Maize silage is a key driver in the high production system for the summer months on the Tymenson farm at Cora Lynn.
Wayne Tymenson saw increasing dairy farmer demand for maize silage as an opportunity to increase farm income at the same time renovating peat loam paddocks. Maize silage has been used as a break crop in the summer in between wheat and potato crops.
Starting with shorter season varieties in the early 2000’s, the Tymenson family experimented with mid and long season varieties. Working closely with Adam Fisher from Notman Pasture Seeds, Mr. Tymenson said they decided to settle on the proven mid season variety Pioneer P1467.
Mr Tymenson said he had moved back to a mid-season variety to maximise grain and silage yields. “We moved from shorter season to full season varieties, and have come back to the mid-season variety of P1467”.
“With the P1467 we have been chasing better yields this season. It’s been a successful crop with higher yields reaching our targets”.
In the 2016/17 season, 30 hectares of the P1467 was precision drilled at 100,000 seeds per hectare on November 11th & 12th.
To eliminate summer grasses and flatweed infestation, the paddocks were prepared and sprayed with pre and post emergent herbicides.
The crop was irrigated with 400ML over the entire growing period.
“Wayne is a professional grower who pays attention to detail. The high maize yields result from doing the basics right. There was a well prepared weed-free seed bed in mid-October” said Mr. Fisher.
To maximise crop performance the P1467 was planted with 250kg of DAP, 20m3 chicken manure and 500kg _____ (828).
Harvested on March 24th, the P1467 met the farm’s yield target of 30 tDM/ha, with 33% DM.
Mr Tymenson will continue to grow Pioneer 1467 on his Cora Lynn property to supply the demand of local dairy farmer’s high quality maize silage.
P1467
CRM 114
