FORAGE CROPS IN NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS. 



19 



small grains and to a limited extent to sunflowers, where silage is 

 considered. South, of Redfield, Dakota Amber sorghum yields a 

 gross tonnage equal to corn or possibly slightly greater, but corn 

 seems to be preferred wherever it can be grown successfully. Corn 

 is an excellent fodder plant and is unexcelled for silage. Further- 

 more, with the advent of better adapted varieties the matured grain 

 produced by corn is of very great value to the region. 



Generally speaking, only the early-maturing varieties can be satis- 

 factorily grown on the northern Great Plains. There is, however, 

 considerable variation in this respect, depending upon latitude and 

 altitude. It is as a rule best to grow varieties that will mature or 

 nearly mature whether the crop is to be harvested for grain, fodder, 

 or silage. While the total tonnage may not be so great as from some 

 of the later maturing varieties, the feeding value of the varieties that 

 nearly mature is ordinarily enough greater to compensate for the 

 difference in tonnage. 



mm 



Fig. 4. — Corn varieties grown at Havre, Mont. Corn is one of tru most important forage 

 crops of the northern Great Plains region. The introduction of more suitable varieties has 

 extended its area of production greatly in recent years. 



Comparative tests have been conducted at Redfield with the Rain- 

 bow Flint, Northwestern Dent, Silver King, Minnesota 13, and Golden 

 Glow varieties. Rainbow Flint has outyi elded the other varieties 

 both in grain and fodder. This variety is one of the best for silage, 

 but the dent corns are preferred for grain. The common corn in this 

 region is an early-maturing white dent. 



At Dickinson and Mandan the Northwestern Dent variety has 



fiven about as satisfactory results as any, although Rainbow Flint 

 as been quite satisfactory at Mandan. Triumph Flint has shown 

 up well in comparison with the other varieties at Havre, Mont. (fig. 4) . 

 In 1922 Gehu Flint produced more grain than any of the other varie- 

 ties tested, but Triumph Flint proved to be one of the best for silage 

 and fodder. 



Table 9 gives the annual and average yields of corn fodder at 11 

 stations on the northern Great Plains. 



