FIELD CORN IN MASSACHUSETTS 



By William G. Colby, Research Professor of Agronomy, 

 and Ralph W. Donaldson, Extension Agronomist 



Massachusetts lies too near the northern Hniit of the successful corn growing 

 area to mature grain of the late, heavy-yielding varieties of the Corn Belt. Yet 

 corn is so well adapted to our soils when fertilized, and suitable varieties produce 

 so much cattle feed to the acre, that most livestock farmers grow it. Moreover, 

 corn is a useful tilled crop when refitting sod land in preparation for reseeding. 



Of approximately 40,000 acres of field corn grown in the State, about 24,000 

 acres are ensiled, 10,000 acres are husked for grain, and 6,000 acres are fed green. 



An estimate of the relative acre-yield of corn and nutrients it contains ccmpared 

 with that of other common feed crops is given in the following table, based on 

 average vields^ for the State recorded in 1937. 



Table 1. -Average Yield and Feeding Value of Corn Compared 

 WITH Other Field Crops 



Crop Average 



Yields 



per Acre 



Corn Silage 11.5 tons 



Alfalfa Hay 2.25 tons 



Clover Hay 2.0 tons 



Grass Hay 1.5 tons 



Oats Hay 2.0 tons 



Corn Grain 41.0 bushels 



Oats Grain 30.0 bushels 



♦Morrison's '"Feeds and Feeding." 



On the basis of average yields, corn grown for silage far excels other common 

 crops in the amount of total digestible nutrients produced, although alfalfa may 

 furnish more protein. Moreover, when grown for grain, corn furnishes almost 

 twice as much protein as oats and nearly three times as much digestible nutrients. 

 In addition, the by-product stover is worth more than oat straw as feed. 



Although corn is capable of big yields where soil and climate are favorable, its 

 productiveness is seriously impaired on heavy wet land or where late spring and 

 early fall frosts reduce the length of growing season. Under such conditions, 

 oats or some other short-season crop may well prove more practical in the sod 

 rotation. 



Labor is a considerable item in the production of corn, and silage making 

 requires expensive equipment. Therefore, the total return compared to the cost 

 of growing and handling will determine the profitableness of growing corn for 

 each individual farmer. 



'U. S. Crops Reporting Board Year 1937 (Preliminary). 



Publication of this Document Approved by Commission on Administration and Finance 

 5ni-3-'39 No. 6727 



