Agronomy
Growing economical and environmentally sustainable yields of top quality maize remain a key requirement of growers be that for grain, silage or biogas production. MGA Agronomy resources continue to provide technical advice aimed at growing great crops at a cost that ensures members maximise returns. MGA agronomy advice includes information on variety choice, seedbed preparation, weed control and harvest etc. MGA agronomist advice is available free to members.
Resources: Agronomy
Cover crops for water protection
Friday, September 16, 2016
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MGA Introduction
As part of the MGA on-going attempts to further increase the sustainability of maize growing we have asked Tim Stephens of Wessex water to set out and explain the on farm research/demonstration work he and the company are doing.
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Introduction
In response to rising levels of nitrates and pesticides in surface and ground waters, Wessex Water has been working with farmers in high-risk catchments across Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset for the past 11 years. The aim of this is to make sure that drinking water and environmental standards are not breached. A team of Catchment Advisers carry out a range of activities including free soil, water, crop and manure sampling, provision of agronomic advice and in some cases, funding for farmers to adopt practices that improve water quality. Nitrate (N) leaching during the winter period is a major issue across many catchments. One of the most common practices promoted by Wessex Water to reduce this is the growing of cover crops as an alternative to bare overwinter maize or cereal stubbles.
Report on the MGA trip to France
Monday, August 1, 2016
Grower and commercial members teamed up recently to head to Picardy in Northern France with Simon Draper, MGA agronomist, to learn what is new from French researchers and growers.
Attached is a summary of the points picked up by the travellers. We hope the summary proves useful to members and would ask that questions you have be channelled to Simon, via the MGA office.
Maize eyespot in 2016
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
The maize crop is potentially at risk from Maize eyespot, a foliar disease which can desiccate the crop and reduce yields by up to 60% this year. Maize eyespot is noted by the circular lesions on the leaf which can quickly join together to cause death of the whole leaf and eventually the plant. Please see attached note for advice.
MGA Weed Star Chart
Monday, May 16, 2016
Maize weed control 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Normally I would (and still do) recommend a two spray programme for weed control in maize but with the later drillings it is likely that the maize will emerge and grow quickly (unless it is being drilled under cold conditions). if this is the case then a good long lasting pre-emergence may achieve season long control on its own this year.
Maize drilling tips
Monday, April 18, 2016
Now is the time to start thinking about the detail of getting your crops off to a great start. I have, based on experience and the latest MGA trial results, put together my tips for establishing your 2016 maize crops. I hope the year goes well for one and all.
MGA Conference Paper 2016 - John Morgan - The Positives, Challenges and Best Practice of Growing one of the Worlds Most Popular Crops
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
John Morgan's paper to the February 2016 MGA conference in Peterborough.
MGA Conference Paper 2016 - Oliver Knowland - MGA/Future Biogas Research and Development Trials Report
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
MGA council member and Future Biogas consultant Oliver Knowland reviews the Later Maturing Variety, Starter Fertiliser and Foliar Nitrogen Trials carried out with Biogas Production in mind.
MGA Conference Paper 2016 - Neil Groom - MGA Research Results Review - Sulphur for Maize and Maize Under Film Variety Trial
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Neil Grooms review of two MGA Research Projects presented to the February MGA Conference in Peterborough. Sulphur for Maize and Maize Under Film Variety Trials.
MGA Conference Paper 2016 - Tim Charmen - Perspectives on Soil Management of Maize
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Tim Charmen's Paper to the February 2016 MGA Conference in Peterborough
MGA Conference 2016 Paper - Joe Foot - Why we farm the way we do?
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Dorset farmer Joe Foot outlines the key elements of the maize growing on the family farm.
MGA Conference Paper (written text) 2016 - Bridget Lynch - Agronomy and Dairy Nutrition Research Trial Update
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Bridget Lynch from University College Dublin, Lyons Research Farm's paper to the MGA conference in Peterb0rough during February 2016
MGA Conference Paper 2016 - Philip White, Trace Element Nutrition of Maize
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Philip White, from The James Hutton Institute's paper to the 2016 MGA Conference in Peterborough
2016 BSPB/NIAB/MGA First and Second Choice Maize Variety List
Monday, February 29, 2016
The table lists all first and seconc choice varities on the BSPB/NIAB descriptive list
Choosing the correct forage maize variety for your farm
Thursday, February 11, 2016
MGA Sulphur trial report
Friday, January 22, 2016
In order to fill in the sulphur knowledge gaps for maize, three years ago the MGA set off on a small plot research program to quantify any impact of applying sulphur to the growing crop. The aim of this research review is to set out what we have done and the results thrown up.
MGA Site and Maturity Group Selector
Friday, January 22, 2016
It is said that we often need to be told something three times before we listen and it is with this thought in mind that I once again want to talk a little bit about what the MGA council feel is very important for the future of the crop. Please accept my apologies if you have already got the message. I most certainly do not want to teach granny to suck eggs, however I do believe the external pressure on the crop is there and that it is the MGA’s duty to best prepare growers for the challenges ahead. So what is the message? Put simply, soil erosion from maize stubble or any other crop (including grassland) for that matter is unlikely to be tolerated in the future, with penalties, which will be scaled up for repeat offences, deducted from Basic Payment Scheme monies.
MGA Variety booklet 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
The MGA maize under film trials
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
The MGA maize under film trials results have now been finalised and with so much more to learn from this new and exciting work we asked Neil Groom of the MGA council to fill members in on the background story in the hope that it proves useful.
MGA sets out to defend appropriate maize growing
Friday, October 30, 2015
As indicated in the last mailing, the MGA were disappointed, to say the least! in the content of and lack of consultation about the Soil Associations Runaway Maize booklet published in June this year. We were keen to discuss our frustration about the content and scant acknowledgement of work that the MGA and others are doing to address the very real issues identified.
Over a couple of days in late September, John Morgan from the MGA office team took the opportunity to visit both the Soil Association (SA) and National Farmers Union (NFU) to set out our views.
MGA Variety lists for 2016
Friday, October 30, 2015
Key harvest tips for 2015
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Maize harvest will be soon upon us and with this in mind I have taken a look back at previous harvest guides to dig out the some key points to consider.
The recent and largely sensationalist negative publicity put forward by the Soil Association in particular prompts the first focus that being the ongoing and well publicised MGA policy that:
All maize stubbles should be managed to avoid soil and nutrient loss over the winter months.
Basic Payment Scheme Soil Management requirements
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
January 1st 2015 signalled a significant change in Basic payment rules associated with soil management. The new 2015 rules also apply to all agri-environment schemes and the payments received by them.
Changes:
See article attached
MGA Harvest guide
Thursday, August 27, 2015
With harvest activity in mind, we have reviewed and updated where necessary, the MGA Maize Harvesting Guide. We make no apologies for starting this year’s guide with Post Harvest Maize Field Management advice, believing that this area of crop agronomy is vitally important if unhindered maize growing is to continue. As always we would encourage growers to make use of Simon and John to talk through specifics of harvest if required.
MGA Herbicide guide
Monday, May 11, 2015
Sulphur trial results & spray options
Monday, May 11, 2015
Simon Draper summarises the MGA sulphur trial results and also spray options for this year.
Nitrogen timing on maize
Friday, April 17, 2015
In this second technical note focused on the need for sufficient Nitrogen to optimise crop yield, and as a consequence dilute fixed growing costs, John Morgan focuses on the timing of Nitrogen application to maize ground.
Cover crops for maize
Friday, April 17, 2015
The interest in cover crops continues to grow, not least due to the inclusion of oversown grass cover crops as one of the five options to meet the Ecological Focus Area (EFA) requirements for Greening within the Basic Payment Scheme.
Top tips for maize in 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
For those who have still to apply organic manures to their maize ground, there is still time, although the application rates will now need be to relatively low to ensure that when ploughed under a thick, anaerobic decomposing layer of material, giving off excessive amounts of hydrogen sulphide, is not created. Hydrogen Sulphide gas will kill maize roots that are trying to grow, leading to delayed crop development.
Costs of forage production
Friday, April 17, 2015
John Morgan has updated the costs of forage production for 2015
Nitrogen on maize
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
“Maize is Not a Legume” Such a comment is made in response to the commonly held belief that maize has the potential to fulfil its yield potential with little or no applied nitrogen.
