Corson Maize 2022

Recently awarded 2022 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year, Andrew ’theonceadayfarmer’ Macky has built up quite a following. With just under 14,000 subscribers and collectively over 2 million views on YouTube and Instagram worldwide, to garner a following like Andrew’s, passion is key. The passion for dairying he shares with his audience is the same passion he has for growing maize with Corson Maize.

To watch the video of Andrew’s story visit corsonmaize.co.nz

Corson Maize in collaboration with Dairy Exporter magazine

In this edition of the Corson Maize Dairy Exporter, we are very excited to share our latest developments and business expansion programme, as well as some excellent articles on successful farmers using Corson Maize hybrids.

We’re selling more maize seed each year as growers are finding that our maize hybrids aren’t ‘just all talk’ but are performing in the field. This last season has shown some outstanding results. Everything has been thrown at the crops this season, with very wet conditions to start with at planting, followed by very dry conditions in most areas and then significant challenges from the high humidity causing leaf diseases in northern areas.

Corson Maize hybrids are becoming known as strong and dependable and that doesn’t just happen by accident. We have access to an incredible range of maize genetics from over 10 different companies globally. Although these companies compete with each other overseas, we have the privilege of looking at all they have to offer and selecting the best maize hybrids available for you.

Each year, we review over 100 new hybrids from around the world and over a four year programme refine this list down to the two or three that we think are the best new hybrids for New Zealand farmers annually.

However, some of the Corson Maize hybrids you are currently growing are outstanding! Why would we replace them if the next one isn’t better? Our philosophy is that the next maize hybrid must perform better to replace the previous one. We won’t replace a maize hybrid just to have something new in the market, it must prove its worth. This coming season we have identified a special line-up of hybrids for

dairy farmers. The Dairy Platform Specialist Hybrid (DPS) is a new group of hybrids that can be grown on the dairy platform, specifically on dairy effluent areas, that will provide large quantities of high energy feed for farmers. Simply put, there is a hybrid in each maturity range that is dedicated for your dairy platform. They feature on page 6, if you want to know more. Also, keep an eye out for them in ‘The Maize Book’ from Corson Maize this season. If you would like a copy, you can find it on our website – www. corsonmaize.co.nz or call us on 0800 4 MAIZE (62493) and we will send you a copy.

We have also had significant feedback from growers that we needed to simplify our maize hybrid naming system. Since we provide genetics from many companies, we currently have a mixed naming system. From this season on, you will see a standard naming system for all our maize hybrids which will make it easier to understand where they all fit in relation to each other. Read more about our new naming system on page 13.

As part of our growth, we have also had to expand our seed production facilities in Gisborne. With all our seed grown in New Zealand, it is exciting to see this expansion at Matawhero to ensure we can provide premier quality seed to New Zealand growers. You can find more on the latest Corson Maize development on page 12.

Finally, I can tell you how great our maize hybrids are ‘til the cows come home’, but really, it’s always best coming from those in the field who are actually doing it. Please enjoy a read of some great stories from farmers around New Zealand and their success growing maize from Corson Maize.

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Catering for dry days to come

Dairy platform specialist maize hybrids

Maize silage a reliable, costeffective supplement for dairy platform

Break cropping maize ideal for high-quality permanent pasture on dairy platform

Family team continues to succeed

Where the rivers meet for the community

High-yielding crop and cleaner pastures with Cleancrop™ Toto turnip

Corson Maize growing as quickly as its maize hybrids!

FAR’s profit, resilience and environment

Graeme Austin National Sales Manager Corson Maize

Catering for dry days

to come

GROWING A SUMMER SAFE crop like maize is increasingly crucial as Waikato summers heat up, Paterangi farmer Andrew Macky says.

Andrew grows between five and six hectares of maize each year averaging a yield between 20 and 25 tonnes (t).

“It’s a good summer safe crop, even in a really dry year we still average a 20t crop compared to the average pasture paddock yielding 13t. Plus we can stitch in an annual and get another 8t during winter.”

Maize offers high yields and good tolerance to growing in drought conditions and is also an excellent supplement to feed out to cows during those dry months.

“It’s definitely been a challenging season. I’d say most people are behind. I think the girls have done exceptionally well.”

With pressures on farmers to tackle climate

change and nitrogen leaching, maize could also offer up some solutions, he believes.

“The drier summers we get, I think people will change their systems. They won’t be able to do a System 1 anymore and will use more crops like maize. You have to up your system to get through these dry periods. I think that’s where maize comes into its own, it just tolerates the dry more than ryegrass.”

Andrew also buys in another 25t of maize to top up the bunker. He would consider growing more maize on the platform, but he wants to stay at a System 2. There is always the option of buying in more feed.

“Farming is a game of levers, the more levers you have to pull is beneficial.”

Andrew works alongside his dad, William Macky, on their rolling Waikato farm just outside of Te Awamutu, milking 320 Jerseys Once a Day. Andrew is the fourth generation to work on the family farm. He lives with his wife

With dry summers and pressures to tackle climate change and nitrogen leaching, maize could also offer farmers some solutions, Sheryl Haitana reports.

