Demonstrate maize silage making skills to win a £500 prize

16 October 1998

Demonstrate maize silage making skills to win a £500 prize

BETTER than the rest at making top-quality maize silage? Why not find out by entering the Maize Growers Associations annual silage competition, run in association with farmers weekly.

You could win up to £500, have silage analysed free of charge or be given free silage additive.

Forage maize has a proven ability to improve animal performance – be it milk yields and quality or liveweight gain. But to maximise its potential, maize must be cut at the right maturity, and subsequent harvesting and ensiling management is crucial to how the crop feeds. This competition aims to give credit to those who demonstrate the highest standards in all aspects of their maize silage production. &#42

WHATYOUNEEDTOKNOW

The MGA Maize Silage Competition, sponsored by Midland Agriculture, Farmers Weekly, Biotal, Axient and Nickerson, has become recognised as the leading competition identifying the best growers and users of maize silage in Great Britain.

Prizes

The status of the competition is reflected in the prizes, with the overall winner not only receiving silage additive to treat 500t of maize but also a cheque for £500 as well as the prestigious Midland Bank Trophy. Regional winners will each receive £50 plus a Midland Bank tankard and silage additive.

The competition is not just about winning – most entrants take part to gain an independent second opinion of their maize and the feeding system from an experienced judge. All entrants will be visited and entered in a Nickerson draw to win free maize seed.

Rules

1. Entries are eligible from Scotland, England and Wales.

2. Silage entered must be from maize grown on the farm.

3. Silage must be made the same year it is entered.

4. Only one clamp entry a farm is permitted – there must be sufficient quantity to ensure availability for final judging in early February. Other pits will be considered in the final judging.

5. Entrants must be prepared to give production and costing details of stock fed on maize silage.

6. Regional winners are excluded from entry the following year.

7. Members of the MGA executive and Farmers Weekly staff are not eligible for entry.