Maize a Harvest 2016

[Whynot]

Anyone started yet?

We're looking to start Monday morning, so will update with some yields/ DM's tomorrow evening.
The last 2 years we have been either side of 20t/ha, which is as good as it gets in our area. Looking at the crops it looks like we might be 10/15% down.

Good luck!!

 

[ollie989898]

First of mine cut Friday. Crops variable, some very good, some other fields poor and weak entirely due to weather and local soil issues- every bit of compaction or panning shows this year.

The mythical eyespot storm did not appear, very low levels in crops about the place, didn't have a single customer apply fungicide for it as none of them wanted to, though I see many crops with self inflicted tramlines in.

 

[sjt01]

One more day's chopping to do on our own. Then to a customer's.
19 Sept cut Kaspian drilled 4 May 36%DM
20 Sept cut Emmerson drilled 3 May 35%DM
21 Sept cut Glory drilled 5 May 31% DM
22 Sept cut Glory drilled 13 May 29% DM
24 Sept cut Ambition drilled 8 May 34% DM
Got some Emblem and mid June drilled Kaspian to cut, Kaspian already fit to cut.
Yields average to good, very dependent on establishment conditions and massively showing up compaction.
Maturity groups all collapsed up into a week's cutting this year. We normally stop for a few days to get our winter barley and grass leys drilled, no time for that this year.
Stephen

 

[ollie989898]

One more day's chopping to do on our own. Then to a customer's.
19 Sept cut Kaspian drilled 4 May 36%DM
20 Sept cut Emmerson drilled 3 May 35%DM
21 Sept cut Glory drilled 5 May 31% DM
22 Sept cut Glory drilled 13 May 29% DM
24 Sept cut Ambition drilled 8 May 34% DM
Got some Emblem and mid June drilled Kaspian to cut, Kaspian already fit to cut.
Yields average to good, very dependent on establishment conditions and massively showing up compaction.
Maturity groups all collapsed up into a week's cutting this year. We normally stop for a few days to get our winter barley and grass leys drilled, no time for that this year.
Stephen

Emmerson and Glory, forget the rest.

 

[joe soapy]

local shoot filled ours up with birds, our little syndicate want us to wait till the season opens

 

[sjt01]

Emmerson and Glory, forget the rest.

Glory disappointing this year compared to previous. Not sure that Emmerson (gp12) offers much over Kaspian (gp13) apart from a closed sheath and less fungal attack on cobs.
Ambition our best, followed probably by Emblem (will cut that today)
Stephen

 

[ollie989898]

Glory disappointing this year compared to previous. Not sure that Emmerson (gp12) offers much over Kaspian (gp13) apart from a closed sheath and less fungal attack on cobs.
Ambition our best, followed probably by Emblem (will cut that today)
Stephen

Kaspian is way outclassed these days and will disappear before long, same as activate, both poofy little plants that are just starch on sticks.

Emmerson is slightly earlier than glory but is less showy, definitely delivers the goods though.

Got varying amounts of Glory, Emmerson, Augustus etc in the ground, seems to be more demand for earlier stuff but I still like Severus because it has such good vigour and will stick some punishment which is near par for the course in my region.

Probably a different game in your part of the world.

Don't know what you think of the Pioneer varieties, all uselessly late here.

 

[sjt01]

Don't look at Pioneer as they don't put anything into the trials, so no comparative data in the MGA varieties book or the NIAB list.
Emblem yielded well again, about 6 trailer loads more than expected off 18 acres.
What part of the world are you in?
Stephen

 

[ollie989898]

Don't look at Pioneer as they don't put anything into the trials, so no comparative data in the MGA varieties book or the NIAB list.
Emblem yielded well again, about 6 trailer loads more than expected off 18 acres.
What part of the world are you in?
Stephen

Somerset. The high ground above the swamp bit.

 

[More to life]

Kaspian is way outclassed these days and will disappear before long, same as activate, both poofy little plants that are just starch on sticks.

Emmerson is slightly earlier than glory but is less showy, definitely delivers the goods though.

Got varying amounts of Glory, Emmerson, Augustus etc in the ground, seems to be more demand for earlier stuff but I still like Severus because it has such good vigour and will stick some punishment which is near par for the course in my region.

Probably a different game in your part of the world.

Don't know what you think of the Pioneer varieties, all uselessly late here.

I'm a long time grower of kaspian and I take your point,I also grow some Keen what's your view on that.

 

[ollie989898]

I'm a long time grower of kaspian and I take your point,I also grow some Keen what's your view on that.

Its ok. But then are so many maize varieties which are 'ok'. If you can buy it dirt cheap, fair enough, but it's not with the front runners these days.

 

[Whynot]

Had yields of up to 20t/acre @ 32.5%DM on some lovely Maize ground, variety Aasgard.
Have also had some poor crops which are 20% below. Most of the differences seem to be due to compaction/marginal Maize ground.
2 days in, just completed 180 acres. 640ac left, hoping for a dry week!!

DM's seem perfect,29-33.6% so far, hoping to start drilling Maize ground in the morning.

 

[sjt01]

We spend a long while discussing varieties, but tend to forget that the main differences in maize yields are not variety, but weather, establishment, weed control, fertiliser and this year in particular, compaction. Variety is only a minor component, and we find that some varieties do us well on our outlying land which is reasonable wheat land, but do not do well at all at home, only barley land. Thats only about 3 miles by road.

Stephen

 

[Baling Hay]

We spend a long while discussing varieties, but tend to forget that the main differences in maize yields are not variety, but weather, establishment, weed control, fertiliser and this year in particular, compaction. Variety is only a minor component, and we find that some varieties do us well on our outlying land which is reasonable wheat land, but do not do well at all at home, only barley land. Thats only about 3 miles by road.

Stephen

What was your establishment method?

 

[sjt01]

What was your establishment method?

We strip till into barley and bean stubbles, but plough and power harrow behind beet as there is no soil structure left on the surface. We use a Duro 4 leg strip till with a Monosem drill behind it - one pass establishment.

On Tuesday harvested Kaspian drilled after wholecrop in mid-June, already over 27% dm. Yields almost as good as the earlier drilled crop. Best variety this year was Ambition.

Stephen

 

[Whynot]

DMs all in the 30-35% range. Over 300ha clamped so far, with 4 main varieties spread over 7 different farmers and lots of different soil types.
Very hard to pick out varietal differences. As usual, conditions at drilling and SOIL TYPE seem the main drivers.
Yields varied from 33-52t/ha, when adjusted to 32%DM.
Should be finished tomorrow. Not looking forward to covering clamps over..........