New forage maize variety offers early maturity

A new forage maize variety offering exceptionally early cob maturity will be available to UK farmers in limited quantities for spring 2012.

According to UK agent British Seed Houses, Pyroxenia, which is grown successfully for forage in marginal maize growing areas of eastern Europe, has the potential to at least rival current ultra-early varieties on the UK Descriptive Lists for the earliness of its cob maturity.

“Pyroxenia has a breeder’s FAO rating of 130, whereas the leading ultra early varieties currently available are in the 150-170 FAO bracket and mainstream varieties are typically 200 FAO and higher,” explains the company’s Andrew Cook.

“This suggests the variety will have a role for farmers aiming to grow a mature forage maize crop in a short cropping window. This may be because they are in a marginal area for maize, or because they are drilling later and/or harvesting earlier in order to maximise their forage acres.

“Certainly in parts of Europe where Pyroxenia is already being grown, farmers are using it almost like a summer catch crop, leaving their spring and autumn months available for additional forage production.”

The variety will be available from British Seed Houses through selected distributors for 2012 sowing.