The sooner you can chop corn silage after a hard frost, the better. That’s according to NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center livestock specialist Karl Hoppe. Proper corn silage fermentation requires adequate moisture to reduce dry-matter loss and spoilage. “If it’s too wet, you can end up with leakage in the silage pile. The best way to determine if the crop is ready is to take a sample,” says Hoppe. “This year, especially after a frost, the corn will look dry. That’s perception. When you actually get into the crop, you’ll find out there is still a lot of moisture in the stalk and cob.” Hoppe adds that silage is generally ready at kernel dent and when the plant is at approximately 75 percent milk stage. However, dry weather in parts of North Dakota did take the top end off corn yields. Listen to the RRFN interview with Hoppe here.