new 95 day bmr available now!

• $90 per bag

With this Brown Mid-Rib mutation, expect lower lignin and increased digestibility. Animals are able to utilize up to 95% of the entire plant. 

• When planted in narrow rows at 120,000 seeds per acre, our extremely digestible Brown Mid-Rib forage corn can produce up to 7 tons of dry matter in as little as 60 to 80 days
• Plant with a corn planter or grain drill with press wheels on 7" - 15" Centers.
• Harvest similar to sorghum-sudan by grazing, greenchop, haylage or balage
• Harvest at or before tassel and expect higher protein and sugar levels than conventional corn silage

*  50 lb. (90,000 seed) bag. Special promotion price on one or more pallets. Protein    levels vary between 12% - 18%.

Greenleaf grazing corn is a very high quality grass with typical protein at 12% and as high as 18%. The BMR is even higher quality than regular corn, and even of greater importance, can be grazed later (higher yields) with less drop in quality. Grazing corn can be grown after peas, first or even second cut alfalfa, and after small grains where there is sufficient season and moisture available. Another way is to utilize a cool season cereal in the fall and graze it in the fall and spring and then plant corn for warm season production. Corn can produce 7 tons or more dry matter in 75 days or less.

Corn belt hybrids yield the most grain at around a 30,000 population and a leaf area index of about 5. For grazing or machine harvesting we need much higher populations to maximize yield, as high as 90,000 to 100,000 kernels for early greenleaf grazing or machine harvesting.

We think the main reason grass finishing is difficult, is that the cool season grass period is too short. We need a high quality grass to fill in the summer slump period and lead into the fall cool season grass growth.

Because BMR hybrid corn seed is so expensive, its use has been limited to corn silage and grain production. We have solved this issue with our low cost seed production in southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon.

Greenleaf grazing

Prior to discovering the greater milk production of BMR silage, the increase consumption and weight gains were noted with BMR. Greenleaf BMR corn is the highest quality annual grass and can yield over 7 DM ton per acre in as little as 75 days. It could be very useful during the summer slump when the cool season grasses are giving out. It can also be planted after peas, cool season grazing crops, or as late as after second cut alfalfa or even cereal grains. In 105 day corn maturity area we have had a good yield seeding as late as August 1.

Windrowing and then wilting for silage

FORAGE CORN can also be planted after peas, cool season grazing crops, or as late as after second cut alfalfa or even winter wheat. 

This will be profitable in a double crop scenario with our reasonable seed cost. Basically it will just replace follow up crops like BMR sorghum-sudan. The advantage to RAY BROTHERS forage corn over BMR sorghum-sudan is the fact that it is a sub tropical plant so it will tolerate the cooler northwest nights and hot days unlike the full tropical BMR sorghum-sudan.

FORAGE CORN will be higher quality and produce more tonnage in a shorter amount of time than BMR sorghum-sudan. RAY BROTHERS forage corn has successfully been grown with 12 to 15 ton silage yields in the high mountain valleys where corn has not traditionally been grown because of late spring or early fall frost. The machinery needed will be a swather and a forage harvester with a pickup or a large square or round baler. We have found drying down to 25-30% moister typically takes about as long as to dry alfalfa down to 13%, and applicating Hay preservatives works excellent. We caution baling over 20% moister without Hay preservatives because of mold. Bale wrap works great; because of the low lignin, the stocks are soft and pliable and will not make holes.

Because of the high tonnage a rotary swather will be preferable, but keep in mind that because of the low fiber and green young plants, this will not damage a conventional swather, it will just be slower. One thing that will surprise and impress most people is that our FORAGE CORN planted in the middle of the summer will grow very fast and get just as tall as the same corn planted in the spring. This is due to the higher heat units while the corn is in the early stage. Ears will begin to develop depending on the fall weather but most likely will not dent down and finish properly.

WEED CONTROL

It is important to control weeds in corn. If there will be grass or extra tough weeds coming, it is best to use roundup to burn them down before any tillage and planting happens. After emergence, when corn is approximately four inches tall and weeds are around one inch, use a spray that is labeled for corn that will control the weeds for your area. We prefer 2-4-d labeled for corn to control broadleaf weeds because it is cheap and effective. We have observed when planting late June or July, that weeds are not much of a problem for our BMR FORAGE CORN because most weeds come in the spring. 

Greenleaf grazing corn is a very high quality grass with typical protein at 12% and as high as 18%. The BMR is even higher quality than regular corn, and even of greater importance, can be grazed later (higher yields) with less drop in quality. Grazing corn can be grown after peas, first or even second cut alfalfa, and after small grains where there is sufficient season and moisture available. Another way is to utilize a cool season cereal in the fall and graze it in the fall and spring and then plant corn for warm season production. Corn can produce 7 tons or more dry matter in 75 days or less.

Corn belt hybrids yield the most grain at around a 30,000 population and a leaf area index of about 5. For grazing or machine harvesting we need much higher populations to maximize yield, as high as 90,000 to 100,000 kernels for early greenleaf grazing or machine harvesting.

We think the main reason grass finishing is difficult, is that the cool season grass period is too short. We need a high quality grass to fill in the summer slump period and lead into the fall cool season grass growth.

Because BMR hybrid corn seed is so expensive, its use has been limited to corn silage and grain production. We have solved this issue with our low cost seed production in southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon.

Greenleaf grazing

Prior to discovering the greater milk production of BMR silage, the increase consumption and weight gains were noted with BMR. Greenleaf BMR corn is the highest quality annual grass and can yield over 7 DM ton per acre in as little as 75 days. It could be very useful during the summer slump when the cool season grasses are giving out. It can also be planted after peas, cool season grazing crops, or as late as after second cut alfalfa or even cereal grains. In 105 day corn maturity area we have had a good yield seeding as late as August 1.

Windrowing and then wilting for silage

FORAGE CORN can also be planted after peas, cool season grazing crops, or as late as after second cut alfalfa or even winter wheat. 

This will be profitable in a double crop scenario with our reasonable seed cost. Basically it will just replace follow up crops like BMR sorghum-sudan. The advantage to RAY BROTHERS forage corn over BMR sorghum-sudan is the fact that it is a sub tropical plant so it will tolerate the cooler northwest nights and hot days unlike the full tropical BMR sorghum-sudan.

FORAGE CORN will be higher quality and produce more tonnage in a shorter amount of time than BMR sorghum-sudan. RAY BROTHERS forage corn has successfully been grown with 12 to 15 ton silage yields in the high mountain valleys where corn has not traditionally been grown because of late spring or early fall frost. The machinery needed will be a swather and a forage harvester with a pickup or a large square or round baler. We have found drying down to 25-30% moister typically takes about as long as to dry alfalfa down to 13%, and applicating Hay preservatives works excellent. We caution baling over 20% moister without Hay preservatives because of mold. Bale wrap works great; because of the low lignin, the stocks are soft and pliable and will not make holes.

Because of the high tonnage a rotary swather will be preferable, but keep in mind that because of the low fiber and green young plants, this will not damage a conventional swather, it will just be slower. One thing that will surprise and impress most people is that our FORAGE CORN planted in the middle of the summer will grow very fast and get just as tall as the same corn planted in the spring. This is due to the higher heat units while the corn is in the early stage. Ears will begin to develop depending on the fall weather but most likely will not dent down and finish properly.

WEED CONTROL

It is important to control weeds in corn. If there will be grass or extra tough weeds coming, it is best to use roundup to burn them down before any tillage and planting happens. After emergence, when corn is approximately four inches tall and weeds are around one inch, use a spray that is labeled for corn that will control the weeds for your area. We prefer 2-4-d labeled for corn to control broadleaf weeds because it is cheap and effective. We have observed when planting late June or July, that weeds are not much of a problem for our BMR FORAGE CORN because most weeds come in the spring. 

Dairymen and University researchers are finding that cows fed Brown MidRib (BMR) corn silage produce an additional 5 pounds of milk per day in early to mid lactation. It has no value at the end of lactation (lower production) or for dry cows. In fact, it is something you don’t want to feed to these cows as they can become too fat. This makes it especially ideal for operations where herds are grouped and fed according to lactation stage or production levels. The weight gains make for exciting possibilities in meat and beef production.

BMR also means healthier cows. The high milk production of today’s cow requires a very high energy diet. This has been provided by corn silage plus additional corn grain. The problem with this ration is the rumen wasn’t made to handle this much starch and can result is acidosis and health problems. Conventional corn silage rations are on a knifes edge; that is, as much grain as the rumen can stand for maximum energy and production, yet not so much as to create rumen acidosis.

BMR has less lignin in the non-grain portion of the plant. Lignin is the structural fiber that holds the plant up. Lignin is not only indigestible, but also incrusts some of the cellulose making it unavailable to rumen bacteria. Cellulose, not grain, is what the rumen was designed to handle, hence more energy and better rumen health with BMR. Since BMR is more digestible, cattle will eat more BMR silage. This means more silage or whole plant energy and less corn grain.

