Fast pits as cheap concentrates

De Boerenbusiness Roughage Tour follows 10 plots of maize and grass spread across the Netherlands this year. Every week we ask 1 of the participating dairy farmers about his vision and approach for this growing season. This week it is Hans Schoenmakers, dairy farmer in Udenhout (North Brabant).

The growing season has started, how are the plots?
“Normally the grass would have been covered with plastic around this time of year. Now the grass is still on the plot and there is a good cut. I was very dubious about mowing, but I'm glad I didn't do it with the rain that fell here."

''I grow the maize on pure sandy soil and the soil is characterized in particular by the early ripening of the maize. When sowing at the same time as another plot, it is often ripe 10 to 14 days earlier. This is also the reason why I dare to use the variety LG 31.219 without underseeding. The maize was sown early on April 22 and is already well on top."

Past years were very dry, are you making different choices as a grower now?
''The plots near the house are loamy sand and compared to the plot at home, they do not suffer much from the drought. If it is really dry, growth will stop. But as soon as it rains a little, the grass is back. If you have to grow grass with the reel, you have to irrigate a lot. We grow the maize on the plot of the house. We can irrigate well there and we do. If we don't have to water, that means we're having a really bad summer."

What will your strategy be for this year? 
''An early first cut with a high digestibility is often the grass I harvest. I'm curious how that will develop this year. With a somewhat structured first cut, I have to adjust my strategy in that area a bit. Partly on the advice of the feed advisor, I try to keep my patience, but I'm still eating myself a bit. Quick pits have generally always gone well and buying structure is always cheaper than concentrates."

Another important factor is the choice of variety, which varieties do you grow?
“For me, digestibility is the main reason I choose the LG varieties. The 219 scores excellent for that and in combination with its drought tolerance makes it a suitable variety for me. I consciously choose to sow early, so that I can harvest early again and then sow the green manure. I simply do not want to undersow, because it is not easy for me. I do not sow green manure, because it is necessary. But I want the soil to really benefit from it.”

What is the reason that you participate in the Roughage Tour and what do you expect from it?
“Last year I didn't know what to expect from it, but it was interesting and I learned quite a lot from it. In particular, the contact with each other is nice and seeing how things are going elsewhere in the country."

Erik van der Deure

e.vanderdeure@boerenbusiness. Nl

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