Until when sow corn and what next?

What are your options on plots that have still not been sown with corn due to the wetness? We have listed a number of options for you with the expected nutritional value.

After the last extremely wet winter and spring, plenty of corn was sown in June. In theory, you can sow corn until the longest day (June 21). If the growing season goes well afterwards, a reasonable spadix can still be formed. The energy from this starch will be desperately needed on many farms to make good use of the large amount of grass that has already been harvested.

On plots where a catch crop obligation applies, it is wise to undersow so that there is more time for ripening in the autumn. If you sow corn later, the chance of cob formation is very small. Then count on a crop that supplies 600 to 800 VEM/kg DM, from the digestible fiber, 8 - 12% sugar and 5 - 7% protein.

Alternatives to silage maize
If you decide to keep the corn seed in the bag for next year, your alternatives are:

• Temporary grassland: sowing with grass can still produce a few cuts of roughage. Sow Perennial ryegrass (Havera) for the highest nutritional value yield or choose Italian ryegrass if you mainly want to harvest a lot of mass. An additional advantage is the extra fertilization space you have on temporary grassland compared to corn.
• Sorghum (sudan grass): this heat-loving grain can produce a large crop in a short time if the temperature is high enough. The VEM is on average 800, with a digestibility of 66%. Please note: sow a feed type such as the variety HoneyGraze when the goal is feeding!
• fodder beets: if it suits in terms of mechanization and space in the yard, you can still sow fodder beets. You will then still harvest 50 tons or more of fresh feed with a high energy value in the autumn. Ideal food for for example, to use the autumn grass.

rest crop
Do you choose temporary grassland, sorghum or a green manure? Then specify this as a dormant crop, so that you no longer have to grow a dormant crop on the plot in the following two years.

Knowing more? View on lgseeds.nl or ask your cultivation specialist for advice without obligation:

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