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
Key maize growing issues
Friday, April 4, 2014
Simon Draper gives us an update on maize growing issues this year, including whether to plough or not, what sprays are available, seed rates and fertiliser requirements.
MGA Weed Star Chart 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Simon Draper has updated the MGA weed star chart, which is included in the mailing, its a very useful, easy to use guide.
Weed control in maize 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Maize drilling has been moving on a pace and with the slightly warmer temperatures in some parts of the country; maize has already germinated and has reached the 1 - 2 leaf stage.
Get out and take a look!
Maize under plastic in South Devon
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
A visit to Graeme and brother Patrick Cocks farm nr Ashburton in Devon confirmed one of the key benefits of establishing maize under plastic.
Graeme and his team were cultivating and drilling maize on the April 5th being able to take advantage of the dry if not cold conditions to get crops in the ground almost a month before many would consider establishing maize without film cover.
Drilling maize this spring
Monday, March 25, 2013
As you all know maize does not like compaction of any sort and so it is going to be a challenge to try and get a reasonable growing medium in many fields. This technical note will, hopefully give you some ideas as to how to go about producing a viable seedbed for this year’s crop. Finally, a word of caution as each field should be treated individually, please take the enclosed suggestions as general rather than definitive advice.
Costs of forage production
Monday, March 25, 2013
John Morgan has updated the costs of forage production for grazed grass, grass silage, maize wholecrop, fodder beet kale and Italian ryegrass.
Lessons learnt from 2012
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
John Morgan reviews the maize season of 2012 and discusses the lessons we can learn from a bad maize growing year.
Nitrogen Predictor form
Monday, January 14, 2013
Variety choice made, the next thing on the maize 2012 list will be how much fertiliser will the crop need? With this in mind, we would encourage members to use the MGA Nitrogen Predictor to calculate their bagged fertiliser nitrogen requirements.
The Nitrogen predictor, originally designed ten or so years ago takes into account location, soil conditions, target drilling and harvest dates, as well as the nutrient content of any manures applied, to come up with a bagged nitrogen requirement for the crop. The predictor is well proven over time, with farmer feedback over the years being used to update the original research based systems.
The predictor has also been used by farmers to justify their nitrogen applications to NVZ inspectors and therefore, goes some way to meet the NVZ record keeping requirements. Fill in and return the enclosed N predictor input form to get the ball rolling.
Irish Recommended Forage Maize Variety List 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
The 2012 Irish Recommended Forage Maize Variety List provides independent guidance on variety choice for maize grown with and without plastic. The list should form a key part of UK growers variety choice for 2013 as no maize independent under plastic variety trials are undertaken here.
Harvesting maize in a difficult season
Monday, October 22, 2012
Maize in the drier and warmer eastern half of the country is generally average /good and harvest is now underway. In the west a different story has developed, with many crops having struggled for a multitude of reasons from drilling.
With such a contrast in conditions and crop growth stage, working out the right date for harvest will be very difficult. This task will be particularly difficult for growers with stunted crops, which may or may not have a viable cob.
The good news is that the warmer weather of September has advanced crop maturity in all areas and even many of those with stunted crops now have cobs, which given time will lay down starch. Ironically if the starch is laid down in these stunted crops, then overall maize quality could be good. Yields will of course be down considerably.
The advice here is to 'wait as long as you dare' to ensure that the cobs have as much starch in as possible. That said, it cannot be forgotten that delaying harvest is not generally a good idea, as poor harvest conditions and frost can cause as much of a yield loss as is trying to be gained by delaying the harvest for maximum starch yield.
Maize crops turning yellow?
Friday, August 10, 2012
How much maize have I got
Saturday, July 7, 2012
John Morgan has produced a "guide" to working out what yield to expect from your maize this year. This involves counting plants and estimating the yield.
Maize and the weather in 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Simon Draper gives us some useful advice on what to do and expect from the maize this year.
How much maize have I got?
Saturday, July 7, 2012
The cold and wet weather during the spring and summer has put many maize crops under pressure with concerns now being raised as to the yield and quality of the forage that will be harvested. With options of home grown or even purchased wholecrop still available now is the time to work out where you stand.
How much maize will I get?
This year’s maize yields are under threat due to the cold and wet conditions. Early drilled maize, where it got away before the rain, has to a large extent stalled. That drilled early into soils that have subsequently capped has struggled to breakthrough with plant populations severely hit in some cases. Later drilled maize has avoided the early pitfalls but it is also struggling to grow in far from ideal conditions. All the above will at best delay maize harvest but in many cases will also impact on crop yield.
Maize not germinating - time to panic?
Thursday, May 3, 2012
With a lot maize drilled into the good conditions in early April and with the following wet and cold weather, the maize unsurprisingly is very slow to get going.
Simon Draper gives us some useful advice for drilling in these wet conditions.
Cold & Wet - Ideal conditions for maize?
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Simon Draper talks about the conditions this spring and gives advice on what we should be doing, whether we have already drilled or are waiting for conditions to improve.
MGA Herbicide Guide 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Each year Simon Draper updates the popular herbicide star chart. This chart lists all the relevant sprays used in the control of weeds and their effectiveness in controlling the most common grass and broad leaved weeds found in maize crops.
Early drilling in 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Simon gives us some useful tips for earluy planting of maize this year.
