Follow the maize – harvest lessons and planning ahead

23 October 2024

With maize crops varying this season – from very good to those that struggled with lack of heat – 2024 has provided plenty of lessons, including for harvest. 

You might be lucky enough to have already harvested a healthy green maize crop at the ideal % dry matter (DM) with mature cobs. Or, you might be yet to harvest and facing maize that is dying back. 

Either way, ensiling with an additive to minimise losses is a no-brainer, suggests Volac silage specialist, Peter Smith.

A greener maize crop will contain more moisture,” says Peter, “and the more moisture, the bigger the fermentation required. Also, green crops still contain some dead material – such as decaying tassels in leaf joints – which introduce spoilage bacteria, yeasts and moulds into the clamp.

“Alternatively, if the crop is dying back significantly, levels of these spoilage microbes will be far higher. And these types of drier crops are at risk of heating and mycotoxins.”

In both cases, Ecocool additive is a good option, says Peter, because it’s designed to boost fermentation and inhibit the yeasts and moulds that cause problems. “This is important because about 10%, or even up to 20%, of maize DM is lost through spoilage, with about half this due to heating losses and half due to poor fermentation.

Also, it’s not just DM that’s lost. The feed value of the remaining DM is lower. If you need maize to prop up low D value grass silage in rations this season, protecting its feed value is paramount. The beneficial ‘MTD/1’ bacteria, which make up just part of Ecocool, have been shown to reduce D value losses. And treating with Ecocool has been shown to keep maize cool and reduce the growth of mycotoxin-causing mould in maize silage,” he adds.

Attention to detail

Shropshire dairy farmer, Mark Fitton, pays close attention to maize harvest.

Before this year’s harvest, he’d had the crop analysed to check DM and starch, had his contractor and Ecocool organised, and new silage sheets and gravel bags ready. 

Pre-harvest analysis showed the 2024 crop was already edging above 30% DM, with 28-32% starch and 11.3-11.4 ME around mid-September. 

Moreover, straight after harvest, Mark has learned to prepare his continuous maize ground ready for the next crop – beginning with cultivations and applying muck to build soil nutrients and organic matter.

“I’ve got a Sumo to take care of wheel ruts and loosen the soil. If the weather allows, we’ll then apply slurry then plough to allow it to break down. Alternatively, we put separated solid muck on in March if it’s dry. If it needs lime, we apply Calciprill.

Producing good maize is not easy. It’s an expensive crop so you need the tonnage,” Mark adds.

Stay tuned and follow along our Follow the Maize series! Keep an eye on this space for updates, insights, and exciting content—don’t miss a thing!