FARM FACTS:

Farm owner: William & Fiona Macky

Manager: Andrew Macky

Location: Paterangi, Waikato

Area: 96 ha effective (4 ha leased)

Cows: 320 Jerseys

Production: 102,400 kgMS, 320 kgMS/cow

Farm dairy: 16-aside herringbone

System: Once a day, DairyNZ System 2

Supplement: 120t maize silage (6 ha grown on farm), 90t palm kernel, 4 ha chicory

Holly, and their two children, Willy, 3 years, and Frankie, 1.5, with a third on the way in spring this year. Ensuring a sustainable farming future is crucial for his family, and he sees maize as a big part of the picture.

Maize works well for him. Not only does he grow extra feed, he knows he is having minimal impact on the environment. The farm drains into Lake Ngaroto only a few hundred metres away and knowing that the latest research shows maize captures nearly all nitrogen applied, including effluent, from the farm provides peace of mind that the cropping is not having an impact on the lake. This summer he grew Corson Maize PAC 400 (previously known as Plenitude), a Dairy Platform Specialist Hybrid (DPS), for the first time, a hybrid that has high yields of both grain and silage. The hybrid is described to have impressive stature and yield, good stalk and root strength and medium-soft kernel texture with good husk cover.

It has a CRM (comparative relative maturity) of 107 and is ideally placed as a longer hybrid in the upper North Island and East Coast. The crop was planted on virgin maize ground so Andrew used conventional planting, including irrigating the paddocks with effluent, a base fertiliser and lime before cultivating with only one pass before planting. However, he is keen to try some direct drilling. Only about 40% of the farm is cropable. He has one large 5 ha paddock that has typically been used for maize for the last four years, but it was getting a bit tired and he also wanted to tidy up some other paddocks. He planted the maize with two different seed rates of 95,000 and 90,000/ha with 250 kg/ha of DAP fertiliser “down the spout”. The maize also gets a preemergence spray to control weeds.

He got a good strike, however, one paddock did flood after getting 35mm of rain in half an hour and they got a bad patch of willow weed in there. That was the only glitch. The crop was still quite green at harvest this year in late February, which Andrew was told was ideal.

“That’s what you want, green plants with full mature cobs with white husks.”

He typically starts feeding out maize in October through to dry off at the end of May, although he went earlier this year, feeding out in September.

The cows are 1% ahead which Andrew is happy with as other farmers are behind in their production after a tough season.

“I definitely think feeding the maize out earlier this year helped. I usually start feeding out in October but I started in September and the cows were 6% ahead by the end of the calendar year.”

Maize is an unbeatable supplement option to keep the condition on the cows, he says.

“It’s a great feed to keep the weight on and to help the cows hold condition after calving.

“About a month after calving I lift the volume, which gets them in good condition for mating.”

He feeds anywhere from 1 kg/cow up to 6 kg/cow depending on grass cover on the farm.

The farm has a covered feed pad so the cows get the majority of their maize there, mixed with palm kernel, which ensures minimal wastage.

The herd is milked once a day and they typically get their maize in the afternoon on the way to their night paddock. The feedpad is 1km from the farm dairy so that works well to put the cows under the feedpad in the hot afternoons to give them food and shelter. He also added molasses to the maize and palm kernel mix this year because a few cows were not getting into the feed.

“I added some molasses this year which was amazing. They were licking the feed bins clean; they were like dinner plates. I didn’t put much molasses in either.

“I’ll definitely look at doing that again this season to give them a boost as well.”

Andrew has a YouTube Channel, ‘The Once A Day Farmer’. Check out his maize harvest videos and more, visit www.youtube.com /c/TheOnceADayFarmer

Dairy platform

specialist hybrids

SELECTING A MAIZE HYBRID tailored to your farm system can be a daunting task, especially when considering the broad spectrum of hybrids available and performance ratings of various hybrid traits. At Corson Maize, we aim to make your decision easier, so we have identified five specialist hybrids for dairy platforms. These high-yielding hybrids produce energy-dense feed for dairy cows, while being an effective tool to minimise the on-farm environmental footprint.

Home-grown maize is proven to be a real advantage by controlling your supplementary feed costs and providing

an on-farm feed bank to fill feed deficits as required. It is nutritionally beneficial for dairy cows, as it contains low concentrations of crude protein and high concentrations of starch to balance a pasture-based diet. Feeding energydense maize has a positive effect on milk production throughout the season and can alleviate the negative energy balance (loss of body condition) cows experience post-calving. As part of your farm system, growing maize also plays an important part in a successful pasture renewal programme as it helps to establish new weed-free, higher-yielding perennial pastures. Utilising this on-hand feed supplement, you can

improve pasture persistence by avoiding overgrazing and allowing time for pasture recovery. To support the high dry matter production of these hybrids over a short timeframe, there is a high demand for soil nutrients, especially potassium and nitrogen to support plant growth. The nutrient requirement of these hybrids matches the nutrient-rich soils on a dairy platform, achieving win-win outcomes: reducing nitrogen fertiliser costs and minimising the potential risk for nutrient loss to waterways. The overall agronomic performance of the dairy platform specialist (DPS) hybrids is ideal for driving on-farm profitability. Impressive staygreen plants extend the harvest window for greater flexibility and can be taken through for longer, to maximise starch per hectare. Feed palatability and digestibility are not compromised, until the plants start browning off. Refer to the table below for an overview of the hybrid trait performance for the five DPS maize hybrids. The DPS hybrids are identified as hundred series under the PAC naming system (i.e. PAC 100 through to PAC 500) with one available in each plant maturity range. Therefore, it is easy to identify a maize hybrid for any locality suitable to be grown on a dairy platform.

