Variety Choice Matters – Results from the 2025 Spring Corn Silage Variety Trial

by | Jan 9, 2026 | Beef Cattle, Corn, Dairy, Field Crops, forage, Forage & Pasture, Livestock, Silage

Marcelo Wallau, UF/IFAS Forage Extension Specialist, Department of Agronomy, Maria Elena Mailhos, Variety Trial Coordinator, Department of Agronomy, and Diwakar Vyas, UF/IDFAS Department of Animal Science

Many producers are gearing up to plant corn silage quite soon. In South Florida, corn planting starts early, January into February; for North Florida, between early March (irrigated) all the way through May (dryland). Good silage starts with a good crop, and that is always a combination of genetics and agronomic management. Thus, the choice of hybrid really matters. It is the first integrated pest management (IPM) decision a farmer can make. Selecting materials that are adapted to the environment and have strong pest and disease resistance packages can result in greater productivity and lower cost of production. To help with those decisions, we want to share the latest data from the 2025 spring corn silage trials conducted in Citra, Florida (Figure 1). In this trial, our team evaluated 36 commercial and experimental corn hybrids, from 14 different companies, to provide unbiased performance and quality data.

Figure 1: Choosing the right corn hybrid can have a large impact on silage productivity and animal performance. Ther are large differences in plant stature, grain filling, tolerance to pest and diseases, and to the stress environment common to Florida.

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The trial was planted on March 26, 2025, at a rate of 32,600 seeds per acre in 30-inch rows. Fertility management included 280 lb of N, 56 lb of P2O5, and 225 lb of K2O per acre, applied in split doses with pre-incorporated fertilizer, a starter application, and four additional applications throughout the season. Weed and pest control consisted of Dual II Magnum and Prowl H2O at planting, followed by GLY-4 Plus one month after planting for glyphosate-tolerant hybrids; followed by fungicide applications of Headline SC and Headline Amp later in the season. The trial was irrigated as needed, and harvest occurred between July 1 and July 3, 2025.

We targeted harvesting at ½  to ¾ milk line, around 35% dry matter which is ideal for ensiling. That’s when we have the best compromise between quantity and quality. Forage quality parameters included net energy for lactation (NEl), crude protein (CP %), starch, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash, amylase-corrected neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), and NDF digestibility at 30 hours (NDFD30). We also estimated milk per ton of silage and milk per acre of silage using the Milk2024 formulas from the University of Wisconsin. These metrics help identify hybrids that balance yield and quality, which is critical for maximizing milk production per acre and per ton (top-right quadrant in Figure 2). High starch and digestible fiber improve energy availability, while strong disease resistance ensures consistent performance under Florida’s challenging conditions. This trial was conducted independently by UF/IFAS faculty and is open to all seed companies for hybrid entry, ensuring transparency and unbiased evaluation.

Figure 2: Total biomass harvested in relation to milk production per ton for corn hybrids tested in the official variety trial by the University of Florida Forage Team. Each point represents the average of four replications. Hybrids in the top right quadrant are among the top performers (Table 1)

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Table 1 brings the biomass harvested and estimated milk production per ton and per acre for each hybrid. Values in bold and with an * are considered statistically different than the average. For the columns that do not have values bolded, there were no statistical differences. Table 2 contains the nutritive value parameters evaluated from the unfermented corn samples. You can also download the complete report through the following link: UF-IFAS 2025 Spring Corn Results.  For the complete dataset, please access our Official Variety Trial website. There, you will also find the results from other trials, including sorghum, sorghum x sudan, and cool-season forages. The 2025 results along with the historical database is also accessible through our Silage Hybrid Selection Tool.

Table 1: Total production (lbs. dry matter per acre) and estimated milk production per ton of silage and milk production per acre for the 2025 Corn Silage Hybrid Trial

Company Hybrid Relative maturity Total Production Milk production per ton Milk production per acre
      lb DM/A lb milk/ton silage lb milk/A
ARMOR 1447 VT2P 114 14,593 2,480 18,153
Advanta XC25231 117 15,222 2,329 17,686
Advanta XC25343 117 14,906 2,498 19,038
AgraTech 79VIPDC 115 15,631 2,575 20,217
AgraTech 807TRE 118 16,668 2,358 19,728
Augusta Seed Coorporation A1466 116 14,781 2,440 18,076
Augusta Seed Coorporation A1964 114 15,673 2,417 18,887
Bayer DKC 68-35 118 15,982 2,375 18,973
Bayer DKC 70-45 120 15,673 2,340 18,373
CROPLAN 5320 SSPRO 113 16,301 2,541 20,861 *
CROPLAN 5678 VT2P 116 16,180 2,324 18,625  
CROPLAN 5760 TRE 117 14,460 2,393 17,313  
CROPLAN 5893 TRE 118 14,953 2,311 17,257  
CROPLAN 5900S VT2P 119 15,912 2,444 19,448  
CROPLAN 5911 VT2P 119 15,554 2,362 18,460  
Corteva P13777PWUE 113 15,383 2,473 19,101  
Corteva P17677YHR 117 17,519  * 2,466 21,651 *
Integra 6641 SS 116 14,665   2,397 17,631  
Integra 6709 VT2P 117 15,247   2,396 18,278  
Integra 6891 3110 118 17,198  * 2,406 20,659  
Integra 6915 VT2P 119 15,474   2,399 18,534  
Mixon Seed Service AGS 3418GT 118 15,498   2,420 18,779  
Mixon Seed Service AGS 7816GT 116 14,635   2,486 18,207  
Revere 1839 TC 118 16,967  * 2,463 20,950 *
SEEDWAY SW 1661SS 116 15,317 2,449 18,836
SEEDWAY SW 1880TR 118 15,546 2,332 18,117
SEEDWAY SW 8109V 117 15,756 2,399 18,921
Stine Seed 9721-30 112 14,426 2,465 17,927
Stine Seed 9753-20 116 14,724 2,369 17,417
Stine Seed 9755-20 111 14,890 2,530 18,943
Stine Seed 9891-20 119 14,775 2,529 18,772
Syngenta E114C4DV 114 14,254 2,437 17,388
Syngenta E117Z7D 117 15,802 2,449 19,451
Syngenta NK1732DV 117 13,387 2,372 15,890
University of Florida FM686 120 15,410 2,388 18,438
University of Florida IR 289 120 16,306 2,470 20,270
Mean     15,435   2,425   18,757
SE     886   118   1,353  

