Brought to you by Limagrain
This is how you harvest massive, ripe corn before October 1
Maize growers on sandy and loess soils had to deal with the new rules regarding catch crops last year. They had to be sown no later than October 1, which means harvesting in September or undersowing. However, with undersowing the result is variable and uncertain. Fortunately, well-ripe and massive maize can be harvested before 1 October in a large part of the Netherlands.
As the only maize breeder in the Netherlands, we at Limagrain have been working since the 80s on 'advancing' maize varieties, thereby increasing the feed value yield. And, with success: the latest very early maize varieties (eg LG 7005 en LG 7005) supply no less than 22,3 and 22,5 tons of dry matter per hectare in the variety list trials. That's more than many mid-early varieties!
A (very) early variety needs fewer hours of sunshine to develop into a good ripe crop. In 2019, growers opted en masse for earlier varieties, also on lighter soils because:
- Harvest high-nutrition mature maize in September;
- Early corn is less likely to suffer drought damage;
- Much less chance of structural damage during the maize harvest;
- Late sowing is possible on lighter/warmer plots;
- An early harvest in the autumn gives room for subsequent cultivation of grass or catch crops;
- The KVEM per hectare of the newest early varieties equals that of later varieties.
Recommended early varieties
For cultivation 2019 we introduced the very early variety LG 7005. Due to its top figures on yield and quality, the variety created a run and it was quickly sold out. So be on time with ordering before 2020! New on the Variety List 2020 is the very early LG 31.214, a top digestible silage maize with a substantial nutritional yield. Ripens a little later, but still early, is the new LG 31.220, bulk maize with a yield potential of almost 23 tons of dry matter per hectare!
New: CornService for maximum harvest security
To realize its yield potential, the maize must of course be able to grow undisturbed. This is becoming more difficult due to the disappearance of seed disinfection. To protect your maize cultivation as well as possible, LG introduces the Maize Service:
- Seed treatment with biostimulant Starcover for more vital maize and disinfection Force 20CS against insects and bird damage;
- Free insurance against bird damage after registration: seed for oversowing is then 100% reimbursed by Limagrain. Read here how the LG MaisService works.
My advice:
With (very) early maize varieties from Limagrain you get the highest possible feed value yield from your land and you harvest on most plots before 1 October. Knowing more? I would be happy to give you tailor-made advice on your choice of variety and maize cultivation! View the complete variety package here.
