Maize 2023

[ollie989898]

When the bottom set or two of leaves are dying back nicely that's when you want to harvest is what I've always thought

Grab hold of a stem, bend it over 12 inches off the ground and twist. See what juice comes out.

 

[Moors Farmer]

Alternatively you could cut a plant or two at your preferred cutting height) chop them up (as I recall you need just over two) - weigh a kilo of the chopped stuff, stick it in suitable container and bang it in the bottom oven of your Aga/Rayburn for several days, weighing daily until it doesn't change. That will tell you the dry matter percentage.
Process can be sped up by microwaving - but be aware it becomes flammable quite quickly.

I used to do our stmr regularly as a method of estimating dry matter intakes.

 

[lazy farmer]

Grab hold of a stem, bend it over 12 inches off the ground and twist. See what juice comes out.

Did you not see the pictures ? We don’t even have a fully formed cob at this point. I would be more worried about getting full cob formation and it ever having time to go hard let alone getting to correct D m f stage.

 

[ollie989898]

Did you not see the pictures ? We don’t even have a fully formed cob at this point. I would be more worried about getting full cob formation and it ever having time to go hard let alone getting to correct D m f stage.

Think positive.

 

[lazy farmer]

Think positive.

I prefer realistic
Less chance of being disappointed with the potential for a little upside.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Think positive.

It’s far from a failed crop, at the least he will have a clamp full of silage to fill their bellies, and whilst I don’t follow the wheat prices very closely, I do know they’re down considerably on last year so the starch content could be made up with wheat.
One things for sure, I’d rather have plenty of forage to last the winter even if sub optimal quality than some perfect quality in short supply

 

[ollie989898]

It’s far from a failed crop, at the least he will have a clamp full of silage to fill their bellies, and whilst I don’t follow the wheat prices very closely, I do know they’re down considerably on last year so the starch content could be made up with wheat.
One things for sure, I’d rather have plenty of forage to last the winter even if sub optimal quality than some perfect quality in short supply

Exactly- the crop might have a lower than expected starch percentage, but it will still have the forage/bulk to feed. A nip of extra starch isn't difficult to put into a diet.

 

[ollie989898]

I prefer realistic
Less chance of being disappointed with the potential for a little upside.

There is nutrition in the plant besides the bit in the cob.

 

[Fedupfarmer]

I’m with Lazy on this one the Point of growing Maize is for the starch content .I’ve had years where it’s failed to ripen and it’s not a good feed.

 

[Keep On]

Be fine and too late to worry yourself about it now anyway

 

[sjt01]

When the bottom set or two of leaves are dying back nicely that's when you want to harvest is what I've always thought

With today's stay green varieties, it is more important to look at the cobs, look in the middle of the cobs at the maize pips, the fingernail test tells all. Lots of companies do a version of this

and testing the pip with a fingernail. We are at the Doughy/milky stage and with the current weather are planning to cut at the end of next week. We are prepared to cut at minimum 28 DM but would much prefer 30-35%.
Remember half the yield is in the cob

 

[ollie989898]

I’m with Lazy on this one the Point of growing Maize is for the starch content .I’ve had years where it’s failed to ripen and it’s not a good feed.

If all your are worried about is starch you may as well grow wholecrop cereals which are cut off in July.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

We have a little wood chipper that we can put a few stalks through then koster test for DM. Just to give the chopper guy a better idea of time. JD moisture meters are incredibly accurate

Looking at the ear will tell you a lot but many of these visual indicators can fool you. My preference is 32% DM but anywhere between 32-38 is fine. Above all else we prioritize dry matter.

 

[ollie989898]

We have a little wood chipper that we can put a few stalks through then koster test for DM. Just to give the chopper guy a better idea of time. JD moisture meters are incredibly accurate

Looking at the ear will tell you a lot but many of these visual indicators can fool you. My preference is 32% DM but anywhere between 32-38 is fine. Above all else we prioritize dry matter.

Has to be dry or it just turns highly acid and stings the cows.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Has to be dry or it just turns highly acid and stings the cows.

Butrytic fermentation is a possibility and all the effluent.

Weather is god though, have to take what you can get sometimes.

 

[Keep On]

Yeah cos we have only just been discussing his debt levels.

And milk price and and and. The point is fear mongering achieves nothing

 

[Will Blackburn]

And milk price and and and. The point is fear mongering achieves nothing

But, buying expensive heifers, growing immature maize, having a major issue with an important supplier, having back trouble, and working all hours with a low milk price, could break someone.
It is important to be defensive business wise and focus on optimising decisions. Getting forage right is the first on the list.

 

[farmertom]

Has anyone heard any standing maize prices this year or seen any sold at auction?

 

[jerseycowsman]

The worst that will happen is that he has to harvest it a bit green. Which the bulk of dairy farmers don't seem at all bothered by. One judges if their maize is fit or not by watching to see if a forager appears in next doors crop. I bet the stem on all these crops is wringing with juice in 2 weeks time and no one will bat an eyelid.

I was reading an advisor says cutting it green still brings the best balance between still getting energy from the green and starch from the cob. Plus when it goes too dead you run the risk of mycotoxins?

 

[frederick]

And milk price and and and. The point is fear mongering achieves nothing

No. However @ no point would @Jdunn55 have a freshly calved potential 50 litre cow and decide just to leave the calf on her and not milk her for the first 10 days.

I know the spring was tricky but he had a field ready for maize and just did not drill it until very late.

The two things are the same if you ask me. The maize is probably the more risky.