Maize

Growers are urged to consider a split dose post-emergence herbicide approach in maize crops this year to ensure early germinating weeds do not impact final yields

Maize and fodder beet growers are being urged to complete a survey about the impact of the loss of important seed dressings.

Careful selection of maize varieties is helping a large-scale beef enterprise in North Yorkshire to finish cattle within 90 days and maximise biogas yield from an anaerobic digestion plant. Debbie James reports

It takes years to breed, test and register new maize varieties which give UK growers the highest level of performance. Debbie James finds out more from the experts leading the maize breeding and trial work at farmer-owned co-operative Limagrain.

Looking to improve his dairy herd’s yield and production efficiencies, Nigel Harper has been able to boost milk production from home-grown forage, with maize silage now accounting for a larger proportion of the herd’s total mixed ration diet.

Maize trials carried out at the Carlisle Regional Technology Centre, at Smalmstown Farm, Longtown, have shed a new light on the use of narrow film.

Growing maize instead of underproductive grass could help farmers improve forage output per hectare and, in doing so, boost profitability and survivability.

A dry spring followed by plenty of rain meant maize drilling was a game of two halves in 2021, with those waiting to drill early maturing varieties largely rewarded with better crops.

Incorporating maize into arable rotations can help control problematic weeds, while creating a low input, high value cash crop comparing favourably with feed wheat.

With maize drilling likely to start in less than 10 weeks, now is the time to finalise the details of managing the crop.