Is grain maize set to plug gap left in arable rotation?

摘要

Grain maize as an alternative to other arable crops such as beet throws up a lot of 'ifs', but arable producers are starting to examine the possibilities of growing the crop and selling it on as a high energy livestock feed. Michael Finch reports. Ifyou are prepared to combine in November, then maize for grain can compete with wheat and could prove a successful break to replace beet. If there are contractors out there prepared to invest in headers, then more farmers might take up the option and thebusiness grow. If climate change is everything it is cracked up to be then maize as a crop for grain could be grown across far more of Britain and far further north. Those are some of the 'ifs' surrounding the crop and in the Vale of York where some former beet growers are scratching their heads and wondering what to do now that their beet factory has closed, grain maize for cattle feed could be a real option.