The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) recently released the Forage Maize Varieties Irish Recommended List 2017. This list contains plenty of information and advice on growing maize in Ireland, giving details on best practice as well as the recommended varieties to use.

The Department stated that forage maize grows most efficiently in areas of Ireland with a long growing season, minimal frost, high overall temperatures and optimal sunlight.

Giving advice on fields chosen for maize, it recommended using fields that are south-facing where possible to maximise temperatures and sunlight over the growing season. Elevated and exposed areas were discouraged from use.

On soil condition suitability, it was said: “Maize needs good soil and is not tolerant of soil compaction. Very light sandy soils will give reduced yields.

“Growing on very heavy clay soils, particularly if they have underlying poor drainage, may delay sowing dates and make harvesting difficult – as well as causing damage to the soil structure.”

The Department also dealt with the two main maize production systems used in Ireland – namely ‘uncovered’ and ‘covered’.

“The difference between the two systems systems is that covered crops are sown under a thin plastic film, spread over two crop rows, that is applied to the soil surface at the time of sowing,” it said.

This creates a mini-greenhouse effect, which quickly brings about a significant increase in the temperature of the air and soil underneath the cover and allows sowing to be carried out earlier than for uncovered crops.

It is recommended that the standard climate and growing conditions be taken into account when determining the sowing dates, to give best results.

According to agricultural machinery suppliers questioned by the Department, there has been a significant change to the covered system of late. As a result, an estimated 85% of maize is now covered. This is mainly due to the “more consistent quality and yield” of covered crops, compared to the more unpredictable uncovered maize.

The 2017 Maize Recommended List is based on data gathered from DAFM trials from 2014 to 2016. The average sowing and harvesting dates for the trials conducted was April 18 and October 14 respectively. The list itself can be found here.