Following a favourable year for maize this past season, might this be enough to tempt growers back to later maturing varieties, despite the risks associated with delayed harvest dates? CPM takes a look at some of the options available.
“Growers who’ve taken a leap of faith and opted for an ultra early type have found the crop has exceeded their yield expectations.” BEN LOWE
By Janine Adamson
Maize was subjected to drought and an exceptionally early harvest for many UK growers in 2025. However, in the Scottish Borders and south Wales in particular, the optimum combination of adequate soil moisture and warm temperatures proved a perfect scenario, points out Agrii’s Ben Lowe.
“This came off the back of another wet autumn in 2024, meaning growers had reached for earlier maturing varieties to ensure a prompt harvest and good entry for the following crop in the rotation,” he continues.
“The demand for forage also continues to be high. But, despite an extreme year for maize and the temptation of potential additional yield from later maturing material, we must encourage growers to stick with early varieties.”
He adds that on paper, the yield performance of ultra early varieties is often perceived to be low compared with later options, due to the way BSPB descriptive list trials have historically been harvested. “In harvesting at 40% dry matter, this means ultra early varieties are being cut around 3-4 weeks later than convention, and the data reflects that.
“Subsequently, those growers who’ve taken a leap of faith and opted for an ultra early type have found the crop has exceeded their yield expectations.”
SHIFT IN PROTOCOL
Ben explains that the DL is now moving to a three-cut system to accommodate harvesting early, as well as harvesting ultra early varieties at a more appropriate time, although this will take around three years to reflect fully within data. “Therefore regional on-farm trials are critical in supporting the DL during that transition period,” he comments.
Looking at some of the options Agrii has been trialling at Field Hall Farm near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, LG Gema has continued to be reliable, thus leading the way, suggests Ben. “At FAO 150 it’s among the first to truly mature, offering 17.3tDM/ha, 107% relative starch yield, and 95% relative ME.
“It delivers an early harvest without paying significant yield penalties – we believe Gema set the stage of a new beginning for ultra early varieties.”
According to Ben, Gema has proven to be one of the most popular varieties in the local region (south Staffordshire), but with seed supply limited in 2024, a valid alternative would be KWS Leto (FAO 150). “Leto is arguably the stand-out variety, especially when it’s grown in challenging conditions.
“It seems drought tolerant and able to hold itself, perhaps due to its extensive rooting system. It’s also an additional 8-10 days earlier to mature, and still achieves nearly 17tDM/ha.
“The only watch-out is that Leto retains its colour well – it’ll be greener for longer – which provides a wider harvest window, so it can be deceiving to know when it’s actually ready to harvest.”
Then, in the ‘early’ camp, is LG Harmony at FAO 170. Ben believes this is a ‘next level’ variety based on its high yield, starch and ME levels, in addition to offering an early harvest date. “Harmony has been an exceptional variety for both favourable and less favourable regions.
“If you planted an area of Harmony in addition to Leto, it’d stagger harvest dates and on-farm workloads nicely,” he suggests.
Also at FAO 170 is KWS Pasco, which has been a benchmark variety at the trial site in Staffordshire, raises Ben. “We believe this should be a variety which sticks around for a while, after all, growers don’t like swapping for no reason.”
Finally, among the latest maturing varieties that Ben is recommending to growers in the area is DSV Forttuno (FAO 190) – an early maturing type with proven performance. “This would be ideal for those growing maize rotationally.
“It’s smart and robust with smaller spindles, it’s a great all-rounder that really suits those growing maize as a cash crop. Forttuno was identified within Agrii trials for its suitability and position within the UK market,” concludes Ben.
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. Read the article in full here.
For more articles like this, subscribe here.
Sign up for Crop Production Magazine’s FREE e-newsletter here.
