WITH many livestock farmers now having to increasingly maximise their silage production some are taking another, closer look at forage maize.

An open day with Phil Rees at Broadway Farm, Broad Haven, near Haverfordwest (SA62 3HU) on Thursday, July 16, could be a true eye opener as far as the latest development of this valuable crop is concerned.

A well qualified agronomist, Phil is particularly enthusiastic over several new varieties, not least Marco and Picker which are considered the best crops for use as fodder with a yield potential of around 50 tonnes and more per hectare.

With relatively low inputs and a high energy output, maize is considered excellent value in terms of its cost per tonne of dry matter.

Drought tolerant, Marco has been very successfully grown (under a plastic mulch when planted to protect early growth from late frosts) for more than five years and has the distinct advantage of producing a second mature cob. This strain can be used for forage or left for crimping.

Typical quality and digestibility: ME 11.2, Starch 31.4%, Excellent ME yields of 201,000 Mj/ha and highest starch yield of 5.7t/ha with a potential to significantly increase starch or grain yields.

Other trials to be seen on the day are the comparisons between no till and conventionally drilled Spring wheat, seven different varieties of Spring barley treated with differing levels of fungicide, 14 individual plots of diploid and tetra ploid grasses and seeds mixtures and also an opportunity to study the resilience of Lucerne, chicory, red cover to name just a few.

Several trade exhibitors will also be present and there will be working demonstrations of grassland rejuvenation by slot seeding and the use of drones for crop inspection.