For more information on selecting a maize hybrid for your dairy farm, contact your local seed retailer or your Corson Maize Sales Agronomist.

CORSON MAIZE HYBRIDS

Maize silage

a reliable, cost-effective supplement for dairy platform

HARD WORK, LAND development and dairy farming are deeply entrenched in the psyche of Dinah and Arran Simpson from Oromahoe, Northland.

The pair purchased their first farm in 1981, the 144-hectare (ha) property was in poor condition with gorse accounting for at least 40% of land cover.

Recommissioning the old, disused cowshed, they started milk production with 80 dairy cows in the 1982/83 season. That season marked one of the worst droughts on record. Despite these initial setbacks, the Simpsons overcame adversity and managed to expand their holdings to 600 ha and 100 ha runoff.

Nowadays, the farm supports a 500-strong milking herd of predominantly Friesian cows on a 170-ha platform, while running a beef cattle finishing system on the balance of the property. Both operations are well integrated with offspring raised on farm. Bobby calves are either sold as stores or finished, with replacement heifers joining the dairy herd.

In 2015, daughter Anna and sonin-law Doug became involved in the family business as 50/50 sharemilkers. Introducing their passion and expertise, they have taken the dairy platform to new heights and profitability, while the beef finishing and cropping operations are successfully run by son, Ross Simpson. High in-calf rates, reliable milk production and consistent body condition scores (BCS) are recorded throughout the season for the dairy cows. The Simpsons attribute these results to best practice pasture management and incorporating maize silage as a supplementary feed.

Maize is grown as a break crop in their pasture renewal programme. It is an effective tool that helps to increase pasture persistence through a variety of cultivation, weed control and drainage improvements. This helps to keep costs

low but also ensures a constant supply of supplement on a yearly basis as it is always on hand to feed whenever it is required.

Arran says that his high-producing dairy cows benefit hugely from maize silage as it provides a high-quality feed that nutritionally balances a pasture-based diet. Combined with the seasonal variations in pasture quality and production, maize silage is hard to beat. It is an ideal low-cost supplement that reduces climatic risk by filling genuine feed deficits.

For seven consecutive seasons, they have recorded an 82% cow submission rate over a three-week period and a 7% empty cow rate after a total 10-week mating term. These results are a testament to the benefits of feeding maize silage.

When initially considering maize as a supplement, the Simpsons trialled three maize seed companies and found Corson Maize hybrids to be the best on delivering consistent yield results. Corson Maize demonstrated a higher tolerance to leaf disease, variable temperature and moisture stress. On farm they grow PAC 343 and PAC 344 maize hybrids recording average crop yields upwards of 22 tonnes (t) per ha.

Maize silage continues to be the most cost-effective supplement to support dairy cow nutrition and promote milksolids (MS) production. To ensure they

achieve a high-yielding maize crop, the Simpsons focus on paddock selection, soil preparation and maize nutrient requirements. The dairy platform offers an optimal supply of nutrients to support growing maize and as a result, maize reduces residual nitrogen in the soil and the potential risk of leaching.

So, what is the secret to their success? The Simpsons place a high value on their support partners. The agronomic advice and aftersales service from Corson Maize are second to none, plus local contractors Alexander Ag are essential with maize planting and harvesting. Arran is a strong believer that “to be successful, you must have a strong team around you”.

Besides that, the true satisfaction for Dinah and Arran comes from seeing their family happy and successful in farming, while supporting one another in the local community.

A final word of advice from the Simpsons: “Have a plan, create a vision, keep an eye on the goal and, above all, never give up!”

More details

For information and advice on growing Corson Maize hybrids in your farm system, contact your local rural retailer or contact our team on 0800 4 MAIZE.

Break cropping maize ideal for high-quality

permanent pasture on dairy platform

ANDREW AND JASMINE

Strawbridge sharemilk a 202-hectare (ha) dairy property situated about 10 minutes south west of Pirongia, Waikato. This is a system 3 unit, with a strong focus on maintaining cows at peak condition in order to achieve the best production out of them. The Strawbridges have a mixed herd of Jersey and Friesian breeds, all of which are impressive milk producers. The cows are fed a mixture of maize silage, grass silage and pasture, with some in-shed fed dried distillers’ grain (DDG) and palm kernel extract (PKE).

