A5 maize booklet (003)

Maize 2024

Agriculture’s link within a sustainable food industry

Welcome to the latest edition of our Maize Booklet, a comprehensive guide that is the fruit of our relentless pursuit for excellence in agronomy. Our booklet has been enriched with the latest research and insights to support the discerning choices of the farmers in selecting the optimal maize varieties for their unique agricultural contexts. Our highly qualified agronomy and seed team, support farmers with a harmonious blend of cutting-edge science and hands- on practical experience. The knowledge and expertise they provide are invaluable in guiding you to make informed decisions to boost the productivity of your maize harvest for an optimal silage diet.

We prioritise the provision of tailored, evidence-based recommendations, ensuring each farm’s distinct needs and objectives are met with precision and understanding. This booklet will showcase tangible examples of our core values, Perpetuity and Equitable, in action. In our commitment to Perpetuity, we steadfastly work towards ensuring the long-term sustainability and prosperity of your farming operations. Our strategies are designed to bolster the resilience and productivity of your maize crops, to achieve the best nutritional results.

Our commitment to Equitable solutions underscores our dedication to fostering fairness and mutual benefit in all our interactions and services. We believe in creating and nurturing a balanced and just agricultural ecosystem where all stakeholders thrive, reinforcing the intertwined relationships between farmers, crops, and supplier. Moreover, our holistic approach also seamlessly links you with our dedicated haulage services team. They work synergistically to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of see to your farm by handling transportation ourselves we cut down on the cost, savings that we pass on to you.

In these pages, you will find a wealth of information, insights, and guidance grounded in the most recent and reputable research, all aimed at empowering you to optimise your 2024 maize growing season. Enjoy exploring the collective expertise and support encapsulated in this booklet. Warm regards Your Trusted Partner in Agronomy, Bartholomew’s Agrifood

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In this booklet you’ll find the selection of maize varieties that we will be running with for the 2024 season, along with some information on growing maize, and considerations to be taken into account before selecting a variety. We feel that we have a variety to suit each and every customer’s site and growing conditions, as well as end uses.

2023 season review

• Wettest March in 40 years • April saw unsettled and windy weather with inconsistent temperatures. • Very hot and dry June Things to consider with drought becoming more common: • Increased organic matter in soils to increase moisture holding capacity. • Reduced drilling rates to allow plant rooting systems more space. • Drilling to conditions, not to date.

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Drilling tips and considerations

Maize Agronomy

In addition to variety selection, being successful in growing maize is also dependent on following good agronomy and management practices. Optimal soil conditions at drilling are required to ensure good germination and plant establishment. Modern maize hybrids have a high degree of cold tolerance but should not be drilled before soils have reached an even temperature of 8°C for light soils, 10°C for heavy soils for 3-4 days, usually around mid- April to May.

Altitude

Soil Depth

Herbicides Pre-emergence

Avoid high altitude sites which are often colder. As a rule, growers should consider 600 feet above sea level to be very marginal and have a shorter growing season. However, individual fields above 600 feet with lighter, drier soil types that will warm up quickly in spring can be considered.

To support its bulk and height, a maize plant requires a very extensive root system. Ideally, crops should be grown where there is a good depth of topsoil. Where the soil is shallower root development may be impaired and produce stunted crops, with resultant lower yields. Crop maturity can also be delayed. The same effects can occur where soil is compacted. Seed should be sown on to a firm base at 3-6cm depth. Use deeper sowing for lighter, drier soils and shallower sowing for heavy sols. Despite this, drilling into moisture is more important than depth.

• Broad leaved weeds and grass weeds – PDM (Anthem or Wing P)

Post-emergence (before buttress roots develop)

• Broad leaved weeds – mesotrione (Temsa SC), pyridate (Diva) or dicamba mixtures (Kingsley). • Thistles – clopyralid (Shield Pro) • Docks and volunteer potatoes – fluroxypyr (Hurler) • Grass weeds – nicosulfuron (Fornet 6OD)

Aspect

Ideally any fields selected for maize production should face south and be sheltered from wind. Avoid fields which are very exposed, or have heavy, poorly drained soils, and any locations which are known to suffer from frost. An established crop at 2-6 leaf stage can be set back 2-3 weeks by a late May frost. Avoid steep sloping fields to reduce the risk of nitrate leaching and soil erosion.

Weed Control

Maize can suffer considerably from weed competition during the early growth stages. Ideally, a clean, weed free site should be chosen. A weed control programme applying either pre-emergence and/or post emergence herbicides can be followed.

