Last year, I reported on the progress of four maize trial sites throughout the region, with the final and all important feed value analysis now revealed.

Before we set up the trials last year, there were one or two concerns, e.g. appropriate sowing rates (by variety as well as sites), high dry matter v early maturity (does the highest dry matter always mean it's the earliest?) and cob dry matter % v starch %.

In reporting the results, I have quoted the range from top to bottom using both figures and the appropriate variety. I have also quoted the next variety if the difference between the top and second is very small, or indeed, if the difference between the bottom and next to bottom is also finite.

You may have also noticed that most of the work with our maize trial sites has concerned marginal sites. This is because most of the maize in the South West is grown under conditions that are anything other than optimum or mainstream. Sites can be described as marginal for a number of reasons and will be affected by altitude, aspect, soil type, rainfall and exposure to name but a few, so if your proposed maize fields feature any of those items in a somewhat negative way, then perhaps your management decisions should reflect those conditions.

Cornwall Farmers site, near Truro:

Ten varieties using four different breeders were drilled on May 7 at 42,500 seeds per acre, with all material being actively marketed in the county.

Harvested on October13, the dry matters ranged from Camelot and Sapphire at 31.2% and 31.1% respectively to LG3214 and Nescio at 22.10% and 23.10%.

Starch levels ranged from Sapphire at 36.10% (there was nothing else that close) to the lowest at 18.6% which was LG3214.

Highest DM yield was Sapphire at 6.151 tonnes per acre to LG3214 at 5.179 tonnes per acre.

Highest starch yield was Sapphire at 2.220 tonnes per acre down to LG3214 at 0.963 tonnes per acre.

In addition to the standard tests, we also took random cobs from each variety for a dry matter test in order to try and establish a link between high cob dry matter and high starch.

Whilst Camelot showed the highest DM% at 31.2, it was not the "earliest" variety. Camelot was the only variety to show symptoms of early senescence which could have been caused by poor stay green or fusarium. At 50.7%, its cob dry matter came about half way. Sapphire had the highest cob dry matter at 56% which complemented the highest starch levels. The variety which had the lowest starch % at 18.6% also had the lowest cob dry matter at 43.4%.

Although this was one trial, on one field and on one farm, the main conclusion to draw from these results would concur with the message that most people have been trying to convey for ages and that is grow early maturing varieties for marginal sites and that should really mean maturity class 8 and above. Later varieties are just that. Late! Advanta Site, near Devon:

This year, in order to try and endorse the advice we have been giving over the years about sowing rates, it was decided to use 5 Advanta bred varieties and drill each of them at 40,000, 43,000 and 45,000 seeds per acre, with the varieties used being Crescendo, Crown, Destiny, Sapphire and Tomahawk.

Plots were drilled on May 4 and harvested on October 10. The dry matters ranged from Destiny (43,000 seeds) at 31.4% to Crown and Crescendo (45,000 seeds) at 26.5%. Starch levels ranged from Destiny (40,000 seeds) at 34.8% to Crescendo (45,000 seeds) at 26.6%. Dry Matter yields ranged from Sapphire (43,000 seeds) at 7.73 tonnes per acre to Crescendo (45,000 seeds) at 6.606 tonnes per acre.

Starch yields ranged from Sapphire (43,000 seeds) at 2.620 tonnes per acre to Crown (45,000 seeds) at 1.647 tonnes. Crescendo, Crown and Tomahawk all achieved their highest DM% and starch% at 40,000 seeds per acre, with Destiny and Sapphire being the only two varieties which recorded both DM and starch levels in excess of 30% on all three sowing rates - these two varieties both achieving their highest DM% at 43,000 seeds, albeit only by 0.4%.

As with the Cornish site, this was one trial, on one field and on one farm so we have to be cautious about making full-blown recommendations, but it would appear that 40,000 seeds per acre on marginal sites is about right for most varieties - and please remember - this was in another good year. A much higher seed rate in a year such as 2002 and you will, in all probability, have problems.

The results, however, still leave me with a little query about Destiny and Sapphire. Both of these varieties performed well on all three sowing rates - especially at 43,000 seeds per acre and, as such, there is a thought in my mind that suggests that when the chips are down and conditions are '"difficult", these two might have the ability to really show what they can do. However, one set of trials etc., etc. - the jury's still out on that one!! Mole Valley Farmers site, Bridgwater:

This is a most favourable site where 22 varieties were initially drilled on May 26 at 42,000 seeds per acre following first cut silage. An early-ish harvest is essential due to a peaty soil on the Somerset levels. Nine named and/or numbered varieties were subsequently discarded at harvest as being totally unsuitable to market in the area leaving 13 varieties to record.

Dry Matters ranged from Kingdom at 35.3% to KXA4012 and Fergus at 26.10% and 26.2% respectively. Starch levels ranged from Kingdom at 38.6% to Fergus and Aurelia at 22.3% and 22.5%. Dry Matter Yields ranged from Fabius at 9.519 tonnes per acre down to Revolver at 6.322 tonnes per acre.

Starch yields ranged from Kingdom at 3.379 tonnes per acre to Fergus at 1.706 tonnes per acre. Of the 13 varieties recorded, only seven achieved dry matters of 30% or above with eight varieties achieving starch levels of 30% plus.

Despite this being a favourable site and a good year, it was the early maturing material that provided both dry matter and starch levels in excess of 30% - the later material, i.e., maturity class six and below providing the bulk, but not the quality. Pearce Seeds Site, Rosedown, Dorset:

This is an intermediate site where 15 varieties were drilled at 45,000 seeds per acre on May 6, and harvested on October 8.

Dry Matters ranged from Destiny at 35.9% to Expert at 25%. Starch levels ranged from Destiny at 40.3% to Eisenhower at 20.5%.

Dry Matter yields ranged from Destiny at 6.850 tonnes per acre to Camelot at 5.430 tonnes per acre. Starch yields ranged from Destiny at 2.80 tonnes per acre down to Expert at 1.30 tonnes per acre.

Of the 15 varieties trialled, only six achieved dry matters in excess of 30%, with seven varieties achieving starch levels of 30% plus and, yet again, it was the early maturing group that performed well, with only NK Bull "bucking the trend" as being the only variety to record a starch level above 30% with its dry matter being below 30%.

Pearce Seeds are obviously delighted with the performance of Destiny this year and Robert Baker points out that it was a variety that they had "earmarked" in trials some years ago. He is also quick to confirm our findings over the performance of the early maturing group of varieties and the increasingly important role they will now play with cross compliance rules.

Well, there you have it, significant to huge differences between top and bottom, but before you reach for the phone and order your maize, can I throw in just another concern of mine. As maize growers, you have all benefitted from three successive years of relatively good growing conditions. You may have forgotten the last really bad year of 2002 - it really was a "baddun".

Do you think that you will get another good year in 2006? I am making no such prophecy - merely to suggest that you assume that you will get a bad year, prepare for a bad year and make your management decisions accordingly - and if, in the end, nature provides you with something a little better than you had budgeted for - that'll be a bonus for you - won't it?

And finally! Although there have been countless articles in the farming press recently, I thought that it might be a good idea just to remind you that it is now illegal to use Atrazine. Please speak to your agronomist for advice on suitable weed control.