The Strawbridges grow around 11 ha of maize on the run-off every year. The run-off blocks are re-planted back into annual ryegrass after the maize has been harvested, which is cut in the spring and stacked at the home farm.

Andrew grows a mid-maturing hybrid PAC344 for his maize silage on the run-off block. Considering the wet spring and dry summer, PAC344 produced an impressive 23 tonnes (t)/ha on average over the entire planted area with an ideal harvest dry matter (DM) content for his maize silage at 34%, producing a high-quality milking feed. PAC344 is a very stable hybrid, well adapted to the Pirongia area and despite the drought conditions was able to produce large cobs 18-20 kernels round.

For the upcoming season, the Strawbridges are planting maize on the dairy platform as part of their regrassing programme.

The maize paddocks on the platform will be rotated, allowing for new permanent pastures to be sown and the opportunity to reduce the weed population. Using this paddock rotation strategy, the Strawbridges can utilise their on-farm effluent to help keep fertiliser costs down, while recycling the nutrients captured in the cow’s effluent to help grow their high-yielding maize crops.

The Strawbridges have plans to grow their dairy operation, aspiring to milk 820 cows next season with taking on a lease

farm. With the rising costs of supplementary feed and inputs, maize silage will play a critical part in this business expansion. Through rotating the dairy platform paddocks to improve pastures and growing highyielding maize crops by utilising on-farm effluent, they will be able to provide their cows with year-round high-quality feed to maintain cow condition and keep producing the milksolids required to achieve their goal.

Andrew and Jasmine are loyal followers of Corson Maize. Andrew was introduced to Corson Maize while dairy farming in the Manawatu and has been impressed with the performance of their hybrids.

Providing farmers like the Strawbridges with a stable portfolio of excellent hybrids is the primary focus of Corson Maize and we look forward to supporting more dairy operations like this in the future.

“Maize silage is an integral part of our business, helping us achieve high milksolids production per cow”

– Andrew Strawbridge

Family teamcontinues to succeed

RIC AND JULIE McDONALD

run a 256-hectare (ha) dairy farm in Puketurua, an idyllic location close to Lake Arapuni, 11 kilometres west of Putaruru, Waikato. Originally an 80-ha block owned by Ric’s parents, the McDonalds are second generation farmers who through land acquisition have grown the property into today’s self-contained operation.

In 1989 Ric’s parents moved their family from their home farm at Te Rapa in Hamilton. They anticipated the spread of Hamilton out in the direction of Te Rapa which is now a vast industrial and shopping centre. They seized the opportunity to move to the then 80 ha in the quiet and fertile locality where the family is now based.

Divided into two dairy platforms, they have 165 ha allocated to spring calving and 70 ha for winter milking. The remaining land, plus a further 14 ha leased area, is utilised for cropping and rearing replacement heifers for the dairy herd.

Although actively still involved, with Ric helping out day to day and Julie managing the administration and supervising all the affairs on the farm including rearing all the calves, they are managing to step back with the support from son Dylan who is now contract milking on the winter calving farm and daughter Kirsty who is managing the spring milk operation.

Average production for the last few seasons has been 300,000 kilograms (kg) of milksolids (MS). The autumn-calving dairy herd of 240 cows accounted for 115,000 kgMS, while the 450 springcalving cows provided 185,000 kgMS.

Both units are high producing and fit between a system 4 and 5 type farm, leaning towards a system 4 where approximately 30% of feed is brought in the form of vegetable waste, as well as having in-shed feeding systems for both units feeding blended feeds.

On an annual basis, the McDonalds plant around 26 ha of maize on farm. The

harvested crop produces one tonne (t) of dry matter (DM) of feed per cow. Homegrown maize silage helps to control their supplementary feed costs by being available on hand to be fed exactly when needed and allows them to avoid the price volatility associated with purchasing feed. Maize silage also contains a high concentration of energy to nutritionally balance a pasture-based diet.

In addition to assisting with control of their supplementary feed supply, maize is grown to renovate the farm pastures. They utilise a two-year programme of either millet or maize then into permanent pasture or maize followed by maize and then permanent pasture. In between each crop, annual ryegrasses are grown to bolster the winter feed with Tama annual ryegrass utilised and sown at 40 kg/ha.

This past season has been an outstanding one for Ric and Julie’s maize crops. They planted PAC 432 in early October. A mid-season maturing hybrid with a 105 CRM, PAC 432 is a top performer suitable for silage and grain growers. The 26 ha grown was divided into two areas with 13.5 ha producing 28.2 tDM/ha and 12.5 ha producing a phenomenal 29.7 tDM/ha (average over both blocks 28.92 tDM/ha). Harvested by local contractor Holmes and Chittick, they measured the yield through their yield monitor which had been calibrated with measurements over certified scales to ensure an accurate assessment of yield.

“We’ve achieved a record yield this season, our bunkers are overflowing with maize silage.” According to Ric, it is a significant yield as harvest results in the South Waikato district have been around 20-22 tDM/ha this season. Attributing the crop’s performance to best practice crop management, Ric explains, “it’s important to get the basics right: a fine, firm and weed-free seed bed, good fertiliser and selecting the right hybrid. Once you’ve got the foundation laid, then you can watch the maize crop do its thing.”

