Production of maize in Scotland is set to increase substantially during the coming years due to the availability of new varieties developed specifically for Northern Europe conditions, according to Simon Broddle, Forage Manager for Nickerson Direct and one of the UK’s leading forage specialists.

Maize is currently creating enormous interest amongst farmers in Scotland because of its ability to produce very high-quality forage, but knowing how to harness the crop’s considerable potential requires expert knowledge.

Given the right field situation, establishment procedures, growing conditions and subsequent crop management techniques then, yes, good crops of maize can be produced almost anywhere. However, to achieve consistently good performance, particularly in more marginal areas, everything must be exactly right.

Maize is essentially a Mediterranean crop and the older, later-maturing varieties bred for conditions in Central and Southern Europe were often unsuited to our maritime climate, which is why certain parts of the UK have traditionally been ruled out for maize production. Though the crop has been grown fairly widely and successfully in the South West of Scotland where the climate is relatively mild due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, it has been less well suited to conditions in Central and South East Scotland.

The ability to harness the crop’s potential in these regions is being made easier by the latest early-maturing varieties. Varieties supplied by Nickerson Direct in the UK, for example, come from the enormously successful Limagrain Genetics (LG) programmes in France, which is the leading supplier of maize varieties throughout most of Europe's major markets and includes a specific breeding programme for Northern European conditions.

Limagrain has also made a major investment in the study of animal nutrition because understanding how maize silage is utilised by the cow is of fundamental importance in selecting varieties that enhance milk/meat production and help to reduce unit costs of production.  The programme has developed a number of really good new varieties that combine early maturity/harvesting with high yields.

In addition to their significantly higher yields, the new varieties are up to two weeks earlier to mature and have greatly-improved digestibility. The other bonus is that whereas 10 years ago there was a huge difference in the performance of varieties grown under plastic with those in open fields, that difference is now much less. Simplifying the growing technique reduces costs substantially and makes the crop a very much more attractive proposition, not only in terms of cost but also the ease with which it can be produced.

Acclaim is the first of an exciting new generation of 'ultra-early' maize varieties, which growers can use to exploit a short growing season without yield penalty.  Maturity Class 10, it is suitable for marginal sites and is early to harvest, while its high starch content gives excellent feed values and good drymatter yields mean no yield penalty

LG 31.81, first listed in 2010, places the emphasis on whole-plant digestibility.  With superb large cobs, excellent starch content and fast dry-down it is early to harvest, falls into Maturity Class 9, has high drymatter and starch contents, together with excellent early vigour.

Whilst the varieties are now available to make maize a very realistic proposition in Central and South East Scotland, under these more marginal conditions any shortfalls in crop management will be exaggerated and have a disproportionate effect, so there’s no room for short-cuts or compromises. Farmers who are new to growing the crop, or have very little experience of it must therefore seek expert knowledge in order to achieve the best results.

The typical cost of establishing a crop of maize per hectare is:

In terms of establishing the crop the land must be ploughed when conditions are good and then sub-soiled 8"-10" deep to break up the pan and allow the plant roots to get down into the soil. This can be followed by a pass with a crumbler roller, which also acts as a first pass cultivation prior to sowing, while it is essential to ensure that soil pH levels are as close to 6.5 as possible and place fertilizer during drilling.

Establishment is critical, because at around £647.00 per hectare and a further £313.00/ha where plastic is used, maize is not a cheap crop to produce.

IDEAL FOR RUMINANTS
Seed Specialist for Nickerson Direct, Douglas Bonn based in Dunfermline, Fife, who has been at the forefront of developments to increase the forage maize area in Scotland, says that the potential for the crop is enormous.

“You won’t get a better feed for cattle because maize feeds well in almost all circumstances and is perfectly suited to ruminant animals, delivering the energy to feed the whole digestive system, from rumen to hind gut.

“Maize production has traditionally been geared to the dairy sector, because in addition to growing the crop you need the infrastructure to support the crop once it has been harvested. The dairy sector tends to make greater use of mechanised feeding systems and uses maize silage as part of a Total Mixed Ration, but many producers in the beef sector are now looking seriously at it. Whilst in the short-term the dairy sector still has the most potential to benefit from the increased use of maize, I believe that long-term the beef sector will surpass it.

“To date, the uptake of the maize crop in Scotland has been limited because of the cost and complication involved in establishing it under plastic. However, with newer varieties bred specifically for cooler climates now coming on stream the situation is changing fast. I am currently talking to a substantial number of farmers who have never grown maize before but are keen to do so, which leaves me in no doubt that the acreage grown in Scotland will increase substantially during the next year or two. 

“In the on-farm trials which we conducted last year, LG Acclaim achieved a 34.4% starch content, and Justina, the main variety currently grown in Scotland, grown under plastic achieved 21.5%. Acclaim is very early to mature, easily fertilised and produces a good, solid cob which can be harvested at the end of October or in early November.”

“Attention to detail is critical throughout the growing season and if you are going to grow maize you have to grow enough to make a significant difference to the herd’s overall forage requirement, at least 25% - 33%. The acreage also has to be sufficient to make it worthwhile for a contractor to come in to drill and harvest the crop. In some situations it may even be possible to drill maize after a first cut of grass has been taken, but it will require a quick turn-around to get the land ploughed and prepare a seedbed ahead of maize being drilled in May.

“Apart from choosing the right variety to suit the individual farm situation it is also vital to apply sufficient nutrients to satisfy the crop’s demands, achieve the correct soil status and structure, implement a robust crop protection strategy and then have the patience to wait for the crop to dry-down before harvesting.”

Douglas Bonn, Seed Specialist, Nickerson Direct, can be contacted on 01383 413787 or 07933 736212, or email douglas.bonn@nickerson.co.uk