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Harvest silomas will start soon with nice chopping weather
Thanks to the timely sowing and the above-average high daytime temperatures during the growing season, an early harvest of the silage maize is imminent.
As it looks now, a lot of maize can be chopped ripe before October 1. That has several reasons. First, most of the maize varieties grown are very early to early varieties. To have 'early maize', presentation of true precocity of silage maize varieties is a must. That is the maturity that comes over the cob in the form of starch production and storage in the grain until the moment of harvest is reached. This is all the more true because when the crop is mature, the crop simultaneously achieves the highest achievable dry matter yield, energy density and thus feed value yield. This unambiguously defines the practical moment to harvest as silage maize. That is earliness as it has practical significance.
Secondly, in general sowing was done in time, that is to say before 1 May. Thanks to a dry spring, tillage, fertilization and seedbed preparation generally went smoothly. In a few cases the germination was delayed due to a too dry sowing horizon and too cold soil at sowing depth, but in general the initial development of the maize was very good.
The third important reason is that the temperature has been above average throughout the growing season. All this results in an early harvest. Especially compared to last year. On average, the maize is still about ten to fourteen days further into ripening and in view of the prospects, the maize will certainly not lose this lead.
Harvest corn at the right time
The right time to harvest maize for silage has been reached when the milk line in the kernel is no longer visible. The milk line is the separation between the liquid 'milk' part and the solid starch part. We are talking about a grain in the hard dough stage with a dry matter percentage of 55%. At that stage, the so-called 'black dot' as the end of the grain is just not visible yet. The optimum moment of harvesting is only reached when there is a healthy residual plant. Hence the so-called stay green- effect has so much meaning for the realization of full maturity.
To determine the right harvest time, take the following steps:
- Walk a few meters into the corn field and pick a number of cobs at random
- Remove the bracts from the stock
- Break the flask in half
- Cut a number of kernels from the center of the flask lengthwise
On a beautiful late summer day, the average dry matter increase in the grain is 1% per day. This means that when, for example, the milk line is halfway through the grain after checking, the dry matter in the grain has arrived at approximately 45%. If the aim is to harvest at the optimum moment for silage maize, then for the sake of convenience, you should wait another ten days before harvesting. The contractor can in any case be informed in advance.
What should you do if you have dried corn?
The best advice on what to do with dried corn is difficult to give. Early chopping is often of little use unless the number of sterile (cobless) plants is large. Keep in mind that not much more than crude fiber is harvested. In extreme cases it is even better to decide to leave the crop on the land and not to ensile. If the cobs are still relatively full and the leaves of the upper leaf layers above the cob (as can be seen in the photo) are still somewhat green, it is better to wait a while before harvesting. In such a case, it is possible to wait for grain maturity. At least as long as the leaf layers above the cob have sufficient chlorophyll and thus photosynthesis capacity to convert sugars into starch. Unfortunately, a serious loss of yield and a lower nutritional value of the crop to be harvested must nevertheless be taken into account.
Beware of fusarium
Fusarium in maize is manifested at the end of cob maturity in an increasing brown discoloration in the lower stem part, in combination with reduced tissue firmness, and occurs mainly on drought-sensitive light soils. Fusarium is seen as a ripening disease, but stress factors such as a lack of moisture also lead to a similar energy shortage in the plant. And, accordingly, the fungus, which has been present in the plant for quite some time, manifests itself in this way. This is often accompanied by fusariosis of the cob stem (drooping cobs) a few days before the residual plant dies. The result is progressively deteriorating stability, resulting in alloying. Are the first symptoms of fusarium visible on the plot? Then strongly consider chopping the corn early.
Would you like more information about the right harvest time? Then come to the corn field days!
Due to the decreasing day and night temperatures in the coming weeks towards autumn, the average dry matter increase per day will decrease. Nevertheless, the silo maize harvest will be able to start quickly this year. It is expected that plenty of silage maize will be chopped in mid-September. It is possible that on plots with mature maize and plots with ultra-early to very early maize, an earlier start will be made. This also means that on those plots on sand and loess soil, where no undersowing has taken place, the catch crop can normally be sown with ease before 1 October. sow Fast Spring Rye as an effective catch crop, which also gives you the opportunity to harvest more protein from your own soil in the spring. Something that, due to the drought, is highly desirable.
Would you like to know more about determining the right harvest time, the latest maize varieties for the 2023 season or about the strategy if the derogation is not extended? Come to our KWS field days maize. We look forward to seeing you there!
