota and west to California While balanced soil fertility is important the forage corn requires only 1/2 to 2/3 the nutrients of a grain corn crop including only 1 to 1 1/2 units of nitrogen per growing day before harvest Population levels can vary from 25 000 to 40 000 seeds per acre It plants best with a corn planter but you can also use a drill with foam cups so the seed isn t damaged advises Cameron The forage corn grows slowly for the first month and then rapidly the second The company advises grazing when the corn nears tassel stage with the crop providing high quality grazing for 4 to 5 weeks If planted in early May MastersGraze is ready for grazing in July/August This August slump is when milk production and growth of pastured animals normally slows as grass production slows If harvested for haylage or baleage dry matter is at its greatest as the first stalk in the plant mass begins to tassel Waiting until after tassel stage increases the chance of lodging and reduces quality If harvested above the lowest growth point tillers will regrow once; however yield will be only 25 to 35 percent of the first crop Interseeding a second forage crop in the MastersGraze stubble is suggested Seed is available as organic or treated and can be purchased from local dealers or direct from Masters Choice Cameron says the suggested retail price is $115 per 80 000 count bag Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Masters Choice 3010 State Rt 146 E Anna Ill 62906 ph 866 444-1044; kristen@seedcorn com; www seedcorn com

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