Silage harvest for fully irrigated full-season corn usually begins 45 days or 800 GDD’s after the tassel / silking growth stage. However, corn maturity can hasten due to drought, heat stress and shorter-season hybrid breeding. Therefore, ear kernel milk line development and accumulated growing degree days may be better predictors for timing silage harvest than following a calendar especially for drought impacted corn. Todd Whitney, Nebraska Extension Forage Agronomist.