UK Growers Expected To Opt For Even Earlier Maize

And, with some crops of mid-maturing and even early and looking unlikely to finish this year, growers will be placing  an ultra early harvest  at the top of their list of priorities next spring.

According to KWS UK maize manager, John Burgess, market research just released by the Kleffmann Group - based on 160,000ha of this season’s crop – shows that the ultra early group is the fastest growing sector.

Leading the way as third most popular variety overall is NIAB Cup winning Kentaurus with just over 14,000 acres about to be cut.

“That’s a very strong showing just two year’s post launch, and we expect this to grow again next year as more farmers gain experience with the variety,” he says.

Despite a flying start, lack of summer sunshine in the western half of the UK means that some crops are three weeks later than normal.

“It is likely that is some northern regions even those varieties with a maturity equivalent to class 10 – an FAO figure of 160 - may not mature fully.  There’s simply not been enough heat to finish the cobs,” he says.

As a result, Mr Burgess predicts that maize varieties with FAO ratings of 190–200 (equivalent to old maturity groups 6 or 7) are unlikely to be popular other than in the south of England. 

“Growers are keen to avoid a repeat scenario and varieties with an FAO rating under 180 (old maturity group 8 or 9) will take the bulk of the market in 2012,” he suggests.

“However, with 5% less maize being grown for seed and some breeders struggling to produce varieties with the right characteristics for ultra early performance, supplies could be limiting.”

Mr Burgess puts Kentaurus’ strong uptake down to its ability to pack in more feed value per tonne, with none of the problems of wet maize, with low feed value.

“Sown relatively late, ultra earlies like Kentaurus are guaranteed to mature, and allow significantly earlier harvesting, to bring forward time to feed out, helping to ease forage shortfalls, particularly from grass silage.

“Indeed, Kentaurus has proven well capable of securing 17.5-18t/ha yields on farm, which is just some 1.5–2.0t/ha behind later material.

“It also ensures that even in difficult regions, growers looking to follow it with a wheat can get the crop in the ground in good time and maximise returns from this crop as well.”

For 2012, KWS UK is also fast tracking two new ultra early varieties. Heading the pack for earliness is FAO 150 rated Ramirez, which is the also top performer in NL trials for feed value.

“Ramirez delivers unrivalled starch (over 40%) and ME contents (11.5-12.0 MJ/kg, ideally suiting high maize inclusion in stock rations of up to 70%,” he says.

“Because it is ultra early and has rapid vigour (rated 8.9), it is a variety to plant early and harvest early wherever you farm, providing an early feedout ahead of main crop varieties.

“Ramirez combines this with a class leading yield and is one of the few ultra-early varieties to exceed 100% of controls.  There is nothing to compare with Ramirez on the market and we are very excited by this variety.”

Second newcomer, Severus, is also in the ultra early category, with a FAO rating of 170.  It produces bulk yields of over 18t/ha DM, with early maturity.

“As a result it is one of the lowest cost per tonne yields in its class.  Add to this a high value starch yield in excess of 7t/ha and Severus has the potential to provide a very high yielding, high value forage,” says Mr Burgess.