Buy maize and save cash?
Buy maize and save cash?
By Simon Wragg
BUYING surplus clamped maize to replenish forage stocks may prove cheaper than growing it this year.
But only careful re-ensiling will ensure it is money well spent, says ADAS head of dairying, John Allen, who believes more maize may be for sale after last years excellent harvest and mild winter.
"If you do not pay over £18-20/t for ensiled maize, or about £60/t dry matter, it is a good opportunity to buy cheap forage against alternative feeds, such as wheat at £80/t," he says.
ADAS figures put maize growing costs, including rent, at £62-80/t DM. But Mr Allen urges producers to add hauliers charges and on-farm ensiling costs up to £15/t DM to purchase prices to assess viability.
Shropshire-based maize agronomist, Simon Pope, suggests that maize dry matters and quality must be assessed before buying. "Dry matters were up last year from the high 20s to mid-30s. Reclamping poorly consolidated and fermented maize silage for a second time dramatically increases risk of aerobic spoilage," warns Dr Pope.
Spreading maize in 15-22cm (6-9in) layers and rolling thoroughly reduces risk of spoilage. "Spread salt across the whole clamp before sealing," he advises.
But expect reclamped maize to be lower in quality, suggests Trouw Nutrition area sales manager, Alan McCubbine. Energy values can be 1MJ/kg DM lower. "That is on top of the 2MJ/kg DM typically lost between harvesting and feeding out."
Where producers replace maize with cereals on IACS-registered land, full area payments of £257/ha (£104/acre) paid for cereals, as against maize payments of £80.10/ha (£32/acre), will offset the cost of purchasing forage.
Buy maize and save cash?
By Simon Wragg
BUYING surplus clamped maize to replenish forage stocks may prove cheaper than growing it this year.
But only careful re-ensiling will ensure it is money well spent, says ADAS head of dairying, John Allen, who believes more maize may be for sale after last years excellent harvest and mild winter.
"If you do not pay over £18-20/t for ensiled maize, or about £60/t dry matter, it is a good opportunity to buy cheap forage against alternative feeds, such as wheat at £80/t," he says.
ADAS figures put maize growing costs, including rent, at £62-80/t DM. But Mr Allen urges producers to add hauliers charges and on-farm ensiling costs up to £15/t DM to purchase prices to assess viability.
Shropshire-based maize agronomist, Simon Pope, suggests that maize dry matters and quality must be assessed before buying. "Dry matters were up last year from the high 20s to mid-30s. Reclamping poorly consolidated and fermented maize silage for a second time dramatically increases risk of aerobic spoilage," warns Dr Pope.
Spreading maize in 15-22cm (6-9in) layers and rolling thoroughly reduces risk of spoilage. "Spread salt across the whole clamp before sealing," he advises.
But expect reclamped maize to be lower in quality, suggests Trouw Nutrition area sales manager, Alan McCubbine. Energy values can be 1MJ/kg DM lower. "That is on top of the 2MJ/kg DM typically lost between harvesting and feeding out."
Where producers replace maize with cereals on IACS-registered land, full area payments of £257/ha (£104/acre) paid for cereals, as against maize payments of £80.10/ha (£32/acre), will offset the cost of purchasing forage.