Maize silage allows them to accumulate

a feed bank coming into winter. It is valuable for on-farm feed supply to fill feed deficits as required.

The McDonalds ensure the ensiled maize silage is well compacted and covered, allowing it to be stored for months without any loss to feed quality. Leveraging this on-hand feed supply, they can feed out at any time helping to manage pasture covers and enhancing milk production throughout the season.

The maize silage is fed on a feed pad on each of the dairy platforms to minimise wastage. “We flood wash the wintering pads and the resultant slurry is stored in effluent ponds.

The dairy effluent is then applied when soil conditions are suitable. Effluent irrigation allows us to deposit nutrients back into the soil, where it can be utilised by forage crops,” explains Ric. The McDonalds plant their maize crops on the dairy platform to reduce nitrogen fertiliser inputs and manage soil nutrients.

Throughout the maize cropping process, they are supported by their local PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative, Mark Enevoldsen, and Corson Maize Sales Agronomist Andrew Emslie. “I rely on Mark and Andrew for their expertise and technical advice to maximise the performance of my maize crop. They come around on a regular basis to monitor the crops.

I’ve never had to chase them up, they turn up and get the job done. I know I can depend on them,” Ric says. Having this strong support network has given Ric and Julie the confidence to start stepping back from the business, ready for the next generation in the McDonald family.

Where the rivers meet for the community

ON THE MAIN ROAD between Woodville and Mangatainoka sits the Te Aute Ngawapurua dairy farm owned by the Te Aute Trust Board with proceeds funding education at the Te Aute Boys College and Hukarere Girls College in the Hawke’s Bay.

The giving doesn’t stop there and that is where our story starts. Local Corson Maize Sales Agronomist Richard Reid was contacted in regard to helping provide sweetcorn seed to be grown with the maize after a successful trial the previous year. Farm contract milkers, Shaun Dettling and Pam Thompson, have hearts of gold and wanted to do something personal for the local community and growing sweetcorn was the opportunity. Impressed by this local initiative, Richard sought to get involved and Corson Maize donated sweetcorn seed that was grown on farm. The harvested cobs were given to members of the local community.

The 190-hectare (ha) farm is situated at the point where the Mangatainoka, Tiraumea and Manawatu rivers meet and as such has some high-quality alluvial soils. Shaun and Pam run a tight ship with their farm consultant, Martin Boyle from BakerAg. Regular planning and monitoring are essential to ensure the

425 cows they contract milk perform well. They use maize silage to fill feed gaps through the spring and autumn. It is also fed to lift cow condition prewinter to support an extended lactation. An added benefit of maize silage is that it is low in protein and therefore reduces the amount of urinary nitrogen the cows excrete on the pasture. This reduces the amount of nitrogen leached into the waterways close to the farm, supporting the kaitiaki (guardianship) focus that Shaun and Pam have for this land and its environment that they hold dear to their hearts.

This year they grew PAC 007 (previously known as Booster) which is a great 81 CRM maize hybrid and it had plenty of interest this season, from locals who were driving past. The maize crop was around three metres tall, very green, leafy and right up until harvest, with a great cob. It was planted at 98,000 plants per ha. At harvest, the crop weighed in at 22.7 tonnes of dry matter per ha over the 10 ha grown.

The shift to growing maize on farm five years ago, along with a similar turnip area, and the associated pasture renovation has resulted in more high performing pastures each year dramatically improving their pasture production.

More details

At Corson Maize we love to see and work with like-minded, passionate people who are committed to protecting the land and supporting their local community. If you would like to know more about Corson Maize and their hybrids, please call your local rural retailer or your local Corson Maize Sales Agronomist on 0800 4 MAIZE today.

and cleaner pastures with Cleancrop™ Toto turnip High-yielding crop

CLEANCROP™ TOTO TURNIP, a new early maturing summer turnip by PGG Wrightson Seeds, has ticked the box for both high quality summer protein feed and cleaner new pastures for Pahiatua dairy farmers Grant and Charlotte Bennett.

Grant and Charlotte farm at Mangamaire on a 240-hectare (ha) dairy platform, milking 500 cows and winter milking 140 cows. Being a System 2 farm, they focus on growing high-yielding crops to maximise dry matter (DM) production to grow as much feed as possible on farm, currently growing 15-16 tDM/ha of homegrown feed consistently.

After an unsuccessful period growing turnips, due to ongoing challenges with weed control hindering crop yield potential, their local field representative recommended Cleancrop™ Toto turnip as an effective solution. The Cleancrop™ Brassica System combines the power of broad-spectrum herbicide Telar® and plants bred to resist it. The Bennett’s were able to use Telar® to target and control their key problem weeds from the time of sowing, giving the turnips the best possible start. Weed competition can reduce the nutritional value of crops and cause a significant reduction in yield. Grant has been very impressed with the results.

