PDMP Silage Research

An invitation to seed industry professionals. . .

The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP) is soliciting entries for the 2008 corn silage hybrid trial. PDMP continues to foster a collaborative effort with The Pennsylvania State University and FORAGEData to maintain a top-notch corn silage hybrid research project. Penn State provides technical expertise for the planting, harvesting and testing. FORAGEData provides the information delivery system for the results.

In November PDMP will host a forum to release the results on our web-based data system. This web-based system enables producers to select sort criteria and compare hybrids from different companies on an equal scale. You are welcome to attend this meeting, view the results, and join in on the discussion. More details will be available at a later date.

As a reminder, we provide multi-year data reporting. You are strongly encouraged to consider submitting hybrids for multiple years in addition to any new hybrids. We have added a column on the entry form to indicate if a hybrid has been entered under a different name in past years. Please indicate if a hybrid has been known by any other name so that we can more effectively link them for multi-year data.

Please note the following changes for 2008:

• Entry form should be filled out online and submitted
• Use the same form for payments.
• Group 0 is for hybrids 93-97 days RM.
• Group 1 is for hybrids 98-103 days RM.
• Rootworm resistant Bt hybrids in the Group 3RW (111 to 115 day RM). No rootworm resistant Bt hybrid will be permitted in the conventional Group 3 test.

While we have tried our best in recent years to keep the entry fees low, changes to the program, staff and overall increased costs have required us to raise the fee. We apologize for this, however we must do so in order to maintain the high level of quality for our testing program. The maturity groups and associated entry fees for 2008 are as follows:

Group 0 = 93-97 Days Relative Maturity - $370
Group 1 = 98-103 Days Relative Maturity - $370
Group 2 = 106 – 110 Days Relative Maturity - $530
Group 3 = 111 – 115 Days Relative Maturity - $530
Group 3RW = 111 – 115 Days Relative Maturity - $530
Group 4 = 116 – 120 Days Relative Maturity - $530

The testing protocol and directions for application are attached. The deadline for submission of forms and entry fees is March 10, 2008. Seed must be submitted no later than March 24, 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact the Tammy Perkins, Project Liaison at taperkins10@yahoo.com. Her home office number is 814-692-5263.

Sincerely,

David C. Hileman
Research Chair