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What can you as a maize grower learn from the MaizeScan?
We have recently been able to read the results of the annual MaizeScan in various publications. This independent online market research was conducted in February by agricultural market research agency Geelen Consultancy. This year, 830 maize growers took part. A number of things emerged that can benefit you as a maize grower.
Grain yield most important trait for variety selection
First of all, the results of the MaizeScan showed that the grain yield is mentioned as the most important characteristic for the choice of variety, also for silage maize. It appears that the growers have now understood this well. Logical too, because 95% of the feed value comes from the grain. It would be good if the presented trial field figures also all indicate the grain yield of all maize varieties sold in the market. Unfortunately, this is not known in all cases.
You can largely control the concentration of feed value and the results on the analysis form during the harvest: by choosing the right harvest moment, by including the residual plant itself to a greater or lesser extent during the harvest and by adjusting the kernel conditioner to the shredder. Anyone familiar with this mechanism will be able to control their nutritional value yield and their nutritional value analysis results.
25% untapped potential
The research also showed that maize receives relatively little fertilizer to achieve its yield potential, while grass is more generous in terms of fertilization. A striking result is the nitrogen application per hectare for maize, which fluctuates around 170 kg. This means that with this fertilization a yield of 1.020 kg of protein or 14,5 tons of dry matter is produced from silage maize. This means that 25% of the actual production capacity is not used. In the yield estimate we see that 40% of the growers harvested 17 tons of dry matter or less. Perhaps that is overestimated.
For grass, the stated nitrogen application is more likely to be around 300 kg and around 10 tons of dry matter per hectare with 16-18% protein is harvested. There the production capacity and the actual production of protein (1.600-1.800 kg/ha) are approximately in line with the given nitrogen application.
Profit for North possible
In the North region, sowing and harvesting takes place relatively late, often not yet ripe maize is harvested. There is a real need here for varieties that mature in time in the grain and certainly also for correct information about this, and there is a lot to be gained. So a message to the maize grower to choose really early varieties that are sufficiently early ripe in the grain. This raises the quality of the harvested maize, and thus the quality of the entire feed ration.
It is also striking that the average milk yield in the North clearly lags behind that of the Southern Netherlands region. Is this also due to the quantity and quality of the maize? That could well be.
Catch crops: less undersow next year, yield opportunities
The sowing of the catch crop continues to shift. A large proportion of the growers who opted for under-sowing last year will switch to a different approach this year: harvest the maize in time and immediately sow a catch crop or/and an intermediate crop forage. With the latter, extra revenue is obtained from the land. Nationally, for those who sow a catch crop, two thirds will go for progeny and one third for undersow/simultaneous sowing. It is striking that in the Netherlands only between 10 and 15% of the growers will also harvest the catch crop in the spring. As a result, a lot of yield potential remains untapped. In Belgium, that percentage is much higher.
In order to be able to harvest the catch crop in time and sow maize in time, before 1 May, many opt for rye. A strongly emerging variety for this is the hybrid Fast Spring Rye. The advantage of this compared to grass is that a good cut is harvested 2 to 3 weeks earlier and that the sod has fewer drought problems compared to grass. The Maize Scan shows that 3 to more than 5 tons of dry matter and 600 to 900 kg of protein per hectare were obtained.
Large companies opt less for derogation
Another outcome of the MaizeScan is that large companies follow the derogation much less and have more maize in the crop plan. Large companies (42%) and companies in the South (60%) do not opt for a derogation. A well-argued choice, because maize achieves twice as much yield as grass, especially on sandy soil that is prone to drought. Certainly with the combination of maize and Fast Spring Rye, it is possible to produce more than 2 kg of protein and 2.000 kg of starch per hectare. Grass produces 8.000 to 1.600 kg of protein and no starch. Grass is therefore less profitable and therefore more expensive per kg of dry matter. Fast Spring Rye has approximately the same nutritional value, but costs per kg of dry matter only half that of grass. Furthermore, sufficient maize in addition to grass is good for getting the right balance in the ration and therefore also good for limiting ammonia emissions. Anyone with a lot of grass in the ration would do well to include Corn Cob Silage (MKS) in the ration. This is also good for getting enough concentrated feed for a higher milk yield.
In short, many points emerge in the MaizeScan that are interesting for many in the coming season to optimize crops and rations. A critical eye is in order. It is important that as a maize grower you keep a close eye on the real (grain) early maturity of the maize. Especially now, with a perhaps a bit later sowing due to the cold spring.
Would you like more information about the cultivation of timely ripe maize varieties or about Fast Spring Rye? Please contact us. Our contact details can be found at our website.
