Brought to you by Limagrain
Corn ripe later: these are your options
Due to on average a later sowing, slow emergence and the cold months of July and August, we are currently seeing a considerably later ripening of silage maize than we were used to in recent years. In this article the current ripening and possibilities for a later maize harvest.
Chopping silage maize at the correct dry matter percentage (ds%) is necessary to achieve the maximum usable feed value. The cob is leading: it must be fully ripe. No milk line is visible in the grain and there is a black cork layer at the bottom of the grain. A ds% from 24% is desirable for the plant.
This is how you make an accurate dry matter determination of your maize
Current maturity and forecast 2021
With the mobile LG lab our roughage specialists measure many fresh maize plants throughout the Netherlands on a daily basis for the dry matter percentage. From these many analyzes on our corn demos and within the Roughage tour, we can give an interesting picture of the maturation of silage maize per region.
We are of course happy to share this information: follow the weekly updates here >>
Chop before October 1?
Maize growers on sandy and loess soils who have not undersown should harvest their silage maize before 1 October to sow the catch crop. Early varieties that are now around 30% dry matter will be ready for harvest from week 1, with an expected ripening of about 2% every 3 to 38 days. Schedule your contractor on time!
However, we also see plots on sandy and loess soils where October 1 is likely to be tight. In that case, corn growers have the following options. Please note: notify RVO of any changes in the sowing date of the catch crop no later than 1 October.
- Harvest the maize (partially) as MKS or CCM. The catch crop must then be sown not later than October 1, but October 31. Livestock farmers who have harvested a lot of silage this year have a perfect feed material in the ration to use that grass with the starchy MKS or CCM. If desired, the MKS/CCM can be ensiled on top of the silage maize.
- Winter grain as main crop after maize. Here you can also chop until 31 October. A mixed cultivation of winter wheat + winter field beans is also allowed. By opting for this on a part of your maize acreage, the maize can ripen well here and you will harvest high-quality concentrates from your own land next year. The mixed cultivation must consist of at least 2/3 of winter wheat (see RFO).
- Chop the corn a little more moist. When the cob is approaching 55% dry matter and the plant is still quite green, you can safely harvest, within a total ds content of 32 – 35%. To prevent losses of juice loss and acidification, it is advisable not to make the silage too high and to start with a layer of straw or dry silage. Stubble a little higher is also a practical way to get your silage maize a little drier in the silage.
Good luck with the harvest! For more information and tailor-made advice:
