Optimum final stands for most corn hybrids are in the 28,000 to 32,000 plants per acre range. Are higher final stands needed to maximize corn silage yields?
Most university and private seed company research indicates that there is not a benefit for having final stands over 35,000 plants per acre for corn harvested as silage. In fact, as final stands increase beyond this level, forage quality begins to decline. Thus, there is no reason to significantly increase seeding rates (assuming you are already in the optimum range) when planting corn for silage versus grain.
