Incorporating maize into your crop rotation provides several advantages, including reduced input costs, decreased nitrogen requirements, and the opportunity to implement minimal tillage practices.
These benefits contribute to a more sustainable agricultural system while enhancing versatility in crop utilisation.
Feed
Maize offers high levels of starch, energy and other intake characteristics that allow for a higher dry matter yield potential for ruminant animals. Varieties can also be selected on their cell wall digestibility, ME yield and starch yield, which are also very useful metrics when planning ruminant diets. Furthermore, maize offer a sustainable food source within the livestock and biogas sectors, requiring low inputs and minimal tillage when drilling.
It is also worth considering using inoculation products when ensiling maize for feed to reduce wastage. Other things to consider when ensiling the maize include filling the clamp quickly, ensuring it is sealed thoroughly to allow the anaerobic process to happen and run off tanks are in place to prevent run off into watercourses.
Biogas (AD)
The growing of maize for AD plants has grown in popularity, due to Renewable heat incentive schemes which have grown largely in the UK. As AD plants require high output feed stock, maize fits well into this category, with high dry matter yield potential and low cost per tonne to grow, compared with alternative feed stock options. Generally, this means that farmers without the infrastructure of a silage clamp etc. still have the ability to grow maize without additional investment, with clamps being located at the AD site. This is a great way to add a different crop into the rotation, without needing additional storage capacity on farm.
Grain
Grain maize is typically harvested three to five weeks after forage maize, allowing the grain to dry out before being harvested through a maize combine header as apposed to a forager. When picking grain maize it is therefore essential to look at early maturing varieties as well as grain yield and standing ability, due to longer periods in the field. The corn will then go through a milling or crimping process, before being used as feed. Grain maize offers higher metabolisable energy, crude protein dry matter and starch for ruminant animals.
Unlock Your Farm’s Potential with ADM Agriculture Seed Varieties
At ADM Agriculture, we understand that quality seeds are the foundation of a successful harvest. Our premium seed varieties are carefully selected and rigorously tested to ensure optimal performance, high yields, and resilience in diverse growing conditions.
Browse our Maize Guide for more information about the Maize varieties we have on offer, or speak to your ADM Agriculture Farm Trader.
For new enquiries call our friendly team on 01427 421200 or email enquiries.adm.agriculture@adm.com
