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 5^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Variety Choice for Biogas Production

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

John Morgan outlines the factors to take into account when choosing maize varieties for biogas production

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