MGA Conference - Agrinexus Ltd: Crop and Condition Specific Forage Inoculants
Friday, March 16, 2012
Andrew May from Agrinexus talks about crop and condition specific forage inoculants Lactisil and silosolve brands
MGA Conference - Envirosystems: Back to Basics
Friday, March 16, 2012
Liz Russell from Envirosystems discusses a whole farm approach to growing your profit from every litre of slurry
MGA Conference - Plantsyence: Advance66
Friday, March 16, 2012
Edmund Stevens of Plantsyence talks about Advance66 and the importance of Phosphorous for a good maize crop.
MGA Conference - Syngenta: weed control
Friday, March 16, 2012
Gary Jobling from Syngenta discusses the importance of early season weed control for increasing yield potential.
MGA Conference - Grainseed Ltd: fertilisers
Friday, March 16, 2012
Neil Groom of Grainseed Ltd talks about the different options available from his firm for fertilisers.
Results of the Grain Maize Trials 2008-11 published
Friday, March 16, 2012
Click to see full results of all varieties.
Growing Maize for Bioenergy
Friday, March 2, 2012
John Burgess from KWS gives us an objective view on the maize crop options, be they breeding, agronomy and or quality for biogas production in the UK.
Maize within my low cost milk production system
Friday, March 2, 2012
Gavin Fowler ( 2011 Dairy Farmer of the Year, Farmers Weekly) explains his farming system and how maize continues to play an important role on his North Devon farm.
MGA Herbicide Trial Research results 2011
Friday, March 2, 2012
Simon Draper reports on the herbicide trials done by the MGA in 2011.
MGA Research 2011 - Cultivation options, maize cut at different heights, organic manures.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Neil Groom from Grainseeds organised the trials that included cultivation options and fuel costs, the quality of maize cut at different heights and organic manures on growing crops. His report is included in the agronomy section and environment.
MGA 1st choice varieties for less favourable sites
Friday, December 23, 2011
MGA 1st choice varieties for favourable sites
Friday, December 23, 2011
Variety data is this year presented in a Favourable and non Favourable site list. Data is generated from the independent NIAB trials programme supported by the British Society of Plant Breeders and the MGA. Only first choice varieties are listed in the MGA tables.
2011 Northan Irish Maize Variety List (includes plastic)
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Northern Irish Maize Variety list is a must read document for those growing maize with or without plastic in marginal areas.
2011 Southern Irish Maize Variety List (includes plastic)
Friday, December 2, 2011
The southern Irish Recommended Maize Variety List includes data on varieties grown with an without plastic and should prove invaluable for those choosing varieties in marginal areas.
Organic Maize growing guide
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The MGA have produced an Organic maize growers guide. There are several members successfully growing maize organically.
The Economics of Maize under plastic
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
John Morgan reviews the current economics of maize grown under plastic. He looks at research work done in Ireland and Northern Ireland and compares the costs and benefits of maize with and without plastic.
Harvesting maize in wet conditions.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Simon Draper advises members on how to safely harvest maize in wet conditions and prevent soil erosion and run off.
Maize Ready to Go?
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Maize harvest is upon us, some MGA members have already harvested this year's maize crop, but many farmers are still waiting for the cobs to ripen. Chris Savery gives members some excellent advice on dry matter, clamping and sheeting down the maize to get the best from what has been a difficult year for many maize growers.
Maize Under Plastic -
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
John Morgans presentation at Marginal Maize Meeting, 20/9/2011
2011 Maize Variety Booklet/List
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Guidance on variety choice including MGA Variety selector.
MGA Harvest Guide 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
An updated guide to maize harvesting in 2011 Includes: Dry matter at harvest, chop length, additives, salt, filling and sheeting the pit, post harvest cultivations, mycotoxins and control of eyespot, biogas maize, grain maize and corn cob mix.
Post emergence weed control 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Useful tips for controlling weeds in this dry spring.
Weed Star Guide 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Guide to spray options and what to choose for what weed.
Dry weather and drilling
Friday, April 1, 2011
Simon Draper has given some useful tips for drilling maize in these dry conditions.
MGA Conference Papers 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Full copy of the 2011 MGA conference held at Harper Adams University College in February 2011
- Crimped maize grain for finishing beef cattle - Simon Marsh
- Grain maize opportunities - Alistair House
- MGA Research results - Simon Draper - Cultivation, starter fertiliser, drilling dates,seed size and dressings, variety type, slurry, nitrogen, foliar feeds, herbicides, pastic
- Maize growing in Germany
- Anaerobic digestion on my farm - Stephen Temple
Corn Borer Identified in South West England
Friday, August 20, 2010
Following a postive identification of Eurpoean Corn Borer damage in the south west during 2010. This update was mailed to members.
Stoke Bardolf Energy Crop AD (Anaerobic Digestion) - Biogas
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Biogas plant operator, MGA member and past MGA chairman John Jackson reviews the Severn Trent 2 MWe Energy Crop Digester
Storing and clamp management for maize
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Chris Savery talks through good clamp management.
Rat Problems in Maize
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Members will we hope, remember a recent request to take part on what is thought to be the first ever national study focusing on rat problems associated with maize. The study coordinated via BASF Pest Control Solutions has come up with both expected and surprising conclusions.
Post emergence weed control
Friday, May 21, 2010
Simon Draper advises members on the correct use of herbicides.
Herbicide Star Guide
Friday, May 21, 2010
A useful guide to the best hebicide to use on specific weed problems.
