A FARM open day will next week look at the prospects for this autumn’s maize harvest in North Yorkshire.

This summer has been one of the wettest, combined with one of the lowest levels of sunshine on record.

But Steve Allen of KW Alternative Feeds believes many growers will be pleased with their maize crop when they walk into the fields to gauge maturity and harvest date.

“Many people haven’t walked through the gate since spraying in June and crops are large and bulky with starch being laid down in the grains,”

he said.

“We sample crops every week at Metcalfe Farms in Leyburn and the grain is now laying down solid starch, although the leaf is still dark green and hasn’t started senescing.

“We are currently tracking last year’s dry down curve so we are optimistic of clamping good silage.”

Realistically, he would not expect any crops to be ready before the end of this week, although some crops near York could then be ready to chop.

Mr Allen said the key to a successful crop was to select a variety capable of reaching full maturity in Yorkshire every season.

It needs to be grown on a free-draining soil – preferably facing into the sun – kept weed-free, and given sufficient fertiliser to maximise yields.

“Seedbeds and compaction are always critical to getting the crop off to a good start and this year it has been especially pronounced that those crops drilled into a poor seedbed have suffered from capping and waterlogging,” said Mr Allen.

KW Alternative Feeds, in association with Grainseed Ltd, is holding the maize open day at the Metcalfe’s Thorney Farm, Spennithorne, near Leyburn, on Tuesday, between 1pm and 4.30pm There will be the full range of varieties on show, discussions on harvesting and how to maximise the feeding benefits of maize in this winter’s ration.

Mr Allen said all growers are encouraged to be patient and allow the crop to mature naturally.

The optimum dry matter for forage intake is 30pc.

“Cutting too early reduces palatability and increases the risk of effluent production with sugars being lost as they haven’t been converted to starch,” he said.

“Keep chop length around 20mm so that there is rumen scratch factor and load the clamp in thin layers, rolling all the time.”

The field on show has been growing trial plots of maize for 15 years and has a typical harvest date of October 20.

Mr Allen will be on hand along with John Hardy and Neil Groom of Grainseed.

Thorney farm is approximately two miles from Leyburn and will be signposted off the A684 road to Bedale.