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What to do with dried corn?
The Netherlands is groaning under the persistent drought and heat. The maize also suffers locally, but the differences are large. We now see dried corn on lighter soils. What do you do with that?
The maize appears to be holding up reasonably well on heavier soils. In general, we see a fairly fresh crop with this maize, with a well-developing cob. This also applies to the lighter soils, which are irrigated.
Unfortunately, we also see maize that has stopped developing mid-development, has a moderate to poor cob and shows serious drought damage. We also see maize (especially later sown) that is completely dried up, has no length and no cob.
Harvesting moderate maize already?
Evaluate critically how your maize is doing, possibly together with a cultivation specialist. The totally desiccated maize without cob and plant length is lost and not worth harvesting.
You can chop the moderately developed maize with small cobs now, in order to use the sugars still present. The expectation is that this maize could still have around 800 VEM. Note that the limit of 27% to 28% dry matter is achieved. Enclose this corn separately.
Pay attention to catch crop obligation
Even if you were already chopping now, the obligation to sow a catch crop on sandy and loess soils applies. Sowing a fast-growing grass mixture with perennial and Italian ryegrass (such as LG HAVERA 2) can, when precipitation starts to fall again, still provide a substantial grass yield in the autumn and early spring.
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