OCTOBER 2019 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
Growers step up to continue corn
silage trials Research points to a need for a good mix of varieties
by DAVID SCHMIDT ABBOTSFORD—Corn silage
growers have to do a lot more research now that governments in Western Canada are no longer conducting replicated silage corn variety trials. The Pacific Field Corn
Association used to conduct the BC trial at the Agassiz Research and Development Centre. Those trials included varieties submitted by each of BC’s major corn seed suppliers, allowing growers to easily compare results from all seed companies. Now growers can only
make the same comparisons by attending multiple field days and comparing results sheets from each of BC’s major corn seed suppliers. Alexis Arthur of Pacific
Forage Bag Supply conducts four demonstration trials at locations in Matsqui, Sumas Prairie, Cowichan and Enderby. While her field days, such as the one at Rose Gate Farms in Matsqui in early September, are always well- attended, they only include varieties from the seed companies she represents. The Matsqui trial included 18 established, new and experimental varieties from Pride, Thunder and Quarry. The selection included varieties ranging from 2,100 to 2,550 heat units. Arthur says this is a good year for corn.
“I like the height across the
board,” she says. She notes the Fraser Valley
received a lot more rain this summer than last year, and temperatures were in a more favourable range than in 2018. Although 2018 had
more hot days in July and August, that didn’t translate into better growing conditions. “Corn doesn’t like temperatures over 30°C, so this year the corn actually had more growing time,” Arthur told growers. “We’re getting beautiful corn this year but there may be some effect on cob production.”
Although the higher heat unit varieties in her trial produce “very good corn,” Arthur said they need to be planted early or they won’t finish on time.
She encourages growers to
spread their risk by planting both low and high heat unit varieties. Low heat unit varieties should be planted first so they can be harvested first. “Let the early corn sit in the
silo for four weeks before you add the rest of your corn,” she said.
Corn rootworm
Ryan De Jong, who has been contracted by the BC Ministry of Agriculture to monitor Fraser Valley cornfields for Western corn rootworm for the past three years, says the beetle continues to be a problem. Results of his trapping show this year is worse than last but nowhere near the levels of 2017. In 2017, 789 traps in the central and eastern Fraser Valley captured a total of 3,129 beetles. Last year, that number dropped to just 1,238 beetles, but the numbers climbed back up to 1,816 beetles this year. “You need to practice
rotation,” De Jong told growers.
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Rose Gate owner Ted De Jong said he is happy to host the annual trials, and usually
makes his own pick from among the four or five varieties planted each year.
“We include one or two new varieties based on what we see in the trial,” he says.
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Alexis Arthur of Pacific Forage Bag Supply talks silage to producers at the Sila Grow field day at Bomi Farms in Enderby, September 13. JACKIE PEARASE PHOTO
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