BMR Hybrid Wins Grand Champion First-Time Entrant

Mycogen Seeds corn silage hybrids dominated competition at the World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl, earning 18 of 20 possible placings in two corn silage categories. In the BMR Corn Silage category, Mycogen Seeds hybrids swept the entire category. In addition, a Mycogen Seeds grower was named the Grand Champion First-Time Entrant. In the Standard Corn Silage category, Mycogen hybrids earned eight of 10 possible placings.

“We are very excited about the outstanding results our customers were able to achieve in the World’s Forage Analysis SuperBowl,” says Greg Cannon, Marketing Specialist, Mycogen Seeds. “Top placings year after year have firmly established Mycogen Seeds as the leader in corn hybrids bred specifically for silage. Our Silage-Specific^™ hybrids offer the most digestible nutrients for maximum animal performance.”

The sponsors of the World’s Forage Analysis Superbowl are AgSource Cooperative Services, DairyBusiness Communications, Hay and Forage Grower/Webb Publications, USDA Forage Research Center, University of Wisconsin-College of Agricultural & Life Sciences and World Dairy Expo.

All entries of whole plant corn silage must have been ensiled and show signs of fermentation. Corn silage is analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD).

The corn silage class was selected based on digestibility. The corn silage finalist samples were judged according to the following criteria:

• Forage Analysis            60%

• Visual                           20%

• Herd Production Info      10%

• Milk Per Ton                 10%

“Silage samples from Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, New York, Indiana and Ontario, Canada, represented a broad line of Mycogen brand Silage-Specific hybrids,” explains Cannon. “Our diverse lineup allows growers to choose the  proper hybrid for their geography and management practices.”

The Grand Champion First-Time Entrant was West Vale-Vu Dairy, Nashville, Mich., with its Mycogen F2F797 entry.

BMR Corn Silage Division Placings

The BMR Corn Silage division Grand Champion was Sandcreek Dairy LLC, Hastings, Mich., with its F2F797 entry.

Mycogen Silage-Specific BMR hybrids swept this category, including winning entries from: Hardie Farms, Lansing, N.Y.; Endsly Dairy Farm LLC, Hastings, Mich.; Dave De Kam, Falmouth, Mich.; Twin River Dairy, Freeport, Mich.; Hood Farms, Paw Paw, Mich.; Luke Haywood, Hastings, Mich.; Sandcreek Dairy LLC, Hastings, Mich.; Whey Street Dairy, Cuyler, N.Y.; and Kuehnert Dairy Farm, Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Standard Corn Silage Placings

The Grand Champion Corn Silage division was won by Benthem Homestead Farm, McBain, Mich. Mycogen Hybrids received eight of 10 placings in the category, including: Autumn Vista Dairy, McBain, Mich.; Ferme Gillette, Embrun, Ontario, Canada; Gernaat Family Farms, Marion, Mich.; Krofft Dairy, Mt. Perry, Ohio; K&W Dairy Farm – Isser, Plainwell, Mich.; Larry Haywood, Hastings, Mich; and Steve Herdering, Freeport, Minn.

 “Our corn silage hybrids can improve digestibility, raise dry matter intake and boost milk production,” Cannon concludes.

Mycogen Seeds is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Mycogen Seeds is the leader in Silage-Specific^™ corn, the largest sunflower seed producer, and a leading producer of seed corn, alfalfa, soybeans and sorghum.

©™Mycogen, the Mycogen M Logo, and Silage-Specific are trademarks of Mycogen Corporation. 
©2005 Mycogen Seeds. Mycogen Seeds is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC.