Experimental Procedures

AgResearch and Education Center Tests: Eight corn hybrids were evaluated for silage yield and quality in 2021. The tests were conducted at the East Tennessee (Knoxville), Highland Rim (Springfield), Middle Tennessee (Spring Hill), and Plateau (Crossville) AgResearch and Education Centers. The plots at all locations consisted of two rows, planted 30 inches apart, 30 feet in length. Entries were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Yields were adjusted to both dry weight and 65 percent moisture. Plots were planted at 36,000 seeds/acre with a population goal of 34,000 plants/acre. The resulting plant populations, as well as the planting and harvesting dates, are given in Table 1. Plots were harvested using commercial silage harvesters. A sub-sample of approximately 3 lbs was taken from each plot for analysis. Fresh weight and dried weight were recorded on each sample for determination of moisture at harvest. Dried samples were then ground and analyzed for nutritive content. Silage quality analyses were provided by the UT Beef and Forage Center using a Foss DS2500F (Foss North America, Eden Prairie, Minnesota) instrument with the 2021 Unfermented Corn Silage calibration provided by the NIRS Forage and Feed Consortium (Berea, Kentucky). Predictions for milk production per ton and milk production per acre were calculated using the University of Wisconsin Milk2006 program.

Growing Season: Corn silage official variety trials were planted between mid-April and mid-May at the University of Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center (REC) locations (Table 1). Early season rains were light and did not affect corn planting throughout most of the state; however early season freezes may have hindered growth or planting in areas of higher elevation in late April. Statewide corn planting was on par with five-year average by mid-May with 86 percent of corn planted in Tennessee. Hot, dry weather in early to mid3 August stressed corn development across the state. By mid-August, 79 percent of the crop rated good to excellent

Interpretation of Data: The tables on the following pages have been prepared with the entries listed in order of yield performance, the highest-yielding entry being listed first. Mean separation was performed using the Fisher’s Protected LSD (Least Significant Difference) test. The mean trait value of any two entries being compared must differ by at least the LSD amount shown to be considered different at the 5 percent level of probability of significance. To simplify interpretation, Mean Separation Letters have been listed next to each entry for traits analyzed across locations. Hybrids that have any letter in common are not significantly different in yield at the 5 percent level of probability based on the LSD test. Hybrids with performance not significantly different from the top performing hybrid will have an “A” included in the list of mean separation letters next to that entry.