Maize height

[ollie989898]

I dont understand why people scalp maize fields and have mountains of maize they cant sheet properly and moan about starch levels being too low and having to feed more blend to make up for it.

I don't recall anyone I know complaining they had too much maize or could not pit it. They will pit the lot and feed it right through next summer if needs be.

I don't think it will be a year of low starch, hard to say. The cobs I have seen look plenty fit enough and are a good size and fairly uniform.

 

[frederick]

If the stalk is rubbish then why bother growing the crop in the first place? You can buy in starch in dry form for about £160/tonne from the docks at 90% DM. You can grow fibre from grass if needs be if the cob is the sole reason for growing it?

Around here, a tonne of maize could be worth £35/tonne, I'm not sure I would want to be leaving any of it in the field?

When i buy starch i want starch. I wouldnt be happy with wheat with 10% chaff even if it was 10% cheaper.
This year we have the ability to remove some of that chaff from the maize.

Maize with 10% less stalk would be worth more than £35 a ton on a nutritional basis.

 

[ollie989898]

When i buy starch i want starch. I wouldnt be happy with wheat with 10% chaff even if it was 10% cheaper.
This year we have the ability to remove some of that chaff from the maize.

Maize with 10% less stalk would be worth more than £35 a ton on a nutritional basis.

In your view then, anything other than the cob is surplus to requirements?

 

[buffalo_soldier]

In your view then, anything other than the cob is surplus to requirements?

The vast majority of the feed value is in the cob. There is no feed value in the stalk.
In a year of plenty some folks will have the option to lift the header a bit and further enhance the product coming off.

The same principle applies to hi-cut cereals in a whole crop scenario.

 

[ollie989898]

The vast majority of the feed value is in the cob. There is no feed value in the stalk.
In a year of plenty some folks will have the option to lift the header a bit and further enhance the product coming off.

The same principle applies to hi-cut cereals in a whole crop scenario.

So you should be interested in this kind of malarky?

 

[Beef farmer]

So you should be interested in this kind of malarky?

View attachment 588404

Ground ear maize is rocket fuel

 

[ollie989898]

Ground ear maize is rocket fuel

I agree, but I can't convince farmers to leave at least 50% of the biomass they have spent thousands growing in chopped pieces in the field.

 

[Clay52]

I agree, but I can't convince farmers to leave at least 50% of the biomass they have spent thousands growing in chopped pieces in the field.

If doing it that way they have got to look at it as more of a replacement for grain not forage and price it that way.

What’s left in the field Is organic matter and fertilizer for next crop.

 

[holywell farmer]

So you should be interested in this kind of malarky?

View attachment 588404

But rest of plant ends back on the field !

 

[holywell farmer]

People got much more to chop maize wise ?

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

People got much more to chop maize wise ?

Yes all of it, still

 

[Slippery Slope]

Booked in for today. Cloud cover turned to drizzle which turned to rain which turned to heavy rain so stopped but tomorrow doesn't look brilliant and weekend looks worse Only 20 odd acres though. At least its standing not like the straw boys this summer!

 

[Kingofgrass]

Chopped it 9oct (glory) is it any good (ask the experts)

 

[ollie989898]

Glory is an excellent variety. In fact, I would go so far to say as it is probably the best on the list right now.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Yes all of it, still

My advisory team are telling me to go as soon as it dries up now, whether ready or not.

 

[Beef farmer]

My advisory team are telling me to go as soon as it dries up now, whether ready or not.

Your team talk sense.

 

[Ducati899]

My advisory team are telling me to go as soon as it dries up now, whether ready or not.

The best advice is free

 

[Beef farmer]

The best advice is free

Which plank advised him to grow maize that far north? Hope he didn't pay for that..

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Which plank advised him to grow maize that far north? Hope he didn't pay for that..

Unreachable, as out shooting now.

 

[Beef farmer]

Unreachable, as out shooting now.

Will his shooting season finish before you harvest your maize?