Maize does need nitrogen in a similar way to any other, non leguminous crop, yielding similar volumes of dry matter (DM). If the nitrogen requirement is not met, either via the soil, organic manures or inorganic fertiliser then crop DM yield will suffer.
Conference paper - Hans S Ostergaard
Friday, February 27, 2015
Hans gave the conference delegates an update on Danish Maize research, particularly the work on undersowing cover crops and reducing soil nutrient loss.
Conference paper - Professor Mike Wilkinson
Friday, February 27, 2015
Mike talked us through what you need from your maize for the dairy cow and an AD plant.
Conference paper - Mark Wells
Friday, February 27, 2015
Mark (Farm Manager for GEO Gittus) spoke to delegates about Symonds farm in Suffolk, the cropping rotation and how he is getting to grips with eradicating blackgrass.
Conference paper - Jane Thomas
Friday, February 27, 2015
Jane from NIAB talked us through the history of eyespot in maize and the process of testing varieties for their susceptability.
Conference paper - James Bell
Friday, February 27, 2015
James, from Rothamsted Research gave delegates an update on two pests that threaten maize crops. The European Corn Borer and the Western Corn Rootworm.
Conference paper - Simon Draper
Friday, February 27, 2015
Simon updated us on the latest results for the herbicide trials undertaken in 2014 and also explained how the new cross compliance rules will affect maize growers.
Conference paper - Neil Groom
Friday, February 27, 2015
Neil talked about the MGA/SAMCO "maize under plastic film" trials conducted in 2014.
Conference paper - Oliver Knowland
Friday, February 27, 2015
Oliver gave us a summary of the Biogas trials from 2014
John Williams December 2014 Training Day Presentation
Monday, January 5, 2015
John Morgans December 2014 Maize Training Day presentation
Monday, January 5, 2015
MGA Maize Variety Booklet 2015
Monday, December 22, 2014
The New Cross Compliance Rules for Soil
Monday, December 1, 2014
Members will hopefully be aware by now that the green Soil Protection Review (SPR) booklet which has been around since 2010 will no longer be required from January 1st 2015. Before putting it away one last time however, you should note that there is a continuation sheet for the 2014 year, which needs completing before the end of the year.
Autumn Cultivations
Monday, December 1, 2014
For fields destined for maize in 2015, decisions have to be taken as to when and how to cultivate in order to provide the best chance for excellent crop growth.
To make this cultivation decision, the current structure of the soil needs to be investigated via the digging of soil inspection pits (holes) in several spots around the field. Care should be taken when excavating to avoid the spade compacting or smearing the soil to be inspected. Pits should be dug to the depth of the top soil and the un-compacted spade full or “spit” of soil carefully removed for detailed examination.
European Maize - Status of the maize crop around Europe
Monday, December 1, 2014
John Morgan & Simon Draper represented the MGA at the European Maize Meeting in September, here is John's report on the status of the maize crop from participating countries.
How Much is Maize Worth?
Monday, September 29, 2014
One of the most common questions being asked of the office team at the moment involves quantifying the value of maize silage, be that for sale or purchase. The prompts for the questions are varied, although a common theme seems to be the imminent threat/opportunity of an anaerobic digester in the area. We are more than happy to try and answer the questions that are asked and thought it may also be useful to summarise our views on the various options, in the hope that it proves valuable.
European Corn Borer
Thursday, August 28, 2014
A recent request by Dr James Bell, a researcher at Rothamsted Research Association for any information we have about the spread of the European Corn Borer (ECB) during 2014 has reminded us that the warm dry weather we have been experiencing recently, while not good for maize eyespot, which needs wet and cooler conditions to develop, is ideal for the spread of ECB.
The Common Agricultural Policy Reforms
Thursday, August 28, 2014
The reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will bring about change in many areas of farming in 2015. There will be the transfer from the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), with its new Greening rules, as well as changes to Cross Compliance. While the fine details have yet to be finalised we thought it may be useful to have a summary of what we know so far.
The summary has been produced by Laura Gude who works with John at Creedy Associates. The information presented is to the best of our knowledge correct. That said, we would urge you to seek individual advice to clarify the facts as they relate to your business.
Maize eyespot
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
With the window for spraying rapidly closing, (the maize crop being waist high) now is the time to decide whether maize eyespot control should be undertaken.