“Cleancrop™ provides us with peace of mind, as it maximises crop performance with upfront weed control, plus the added benefit of cleaner new pastures following the crop is a real positive.”

Last spring, they planted 15 ha of Cleancrop™ Toto turnip to bolster their summer feed budget. Despite being drilled in wet conditions, the crop appeared to be unaffected by this setback and managed to produce 13-14 tDM/ha. Achieving a high yielding crop in a short timeframe diluted their fixed costs (for example, drilling, fertiliser and crop protection), reducing the feed cost to 7 c/kgDM. A daily feed allocation of 5 kgDM per cow was given to

the milking herd. The turnips provided a high yielding, high-quality protein feed that was critical to maintaining peak milk production as pasture quality declined through the summer months enabling the cows to hold daily production at 1.6 kg of milksolids (MS) per cow over January. Grant was pleased with the excellent crop utilisation that the turnips offered, and used long, narrow breaks to increase feed intake and reduce crop wastage. Grant explained that “with pasture yield lower than average, Toto turnip is an ideal supplementary feed. Without this summer brassica crop the milk production curve would most definitely have fallen away.” With the addition of the crop, he was able to extend the rotation length and push more feed forward, increasing days in milk.

Home grown turnips have provided a low-cost, reliable feed supply over the summer months. It is difficult to source supplementary feed with megajoules of metabolisable energy (MJME) and protein levels close to summer brassicas at that time of year. The crop-fed cows have had a higher quality diet resulting in improved milksolids production and maintained body condition.

Once the turnips had been grazed, the added benefit of no weed residue

provided an ideal seed bed for sowing new perennial pasture. Grant mentioned that “not battling with residual weed stubble alleviated drilling problems which was really helpful. Using the Cleancrop™ system also reduced the number of weed seeds added to the seedbank.” The new perennial pastures planted this season, Vast AR37 and Base AR37, are weed-free and set up to provide high-quality, longterm DM production. “It is a real benefit to the farm system getting these pastures sown quickly, it is critical to the longevity and production potential,” Grant explained.

Cleancrop™ Toto turnip is a great high-yielding summer and autumn bulb turnip with early maturity that allows it to be grazed 55 days after sowing. The soft, tankard bulb shape promotes excellent crop utilisation by grazing animals and is now a part of the Bennett’s regrassing programme.

More details

For more information on how you might benefit from incorporating Cleancrop™ brassicas into your farm system, talk to a PGG Wrightson Seeds Sales Agronomist or your local seed retailer.

Corson Maize, Growing as Quickly as its

Maize Hybrids!

AN UPDATE ON ALL THINGS CORSON MAIZE

At Corson Maize, our maize seed genetics are sourced from more maize seed companies from around the world than anyone else in New Zealand. We leverage our strong relationships with international seed suppliers to ensure we offer maize hybrids that deliver proven, robust performance. The genetic diversity available to us means that we are able to select hybrids that are better able to withstand the environmental stresses in New Zealand.

Our supplier partners collectively account for over 60% of the total area grown for maize in Europe and over 50% of planted maize area in the USA. This range of genetic diversity ensures that Corson Maize can supply robust hybrids that are well-adapted to environmental challenges.

The vast majority of our hybrid genetics derive from Europe, as the Mediterranean climate is similar to New Zealand conditions. Reviewing the maize hybrids supplied by these seed companies, Corson Maize selects high-performance hybrids well-equipped to endure New Zealand’s environmental stresses. We produce all of the maize seed supplied through our newly expanded seed processing facility at Matawhero, Gisborne.

On an annual basis more than 100 new maize hybrids are sourced from our international supplier base and trialled in New Zealand. At Corson Maize, we review and assess the hybrid traits and performance metrics of each new maize hybrid, analysing these against our existing product range, before selecting those with potential to benefit New Zealand growers.

Following initial selection, the most promising maize hybrid will be rigorously trialled for up to four years at our regional research sites.

Throughout this thorough testing period, hybrids can be dropped at any time; usually, two or three hybrids make the final selection out of an initial 100-strong test group. To

make the grade, a new hybrid must demonstrate significantly higher performance results, either increased yield potential or improved agronomic traits, than existing commercial options in the New Zealand maize market. Those that endure through with robust performance will be released as a full commercial maize hybrid to New Zealand growers.

GISBORNE SEED PRODUCTION FACILITY

Over the past year, the business has focused on ongoing developments to support the growing demand for Corson Maize hybrids.

A notable milestone has been an infrastructural expansion of the Matawhero production facility to increase our seed processing capacity. Located 8 kilometres west of central Gisborne, the production site is beside the PGG Wrightson sale yards.

Established six years ago, the initial facility was designed for sweetcorn and maize seed production to supply New Zealand growers and export markets. A supporting operational site in Gisborne facilitated seed production by assisting with seed treatment application, bagging, dispatch and distribution of seed throughout New Zealand. Recent developments involved selling the Gisborne site and consolidating current operations onto one site at Matawhero.

