At Tuesday’s DLF open day in Co Wexford, maize and beet specialist Ned Kehoe estimated that the maize harvest was 15% to 20% complete, with this figure higher in Co Cork at 30% to 35% complete.

Ned said that it is early in the harvest season, but yields are good at over 20t/ac. He reported an average three-year yield for new variety Prospect of 23t/ac and 24t/ac for Resolute, both planted in the open.

“This year wasn’t the best year for maize, but we’re getting good yields. We don’t have the starch content yet, but it seems to be very good at the minute,” he commented.

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Rewarded

He added that “the brave got rewarded” for planting in April, with the risk of frost, adding that with the new compostable film delayed sowing is preferable to avoid late frosts.

However, a lot of maize was planted in the open this year.

“The varieties are there [for planting in the open]. They’re getting better. There are new things happening. We’ve seen an increase of nearly 50% in maize this year, all in the open basically.”

Planting maize and beans together

Ned showed the open day attendance a trial that was under way where maize and climbing or runner beans were planted together. He stated that they are complementing each other very well at the minute.

The companion crop was planted at a ratio of 40% beans, 60% maize. He said that DLF has cut some trials and they’re yielding the same as maize on its own. The protein results are not available yet.

Ned commented: “If we can bring up our protein by even a couple of percent that will cut back on soya, which is good for the environment. We’re growing it on farms. It is still at trial phase, but we have a couple of hundred acres this year. Farmers want it.”

Next year, Ned said they will trial different nitrogen rates on the crop to see if rates can be cut back where beans are planted.

You can listen to the full interview with Ned on this week’s Tillage Podcast by clicking here.