Livestock


Order early to secure preferred maize seed


• Demand for maize seed on the increase • Market uncertainty could aff ect supplies • Preferred varieties are popular as ever


F


armers planning to grow maize next year are being advised to place seed orders well in ad- vance to secure their preferred variety. Demand for maize is on the up – but this season there is the added compli- cation of uncertainty about how Brexit will affect trade with Europe, says Pe- ter Brundle, southern seeds manager for Hutchinsons.


This means many seed suppliers are planning to bring stocks of key varie- ties into the UK earlier than normal to avoid disruption to supplies in the event of a “no-deal” outcome to Brex- it negotiations.


Growers generally start to order seed just before Christ- mas. The ordering window continues right through to the spring, with some farmers waiting until March or April before making a fi nal decision.


Careful selection But Mr Brundle said: “Giv- en the uncertainty around Brexit and the growing pop- ularity of maize, growers really should consider ordering ear- lier this year to secure pre- ferred varieties.”


Defra statistics show that the UK maize area has increased over the past fi ve years from less than 190,000ha to around 226,000ha in 2020. Demand for maize seed has risen for both livestock and for biogas.


Whatever the end market, the list of maize varieties is extensive, making se- lection challenging. And with increas- ingly variable weather too, Mr Brun- dle suggests a few key choices that have performed consistently over re- cent years. Perez and Duxxbury are both very


Sought after varieties include consistent performers, says Peter Brundle


early maturing varieties (FAO 160) that manage to achieve high yields and good quality – suiting growers wanting an early harvest, says Mr Brundle.


Maritime climate


Of the early maturing varieties (FAO 170-190), P7326 was a best-seller for Hutchinsons in 2020. It suits the UK’s maritime climate and can be grown on less favourable sites where heat is lim- iting, as well as on sites when early har- vest is required.


Prospect is one of the top early va- rieties on the BSPB/NIAB List for dry matter yield at 103%. The combination of high starch and the highest cell wall digestibility of any early variety, helps Prospect be one of the highest ME yield- ing varieties on the list.


Autens delivers consistent bulk dry matter and higher grain content for added starch percentage, suiting grain, silage and biogas production.


P7034 also suits all three end uses and continues to grow in popularity. Ambi- tion, Glory and Agiraxx remain popular. Among the intermediate maturing varieties (FAO 200-220), Mr Brundle picks P7524 for its early vigour and high yield, Movanna for its agronom- ics and standing power, and Keops for its wide drilling window and fl exibili- ty. P7948 was introduced in 2020 and looks an exciting prospect for the bi- ogas sector, he adds.


Other considerations


Of the late maturing varieties (FAO 230-250), Indexx continues to be Hutch- insons’ best-selling late biogas variety, particularly suited to the east, while P8200 is a large stature hybrid that performs well on favourable sites in the open, or a wide range of sites un- der fi lm. Amaroc has proven popular and consistent.


“


Growers really should consider ordering earlier this year


Growers should also take into con- sideration seed treatment changes. Following the revocation of Mesurol (methiocarb) in 2020, Korit was used extensively last season as an effective bird repellent. In 2021 Korit (Ziram 420 g/l) will be used in conjunction with the fungi- cide Redigo M (prothioconazole + met- alaxyl), by many suppliers. Trace ele- ments and growth promotion products are also being offered by some suppli- ers to improve establishment. Sonido (thiacloprid) can no longer be used for wireworm control and will be replaced with Force (tefl uthrin).


Maize growers have faced a number of challenging seasons


34 MIDLAND FARMER • DECEMBER 2020


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40