Displaying items by tag: maize

With developments in forage maize growing over the last decade – genetics to improve yields, pest resistance and reducing days to maturity – the arrival of a new planting concept looks to give maize growers another option.

Since the introduction of Pioneer's New Zealand silage trial programme in 1991, silage yields have increased by an average of 310 kgDM/ha/year.

Maize silage has long been critical to livestock farmers' conservation choice for winter feed, so it's no surprise to see harvester manufacturers looking at new ways to make the crop more productive.

The challenging milk payout will have many farmers scrutinising budgets for ways to reduce spending.

The latest Pioneer brand ‘Maize for Silage 2015-16’ catalogue gives average estimated growing costs for maize silage planted in high fertility or low fertility paddocks (Table 1).

One of the biggest recent advances in maize agronomy has been the growing of maize crops under film using the SAMCO System. 

Last month saw the release of the 2013-14 DairyNZ Economic Survey, which contains a wealth of data on the average physical and financial performance of 301 randomly selected owner-operator herds during the 2013-14 season. 

Each year, from about this time until the end of June, I am often asked to help interpret the results of maize silage feed analyses. 

Many farmers are now facing hefty onfarm challenges. While the low milksolids payout is influencing cashflow and profitability, dry conditions are starting to limit pasture growth and milk flows in many key dairy regions. 

There is an old saying which states “prior planning prevents poor performance”.