Corteva is urging growers to use the best available trial data when making maize variety decisions this spring.
Erratic weather patterns have created issues with planting and harvesting in previous years, so farmers must look to varieties with optimal maturing and performance traits.
“Data is key to driving the best business decision,” explains Andy Stainthorpe, seed and silage Inoculants sales manager, at Corteva Agriscience UK & Ireland.
He adds that Pioneer Accurate Crop Testing System (PACTS) results provide realistic data gathered from 18 sites across the UK, with multi-year performance data in real-world conditions.
“These trials are conducted on commercial farms using standard farming practices, in contrast to many other trials which are managed with specialist equipment for micro plots incorporating more rigid management protocols.
“This means sowing, spraying, and harvesting decisions are determined by the host farmer, ultimately providing realistic and practical data on how maize hybrids perform under actual farm conditions.”
Each trial consists of up to 21 plots across uniform field areas, with a control hybrid included at multiple points to account for any soil variation.
“Trials are classified as ‘favourable’ or ‘less favourable’ based on local heat accumulation in that area, allowing farmers to determine the suitability of specific hybrids for their own land,” continues Andy.
“Every plot undergoes detailed sample analysis, measuring dry matter, starch content, digestibility, and fibre composition to provide a comprehensive evaluation of silage quality.”
Data is collected over multiple years to show how maize hybrids perform in different conditions.
On-farm view
Mark Oldroyd is farm manager at the Angus Dart farm trial site in Oxford, where he oversees a mixed farming enterprise of around 650 dairy cows and 2,000 acres of arable, with 500 acres down to maize.
“We have lots of variability across our farm in terms of soil type and topography, so selecting and growing a range of maize hybrids, specific to conditions, is key to ensuring yield, quality and consistency,” explains Mark, who’s been running PACTS trials on the farm for over 20 years.
“The data that we get from the trials is invaluable in helping guide variety selection, and its especially important now weather conditions are having such an impact during harvest and challenging yields. We need to ensure that the maize we do grow is of the highest quality and we aim to produce maize silage with a DM of 30% and starch at 32% or above.
“Last season, we trialled 25 hybrids across the farm as part of our normal crop rotations. While it does require some extra work and input, the information we get out is so valuable it’s well worth the effort. The data we gather is also helping other farmers make better informed decisions and improve business performance – it’s good to be doing our bit for the industry.”
“Selecting the right maize hybrid is essential to ensuring both yield and feed quality,” concludes Andy. “The PACTS trials help take the guesswork out of variety selection, offering farmers clear data on hybrid performance across multiple years and locations.”