Combining grain maize
- Thread starter Badshot
- Start date
Excuse me asking but is that due to the economics of the crop or practical reasons.
SRRC
Member
- Location
- West Somerset
My market for the grain is my own pig unit, I'm closing that due to the dire market conditions so no need.
Maize has been a brilliant crop for me, a profitable spring sown break crop that takes lots of slurry and muck. I'd love to keep growing it but can't face the risk of offering it on the open market every year. There are dairy farms and even a digester locally, if one of those was to offer a sustainable deal then perhaps. Crimping and milling make use of the moist grain without needing to dry.
It's worth observing that although there is a substantial market for grain maize in the UK, the vast majority is imported. Typical moisture contents at harvest in northern Europe are 25%+ and whilst drying down to 15% is technically possible the energy cost makes it just too expensive. Southern European crops won't need much drying if at all, North American growers have far far cheaper gas than us so can afford to dry, another example of the competitive harm that the push for "net zero" will inflict on UK agriculture.
Maize has been a brilliant crop for me, a profitable spring sown break crop that takes lots of slurry and muck. I'd love to keep growing it but can't face the risk of offering it on the open market every year. There are dairy farms and even a digester locally, if one of those was to offer a sustainable deal then perhaps. Crimping and milling make use of the moist grain without needing to dry.
It's worth observing that although there is a substantial market for grain maize in the UK, the vast majority is imported. Typical moisture contents at harvest in northern Europe are 25%+ and whilst drying down to 15% is technically possible the energy cost makes it just too expensive. Southern European crops won't need much drying if at all, North American growers have far far cheaper gas than us so can afford to dry, another example of the competitive harm that the push for "net zero" will inflict on UK agriculture.
ZXR17
Member
- Location
- South Dorset
I have a few acres of game maize that still have a lot of good cobs on it and the grain is about 20 % .
Is it possible to cut it with a conventional header and combine , NH CX , or will it cause damage to the drum and concave ?
Is it possible to cut it with a conventional header and combine , NH CX , or will it cause damage to the drum and concave ?
SRRC
Member
- Location
- West Somerset
It'll knacker the knife drive first, otherwise fine!
- Location
- Minehead,Somerset
SRRC
Member
- Location
- West Somerset
If trade comes roaring back we can always restart, although it's going to be a while before that happens.
There's an underlying problem with serious inflation of basic inputs, stuff that doesn't make the headlines like , for example, lysine (a vital nutrient) has almost doubled, that'll add another £15 to the cost of a finished pig.
I'm struggling to see that even in a tight market where that money is coming from.
The biggest blow is losing a good team of skilled people.
- Location
- Minehead,Somerset
That's got to hurt .
ollie989898
Member
If you are combining and then immediately crimping and pitting the grain, surely the thing to do is put a picker header on a forager and just cut it with that? Yes there will be some cob material left in it and some other chaff but a forager will fare better consuming green/damp material and also more adept at dealing with sticky conditions?
SRRC
Member
- Location
- West Somerset
It depends on how you are going to use it. In my case it goes into a wetfeed system to be delivered to the pigs, this really doesn't like any bulky leafy matter. That's why I use the snapper header on a combine to give me pure grain.
If you are feeding to cattle straight from the clamp then a little cob and leaf doesn't matter then what they call Corn Cob Mix done with a forager and snapper header is ideal.
If you are feeding to cattle straight from the clamp then a little cob and leaf doesn't matter then what they call Corn Cob Mix done with a forager and snapper header is ideal.
- Location
- Lorette Manitoba
Ive cut part of a field that was led flat by a wind storm with a regular header. Cut find and no damage but a lot of material going thru. Header was 40 ft so asking a lot. To do a few acres of game cover would be fun and I wouldn’t worry too much.
- Location
- S.E
Yep got 40Ha here
SRRC
Member
- Location
- West Somerset
I have a 6 row JD snapper header for sale, used on a JD 2258 combine.
And a Gruber knife mill, used for milling damp maize grain into a meal suitable for ensiling.
And a Gruber knife mill, used for milling damp maize grain into a meal suitable for ensiling.
I was at a place this week last year in Canada, corn to cut for grain, and the guy was getting concerned about the morning frosts.
Something about the Kernels not ripening properly if they're frosted, if I remember.
The fallback position was to chop it for the cattle.
Something about the Kernels not ripening properly if they're frosted, if I remember.
The fallback position was to chop it for the cattle.