Since 2015 the dairy industry has declined greatly. In the last three years Green County alone has declined from 19 to 11 dairy’s county wide. Although the dairy industry is a declining industry the University of Kentucky along with the Cooperative Extension Service still sees this industry as a great value to our counties and our state.

Many of these dairies rely on corn silage as the main part of their feed ration because of the yield and quality of the forage.  A group of UK Cooperative Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources and UK Specialists see the need from local leaders to analyze quality and yield data between varieties for their producers.  In 2018 there were 4 locations for growing and analysis of 21 different hybrids by 10 different seed companies.  The 4 locations where Green, Lincoln, Mercer, and Mason County’s. Green County has hosted one of these locations for the past 4 years on Jim and Stacy Sidebottom’s Farm. All locations planted hybrids in a randomized block design replicated 3 times.  The hybrids were planted in strips consisting of 3 rows of each hybrid with checks included. All of hybrids are grown by local farmer cooperators with supervision from their local Extension Agent and the corn silage hybrid trial committee.  The crop is harvested where yield and quality data can be used to compare each hybrid.  This data is put into UK Corn Silage Hybrid Performance Report, 2017 (PR-726).  This publication is used to aid producers to make a decision in selection of the best corn silage hybrids available for their farming operation.  The results are listed online and used by farmers throughout Kentucky and the United States.