Many northeastern dairy producers are considering increased cutting height to increase the forage quality of corn (Zea mays L.) forage. Some producers are combining the high chop height system with higher populations than recommended for grain and also planting hybrids selected for silage production. The economic benefits of higher chop heights are still not well understood. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate a leafy (Doeblers S707) and conventional (Pioneer 34B23) silage hybrid planted at 59 280, 74 100, 88 920, and 103 740 plants/ha and harvested at 15 cm and 46 cm under Pennsylvania conditions for effects on yield, forage quality and profitability. Each treatment was evaluated for yield, NDF, NDFD, milk per megagram, and milk per hectare using Milk2000. All main effects, chop height, plant population and hybrid were significant for most yield and quality variables with no consistent interactions. Milk per hectare was maximized at 88 920 plants ha-1. Raising cutting height from 15 to 46 cm caused a yield reduction of 7% but reflected a slight advantage in milk per hectare. The conventional hybrid had higher yields, lower fiber concentrations and higher NDFD than the leafy hybrid. Preliminary evaluation of these data suggest based on potential milk/hectare estimates that farmers in the Northeast plant high yielding, highly digestible hybrids at approximately 88 920 plants/ha and determine chop height based on fiber needs for the ration. Alternative methods to the Milk 2000 system of assessing the economic value of these treatments will be evaluated.