The new Recommended Variety List 2021 has been published. It is clear that the newest maize varieties on this list have become earlier, but also better as a result of intensive breeding.
Formerly in the sense that by selection for precociousness of the grain in particular, the certainty of harvesting a ripe crop is increasing even more. This means that it is increasingly possible to sow a catch crop such as Fast Spring Rye before 1 October after the maize harvest. And better because compared to maize varieties that came on the market 15 years ago, the new varieties achieve 10-15% higher yields.
Research and development
In order to ensure existence, independence and continuity in the future, KWS annually invests more than 15% of its turnover in research and development of new, better varieties and crops. KWS is an independent family business that has been around for more than 160 years. KWS employees work every day with pride and great enthusiasm to improve genetics. Spread across the Benelux alone, there are more than 10 test field locations every year where new maize varieties are assessed for both silage maize and grain maize qualities. In addition, before being placed on the variety lists, the best KWS varieties are also tested by independent trial field bodies. This is also the case by Wageningen University & Research, Department of Open Cultivation, with the aim of being listed on the CSAR Recommended Variety List.
All these efforts have resulted in KWS being the main supplier of maize varieties that have been added to the 2021 Variety List as newly recommended. This is an achievement to be proud of and means that KWS can serve the Dutch grower with even more varieties that have been extensively tested in the Netherlands under Dutch growing conditions.
For example, 5 of the 6 varieties that have been awarded the Recommended predicate on the 2021 Variety List – very early-early silage maize come from KWS. It is about this: Papageno, Agromilas, Rancador, Saltare en Benefits.
Papageno
Papageno is an ultra early variety with an FAO 200, which has also successfully completed several years of research, which is the basis of the Rassenbulletin Variety bulletin for maize - Ultra early / Very early 2021.
Johanninio
Johaninio is a promising maize variety that has now been studied for several years by WUR to qualify for recommendation as an early silage maize variety.
Johaninio is the maize variety that has shown the best results on average over the past 3 growing seasons in trials by KWS, in addition to Agropolis. However, Johaninio is earlier with FAO 230, which means that the harvest security is much greater.
Progress has been made through higher grain yields, resulting in higher starch and thus feed value yields. Starch is highly digestible and makes an important contribution to the supply of glucogenic energy, which results in more lactose and therefore milk production. Compared to many well-known maize varieties, the above-mentioned maize varieties can easily achieve an additional 200-250 euros in yield per hectare.
Choosing cheaper and often unknown maize varieties is expensive. Stories that these varieties are only suitable as grain maize can be carried on into the realm of fables. Their prominent position on the Recommended Variety List 2021 - silage maize demonstrate just the opposite. When harvested at the right time, the grain yield is dominant in the silo maize trials, which is reflected in high dry matter and feed value yields. In addition, the level of the starch index is also a good indicator of the quality of the variety in question.
genius
In the mid-early group, the Genialis maize variety has held up very well on the Recommended Variety List 2021 with very decent figures for agricultural properties. With an FAO 230, Genialis is a very solid and reliable maize variety, which on average can withstand drought better on the basis of broad experience in practice. In addition, Genialis is on the positive Kopbrand list, along with Megusto, Prixdor, Ricardinio, Kompetens and Autens. This means that Genialis is not sensitive to a possible Headburn attack.