High hopes for maize crops
Agronomists are optimistic for high maize yields this year as a result of warm seedbeds, good weed control and plenty of sunlight. Across most of the country agronomists report of a relatively trouble-free season; the majority of crops got off to a good start and are putting on robust growth as good growing conditions […]
A little co-operation can go a long way
Arable producers struggling to get crops drilled should take advantage of the forage shortage in the livestock sector and grow maize, suggests James Todd of Grainseed Ltd. Not only will its drilling date of late April onwards give waterlogged soils the opportunity to dry out and handle loads better, it would give an ideal opportunity […]
Value of growing maize questioned on some farms
“In our area many dairy farmers grossly overestimate the tonnage of dry matter in their maize silage clamp,” says Adrian Caine from P&L AgriConsulting based in Shropshire. “And this year it’s particularly noticeable; some units we work with have thought they had harvested around six or seven tonnes of dry matter, when it’s actually more […]
Plant perfumes woo beneficial bugs
This is the first chemical signal that has been shown to attract beneficial bacteria to the maize root environment. The study was led by Dr Andy Neal of Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire and Dr Jurriaan Ton of the University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences. By deepening our understanding of how cereals interact […]
