Approximately 40,000ac of maize have been planted out in Ireland this year. According to Maizetech’s John Foley, this is on a par with previous seasons.

He told Agriland: “Approximately 85% of crops have been sown out under plastic.

“For the most part, crops were sown out in excellent conditions during April.

"But a combination of rain, sleet and continuous night-time frosts during the entire month of May, wreaked a heavy toll on crops.

Foley said that the experience of this year may well deter any growers from planting maize without a cover in the future.

But the good news is that a combination of readily available soil moisture and excellent levels of heat, have served to boost crop growth rates significantly.

“Most crops are where we would expect them to be at this time of the year,” said Foley.

According to the Maizetech representative, the vast bulk of the field work is now completed, where maize crops are concerned.

He explained: “Weed management is controlled at planting and during a six-week period thereafter.

“Farmers have the option of spraying for the problem, as required.”

Foley also confirmed that increasing numbers of Irish farmers are growing maize to produce grain.

“Yields of between 5t and 6t/ac can be expected. Driving this trend is the fact that corn prices have increased so quickly over recent months," Foley explained.

“Going down the grain route is a decision taken at time of planting, as it is very much a variety dependent option.

The Maizetech representative concluded: “Where silage is concerned maize crops can yield up to 8t of dry matter [DM]/ac. The forage is now regarded as an indispensable component of most winter milk operations in Ireland.

"The forage can also drive performance within all beef finishing enterprises.”