Farmers are being advised to make the most of compromised maize crops in a challenging year, to avoid additional costs and performance issues later. 

Exceptionally dry weather has seen some crops reach around 40% dry matter (DM), forcing growers to harvest sooner than they usually would, says Neil Groom of Grainseed. 

“Many maize crops are approaching harvest with high levels of brown, dead or deteriorating leaf material. This potentially increases the risk of yeasts, moulds and mycotoxin problems once crops are ensiled,” he explains.  

With forage stocks already under severe pressure and many livestock businesses facing tight cash flow, he advises farmers to concentrate on preserving as much feeding value as possible from the maize they have grown. 

“Forage availability is going to be an issue with many already having to dip into winter supplies. So, while many maize crops look disappointing, it is worthwhile protecting what is already in the field rather than writing the crop off,” he says. 

“While farmers may be reluctant to spend more money, a relatively small investment at harvest could help avoid rumen health problems and additional feed costs further down the line.” 

Using a silage inoculant will be particularly important for maize this year given the higher levels of deteriorating material in crops and the greater challenge of achieving good compaction at high DM, Neil points out. 

“SiloSolve FC contains an oxygen-scavenging bacteria which helps create anaerobic conditions in the clamp within approximately six to eight hours rather than the normal 48–72 hours. 

“It contains two bacteria, Lactococcus lactis O-224 and Lactobacillus buchneri LB1819, which give a 95–98% reduction in yeasts and moulds.

“The cost is around £1.50/t silage treated, which is a relatively small investment compared to the risk of performance issues from feeding poor silage and dealing with the effects of mycotoxins.” 

In a year of major forage shortages, farmers may also need to start feeding new season maize quickly, he says.

"Another benefit of using an inoculant is that Lactococcus lactis O-224 supports quicker anaerobic conditions and a rapid pH drop.  

"This means the clamp can potentially be opened after just one week, compared with waiting three or four weeks for the clamp to stabilise conventionally." 

Neil's key take-home message is not to write off compromised maize crops this year – but to make small investments now that could prevent costs and shortages later in the year. 

This also means being prepared to adapt management and harvest decisions to the conditions in front of you, he suggests.

“As the weather changes, farmers need to look at the crop in front of them rather than harvesting by the calendar. 

"If maize hasn't already been assessed, now is the time to do so, as this year’s dry conditions mean crops are likely to reach harvest maturity much sooner than usual."