MGA NEWSLETTER

www.maizegrowersassociation.co.uk

JANUARY 2004

 

Hall Farm, Arborfield, Reading, Berks. RG2 9HX.  Tel: 01189 761276  Fax: 01189 761451  E-mail: mga1@globalnet.co.uk

MGA TIMES

 
 


Annual MGA Conference 2004

 

Maize for progressive livestock systems

Incorporating a visit to Elkstone Farm

 

 

Wednesday 25th February, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester

 

Following on from the success of the combined ‘theory and practice’ format of last year’s conference, we have organised this years event along the same lines with a full and varied morning programme dealing with technical and practical aspects of maize ­and complimentary forages, with the incorporation of an afternoon farm walk to promote practical discussion.

 

Subjects range from profitable dairy systems and maize harvesting and ensiling techniques, to life without Atrazine, implications of soil management regulations and full details of MGA research results from Simon Draper.  We will also bring you the latest developments in feeding wholecrop wheat to dairy cows.

 

Members are sure to find the farm tour stimulating.  Elkstone Farm stands at 850 feet and the herd comprises 300 Holstein Friesians, yielding 9,000 litres from diets based on maize, wholecrop wheat and grass silages.

 

The full programme and booking form is enclosed.

For the first time last year we opened the annual conference to non-members, this enabled members to ‘bring a friend’ - the same applies this year.  A higher fee is payable for non-members but this will be discounted from a year’s membership subscription if they join on the day. 

Welcome to the first MGA Times and mailing of 2004 including: -

 

·          My Variety Choice

Simon Draper

·          Maize Conference Programme & application form

·          Wholecrop Conference Programme and application form

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

MGA Wholecrop Conference

Wednesday 11th February

Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Perth

Full details of the 2004 MGA Wholecrop Conference, which aims to demonstrate the very latest research with alternative forages and examine how they are already being utilised on some Scottish farms, are enclosed.

 

This years Conference is kindly supported by Bank of Scotland, Harbro, MDC and Volac. 

 

 
 
 


 

 

 


Make the most of your Variety Booklet

The 2004 MGA Recommended First Choice Forage Maize Variety Booklet was sent to members just before Christmas.  Containing NIAB variety trial results, listed by ME yield value, the booklet is designed to guide members through the minefield of variety selection (Simon gives his views in the enclosed note). 

 

This year’s booklet also includes our ‘3 step guide to harvesting a crop to suit your farming system’ in an effort to help ascertain whether you should be aiming for a ‘bulk’ or ‘high starch’ crop.  We hope you are finding your booklets useful - please let us know if you have any comments. 

 

 

 

New for 2004

Agronomy Trials

MGA will be undertaking a series of agronomy small plot trials, which will be explained in detail by Simon at the MGA Annual Conference on the 25th February. Topics to be investigated include life after Atrazine; determining the best growing methods to achieve an early harvested maize crop; the effect of N on the maturity of maize; use of seed dressings and the effect of plant loss on the yield of forage maize.

If you have any ideas for a maize trial that you would like to see carried out, please let us know.

 

Maize Growers Guide

We are currently in the process of updating the MGA’s Maize Growers Guide, which will be sent to members in time for this coming   season.   The guide    is 

 

comprehensive and details all aspects of maize production from establishment to ensiling, based on the results of the many independent, replicated trials carried out by the MGA over the years.  It is being produced in an updateable file format to enable members to add information on particular topics (e.g. Atrazine), which will be sent to you throughout the season.

 

 

 

Items of interest from fellow members:

Matrot 6-row Steerage Maize Hoe (30" rows) for sale.

Hydraulic folding, electro-hydraulic steering, very robust machine, unused.  Please contact Richard Whitman for further details on 020 8363 4359 or 07956 522797.

(Our Treasurer has suggested a small donation of £10 to be paid, via the MGA Office, to the farming charity RABI for the mention of members ‘items of interest’ in the MGA Times).