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Be Patient – Farmers Visiting SAC Forage Maize Trials to be Warned Against Harvesting Early

SAC News Release Ref. No: 10N77
Published: 28 Sep 2010

Scottish dairy cows can look forward to a good breakfast of corn on the cob this winter. The maize crops on SAC’s Crichton Royal Farm are filling out well after an excellent growing season. However, Hugh McClymont, Farms Managers at SAC’s Crichton Royal Farm, will tell those attending an open day on Thursday 7th October to be patient and not rush to get their maize harvested.

“Our cobs could still do with another couple of weeks to fill out yet. We feed maize because of the starch and energy it provides, so there is no point cutting the crop too early. Last year bad weather delayed our own harvest until November but the maize still kept the cows productive through the winter. Don’t spoil your own crop by cutting too early”.

An increasing number of dairy farmers are now growing maize, once a crop only grown in hot countries. New varieties have made all the difference, especially as forage maize is cut green at harvest time and not golden like supermarket sweet corn. At the Crichton event visitors can see many varieties on show each bred to suite conditions in northern latitudes.

Some varieties are grown under plastic, others are grown conventionally. On over 40 plots farmers can see the different varieties, growing methods and treatments. They can use the afternoon to assess which would suit their own conditions best. 

“This year in Dumfriesshire we had great conditions at planting time with a good May and June”, says Hugh McClymont,” the crop got established well and grew away. It was able to cope with the wet weather in July. It’s hard to think there was virtually no maize growing in this area fifteen years ago”.  

Today there is even the potential to double production. Among the morning technical presentations will be one from Neil Groom of seed company Grainseed. In looking at the future for forage maize he will explain work on encouraging two cobs to grow per plant instead of one.  SAC dairy expert Derek Kennedy will outline how to get the best milk production from a forage maize ration. John Morgan of the Maize Growers Association is travelling from Devon to attend the Crichton event and will describe how his members benefit from the kind of research carried out by SAC.

Sponsored by Aspatria farmers, Grainseed, Limagrain and South West Seeds the event begins at 11.00 am and finishes at 3.00pm . It includes lunch. Those planning to attend are asked to contact 01387 264890 or hugh.mcclymony@sac.couk to help those arranging the catering. 

For further information visit our Forage Maize 2010 event page.

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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