CAPSTONE SEEDS OFFERS COST EFFECTIVE HYBRIDS, WITH LOWER SPRAYING COSTS AND TOP QUALITY SILAGE!

Updated: Nov 30, 2023

SUCCESSFUL SILAGE GROWING FOR THE 23/24 SEASON

By Dr Mike Barrow (Ph.D Agric), Consultant Maize Breeder to Capstone Seeds

Due to an El Niño season coupled with highly erratic climate changes, dairy farmers will have to adapt their silage plantings this season. There are several fundamental aspects to ensuring good silage yields under high temps and erratic rainfall conditions: Different hybrid maturities (Early, medium and med-late flowering) should be planted to avoid all plants flowering and maturing simultaneously during periods of heat or moisture stress. Planting hybrids with different genetic backgrounds will ensure variable responses to these stresses. Planting should be spread over several weeks/months to ensure varying responses to stresses, and to allow more extended silage cutting based on differing hybrid dry-down characteristics. High performance “race horse” single cross hybrids generally flower over a short period, and do not have the pollen shed and silking variability essential for long flowering periods.

CAPSTONE MAIZE HYBRIDS are available in an inexpensive range of maturities, bred for variability and longer flowering periods, essential to high silage yields under stressful conditions.