* indicates hybrids that performed similarly to the best hybrid, according to F-test at P < 0.05; All mean reported are Least Square Means.

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Table 2: Nutritive value parameters for the hybrids tested in the 2025 Corn Silage Hybrid Trial (unfermented).

Company Hybrid NEl CP Starch aNDF NDFD30
    Mcal/100 lb DM  ———————– % DM ———————– % NDF
ARMOR 1447 VT2P 0.61 8 29.6 43.2 42.5
Advanta XC25231 0.57 8.8 * 22.9 48.6 49.3
Advanta XC25343 0.61 * 8 29.1 * 43.9 46.6
AgraTech 79VIPDC 0.63 7.7 32.5 40.5 43.7
AgraTech 807TRE 0.58 8.1 25.2 47.8 45.8
Augusta Seed Coorporation A1466 0.6 7.6 29 45 46.9
Augusta Seed Coorporation A1964 0.59 7.4 26.5 44.6 42.9
Bayer DKC 68-35 0.58 7 25.9 47.5 46.6
Bayer DKC 70-45 0.57 7.5 25.6 47.9 43.6
CROPLAN 5320 SSPRO 0.62 7.8 30.4 41.8 46.3
CROPLAN 5678 VT2P 0.57 7.6 22.3 47.7 43.8
CROPLAN 5760 TRE 0.58 7.3 25.7 46 43.8
CROPLAN 5893 TRE 0.56 7.9 23.6 48.7 45.3
CROPLAN 5900S VT2P 0.6 8 26.9 44.4 43.7
CROPLAN 5911 VT2P 0.58 8.1 25.7 47.6 45.4
Corteva P13777PWUE 0.6 8.1 28.9 43.8 47.3
Corteva P17677YHR 0.6 8.1 27.7 43.9 46.1
Integra 6641 SS 0.59 7.3 26.7 45.3 42.3
Integra 6709 VT2P 0.59 7.9 24 46 46.7
Integra 6891 3110 0.59 7.7 24.6 45.8 46.8
Integra 6915 VT2P 0.59 8.1 26.2 46.5 45.6
Mixon Seed Service AGS 3418GT 0.59 7.3 25.5 45.6 45
Mixon Seed Service AGS 7816GT 0.61 7.6 29.6 43.9 45.6
Revere 1839 TC 0.6 7.6 29.7 44.1 43.6
SEEDWAY SW 1661SS 0.6 7.4 28.4 44.2 42.8
SEEDWAY SW 1880TR 0.57 7.4 25.3 47.7 43.8
SEEDWAY SW 8109V 0.59 8.2 24.2 46.9 49.6 *
Stine Seed 9721-30 0.6 7.4 28.4 43.6 44.1
Stine Seed 9753-20 0.58 7.7 25.3 47.7 47
Stine Seed 9755-20 0.62 8.1 29.6 42.2 45.1
Stine Seed 9891-20 0.62 8.4 28.2 42.7 48.3
Syngenta E114C4DV 0.6 7.9 25.7 44.8 48.5
Syngenta E117Z7D 0.6 7.4 30.1 43.7 41.8
Syngenta NK1732DV 0.58 8.1 24.7 46.5 47.8
University of Florida FM686 0.58 8.1 21.1 48.3 49.6 *
University of Florida IR 289 0.6 8.9 * 23.1 46.8 53.6 *
Mean   0.59 7.8   26.6   45.4   45.7  
SE   0.04   0.5   5.3   3.5   1.9  

* indicates hybrids that performed similarly to the best hybrid, according to F-test at P < 0.05; All mean reported are Least Square Means.

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Figure 3. Comparison of the last three years of data for corn hybrid tested by the Forage Team. Hybrids that consistenly perform well across years are more stable, more adapted and less affected by environmental conditions. (Click on graphic for full screen viewing) A printable version is available at this link: Corn silage – three-year data

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Save the date – Upcoming events

Coming up on February 26th, we are hosting the “Cool-season forage tour” in north Florida, where we visit a local dairy to see cool-season forages performing under a high fertility environment, and a beef cattle operation where those same materials are being used for grazing. On May 28th, our team will host the Corn Silage and Forage Field Day in Citra, FL, a traditional event cohosted with the University of Georgia forage and livestock group from Tifton. For those interested in our events, check the QR code below (https://tinyurl.com/CoolSeasonTour2026), and keep an eye out for more announcements on our social media channels.

 

If you are interested in more information about our trials or have any questions about the data, reach out to us at forages@ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media: UF IFAS Forages on YouTube, UF Forage Team on Facebook, and uf.forages on Instagram.

Marcelo Wallau
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