Maize Watch: Harvest benefits from good weather window

Maize harvest has finished in most areas with contracting teams making good use of the weather window in the middle of the month, reports Neil Groom, technical manager for Grainseed.

“We have some good maize in the silage pits this year and high yields too. I think this was due to the rain just prior to flowering that ensured excellent grain set. Maize silage will again add quality into rations this winter. Growers should sample the silage to get the quality tested after 4-6 weeks in the clamp to allow nutritionalists to take full advantage of the energy content of maize in the winter ration.”

“Ensure maize is fed in large enough quantities to get full benefit; it needs to be a minimum of 30% of the forage and preferably more than 50%. Maize is better to be fed at higher levels for a shorter time than try to stretch supplies when you have a limited tonnage.”

Mr Groom also reports any crops hit by frost and still to clamp should be treated with an additive to limit spoilage during feedout. “The yeast and moulds will grow on dead, frosted leaves and will start to multiply in the feed trough. An additive can help reduce this build-up.”

Hugh McClymont at SAC Chricton Royal is the last site to harvest and he is planning to cut between sampling and publication. “We know we have a favourable climate here at the Chrichton being close to the gulf stream and on free-draining soils. I have seen the difference in the performance of the cows between maize that is fully mature and crops that are cut too early, so we will wait until all the sugar has been converted to starch, even if that is into November.”