The development project is scheduled for completion in June 2022. The site expansion has doubled our seed processing capacity with a larger drying facility, new storage areas (including climate-controlled storage), and onsite seed treating and bagging operations. The Matawhero site is newly dedicated to Corson Maize and the sole production of maize seed to meet the growing demand for our hybrids.

If you are passing through Gisborne, we invite you to come and take a look around our new production facilities. Register your interest with local Sales Agronomist Richard Reid for a guided tour.

NEWSTEAD DEMONSTRATION SITE

A new Corson Maize research site has opened in Newstead. Bordering onto State Highway 26, it is easily accessible and situated 12 kilometres outside of Hamilton. We have six research sites strategically located throughout the North Island, plus one in Canterbury, South Island. These sites provide regional research and a practical demonstration site, showcasing our maize hybrids in real-life scenarios in the local regional environment.

These research sites feature a variety of trials, both under commercial farming and trial conditions, designed to assist with maize hybrid selection. The Newstead site has some interesting trial work currently underway on planting populations and the corresponding yield performance to develop regional-specific recommendations.

Another research trial focuses on soil moisture enhancers and the effect on dry matter production in dry conditions. When applied to the soil at low rates, it is able to retain soil moisture for an extended period with a slow-release, alleviating moisture stress for plants under low rainfall, dry conditions. The initial results are promising for this product.

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is undertaking critical research on identifying ways to reduce the carbon footprint of growing maize. This trial research is examining the benefits of growing cover crops over the fallow period between maize crops and comparing the best tillage practices to minimise soil cultivation impact on carbon release.

NEW PRODUCT NAMING SYSTEM

Corson Maize sources maize hybrids from over ten international seed suppliers. As a result of our diverse global supplier base, we

have adopted a wide range of maize hybrid names and identification systems. However, recent grower and retailer feedback has suggested a simplified and easier to understand approach to naming these maize hybrids. Following on from this, we can confirm a new standardised identification system for Corson Maize hybrids. The PAC numbering system is already utilised for a number of our hybrids. The names of some existing hybrids have been updated to align under this framework.

Under this system, a hybrid will be identified by the initials ‘PAC’ followed by three numbers. The first number denotes the plant maturity range for the hybrid and the following two numbers are its assigned identification. The newly introduced dairy platform specialist (DPS) maize hybrids are identified as a hundred series under the PAC naming system (i.e. PAC 100 through to PAC 500) with one available in each plant maturity range. Refer to the table above for a clear understanding of the PAC numbering system and how it relates to the industry standard comparative relative maturity (CRM).

For example, PAC 430 is a hybrid identified as pertaining to the PAC ‘4’ plant maturity category equivalent to 105-109 CRM. PAC 430 falls within this plant maturity range with a 108 CRM. The last two numbers ‘30’ refer to its identification.

More details

To learn more about Corson Maize hybrids, visit our website www.corsonmaize.co.nz or contact your local Sales Agronomist.

Table 1. PAC NUMBERING AND CRM PLANT MATURITY RANGE

Profit, resilience

and environment…

By: David Densley Senior Researcher: Maize, FAR

FAR’S MAIZE RESEARCH and extension programme has undergone a strategic review and an on-the-ground ‘redo’ in the last couple of years. Led by Senior Maize Researcher, David Densley, the programme has expanded well beyond the Northern Crop Research Site at Tamahere.

David explains that the revised programme is based on the PREfocus approach. P-R-E stands for the three, firmly interwoven, themes of profitability, resilience and environment.

“It’s pretty hard to separate the three, there is so much overlap. A profitable farm business needs to be able to withstand the impacts of weather, markets, and a range of other factors… in other words, the farming system needs to be resilient. For maize growers, a big part of that resilience comes from having uniform and healthy maize plants, which can better withstand whatever a season throws at them. This is where soil quality is so important. The best maize hybrid in the world won’t yield to its full potential if it’s planted into sub-par soils.”

With this in mind, soil management and nutrient-use efficiency are key components of the ‘environment’ part of the PRE-focus programme, with a lot of research investment in the area of understanding the pros and cons of different maize crop establishment techniques.

“Developing good strip-till and no-till practice principles for maize establishment is about more than reducing the amount of time on a tractor. Strip-till and no-till are considered important practices for maintaining and improving soil quality. Advantages include building soil organic matter, keeping soil in the paddock, preventing sediment and phosphate from entering

waterways, and, thanks to fewer hours of burning diesel, the potential opportunity to reduce whole-farm carbon emissions.

“Nitrogen (N) use efficiency is another research area with several research projects currently underway, each aiming to identify a range of potential benefits. N, in the form of nitrous oxide, is the major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions from arable crops. It also contributes to water quality issues as a result of leaching into waterways. Thus, FAR’s research into improving N use efficiency within the maize production system, i.e. reducing overall N inputs without compromising yield or quality, will contribute to key environmental outcomes around emissions and freshwater. It will also potentially save growers a lot of money on their fertiliser spend.

