SILAGE

Leafy Hybrids

Leafy Corn Silage Hybrids are bred to produce a high yield of digestible fiber and starch. Leafy’s extra leaves above the ear (eight or more) increase the leaf area index of the plant, allowing for more sugar production. These sugars are converted to starch in the ear. Leafy hybrids have flex-type ears and the extra leaves help to develop and fill those ears with starch. Leafy silage hybrids have 5-7% more starch digestibility than dual-purpose or grain hybrids.
Extra leaves also increase tonnage. A Leafy crop stands taller and fuller than non-Leafy hybrids. Leafy Corn Silage Hybrids must be planted at low populations of 28,000 - 30,000 plants per acre to realize their optimal yield, but because each plant produces more dry matter than a dual-purpose hybrid, you can realize top yields with less seed.

Key points:

• Strong agronomics
• High total plant yield
• Long harvest window
• High starch content
• Short storage period
• High fiber digestibility
• High starch digestibility
• Excellent feed quality

Floury Leafy Hybrids

Floury Leafy Corn Silage Hybrids have a silage specific kernel type that behaves differently in the field, the chopper, the silo and the rumen. They contain a naturally occurring recessive gene called opaque-1. In the farmer’s field, a segregation of kernel type is seen on the ear. Approximately 25% of the kernels on each ear have completely floury interiors. The other 75% of the kernel set is composed of normal Leafy type kernels. All kernels are selected to be large, soft, and slow drying so that they will fracture easily during chopping and cow chewing for maximum starch digestibility. Expect starch to be 10-12% more digestible. Floury Leafy Corn Silage Hybrids must be planted at low populations of 28,000 - 30,000 plants per acre to realize their optimal yield.

Featuring the same key points as leafy corn silage plus: 

• Small particle size
• Long rumen retention
• High energy starch
• Ration-type adaptability
• High quality milk

Silage First Hybrids

The Legend Seeds Agronomy Team has hand-selected our top go-to dual-purpose hybrids that fit the bill as a “Silage First” hybrid option. These standout hybrids have demonstrated high quality silage advantages such as high tonnage, starch content, fiber digestibility, and strong forage yield.