With more than twenty new varieties added to NIAB’s descriptive maize varieties list growers will have greater choice than ever when selecting crops for planting next spring.

NIAB’s Don Pendergrast says the new descriptive list for maize varieties which will shortly be released has been simplified with a reduction in the overall number of listings.

But this doesn’t mean farmers will have less choice, he adds. “In particular there have been considerable advances in the yield of early maturing varieties more suited to British growers.

More than 20 varieties have been added the descriptive list this year, many aimed at maximising yield from ealry maturing varieties.

New varieties added to NIAB’s descriptive list – seed companies names in brakets.

Medium Early Varieties
(For maximum yield in favourable locations).

SULLI (Caussade) High yielding variety, with good balance of quality characteristics.
CODIFAR (Caussade) Highest yielding MC5 variety (107% controls).
HANNI (Caussade) High yielding variety, with good balance of quality characteristics.
DCK3178 (Monsanto) High yielding variety, with good standing power and good balance of quality characteristics.
AASKY (DLF Perryfields) High yielding variety, with good standing power.

Early varieties 1st choice in less favourable locations and provisional first choice in favourable locations

DESTINY (Advanta) MC 9, Good combination of yield, with good quality and agronomic characteristics for very early variety.
SAPPHIRE (Advanta) Good combination of yield (marginal – 102% controls, ME 11.4) with good quality and agronomic characteristics for very early variety.
TOCCATA (Advanta) Good combination of yield, with good quality (joint highest energy yield per ha for MC 8 on marginal sites 172,000 MJ/ha)
BEAUTY (Advanta) Highest yielding MC 7 variety on marginal list (106% controls) overall a good combination of yield, with good quality and agronomic characteristics.
ES AGREEMENT (Grainseeds) Highest yielding MC 7 variety on marginal list (106% controls) overall a good combination of yield, with good quality and agronomic characteristics. (Very high yield under provisional rating on Favourable list 111% controls).
KWISS (Huntseeds) Early variety, with a good combination of yield and quality.
ARTICAT (DLF Perryfields) Early variety, with a good combination of yield and quality.
ABRAXXAS (Saaten Union) Early, with a good combination of yield and quality.
AORAKI (Caussade) Early variety, with a good combination of yield and agronomic characteristics.
KROESUS (Huntseeds) Highest yielding variety on less favourable list (111% Controls) and a good combination of quality and agronomic characteristics.
FERGUS (Maisadour) Early variety, with a good combination of yield and quality.
GOLDCLAMP (BSH) Early variety, with a good combination of yield and quality.
KAUKAS (Huntseeds) Early variety, with a good combination of yield and quality.

Early varieties given Provisional 1st choice in favourable locations only
(For Favourable locations requiring earlier harvest than medium early)

AURELIA (Advanta) Maturity class 6, Very high yielding variety 112% controls, producing high energy yield of 196,000 MJ/ha. 

Early varieties 1st choice in less favourable locations only
(Locations where growers first consideration is maize reaching sufficient maturity by their normal harvest date)

ES PRIDE (Grainseeds) MC 10, with good quality in less favourable locations (11.3 ME and 35.3% Starch) comparable yield to other MC 10-11 varieties (90% controls).
NIMROD  (Advanta) Highest yielding MC 8 (104% controls) and joint highest energy yield per ha for MC 8 (172,000 MJ/ha) with excellent early vigour (9.3).
APOSTROF  (Advanta) MC 6 with a good balance of yield, quality and agronomic characteristics.