September 15th at Monument Farms Dairy, Weybridge
The Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition and UVM Extension’s Champlain Valley Crop, Soil, and Pasture Team co-hosted a farmer event on Strategies for the 2025 Corn Harvest. The group of thirteen farmers, three technical service providers, and five staff hosts met in Weybridge at Monument Farms Dairy. The event focused on how the exceptionally wet spring and dry summer had led to uneven corn growth and maturity, and created challenges for harvest timing, forage quality, and storage logistics.
Tom Eaton, Crop Consultant and Nutrient Management Planner from Agricultural Consulting Services, led a discussion on what this harvest season will look like for farmers, and shared advice for prioritizing which fields to harvest first. He covered the impacts of uneven maturity on feed quality and inventory planning, and silage preservation strategies for when crops come off in small batches. He also touched on soil health concerns, and fertility adjustments for looking ahead to 2026. In addition, Tom Eaton calculated dry matter percentages live in the field with corn samples that attendees had brought to the event.
Key Harvest Takeaways
Frost is the cutoff: After a killing frost, plants stop turning sugars into starches, so you’ll need to get that crop off as soon as possible. The longer the plants stay in the field, the more mycotoxins they will collect.
Small batches are OK: This year, it may be necessary to harvest in small batches. Use Ag Bags or smaller bunk silos so partial harvests can be sealed properly. Small harvest windows can be disruptive, so line up trucking, packing, and covering crews in advance, even for a day’s worth of chopping.
Check dry matter percentage: Target 30–40% whole-plant dry matter for good fermentation, especially with short or green corn. It is recommended to take whole plant dry matter measurements before you chop it to make sure that it will ferment properly.
Don’t assume poor yield = poor feed: While the growing season and corn crops were disappointing this year, in many cases, the feed itself is actually decent, based on tests that farmers and nutritionists are seeing.
Looking Ahead to 2026
When it comes to planning for next year, farmers should take notes on how each field responded to the exceptionally wet spring and dry summer pattern.
Population matters: More plants per acre aren’t always better—focus on spacing and singulation for yield. By increasing plants per acre, the plants will experience an increase in pressure. Great yields can be more difficult at 15-inch rows.
Nitrogen timing: Timing of nitrogen application is critical. If liquid and dry nitrogen are similarly priced, consider that liquid nitrogen is immediately plant available, and usually better for the crop. Always use urease inhibitors to prevent volatilization and leaching.
Building soil health: Finally, consider soil health practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage to implement after harvest and rebuild resilience for 2026. These practices improve soil health and erosion control through the winter. If you have questions or concerns about getting your cover crops in this fall, please reach out to CVFC staff or your local agronomists at UVM Extension.
Need Help?
Questions about cover crop timing or fall practices? Contact Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition staff or your UVM Extension agronomist