Corn Silage Yield Calculator
Estimate corn silage yield in tons per acre at 65% standard moisture based on plant population and average plant weight.
Silage Yield Inputs
Estimate silage tonnage per acre
Plants per acre
Whole plant green weight
Typical: 60-70%
Take multiple samples from different field locations and average them for the most accurate results. Avoid border rows and unusual spots.
All calculations use USDA-standard formulas. No registration required, works on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
What Is a Corn Silage Yield Calculator?
A corn silage yield calculator estimates the tonnage of corn silage produced per acre — essential for livestock operations that rely on corn silage as a primary forage source. Unlike grain corn measured in bushels, silage is sold and stored by the wet ton at 65% moisture.
Corn silage yields typically range from 15-25 tons per acre at 65% moisture, with irrigated or high-yield environments producing 30+ tons/ac. Each ton of silage contains about 35% dry matter, providing excellent feed value for dairy and beef cattle.
This calculator uses plant population, average whole-plant weight, and moisture content to estimate silage tonnage. For best accuracy, harvest and weigh 10 representative plants, then enter the average weight per plant.
Corn Silage Yield Formula
The silage yield calculation:
Green tons/ac = (Plant population × Avg plant weight) ÷ 2,000
Then adjust to standard 65% moisture:
Silage tons/ac = Green tons × (1 − field moisture) ÷ (1 − 0.65)
Example
Population 34,000 plants/ac, average plant weight 2.5 lb, field moisture 65%:
Green tons = (34,000 × 2.5) ÷ 2,000 = 42.5 tons/ac green weight
Silage tons = 42.5 × (1 − 0.65) ÷ (1 − 0.65) = 42.5 tons/ac at 65% moisture
For 70% field moisture: 42.5 × 0.30 ÷ 0.35 = 36.4 tons/ac at 65% standard moisture.
Silage vs Grain Yield Relationship
As a rule of thumb, corn silage yield at 65% moisture is roughly 7-8 times the grain yield in bushels per acre:
- 150 bu/ac grain ≈ 18-21 tons silage
- 180 bu/ac grain ≈ 22-25 tons silage
- 200 bu/ac grain ≈ 24-28 tons silage
- 220 bu/ac grain ≈ 27-31 tons silage
This relationship varies by hybrid, plant population, and harvest timing. Silage hybrids bred specifically for forage often produce 10-15% more tonnage than dual-purpose hybrids at the same grain yield level.
When to Harvest Corn Silage
Target Moisture
Harvest at 65% whole-plant moisture (1/2 milkline). Too wet = seepage; too dry = poor packing.
Timing Window
10-14 day harvest window per hybrid. Plan multiple maturities to extend window.
Cut Height
Standard 6" cut. Higher cut (18-24") reduces tonnage 10-15% but improves forage quality.
Packing Density
Pack to 15+ lb DM/cu ft. Heavy tractor, thin layers, fast filling = better silage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about corn yield calculation
Average corn silage yield in the US is 20-25 tons per acre at 65% moisture. Irrigated corn or high-yield environments can produce 30+ tons/ac. The relationship to grain yield is approximately 7-8 tons of silage per bushel of grain.
Harvest corn silage when whole-plant moisture reaches 65% (typically at 1/2 milkline stage). This is usually 35-45 days after silking. Harvest window is 10-14 days per hybrid. Too wet (over 70%) causes seepage; too dry (under 60%) reduces packing and quality.
Corn silage yield is measured in wet tons per acre at 65% moisture. To estimate, weigh 10 representative plants, average the weight, multiply by plant population, then divide by 2,000 to get tons. Adjust to 65% moisture if field moisture differs.
Corn silage in the bunker typically costs $40-60 per ton at 65% moisture, depending on corn grain price, harvest cost, and storage losses. Pricing formula: (grain value × 7-8 tons) + harvest + storage + 10% shrink = silage value per acre, divided by tonnage.
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