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The Earfull November 2, 2026

2027 Renk Silage Choice Lineup

Tons, starch and digestibility, tested where silage gets made

silage chopping

With silage harvest wrapped up and forage samples back from the lab, now is a good time to plan next year’s silage acres. The 2027 Renk Silage Choice lineup has 30 offerings from 89 to 116 RM, including 10 new products.

Every product on the Silage Choice chart earned its spot in silage plots, not just grain plots. Over the seasons, Renk research and dealer silage plots across our sales area measured these hybrids for tonnage and feed value, so growers and nutritionists can choose a hybrid based on how the silage will be fed.

What We Saw in 2026

Renk silage plots were at 17 locations in 2026, including four research sites in Wisconsin and 13 dealer and grower plots in Wisconsin, northeast Iowa, and Michigan. Tonnage held steady at about 25 tons per acre at 65% moisture, right in line with the last two years. The bigger story was starch. Plot averages ran about 38% starch, two to three points higher than in 2024 and 2025, which means good ear fill and more energy in the bunker this winter. Fiber digestibility was similar to 2025, so most of the quality gain came from the grain.

A few products stood out:

  • RK571PCE and RK889PCE were again the top tonnage hybrids in their maturity groups.
  • RK630TRE and RK6555VT4PRO delivered high milk per ton and milk per acre in the mid-season plots.
  • RK4696SSPRO, RK7688SSPRO and RK6671SSPRO were among the highest-starch hybrids in the plots in their first year.
  • RK5670VT4PRO and RK9601SSPRO/RK9601TRE finished above the plot average at most of their first-year sites.

First-year results are an early look, so we will keep adding silage sites for the new products in 2027.

What Is New for 2027

The new products fill in the lineup from 95 to 116 RM:

  • RK4696SSPRO and RK5652PCE/RK5652 add yield and quality options in the early group.
  • RK5670VT4PRO brings starch and digestible fiber together in a mid-season package.
  • RK6640TRE, RK6671SSPRO and RK6690PCE add tonnage and milk per acre choices.
  • RK7626SSPRO and RK7688SSPRO give full-season dairies more options for milk per acre.
  • RK8616SSPRO and RK9601SSPRO/RK9601TRE round out the top end for long-season silage acres.

Lineup Highlights

Early (89 to 96 RM): RK571PCE remains the dependable tonnage choice in this group. RK444 adds starch with three trait options. RK4545AV and RK4545GT/LL give a steady early option with more trait choices, and RK296AA is the earliest product on the chart. These fit northern dairies and growers who want to start chopping early and spread out harvest.

Mid-season (97 to 102 RM): RK6555VT4PRO is the choice for tons and energy together, and it has been one of the most consistent silage hybrids in our plots. RK630TRE is the quality pick for high-producing herds that want energy in every ton. RK582SSTX leads for fiber digestibility, and RK583PCE, RK579DGVT2P and RK5518TRE give balanced, proven options. RK600SSTX rounds out the group with starch and milk per ton.

Full-season (103 to 110 RM): RK773TRE and RK785PCE are proven tonnage hybrids with strong milk per acre. RK7590SSPRO adds protein, and RK7577SSPRO/RK7577TRE offers two trait choices. Four new products give this group more depth than ever, with RK7688SSPRO and RK6690PCE leading on milk per acre.

Long-season (111 to 116 RM): RK889PCE has been the standout long-season silage hybrid, with top milk per acre in our plots. RK8501PCE combines yield with fiber digestibility, RK876VT2P brings energy, and RK8585TRE is a strong fit for beef rations. New for 2027, RK9601SSPRO and RK9601TRE showed good promise, giving growers who want a full-maturity product in their plans a strong option at 116 RM. These hybrids need the full season, so place them on productive, well-drained fields that can be planted early.

Picking the Right Fit

Start with the number that matters most to the operation. Milk per acre is the best single number when acres are limited. Milk per ton, starch and fiber digestibility matter most for high-producing herds. Beef per ton and per acre are the numbers for feedlots. The chart rates each product from 9 (excellent) to 1 (poor) against hybrids of similar maturity.

Silage hybrids can run up to 10 days longer in RM than a full-season grain hybrid for your area, according to Penn State Extension. Harvest still decides how much of that potential reaches the cow. Target 32% to 38% dry matter, keep the kernel processor tight, and use Renk Advantage Inoculant for best results.

Planning Your 2027 Silage Acres

  • Spread the maturities. Planting two or three RMs widens the harvest window and makes it easier to hit the right moisture on every field.
  • Match the hybrid to the feeding plan. If the silage goes to high-producing cows, lean toward starch and digestibility. If acres or inventory are tight, lean toward tonnage and milk per acre.
  • Bring the nutritionist in early. Share the Silage Choice ratings and your 2026 forage tests when picking hybrids, not after the seed is delivered.
  • Plan storage by hybrid. Keeping high-quality silage in its own bunker or bag lets you feed it where it pays the most.

Looking Ahead to 2027

The Silage Choice lineup has a hybrid for nearly every goal: tons, starch, fiber digestibility, beef output or a balance of all of them. Talk with your Renk dealer or DSM to match products to your fields and feeding program.

References

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