Displaying items by tag: maize

A MILD and relatively dry winter, above-average pasture growth rates and little pugging has resulted in high average pasture cover levels on many farms. The challenge over the next few months is keeping control of pasture quality.

THE DROUGHT has caused on-going pasture deficits on many farms, and in the past few weeks many farmers have asked me how much maize silage they can feed. 

DRY SUMMER conditions have led to pasture shortages in many dairy districts and we have had a number of inquiries from farmers who are considering early harvesting a portion of their maize crops.

WE MAY have thought we had maize week control nailed with pre-emergence sprays such as Atrazine, but nature, in her inimitable way, has seen some weeds develop resistance and render it useless in some paddocks.

Agricultural contractors are reminded they must leave a buffer of at least 2m between waterways and areas cultivated for growing maize.

MANY FARMERS have found it difficult to establish high-yielding, persistent pastures in recent years. There are significant advantages to establishing pasture after a maize silage crop. Problem weeds can be sprayed out twice – in the spring before maize establishment and in the autumn prior to regrassing. Growing maize also removes the normal feed source for pasture pests such as black beetle, Argentine stem weevil, pasture nematodes and grass grub. This interrupts their breeding cycle and reduces insect pressure on seedling plants during the pasture renewal process. Cropping prior to pasture renewal also reduces the carryover of older, lower-yielding ryegrasses.