“Cover cropping is another area of research which can improve maize profitability, resilience, and environmental outcomes, but different approaches are required for maize grain and maize silage systems. FAR research to date has included comparing potential cover crop species and cultivars, and their development rates; looking at the impact of cover crops on weed suppression in maize grain and silage systems; managing cover crop C:N ratios

and soil N mineralisation, and planting maize into ‘green’ cover crops using reduced tillage methods. A series of cover crop field days, following winter cover crops and maize through from sowing to harvest, has proved very popular.”

In the past, the majority of FAR’s maize establishment and cover crop research has been carried out on FAR’s Northern Crop Research Site at Tamahere, just outside Hamilton. However, under the revised research programme, a number of trials are now being undertaken on commercial farms from Te Awamutu to the Hauraki Plains. This approach provides many benefits including showcasing the different establishment systems on different soil types and reducing the amount of travel required by Waikato growers wishing to attend on-site field events. Maize growers from other regions around New Zealand are also welcome and encouraged to attend these events.

Additionally, maize forage quality is also being measured across treatments at some sites, with milk production/kg and milk production/ha modelled and all trials undergoing financial analysis to calculate gross margins based on treatments and yields.

For more information on FAR’s maize research, see far.org.nz

Cameron Hussey joined the Corson Maize team eight months ago.We put some questions to him about his agricultural journey and his time with us so far:

QWhere are you from and what agricultural influences did you have growing up?

I’m from Whanganui. Growing up on a small block in Westmere nurtured my interest in agriculture, even with rearing calves and lambs or helping stack the dusty, hot sheds with conventional bales, my passion grew. I decided to move to Christchurch to study a Bachelor of Commerce in agriculture at Lincoln University to continue developing my knowledge and drive for the industry.

QWhat was your first step into the agriculture industry?

My real first step into the industry was as a PGG Wrightson Customer Service Representative. I was 21 years old, delivering seed and chemical orders to farms. I was always intrigued by the reasoning behind planting a particular crop on farm or why they used a specific chemical, which in turn led to becoming a trainee and then a Technical Field Representative (TFR) for PGG Wrightson.

QWhen was your first encounter with the dairy industry, and maize as a product?

As a trainee TFR, I had gained a lot of knowledge about growing crops but did not truly understand the beneficial return of them until becoming fully involved in my client’s dairy farm. I was always looking for ways to add value and drive profitability of their dairy operation, which led to recommending maize as a feed option for his winter milkers and that marks the start of my journey with maize.

QWhat influenced you to become passionate about maize?

My interest in maize was founded in the realisation that the agricultural industry must become more farm-smart. With import feed prices increasing and the global pressure for sustainable farming, maize is an effective tool to keep the dairy industry producing at a high level. Not many crops offer an all-round solution.

QWhen did you join the Corson Maize team, and what have been the highlights so far?

Highlights so far have been learning about the extensive genetic diversity and the exciting new hybrids that will hopefully come through in years to come. I think the approach Corson Maize takes to select new hybrids focuses on what New Zealand farmers really want – not every farm has perfect soils, so they need robust performance hybrids that can withstand tough environmental conditions.

QWhat are your biggest influences outside of your job?

My wife and I have recently built our new home on a few acres and are now very busy fencing, planting trees and landscaping our gardens, so I’m going to need to ask for a pay rise already. I’m a man that loves the outdoors. My friends and I love hunting and tramping; when I’m not in mud, I’m in the water diving off the coast of Patea for crayfish.

CORSON MAIZE SALES AGRONOMY TEAM

CRAIG BOOTH SALES AGRONOMIST

 Northland/North Auckland

 027 213 1628

 cbooth@corsonmaize.co.nz

MARIA KLAUS SALES AGRONOMIST

 Central Waikato

 027 231 8140

 mklaus@corsonmaize.co.nz

MIKE TURNER SALES AGRONOMIST

 King Country

 027 406 6228

 mturner@corsonmaize.co.nz

CAMERON HUSSEY SALES AGRONOMIST

 Taranaki/Southern North Island

 027 290 3737

 chussey@corsonmaize.co.nz

ARTHUR SHORT SALES AGRONOMIST

 South Auckland/North Waikato

 027 643 2360

 ashort@corsonmaize.co.nz

ANDREW EMSLIE SALES AGRONOMIST

 Bay of Plenty/Southern Waikato

 027 839 7317

 aemslie@corsonmaize.co.nz

GRAEME AUSTIN NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

 Nationwide

 027 433 0161

 gaustin@corsonmaize.co.nz

CORSON

MIKE TURNER SENIOR RESEARCH AGRONOMIST

 Nationwide

 027 406 6228

 mturner@corsonmaize.co.nz

RICHARD REID SALES AGRONOMIST

 Gisborne/Hawke's Bay/Wairarapa

 027 200 2628

 rreid@corsonmaize.co.nz

CHRIS SANDERS SALES AGRONOMIST

 South Island

 027 596 3574

 csanders@pggwrightsonseeds.co.nz

TIM REYNOLDS RESEARCH AGRONOMIST

 Nationwide

 027 211 2742

 treynolds@corsonmaize.co.nz

MAIZE CORSON.MAIZE  CORSONMAIZE.CO.NZ