Fungicides

• Eyespot – azoxystrobin (Tazer)

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that a starter fertiliser is placed close to the seed, even when the bulk of the soil is adequately supplied with nutrients. If you are looking at fields that traditionally suffer from run-off or are prone to erosion, then consider a slightly earlier maize variety (modern genetics often mean that you won’t lose yield and often gain some quality) and look to place a cover crop in to help scavenge nutrients and stabilise surface soils. This in turn can be used as a green manure, used for grazing or potentially harvested before the following crop. Maize is a prime opportunity on which to use manure in the spring when there are limited opportunities for spreading on grassland. Be careful that applications DO NOT EXCEED 250 kg/ Ha of Total Nitrogen to conform to the NVZ guidelines, The Farmers Rules for Water & all the relevant Codes of Good Agricultural Practice.

Soil Analysis

Soil Nutrient Requirements

To produce a good crop, maize plants need to grow very rapidly once they have germinated. They will do this providing the soil moisture and structure are good, the soil temperature is warm, and nutrition is adequate. Maize can easily produce 50 t/Ha of fresh weight in a period of four months. to support this rapid growth, it has a large demand for nutrients and any shortage will restrict early growth and final yield. Although established crops have a well-developed root system, root growth is slow in the early days of the crop, especially if the weather is cold. Poor root growth means decreased uptake of nutrients, and this can be a vicious circle as poor uptake of N and P can restrict root growth for this reason, it is advised

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Fertiliser requirement for Forage Maize

Option 2

Maize Yield 40t/Ha

N P

K MgO SO 3

20t/ha of Organic Manure Start Fertiliser

SNS Index

Kg/Ha Nutrient

100

175

20 60-70

Kg/ MgO/ Ha

Kg/Ha of Product

Kg/N/ Ha

Kg/P/ Ha

Kg/K/ Ha

Kg/So 3 / Ha

As maize is a valuable crop with a high demand for nutrients it is important to know the soil pH and available nutrient levels in order to apply the necessary lime and fertiliser to ensure good crops. When the maize field has been chosen a soil sample should be taken for analysis unless the field has been tested within the last 3-5 years. Bartholomews provide a complete soil analysis package which allows a tailored approach to nutrient management.

Ploughed in

FYM

18,000

169

Phosphate D 12.5-32-4 +2Mg)+5CaO+14.5SO 3 Blend

Precision Drill

160

Top Dress before 3 Leaf Stage DS+24N - 14SO 3

288

Total Kg/ Nutrient/ Ha

100

175

Low Yield 11Tt DM/Ha

High Yield 15t DM/Ha

Field Yield

40t/Ha (16t/Ac)

50t/Ha (20t/Ac)

To be applied where possible, down the spout and placed near the seed in order to get the maize off to the best start.

Final Fertiliser

Nitrogen

100 Kg/Ha

125 Kg/Ha

To be applied, if needed, as a top dressing after weed control & NO later than 3 leaf Stage. • Urea 46% Plus Protected by Limus® • 34.5N + 3K + 1.5MgO + 4.5CaO + 12SO3 Season Long Blend • DS+ 24N + 14SO3 Compound Please remember to observe all the relevant Cross Compliance Guidelines & Farming Rules for Water that are now applicable. There are several different things to consider when planning nutrient applications to Maize. It’s also very good practise to do One or Two Tissue analysis of the growing crop to make sure all the nutrients are in the correct balance & obvious deficiency are addressed to give you the best possible quality & yield.

Phosphorus

55 Kg/Ha

70 Kg/Ha

• PhosphatepluS

0-29-5+2MgO+24CaO+19SO3 Compound

Potash

175 Kg/Ha

220 Kg/Ha

Index: -SNS1, P2 &K2

• Phosphate D

12.5-32-4+2MgO+5CaO+14.5SO3 Blend

Option 1

Maize Yield 40t/Ha

• Phosphate T

N P

K MgO SO 3

No Organic Manures

0-32-4+2MgO+5CaO+14.5SO3 Blend

SNS Index

Kg/Ha Nutrient

100

175

20 60-70

• DAP 18N-46P • TSP 46P

Kg/ MgO/ Ha

Kg/Ha of Product

Kg/N/ Ha

Kg/P/ Ha

Kg/K/ Ha

Kg/So 3 / Ha

Main Fertiliser

Precision Drill

DAP 18N-46P

125

22.5 57.5

Bespoke Blend 13-0-30+5.5Mg)+11SO 3

Top Dress before 3 Leaf Stage

596

77.5

179

We can make bespoke blends to fit your requirements, to be applied in the seedbed and worked in just prior to drilling. Alternatively, it can be applied after drilling depending on practicalities and preference.

