New maize silage hybrid delivers exceptional production yield for dairy farmers
Announcement posted by PGG Wrightson Seeds (Australia) Pty Ltd 10 Aug 2016
Z71-F1 is an exciting new addition to the PGG Wrightson Seeds’ Corson Maize Seed silage range that can help farmers boost their productivity and profitability where a full season hybrid is appropriate.
Northern Victorian maize grower Adam Whipp says people are now chasing Corson Maize Z71-F1 because it brings a wider harvest window, greater yield and higher profit.
“Corson Maize Z71-F1 interested me because it promised above average early-growth, a tall and bulky plant with large cobs, as well as superior stay green attributes, and it delivered,” said Adam.
Yields from the Corson Maize Z71-F1 were around 25 tonne/ha, an extra 5 tonne/ha increase from the traditional maize varieties on his farm.
“That extra five tonne a hectare makes a big difference in terms of profit,” Adam says.
Located in the heart of dairy country, west of Shepparton, at Nanneella, Adam Whipp runs a 100ha property where maize is a big part of his annual crop rotation.
“Generally, I’ll grow shaftal clover for the winter from April to November, then I’ll sow maize at the end of November,” Adam says.
However, increasing water costs and reduced allocations left Adam searching for a higher yielding maize silage that could offset this increasing cost. Working with his local agronomist, Adam initially sowed Corson Maize Z71-F1 as a “trial” but says it performed that well he’s made it a permanent part of his crop rotation system.
“The Corson Maize Z71-F1 grew a metre taller than the other variety of maize I normally grow and has 11-12 leaves on the plant above the corn cob, compared to the standard variety which has about six leaves above the corn cob,” says Adam.
“It also has a stay green gene in it and it does stay greener, so when you go to chop it, it doesn’t dry off like the other varieties. The other varieties go brown very quick but this one hung on pretty well,” Adam explained.
In preparation for planting, Adam first cut the shaftal hay, then ran over the area with a disc plough, before pre-irrigating, adding a broadcast based fertiliser and incorporating it with a grader board.
Five days later, Adam planted the Corson Maize Z71-F1 at 85,000 seeds/ha to a depth of 2.5 inches, and also added 50 litres/ha of liquid starter fertiliser.
Adam said for this crop he used around seven megalitres/ha of water through the growing period and deployed 300 litres/ha of liquid fertiliser that he applied with a water applicator so that it “dribbled into the irrigation channel and gave the soil a nitrogen boost.”
Adam said: “Corson Maize Z71-F1 is at least 10% better than the other varieties I have grown.”
Feed testing on the Corson Maize Z71-F1 also showed good nutrition results, especially the starch levels and these results were supported by local dairy farmers, who Adam sold his harvested crop too.
“I would definitely recommend Corson Maize Z71-F1 to other growers and to dairy farmers as a quality supplement to their pasture-based systems,” he said.
PGG Wrightson Seeds Product Development Manager, Kelly Burke says Corson Maize Z71-F1 has a high grain content and above average whole plant digestibility and is suitable for warmer regions where early planting is possible.
“It is ideally suited to contract silage production, targeting high yields and quality silage. Dairy farmers, in particular, can take advantage of its performance by planting early at run-off,” Kelly added.
For more information on how Corson Maize Z71-F1 can improve your silage production, contact your local PGG Wrightson Seeds’ Sales Agronomist as listed at www.pggwrightsonseeds.com.au
Ends.
For media enquiries:
C7EVEN Communications
Adam Arndell
02 6766 4513 / 0403 372 889
adam.arndell@c7even.com.au
Northern Victorian maize grower Adam Whipp says people are now chasing Corson Maize Z71-F1 because it brings a wider harvest window, greater yield and higher profit.
“Corson Maize Z71-F1 interested me because it promised above average early-growth, a tall and bulky plant with large cobs, as well as superior stay green attributes, and it delivered,” said Adam.
Yields from the Corson Maize Z71-F1 were around 25 tonne/ha, an extra 5 tonne/ha increase from the traditional maize varieties on his farm.
“That extra five tonne a hectare makes a big difference in terms of profit,” Adam says.
Located in the heart of dairy country, west of Shepparton, at Nanneella, Adam Whipp runs a 100ha property where maize is a big part of his annual crop rotation.
“Generally, I’ll grow shaftal clover for the winter from April to November, then I’ll sow maize at the end of November,” Adam says.
However, increasing water costs and reduced allocations left Adam searching for a higher yielding maize silage that could offset this increasing cost. Working with his local agronomist, Adam initially sowed Corson Maize Z71-F1 as a “trial” but says it performed that well he’s made it a permanent part of his crop rotation system.
“The Corson Maize Z71-F1 grew a metre taller than the other variety of maize I normally grow and has 11-12 leaves on the plant above the corn cob, compared to the standard variety which has about six leaves above the corn cob,” says Adam.
“It also has a stay green gene in it and it does stay greener, so when you go to chop it, it doesn’t dry off like the other varieties. The other varieties go brown very quick but this one hung on pretty well,” Adam explained.
In preparation for planting, Adam first cut the shaftal hay, then ran over the area with a disc plough, before pre-irrigating, adding a broadcast based fertiliser and incorporating it with a grader board.
Five days later, Adam planted the Corson Maize Z71-F1 at 85,000 seeds/ha to a depth of 2.5 inches, and also added 50 litres/ha of liquid starter fertiliser.
Adam said for this crop he used around seven megalitres/ha of water through the growing period and deployed 300 litres/ha of liquid fertiliser that he applied with a water applicator so that it “dribbled into the irrigation channel and gave the soil a nitrogen boost.”
Adam said: “Corson Maize Z71-F1 is at least 10% better than the other varieties I have grown.”
Feed testing on the Corson Maize Z71-F1 also showed good nutrition results, especially the starch levels and these results were supported by local dairy farmers, who Adam sold his harvested crop too.
“I would definitely recommend Corson Maize Z71-F1 to other growers and to dairy farmers as a quality supplement to their pasture-based systems,” he said.
PGG Wrightson Seeds Product Development Manager, Kelly Burke says Corson Maize Z71-F1 has a high grain content and above average whole plant digestibility and is suitable for warmer regions where early planting is possible.
“It is ideally suited to contract silage production, targeting high yields and quality silage. Dairy farmers, in particular, can take advantage of its performance by planting early at run-off,” Kelly added.
For more information on how Corson Maize Z71-F1 can improve your silage production, contact your local PGG Wrightson Seeds’ Sales Agronomist as listed at www.pggwrightsonseeds.com.au
Ends.
For media enquiries:
C7EVEN Communications
Adam Arndell
02 6766 4513 / 0403 372 889
adam.arndell@c7even.com.au