2025 maize harvest - maximising returns when yields are down

17 September 2025

This year we’re seeing some of the earliest maize harvesting in a long time – but it’s coming with a sting in the tail for many: lower yields. Add in the fact that many have already had fewer grass cuts than usual, and we could be looking at a real forage shortage on many farms this winter.

So what can we do? We can’t change the yields now, but we can make the most of what’s in the field.

Key things to keep in mind:

• Harvesting height – don’t cut too low. Cutting the crop too close to the ground risks dragging in soil and unwanted yeasts and moulds present on the stem base, which only make preservation more difficult. Plus, the stem base is lower in digestibility.
• Field losses – keep an eye on what’s happening at harvest. Avoid overfilling trailers and watch out for overspill during transport – every bit of maize matters this year.
• Clamp management – how you fill is just as important as what you fill. Good compaction is vital. Once the clamp is full, seal it quickly and get weight on top. The faster you close it up, the lower the losses.
• Treating your maize – a good, dual-acting silage inoculant like Ecocool can help you preserve what’s there – with a good upfront fermentation and helping to prevent aerobic losses (silage heating).

In short, 2025 might not be a bumper year for maize, but the way you handle harvest and clamp management will make all the difference to how much usable maize silage you actually end up with – and therefore have available to feed.

Consider these numbers…

• 1 in every 10 trailer loads – the amount of maize silage dry matter that typically goes to waste in the clamp (but can be 2 in 10 trailer loads or more if management is poor)

• £600-£700/acre – the cost of growing forage maize (including harvesting and land rent)

• As little as 3.5% – the small cost of preserving maize silage with Ecocool as a percentage of this total growing cost

 By focusing on careful harvest, proper clamp management, and effective silage treatment, you can protect your investment and make every acre of maize count this winter.