Total Kg/ Nutrient/ Ha

100 57.5

179

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Remember: this is only a guide and requirements & nutrient value may differ depending on specific situations.

Step 3 - Choose your Main Fertiliser...

...depending on Organic Manure Usage.

Example: Planning on applying 18m 3 /Ha of FYM in late spring and incorporating within 24 hours giving...

N P

K MgO SO 3

169

Step 4 - Choose your Final Fertiliser

N, P, K requirements derived from the RB209 (Fertiliser Manual) and the MgO & SO3 requirements adapted from industry recommendations in PDA booklet (Potash Development Association).

Example: Looking at final requirements, a top up dressing of nitrogen should be applied no later than 3 leaf stage after weed control. DS+24N - 14SO 3 applied @ 288Kg/Ha will supply the reaming...

N P

K MgO SO 3

Step 1 - Decide on your Yield Potential

Actual nutrients applied

Example: (SNS1, P1, K2-, Mg2) Working on an everage of 40 t/Ha the maize crop requires...

N P

K MgO SO 3

100

175

N P

K MgO SO 3

Following this process carefully will ensure you get the most our of your maize crop and adhere to th elegislation regarding organic manures and nitrogen applications.

100

175

The illustration charts are for guideance only and all compliance with current legislation is the responsibility of the Farmer / Grower.

Step 2 - Choose your starter Fertiliser

Example: Phosphate D 12.5N-32P-4K+MgO+5CaO_14.5SO 3 Blend down the spout @ 160Kg/Ha will apply...

N P

K MgO SO 3

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There is also a particularly high risk of soil erosion where fields are sloping and have sandy soil. If your fields are of a higher risk then consider growing an early maturing variety aiming for an early harvest in better weather, a light cultivation after harvest will encourage rainfall ingression and reduce run off or establishing a cover crop to stabilise the soil surface may be a good option.

Fitting in with the rotation

FAO

Maize can be continually grown on the same ground if the soil pH and nutrient levels are maintained. Early maturing varieties that are harvested in September can have a wheat or grass crop as a follow on. Maize can also serve as a break crop for cereals.

220

200

180

Environmental Considerations

160

Harvesting maize in wet conditions can lead to surface compaction. Maize stubble left uncultivated over the winter months can result in surface water runoff and nitrate leaching into waterways.

140

Varieties from:

Dry matter yield (t/ha)

18.75

Ultra-Early

Early

Maincrop

17.5

Temprano

Faith

Autens

Pinnacle

Farmunox

16.25

Skipper

P7179

Debalto

P7326

Movanna

Augustus

Foxtrot

Lovely

P7304

Yukon

P7381

Bonnie

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Favourable sites

P7381

Temporano

38.8

P7326

Augustus KWS

P7034

Skipper

36.5

Pinnacle

Foxtrot

ES Lovely

Debalto

Faith

34.3

Autens

Bonnie

Movana

Farmunox

15.5

16.63

17.75

18.88

Yield (t/ha)

Less favourable

P7179

P7381

39.75

Augustus KWS

Skipper

P7034

ES Lovely

36.5

P7326

Pinnacle

Foxtrot

Faith

Bonnie

33.25

Debalto

Farmunox

15.25

16.5

17.75

Yield (t/ha)

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Temprano

Bred by: KWS

FAO 150

• Suited to short growing windows, particularly for less favourable sites • 38.9% starch content • 7.4 Early vigour score • Rapid dry down • Suited to diets with 50% or lower maize inclusion

Maize varieties

50,000 Kernel packs

Skipper

Bred by: Limagrain

FAO 160

• New on the 2024 RL • Suited to favourable soil types • An early variety with exceptional ME and starch yields

50,000 Kernel packs

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Augustus

P7179

Bred by: KWS

Bred by: Pioneer

FAO 160

FAO 165

• Good across marginal/ less favourable sites • 38% starch content • Ideal for TMR systems • Rapid harvest dry down • 11.91 ME for animal performance

• High starch content • Suited to both favourable and less favourable sites • Has high gain yields, and the potential for grain combining • Good eyespot resistance.

