Spring forecasts are teasing for warmer days ahead and there’s no better time to brush up on a few corn silage planting pointers. Dairy farmers are up against a list of challenges this year, not just limited to the out of control feed costs, so the window for profit margins is all the more narrow.

Agronomist Jeff Coulter from the University of Minnesota offers these three critical tips:

>> Aim for 33,500-35,500 plants per acre to optomize milk per acre
>> Maintain row widths less than 30 inches to give individual plants more space
>> Plan seed corn at a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches for optimal nodal root development

As always, talk with your agronomist or seed dealer to determine optimal conditions for your particular corn silage seed variety and your location. See more insights on corn silage planting.