When it comes to producing high-quality silage, timing and precision are everything. Among the most crucial steps in the silage-making process is the analysis of fresh corn at harvest. By understanding the moisture content, dry matter (DM), and nutrient composition of freshly harvested corn, farmers and nutritionists can make informed decisions that directly impact fermentation quality, feed digestibility, and animal performance.
Corn silage is a staple in ruminant diets, especially for high-producing dairy herds. It provides energy through starch and digestible fiber, contributing significantly to total ration intake. However, to ensure consistency and nutritional value, harvesting corn at the right maturity and dry matter content is essential.
According to the University of Wisconsin Extension, the ideal dry matter content for ensiling whole-plant corn ranges between 32% and 38%. Harvesting either too early or too late can lead to excessive fermentation losses or poor compaction, affecting the stability and feed value of the silage (Lauer, 2010).
During the narrow window of corn harvest, the variability in plant composition can be substantial due to differences in hybrid, soil, weather, and field management practices. Traditional laboratory analysis can take days, making it ineffective for real-time decision-making.
By contrast, on board Near-Infrared (NIR) analysis allows farmers to:
A study by the University of Delaware found that accurate moisture monitoring can reduce dry matter losses by up to 10%, especially in bunker silos where compaction and fermentation dynamics are sensitive to moisture levels (Kung et al., 2018).
Ensiling is not just storage — it’s a biological transformation. For this anaerobic fermentation to be successful, the forage must have the right characteristics:
Poorly fermented silage can lead to mycotoxin development, heat damage, and nutrient losses, all of which can impair animal health and milk production.
According to the Journal of Dairy Science, improved silage quality through optimized DM and starch content has been linked to higher feed efficiency and milk yield in dairy cows (Ferraretto et al., 2014).
Innovative tools like the EVONIR analyzer allow for rapid, real-time analysis of forage during harvest. Mounted directly on forage harvesters or silage wagons, this technology offers:
This level of insight enables precision that was once only available in lab environments — now made mobile and scalable.
One of the greatest advantages of the EVONIR sensor is its versatility across different machines and farming operations. Unlike permanently installed sensors, EVONIR can be easily removed from the forage harvester and mounted on other agricultural equipment such as combines, slurry tankers, etc — adapting to every stage of the crop and feeding cycle.
For even greater mobility, EVONIR can be integrated into the AGRINIR portable trolley, enabling year-round use beyond harvest season. This makes it an ideal tool not only during harvesting but also for routine silage analysis in the storage facility, offering farmers and nutritionists a reliable way to monitor silage quality over time and adjust rations accordingly.
With a single investment, farms gain access to continuous, multi-purpose analysis, supporting better decisions throughout the entire feed production chain.
Harvesting corn for silage is a race against time, weather, and biology. By analyzing fresh corn at harvest — particularly with real-time NIR tools — farmers can ensure that their silage is ensiled at peak quality. The result? Less waste, more consistent nutrition, and higher-performing animals.
In a world where every kilogram of feed matters, this level of precision is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.
Investing in the EVONIR sensor during harvest isn’t just a matter of precision — it’s a strategic economic decision. Let’s break down a conservative return on investment (ROI) for a medium-sized dairy farm using EVONIR on a forage harvester.
Assumptions:
Annual feed cost (silage portion only):
22 kg × 500 cows × €0.20/kg × 365 days = €803,000/year
Estimated savings with EVONIR (~3% feed efficiency gain):
€803,000 × 3% = €24,090 saved per year
EVONIR system cost (sensor + interface):
Approx. €15,000–€18,000 (one-time)
Payback period:
Less than 1 year — the investment pays for itself within the first harvesting season.
In addition to immediate feed cost savings, EVONIR provides long-term value by:
The sensor also eliminates the need for costly and slow lab analysis during harvest, allowing for real-time decisions that prevent mistakes before they happen.
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