50,000 Kernel packs

Faith

Foxtrot

Bred by: Grianseed

Bred by: Limagrain

FAO 165

FAO 170

• Excellent early vigour and strong root system • Suited to medium or heavy ground • Early starch lay down • Good digestibility and starch content – high output of energy per ha

• New on the 2024 RL • Excellent early vigour • Early harvest option • High CWD to improve digestibility

50,000 Kernel packs

45,000 Kernel packs

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Yukon

Debalto

Bred by: Limagrain

Bred by: KWS

FAO 170

• Excellent potential for grain or crimped maize production • Proven performance and a truly reliable variety • Good standing power • High starch yield • Suited for grain production as well as forage

• Suited to all soil types • Ideal for 50-70% TMR Rations • High grain: stover ratio for an energy dense silage

50,000 Kernel packs

Autens

Lovely

Bred by: KWS

Bred by: Grainseed

FAO 170

• 36% starch paired with 11.88 Mj/Kg DM for animal performance • Dual use for forage and AD to spread harvest • Stay green characteristic for faster ripening • Seed rate management is advised to maximise harvest security – not to exceed 100,000 seeds/ha on exposed sites

• Early vigour for rapid establishment • Superb resistance to lodging • High starch and ME combination • Stays green at harvest

45,000 Kernel packs

50,000 Kernel packs

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P7381

P7326

Bred by: Pioneer

FAO 170

FAO 180

• NEW this season • Good combination of early vigour and good standing power through the season • Fast stover dry down at maturity • High starch and yield

• Produces a big, tall plant • Suitable on all sites for forage production • Can be used for grain production on favourable sites • Quick to reach 30% dry matter

50,000 Kernel packs

Pinnacle

P7034

Bred by: Limagrain

Bred by: Pioneer

FAO 180

FAO 185

• Combines a very high starch content with improved digestible fibre, to produce superb quality silage • Very high eyespot tolerance • Excellent early vigour for rapid early season growth, combined with early maturing making it suitable for all maize growing sites • Suited for grain production as well as forage

• Has high levels of rumen degradable starch • Can be clamped last and fed first • Good cold tolerance • Good whole plant digestibility

50,000 Kernel packs

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Bonnie

Farmunox

Bred by: Grainseed

Bred by: DSV

FAO 190

FAO 210

• Superb cell wall digestibility coupled with excellent ME • Excellent early season growth • Combination of plant and cob yield to provide quality silage in the clamp • Suited for grain production as well as forage

• Combines excellent quality with fusarium and eyespot resistance • High ME and DM yields to fill the clamp • High starch content

50,000 Kernel packs

Colonnada

Movanna

Bred by: KWS

Bred by: DSV

FAO 190

FAO 220

• Offers high silage yield performance • Good early vigour in all favourable growers areas • Suitable for forage or AD • Ideal for 60-70% maize inclusion in TMR’s

• Good cold tolerance • Robust agronomy package • Suited to forage and AD production • Ideal to help spread the harvest window

50,000 Kernel packs

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Working example Consider a 45t/ha maize crop at 30% DM, yielding 13.5t DM/ha. Gaining an additional 1% of this DM equates to 135kg DM. In a diet containing 25kg/cow/day of fresh maize silage, 135kg DM would feed 18 cows. At 30 litres/cow and 28ppl, this is the equivalent to earning an additional £151.20/day. Over a 180-day winter, this equates to a potential additional profit of £27,216. DM losses will increase the further it deviates from the 30-33% recommended range. Achieving silage stability and maximising nutritional value is thus of paramount importance and can be achieved with the aid of Pioneer 11C33.

Harvesting for Maize Silage

silage, to achieve this they must consume more sugars which results in a nutritionally poorer and more acidic silage. Furthermore, Clostridia bacteria prefer these wetter environments and instead of lactic they produce butyric acid; this is a weaker acid which prevents silage stabilisation enhancing the risk of silage deterioration and DM losses. Harvesting with a milk line ¾ of the way down will produce a DM silage of over 35%. Clamp consolidation is burdened when maize is harvested above 33% DM which will facilitate oxygen contamination causing silage deterioration and DM losses. Furthermore, the higher proportion of hard, yellow starch will reduce its digestibility and may pass directly through the animal.

