Prepare maize land already or wait?

Last week the participants of the Boerenbusiness Roughage tour made several choices to keep the land workable and moist and thus respond to the persistent dry weather. A livestock farmer has also canceled one of his crops. 

On the plot in Aartswoud (North Holland), the plowed maize land has been worked with a fixed-tine cultivator with a pasture roller behind it. This was done on the advice of the contractor, in order to ensure that the soil connects properly, to make clods smaller and to prevent the soil from drying out. 

Postpone shifts
On the plot in Udenhout (North Brabant), it was decided, in contrast to other years, to postpone the plowing of his maize land until just before sowing the maize. By postponing plowing, the sandy soil does not dry up and, moreover, remains more workable.

Alfalfa out, corn in
In Nieuwerkerk (Zeeland) it was decided to cancel alfalfa cultivation this year, there are so many weeds on the plot that fighting them no longer makes sense. For this reason, the farmer has chosen to destroy the alfalfa and start sowing maize on this plot in a few weeks. Most of this company's maize is on the land of an arable farmer, this year his own plot will also participate in the Roughage Tour. As a result of this decision, this farmer has 2,62 hectares more silage maize than in previous years.

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