MAIZE

Successful maize is not just a matter of yield, the key is quality. Quality silage starts with quality varieties suited to local growing conditions. Varieties need to have reliable pollination and a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) classification below 190 (heat requirement) to ensure maturity at our latitude. As the crop matures, sugars produced in the leaves and stem are transported to the cob and converted to starch which is the valuable source of silage energy. If a variety fails to convert the sugars the result can be silage with lower intake qualities and feed value lost in effluent. The mature crop should have an optimum whole plant dry matter of 30% to allow maximum benefit from the silage.

Time of Sowing

Sow as soon as possible from April up until early May.

Site

Ideally fields should be south facing, a slope of up to 45 degrees, free draining deep soil and not over 400 feet above sea level. Avoid fields where soils are compacted or known to be prone to frost pockets.

How to sow

Avoid soil compaction at all cost, the maize plant is not able to extend its route through a soil compaction layer. Sub-soil the previous autumn if required. The crop requires a firm, fine tilth that will retain as much moisture as possible particularly on lighter soils.

Nutrition

Apply phosphorus and potassium as per soil analysis requirements. Maize has a nitrogen requirement of 85-115kg/ha (70-90 units/acre).

Maize

Scandinav FAO 170

• Good early vigour on all soil types.

• Excellent standing power.

• Can be grown in the open.

LG Resolute FAO 190

• Very high yielding.

• Good standing power and early vigour.

• Suitable for forage and crimping.

KWS Severus FAO 170

• Outstanding early vigour on all soil types.

• Very high starch and ME.

• Can be grown in the open.

MAS 08F FAO 190

• High standing power and early vigour.

• Excellent digestibility and ME.

• Good resistance to eyespot.

Maize mulch film

Where maize is being sown under film, two types of mulch are available for use with the Samco system.

Samco compostable

• A 1 acre roll using new technology made with bioplastics which results in a film which is fully biodegradable and compostable, resulting in minimal environmental impact.

Samco Clear mini pinhole

• A 1.5 acre roll which is Oxo-Biodegradable, the film degrades when exposed in the field to oxygen and weathering. This film has been tried and tested over many years.