Maize Trials Update

All four trial sites have now been harvested with fresh weights being particularly heavy in some cases. My feeling is that in some cases this extra weight has been caused by the above average rainfall throughout August and, as a result, the vegetative part of the plant has continued to grow and it is this that has contributed toward the extra weight. Resultant cob size has been reduced somewhat as a result of the bulkier stover.

Mole Valley Farmers Site, Fowey Drilled on April 26 and harvested on October 7: 17 varieties were drilled with seven being discarded through being unsuitable for marginal sites.

Fresh weights ranged from 15.6-26.3 tonnes per acre with the average being 19 tonnes.

Advanta Site, North Devon Drilled on April 27 and harvested October 1: eight varieties drilled with a fresh weight range of 19.0-21.5 tonnes per acre - the average being 20 tonnes.

Mole Valley Farmers Site, Bridgwater Drilled on May 21 and harvested September 29: 17 varieties drilled with seven being discarded through being unsuitable.

Fresh weights ranged from 23.8-33.3 tonnes per acre with the average being 25.115 tonnes. Although the weights are very high, DM% will be quite low in some cases as, ideally, the crop should have been left for another 10 days to mature, but, unfortunately, the peaty soil type dictated an early harvest.

Pearce Seeds Site (Rosedown) Drilled on May 10 and harvested October 9: 16 varieties were drilled with a fresh weight range of 13.5-22.4 tonnes per acre - the average being 19.10 tonnes per acre.

A full analytical report on all four sites will follow shortly.

The maize season overall has been a good one, although in most cases later than last year. John Hocknall from The Kingshay Farming Trust quotes their marginal site in North Devon as a prime example. Drilling date this year was on April 29 and was a week earlier than the previous three years, but harvesting did not take place until October 10 - a week later than last year, a fortnight earlier than the really bad year of 2002 and the same date as 2001.

Fodder beet Fodder beet will increase in bulk by approximately 30% during September, October and early November and as such will be ready to harvest soon. Growers will then have to make a decision as to the optimum time to harvest - ie do you go now and possibly forgo a small amount of extra yield and do you wait for another fortnight, maximise yield, but run the risk of running into bad weather? I would suggest the former as the beet will be easier to lift and will be that much cleaner. Your contractor plays an extremely important role here and I would recommend that you "encourage" him to use top lifting equipment (variety permitting), as the beet will lift much cleaner and, hopefully, will not require cleaning. You may find it useful to install one or two "chimneys" in your beet clamp in order to allow it to breathe and prevent heating up - yetting as we say in West Devon!

Grassland We are now entering the phase where grass continues to grow but cattle have been removed to prevent poaching. It is vitally important to remove excess grass growth before winter kill sets in - either by topping and removing - or, the best option in my belief, get the sheep in (even the neighbours). I think it would be a really good idea to "walk" your grassland during January - ideally accompanied by your agronomist - and you can then see what grass you really have - and the weeds. It's a bit like looking at your lady first thing in the morning - before she has a chance to comb her hair, put her make-up on and put her teeth in. Perhaps that's why farmers get up so early - it's usually always dark!