Students Evaluate Forage Maize

Forage Maize at Greenmount

By Richard Young, HND Yr1 and Stephen Elliott, BSc Yr1

The Farm Development Centre grows approximately 40 hectares of crops each year, mainly cereals and potatoes. The arable area on the farm is used by students to practise many of the arable skills required by industry. Those with a keen interest can become actively involved through student projects.

Forage maize grown at Greenmount Campus Farm

Objectives

  • Outline the establishment of Maize on the campus farm this year.
  • Evaluate the performance of each field.
  • Evaluate the quality of the ensiled crop.
  • Compare the net margins of maize with other arable crops.

The Benefits Of Growing Forage Maize In Northern Ireland

  • Improved Dry Matter Intakes.
  • Increased Milk Yield And Milk Protein components.
  • High Forage Yield (ton/ha).
  • Reduced Concentrate feeding.
  • Improved Cow health.

Maize Grown at Greenmount

  • 2 Fields Grown (7.8ha).
  • One Field “Goldclamp”.
  • One Field “Justina” and “PR39G12”.
  • Planted 6 April 2007.
  • Problems with late Frost.

Planting using plastic mulch

Maize Harvest

  • Crop Harvested on 10 October.
  • Crop cut when Grain yellow and stalk at 30 percent Dry Matter.

Students harvest maize crop at greenmount

Crop Performance
(Both Fields Clamped Together)

Analysed at:

  • 36.9 percent DM
  • 29.5 percent Starch
  • 8.3 percent Protein

Forage maize storage

Individual Field Results

Field One Two
Seed Goldclamp Justina + PR39G12
Field size 2.73 ha (see * below) 5.07 ha
Yield 33 ton/ha 37 ton/ha

* Reduction in yield of single variety field due to pollination problems.

Crop Costing (2007)

Field One Two
Sprays £140.52 £260.95
Ploughing £101.01 £187.00
Lime £327.60 £608.40
Fertiliser £204.07 £346.03
Power harrowing £68.00 £126.00
Precision sowing £238.00 £395.00
Seed £313.95 (Goldclamp) £583.00 (Justina + PR39G12)
Plastic Mulch £409.50 £760.50
Harvesting £375.00 £694.00
TOTAL £2177.65 (£797.67 per ha) £3960.88 (£3781.24 per ha)

Net Margin for Maize Crop

(Crop Sold to College Dairy Unit at £35/ton Fresh, £105/ton Dry Matter)

Field One Two
Ton 90.09 ton (33 ton/ha) 187.59 ton (37 ton/ha)
Cost £3153 ( £1155/ha) £6565 (£1295/ha)
Margin £976 (£357.33/ha) £2604 (£513.76/ha)

Comparison of Net Margins

Crop Net Margin
Forage Maize £513/ha
Winter Wheat £1176/ha
Spring Barley £540/ha
Potatoes £2300/ha

Summary

  • Current Grain Prices leave Maize not as attractive to grow
  • Needs Dry Spring For Good Establishment
  • Problems With biodegradability of Plastic Mulch.
  • Can have an extremely Variable yield