Preparing for maize planting
With spring underway, maize growers across New Zealand are preparing for planting.
This season's dry conditions have made one thing clear: not having enough feed on hand can bring your season to an early close.
I’ve been hearing from many farmers who are planning to dry off earlier than planned simply because they’ve run out of feed. That’s a tough spot to be in, especially when every extra day in milk could be adding dollars to your bottom line.
With interest rates easing and a strong milk payout forecasted, now is the time to start planning how to maximise the opportunity for next season. Whether you’re looking to extend lactation, preserve body condition, or carry more feed into spring, maize silage should be part of the conversation.
When feed runs short, options get expensive
This summer, we’ve seen an increase in demand for feed across many regions, particularly in the North Island. Farmers have had to scramble for alternatives, often at short notice and higher prices. Rising costs for imported feed and ongoing volatility in pasture growth are making home-grown solutions like maize silage more attractive than ever.
Whether you’re buying it in or growing it on-farm, maize silage remains one of the most cost-effective and flexible supplementary feeds in our systems. It stores well, feeds well, and can be strategically used throughout the season to support milk production.
Time to replace what you've used
If you’ve dipped into your silage reserves this summer and autumn, the next step is ensuring you replace that feed next season.
If you’re growing maize silage, now’s the time to start planning:
Getting this groundwork right is essential to ensure yield targets are met and the economics stack up.
And if you’re buying maize silage, talk to your contractor or grower sooner rather than later. Locking in feed early not only secures supply, it can also help manage price and quantity expectations.
The benefits of maize silage in autumn and beyond
Maize silage acts as a buffer that helps you:
Maize silage gives you flexibility. A well-preserved stack on-farm is like a savings account— there when you need it, on your terms. In a year where every extra day in milk could be worth more than ever, having enough feed in reserve gives you the confidence to fill feed deficits and achieve your production goals.
So, whether you’re topping up depleted reserves or taking the opportunity to carry more feed into next season, now is the time to act.
The earlier you plan, the more options and value you unlock.
If you’d like help working through the numbers or designing a feed plan that works for your system, get in touch with me or my colleague Matt Dalley. You’ll find our contact details at pioneer.co.nz.
Wade Bell is Genetic Technologies farm systems manager. Contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pig farmers are cautiously welcoming new animal welfare standards announced by the Government last week.
The Government has issued a stern warning to regional councils and unitary authorities to toe the line in respect upcoming changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA).
A survey of 2000 farmers shows 94% of respondents believe that remaining in the Paris Agreement for climate change is not in the country's best interest.
The future of the Alliance Group is “pretty dark” if the proposed Dawn Meats deal does not go through, says board chair Mark Wynne.
Premium wool carpet maker Bremworth is being sold to the world's largest flooring company.
Independent Waikato milk processor Tatua has set another new record for conventional farmgate milk price paid to New Zealand farmers.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…