Traditionally, maize has been used on farm in the North Island as weather conditions often lead to summer feed deficits whereas irrigation gives South Island farmers more options for pasture growth. Recently, however, maize is being used more in the South.
Technical Ag Specialist Russell Hamilton and his team deal with more than 800 farms from the top of the South Island down to North Otago and they’re finding maize is becoming a popular feed source among farmers.
"It's a very reliable food source and there are huge benefits to its use on farm. The quality of silage can change quite a bit but maize is really good at keeping the quality consistent and having a steady feed value. We've found farmers have been able to extend their lactation period using maize and also put weight on their cows going into autumn," Russell says.
"It's also a useful option to help cows transition back onto pastures after being on fodder-beet over winter. We're finding, particularly in Canterbury, that farmers are using maize to extend shoulder seasons - in autumn and spring. If it's a particularly cold, nasty spring then maize is a good option to put into the system. It is also a great option to get cows in peak condition fast after calving as it provides a really good condensed energy source."
Maize is also a useful tool to renew a paddock to new pasture and farmers have the potential to grow upwards of 24 tonne of dry matter over a 12-month period, ultimately saving them money.
"If farmers remove a paddock from the system for five to six months and grow maize there is the potential to grow anywhere from 20 to 22 tonne of dry matter. Then if they put another crop in after that such as rye grass, oats, or triticale, there's potential to grow another three to six tonne of dry matter. There's economic benefits from growing it on farm," Russell says.
"Getting the right hybrid is essential and making sure that it's planted early enough so you can harvest it and plant the next crop in time for when you'll need the feed. There are some shorter hybrids that are great for Canterbury and these can be harvested within 150 days and produce up to 20 tonnes of dry matter. Our TSRs can help determine the best hybrid to use."
Talk to your local TSR or visit a Farm Source store to find out more about growing maize on your farm.