Corteva Agriscience has announced that it will be phasing out its Brown midrib (BMR) corn varieties and investing more in a new line of silage-specific hybrids.
Once the darling of dairy nutrition, BMR corn hybrids have fallen partially out of favor, thanks to yield drag compared to conventional hybrids, and an early lactation-stage niche that makes silage inventories more challenging to manage for growing dairies.
Corteva noted increasing demand for high-quality, high-tonnage corn silage hybrids. The company is now focusing its research and development investment in corn silage hybrids that meet growers’ expectations for silage varieties that deliver both high tonnage and quality, branding its new silage hybrids “TonnEdge.”
TonnEdge hybrids will be selected for high biomass yield balanced with agronomic stability. This includes late-season plant health that will allow for more starch deposition to maintain fiber digestibility while offering a wider harvest window.
The decision to phase out BMR hybrids applies to all Corteva seed brands in the U.S. and Canada that currently offer BMR, including Pioneer®, Brevant® seeds, and Dairyland Seed. The BMR exit will occur over several seasons, with the final year of BMR sales to occur no later than the 2030 growing season.
In a company statement, Corteva noted they remain committed to the dairy industry. “We’re proud to support dairy farmers by continuing to invest in the dairy market, respond to market shifts, and deliver high-quality silage options to serve our customers and remain our leadership position,” they said.
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