Challenge bigger than ever
'Keep the maize cultivation in your own hands'
The silage maize cultivation is being viewed increasingly negatively, but the statement of Anne-Marie Spierings (deputy of the province of Noord-Brabant) has put things in perspective. The importance of the MaizeChallenge is therefore greater than ever. It still has to be proven that silage maize is indeed suitable for sustainable dairy farming.
Anne-Marie Spierings already asked whether the cultivation of silage maize still fits in with North Brabant. Although it has been clear for some time that silage maize cultivation does not go down well with everyone (particularly due to the high leaching and runoff), this statement calls for more action. At the launch of the CornChallenge it became painfully clear that the way dairy farmers look at maize cultivation does not immediately deserve the beauty prize.
2 tractors for the maize conditioner
Gera van Oss, lecturer in sustainable soil management at Aeres University of Applied Sciences, knows how to get the laughs on her hand through a photo in which a maize crusher is pulled by 2 tractors. Nevertheless, according to Van Oss, this is a good example. "Something urgently needs to change." It is extremely bad for the soil structure and in addition, soil compaction is already becoming a major problem in more and more places in the Netherlands.
"Soil compaction promotes leaching and run-off, in addition, water remains on the land and eutrophication or over-fertilization increases. Soil compaction means a 10% to 40% loss of yield in the coming years." Van Oss outlines that the way in which the soil is currently being treated has an immediate impact on the dairy farmer's wallet.
Crop rotation in maize?
Eutrophication (over-fertilization) is the cause of more regulations, something that works against livestock farmers. There is also an element that works against silage maize, which is the fact that it is often a crop that is grown in the same field for several years. Crop rotation can then help.
However, the sowing of maize that is not suitable for this must also stop immediately. "Maybe you should just leave the maize alone when the field is no longer passable." Van Oss also suggests that the soil structure is important enough to provide financial support in the event of a wet autumn, in order to allow the maize to stand.
Another point of attention is the organic matter. It is a difficult subject, because not everything is known about the functioning of micro-organisms that play a role in this. "Yet this is the key to combating diseases and pests, especially now that more and more resources are no longer allowed to be used."
Preservation of maize cultivation
Van Oss receives support from Eurofins. However, it is clear that dairy farmers cannot immediately be expected to do things differently. "However, showing that you are working on it and that things can be done differently can help to maintain the cultivation of maize", says Jos Groot Koerkamp of Limagrain. "I am not saying this just because we sell the seed, but because it is a crop is what pre-eminently binds CO2 and methane."
It is also still mentioned as an important component in the ration of the Dutch, high-yielding cow.
Herman van den Pol
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