Feeding BMR corn silage allows you to take out some of the grain in the ration, that, in turn, lowers ration cost.

A $1 increase per bushel of corn will increase the average dairy cow ration cost between 27 and 34 cents per day. In a 100-cow herd, that is an extra $1,230 net income per month.

Remember that an 85 day early maturity corn has almost the same filling period as later maturities, yet avoids late season moisture and heat stress. This could also be an advantage for silage harvest to create a bigger window for harvest when grown beside a longer day silage corn.

Planting rate  

Under high fertility conditions in twin or narrow rows, plant up to 65,000 plants/acre. In 30 inch rows, cut back to 55,000. Because our BMR is early, it is a small plant, hence, the need for a high population. The difference in between early and late corn is the time of planting to silk. The fill period is almost the same. Our higher planting rate simply allows the plant to intercept sunlight earlier and in narrow rows, shade weeds.

Planting

Use a grain drill with press wheels to plant or a corn planter.

Over planting – under planting

Because of the high cost of our competitors BMR corn seed, under planting is usually the case. In years when plant populations are down due to weather, yield losses can increase significantly.

Our BMR seed is not expensive; therefore, you can afford to slightly over plant. If the year for growing corn is less than optimal, over planting may result in a slightly lower percentage of grain, but since the non-grain portion is higher quality, it makes less of a difference. However in years where the plant population is down due to weather, over planting can be a big advantage.

BMR Yields

BMR corn yields less than regular corn, and cattle will also consume more. This would suggest you would need more corn acres. Actually, you may need fewer acres, since with BMR you actually need to feed more silage and less grain for rumen health. Fewer total acres are usually needed since an acre of silage contain almost double the nutrients as an acre of corn grain.

Our BMR yield

A hybrid of similar maturity should be expected to out yield an Synthetic variety. However; since our BMR will be seeded at a higher population, it will out yield a hybrid of similar maturity and maybe one even a little later. To our knowledge this is the earliest BMR available on the market today.

Lodging

Due to lower lignin in BMR, lodging is more of a problem. Since our BMR is a smaller plant, it is affected less by wind.

Drought

There are reports that BMR is affected more by drought than conventional corn. Our BMR can escape some of the late season moisture and heat stress simply because it is early.

Fall seeding

In areas where 105 day or later maturity corn is full season, it will be possible to fall seed alfalfa or other crops, after our BMR. Fall seeding will result in a full alfalfa crop the following year, whereas a spring seeding often results in about a half crop. Weeds are also not a problem in fall seeded alfalfa.

Nitrogen fertilizer is becoming more expensive as energy prices climb. Recent research shows that when good (4 plants or more per square foot) alfalfa stands are taken out, no addition nitrogen is needed the following year for corn and is reduced by half the second year.

Other advantages

Early maturity can escape some insect problems, such as corn borer, simply by being early.

Early silage maturity may offer some advantage in utilization of labor and equipment by spreading out harvest over a longer period.

Winter grazing

One of the biggest costs with beef cow herds is putting up hay for winter feed. An advantage to corn is that it is tall enough to stick above snow so the cow can find and go after the rest of the plant.

We now have our NEW 95 day BMR silage corn seed for sale at $80.00 per bag in lots of 50 bags (1 pallet)
or more. 

In our FIELD planting, our 95 day corn was approximately a foot and a half taller than the 84 day corn in the same field. This is a large improvement in yield over the 84 day corn with yields around the same as other BMR’s on the market.

For silage you would plant at 65,000 in 15 to 30 inch rows (on irrigated land) or since our price is at $80.00 you could use this corn for forage and plant at 120,000 per acre according to your application.

15,000 - 22,000 in North Dakota or South Dakota on dry land to 120,000 on irrigated so it will not blow over as much in windy areas.

We have our corn in many states across the US. We have our corn with the Kester family at 7600 feet elevation in Fort Garland, Colorado. Chris Kester stated, “the first year it made 25 tons, the second year 17 tons. We had a bad hail storm, it still did good considering how bad the storm was.” ~ Chris Kester, Fort Garland, Colorado.

We have farmers in North and South Dakota who feed very little to no hay or supplements when grazing our corn and that’s a big deal.

We leave the corn standing so the cattle can find it and follow it down to the ground. If we plant it thick we will not make much of an ear so the heifer producers in Wisconsin find it to be a good feed for heifers as you don’t need the starch as they can become to fat. The dairy farmers find that a BMR corn will PRODUCE 4 to 5 more pounds of milk per day. We find that the same thing that makes more milk makes more beef.