Last year it was exactly the other way around in large parts of the south and east of the Netherlands. This year there will be a record high yield on most silage slabs, unless the crop falls into the water. The clearing weather means that trade can erupt.
Thanks to the summer weather, the ripening process will start quickly. According to Jos Groot Koerkamp of cultivation company Limagrain, an average of 20 tons of dry matter per hectare is easily achievable. Local exceptions, such as in the southwest of the Netherlands, are excluded.
The corn harvest will start in early September, about 1 week earlier than normal. At least, that's what Groot Koerkamp expects. This is due to the early flowering time, which is 10 to 14 days earlier than normal. This is because of the exceptionally warm and sunny month of June. An early harvest would not be bad, because the corn supplies are starting to run low here and there. Last year's dry corn is being added faster than normal.
Quality matters
More than ever, the emphasis is on quality during the harvest. When ripening starts, the dry matter percentage can increase by a few percent every week. Especially in extremely sunny and warm late summer weather, like last year. Corn that is too dry causes heating. Drier corn has the advantage that the starch content increases. This fits well with the quickly digestible spring silage.
Not only the dry matter content and the percentage of starch play a role in determining the nutritional value and the harvest time, but the structural value of the maize is also receiving increasing attention. This has been the case since chopper manufacturer Claas introduced the patented Shredlage process in the Netherlands, which ensures a longer chopped and more intensively crushed grain.
Not much more than €45 to €50 per tonne
The new crop of silage maize will probably not cost much more than €45 to €50 per tonne, depending on the quality. At such a low price level, growers could choose to leave more corn and offer it for sale as CCM. Especially in the countries around us. The scorching summer in Southern and Eastern Europe has affected the maize harvest in the main grain maize growing areas, although the European Union's JRC MARS crop monitoring the harvest forecast for grain maize has been adjusted slightly upwards again.
Leaving silage maize to be harvested as CCM or grain maize requires good stem rot tolerance. There are major racial differences in this. Moreover, the price of grain corn is also at a very low level. Last week the European Union started import dutiesto prevent further price declines.