Over the last 20 years, maize breeding has come a long way.
It would be perfectly normal for Farms to be cutting Maize in November in the south and Midlands back in 2000. Maize wouldn’t even be considered in a dairy ration north of the Humber in Yorkshire or Lancashire back in the early 2000s. But now most Farms in the South and Midlands can harvest early varieties by the first and second week in September, and farms in the North can finally harvest varieties in mid October without plastic.
With this revolution in dairy rations bringing affordable homegrown protein, how can harvesting earlier in the season be more cost-effective for your farm business?
With the government’s new SFI scheme replacing the Basic Payment, farmers are having to change their cropping systems again—not due to revolutionary breeding, but to maintain much needed income for their businesses. This is where the last 30 years of maize breeding and research could come into play.
Schemes such as SAM2, which promotes multi-species winter cover crops, are being introduced to ensure farmers don’t have fallow fields over the winter period. Though the payment is not substantial, it still provides support to the business.
With an earlier variety, the benefits extend beyond just yield; it’s easier on the soil, reducing compaction and water run-off. This keeps any risk of environmental damage to minimum, saving farms from any potential visits from the environment agency.
Many farmers have found it easier to coordinate with their contractors, as harvesting earlier means that contractors do not have to rush between farms leading to a better service and a better clamp compacted and covered. Farmers are also finding that, with having earlier varieties available to them, they have a longer window for the maize in the clamp to ferment with anaerobic respiration, leading to a higher quality product for their cows when the grass quality drops.
With a longer period before the soil temperature drops, the cover crops have a better chance for establishing. If farmers choose to grow a grass mix, including Westworlds and Italian ryegrass post-maize harvest. In a full farm rotation, an early maize harvest could be incredibly beneficial for getting in a cereals crop, such as barley or triticale.
Holding soil structure together better means fewer nutrients run-off the fields. saving fertiliser expenditure for the next crop.
In conclusion, adapting to the advancements in maize breeding and embracing earlier harvesting practices is not just a matter of timing; it’s about securing the financial future of our farms. By making these strategic changes, we can optimise our operations and enhance the sustainability of our agricultural practices.
More Information?
If you would like to know more about how embracing earlier harvesting practises could help you on your farm please contact me on 07977523201, or sam.johnson@nickerson.co.uk
