Maize Agronomy Sam Taylor, October 2016

Why Maize? High Water Use Efficiency – More T/DM per ML Water Reduced acidosis risk High Energy, lower protein, good digestibility but Adequate storage and feed out required to minimise waste

Paddock Selection Weed History Soil Type Fertility Grass weeds difficult to manage Soil Type Drainage Fertility Are there any background limitations Herbicide plant backs?

Soil Fertility Test Targets pH >5.5 (CaCl) Salinity – soil 1.7 dS/m Salinity – Water 1100 ppm Drainage Good Exchangeable Sodium < 6% Macro Nutrients P, N & K Micro Nutrients Zn

Establishment Determine target population 80,000 - 95,000 plants per hectare recommended Factor in germ % and field establishment Depth @ 3 – 8 cm Slow down, do the job right!!!

Fertiliser Inputs 10 - 12 kg N T/DM 8 – 10 kg K T/DM 2 – 3 kg P T/DM 20 T Crop = ~240 N, 200 K, 60 P Zn also very important

Fertiliser Timing Important to meet crop demand to meet yield potential N - 20 N @ planting, 120 N @ V6, 100 N @ V10-12 P – All up front, 40 P pre plant, 20 P with seed K – 20 K pre plant, 100 K @ V6, 80 K @V10-12 Tissue Test @ V4 & R1

Weed Control Select clean paddocks with low grass burden Pre Plant Knockdown & cultivation Atrazine & Dual Gold pre Atrazine & BLW Spray post

Water – the most important input of all Crop to water availability, not paddock area Match water application to crop demand Utilise soil monitoring equipment Monitor weather conditions Ensure application system provides consistent watering

Water Demand x Crop Stage

Water Demand x Crop Stage

Water Demand x Crop Stage

Schedule Example Week Applications per week Pivot Setting (% Speed) mm delivered per application Emergence 1 100 7.55 2 85 8.88 3 4 70 10.62 5 6 75 10.06 7 62 12.18 56 13.48 8 52 14.52 9 10 11 77 9.81 12 60 12.58 13 10.79 14 15 16 17 8.71 ML/ha Schedule Example

Maize Essentials Paddocks must be well prepared Be committed to the investment Timeliness is paramount in success Seek advice if unsure Be prepared to engage contractors Ensure you can use the feed with minimal wastage

Maize Agronomy Information Future Dairy Maize Technote http://futuredairy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Tech-note-5-www.pdf Pioneer Corn Growers Guide Best Management Practices for Growing Maize on Dairy Farms http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/PageFiles/19416/publications/FAR%20best%20management%20practices%20-%20web.pdf

Contacts – Maize Seed Supply Companies Name Phone email Peter Bostock Gentech Seeds 0427 549 826 peter.bostock@gentechseeds.com Tim O’Dea Heritage Seeds 0429 203 505 todea@heritageseeds.com.au Dale Thompson Seed Force 0491 211 104 DaleThompson@seedforce.com Mitch Tuffley Advanta Seeds 0448 014 892 mitch.tuffley@advantaseeds.com David Coddington HSR 0499 274 464 david.c@HSRseeds.com

Demand x Growth Stage Source: Pioneer Corn Growers Guide