To achieve the best nutritional results maize should be harvested at the optimum dry matter (DM) content of 30- 33%. To determine whether the crop is at the correct stage for harvesting, a visual assessment of the ‘Milk Line’ can be made. The ‘Milk Line’ distinguishes between the hard, yellow starch part of the grain and the soft, white, (milky) starch part. As the grain matures, the milk line descends towards the centre of the cob and the proportion of hard, yellow starch increases. To achieve 30-33% DM maize silage, it is recommended to harvest when the milk line is halfway down the grain. If the crop is harvested when the milk line is only ¼ of the way down, estimated silage DM will be 28-30%. Below 30% DM; Lactobacillus bacteria must generate higher levels of lactic acid to stabilise the

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Optimization of ground for production of extra forage, whilst retaining nutrients, boosting soil organic matter and reducing soil erosion over winter. • Follow maize with a winter cereal. • Forage rye - Very hardy, capable with withstanding severe frost. - Ideal for grazing or conservation • IRG - Quick to establish. - High yields for grazing or conservation

Under sowing:

• Under sow at 4-8 leaf stage – timing will depend on weed burden. • Sow at a rate of 20-25kg /ha • Drill rather than broadcast to increase success of establishment.

Key benefits to undersowing:

• Reduces bare soil – reducing risk of run off and erosion. • Holds the soil together during harvest, allowing better travel, less risk of compaction. • Can produce an additional forage crop overwinter/early spring. • Creates cover if a late harvest is required or risk of not getting a crop in afterwards. • Adds diverse root structuring and can provide organic matter if incorporated. • Water holding capacity increased. The key rule for undersown maize is the same as that for any cover crop. The performance of the main crop should not be compromised in any way by the undersown crop. Sowing too early will cause competition with the maize and issues with herbicides – MGA, 2022

• Westerwolds

- Similar characteristics to IRG - Good at reducing nitrogen leaching over winter.

Options after Maize

• Cover crop

- Choices can be limited by cooler soil temperatures. - Winter hardy species should be chosen.

• Stubble turnips/forage rape

- Latest sowing up to mid-September

If a crop post-harvest is unlikely due to harvest date, and likely conditions, an undersown crop could be a good option.

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Glossary

We can also offer Game Maize!

Maturity class

Bartholomews Trigger Blend

Starch

This reflects on how long it takes the plant to achieve 30-35% dry matter. An earlier variety will have a shorter growing season and a higher maturity class number. Alternatively, an FAO number can be used, indicating the number of heat units required to reach maturity. The lower the number, the less heat units required.

• Will achieve a spread of maturity cob ripeness and supply a valuable source of feed. • Tried and tested mix • Combines early, intermediate & late varieties. • All varieties are selected for good early vigour and standing power. • 50,000 seed packs

This provides the link to cob maturity in the plant. Varieties that are ‘early’ will have more chance of reaching cob maturity, and more starch, than later varieties. High starch varieties are important in rations with low maize percentage. Maize provides a good source of starch with less risk of acidosis than cereal starch as it has slower fermentation rates.

CWD

Cell wall digestibility gives a value to the rest of the plant that isn’t starch – the leaves and stem (making up 45-55% of the plant). Usually expressed as a percentage, converted into a 1-10 number, each unit corresponds to a 1% increase in cell wall digestibility. This 1% increase can increase dry matter intake by 0.17kg/day.

Varieties with high ME will be more digestible. This will pass through the rumen quicker increasing consumption and production levels. Lover ME levels take longer to process and are slower through the rumen. This is particularly important for rations with a high maize content.

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Churchills

Our own haulage service means no more third party logistics. Get your seed delivered right where you need it, with no fuss.

Economical By handling transportation ourselves we cut down the cost - savings that we pass on to you.

Reliable Our fleet is timely and trustworthy. Your feed delivery is in safe hands.

We are on a non-favourable site, at 350ft and limestone brash, so we need an early maize variety. We’ve grown Faith for the first time this year, and it’s produced a really impressive big crop, with big strong plants, really good cobs and no signs of eye spot. Faith has shown good early maturity, and we started cutting on Friday 22nd September.

Contact

Get in touch with our team of experts.

Golden Cross Nr. Hailsham 01825 872697 goldencross@bartholomews.co.uk

T: 01243 755620 or E: seed@bartholomews.co.uk

Anthoney Butler Crutchley Farms

Visit our website at www.bartholomews.co.uk

@bartholomewsagrifoodltd

Unit E, Cadbury Business Park West Sparkford, Yeovil, BA22 7LH 01243 755665

Chichester Food Park Merston 01243 784171 agri@bartholomews.co.uk

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Market Leading in cropping interventions

It all starts with the soil

Our highly qualified agronomy team offers a blend of science and practical experience, ensuring that your soil benefits from maximising the performance of your farm.

Free customised fertiliser recommendations Soil Testing & Interpretation Full Agronomic services of allthe crops you grow SFI and other environmental support

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