Breeding Progress Underpins Role of Maize in Milk Production

Farming on the northern margins of the North Wessex Downs, Hamish McIntosh has always tried to maximise the contribution maize makes to his milking ration.

Soil types vary across the farm, some being challengingly heavy, so success has come with tailoring variety selection according to field conditions, as well as staying abreast of the latest developments in maize breeding, in order to continually improve his output.

In 2025 – a year that has proved challenging for many maize growers – the decision to grow one of the very latest early maturing varieties to come onto the BSPB/NIAB Descriptive List has certainly paid dividends.

Based at Hardwell Farm, near Knighton in Oxfordshire, Hamish runs a 400-cow milking herd alongside 200 acres of arable cropping and a similar acreage of grassland. The herd is conventionally managed, calving all year round, housed in the winter months, and outside during the grazing season. In an area where TB is a continual threat, as many heifers as possible are retained on the farm, in a quest to maintain numbers.

 

Hamish McIntosh standing in front of his dairy herd at Hardwell Farm, with cows gathered behind him in an outdoor paddock. He is smiling and dressed in practical farm clothing, reflecting his role managing a 400-cow milking herd and maize-based forage system.

Hamish McIntosh and his dairy herd at Hardwell Farm.

 

The aim is to minimise parlour-fed concentrates and derive as much as possible from the mixed ration, to support average yields of 9,000 litres/cow. Maize silage certainly plays a key part in this strategy, comprising around half of the forage component.

Around 200 acres of maize are grown on the farm, fitting into a rotation with winter wheat and grass, and this year a quarter of the acreage was given over to newly listed LG Highlight.

“It’s a variety that has looked really promising in trials and fits perfectly with Hamish’s requirement for high dry matter yields, quality in the clamp, and a sufficiently early harvest to allow a following crop of winter wheat to be established,” says Nickerson seed specialist Fraser House. “LG Highlight will be one of the top new varieties for dry matter yield on the 2027 maize Descriptive Lists, and with an FAO rating of 170 it certainly has the earliness. It also has high starch yields and strong agronomic characteristics. Where farmers are looking for the combination of yield, quality and earliness, this is a variety that really hits the sweet spot.”

It was grown alongside Prospect, also FAO 170, and the slightly later maturing Conclusion, both from the Limagrain Field Seeds UK breeding programme and having a proven track record on the farm.

“Some of the land at Hardwell Farm is not the best for maize, so the policy is to grow what we think will perform in the particular circumstances,” continues Fraser. “Robust varieties with early vigour, good standing power and the necessary disease tolerance are what’s required, plus early maturity and high dry matter yields. Increasingly, we are seeing varieties that will deliver this full package, with the additional benefits of high cell wall digestibility that ensure farmers like Hamish can rely on having a full clamp of energy dense forage.”

 

Hamish holding ensiled LG Highlight Maize in a clamp

Hamish was delighted with the yield and quality of the LG Highlight silage.

 

With so much rain falling throughout the winter and spring, Hamish had to work hard to create a suitable seedbed for his 2025 maize crop. All the maize ground is ploughed, with slurry and manure applied before and sometimes afterwards.

“The heavy rain seems to be becoming more common and it does not help our heavier ground,” he says. “We’re increasingly needing to sub-soil, and on our heavier ground we’ll normally need to power harrow before drilling. We have our own maize drill, so we can be timely, going when the conditions are right.”

Optimum drilling date is 1st May at Hardwell Farm, and maize is drilled with DAP fertiliser down the spout and 125kg N/ha onto the seedbed. Pre- and post-emergence herbicides maintain good weed control, and – with that including a reduction in blackgrass on the farm – offers a wider benefit of having maize in the rotation.

“I’m aware of the specialist maize fertilisers and developments like foliar sprays, and we’ll keep a close eye on any ways to improve, but – at the moment – our system seems to be working. Growing the right varieties is a good part of our success, and being aware of the progress in maize breeding.”

The maize at Hardwell Farm was harvested on 20th September and, whilst it was not the best year for maize generally, Hamish was happy to see the LG Highlight standing out.

“It was our largest crop with big mature cobs, so it delivered what we wanted,” he says.

“We probably cut a little earlier than some, because I like to see some green leaf in the clamp. Overall, I’m very happy with the performance of the maize, and it was off in good time to establish the winter wheat.”

The maize will go into the ration at what Hamish considers the optimum level of around 50% of the forage, alongside grass silage, biscuit meal, a rape-soya meal and urea.

With maize breeding progress providing earlier varieties that avoid any compromise on dry matter yield or forage quality, it is a crop that will continue to be of great value at Hardwell Farm, for both milk production and crop rotation.

Don’t forget about Fodder Beet!

With feed costs continuing to rise, why not consider growing a crop of Fodder beet?

Yielding between 80-100 tonnes of fresh feed per hectare, growing a crop can help reduce your winter feed purchases. It’s not too late to drill, early crops are usually drilled early April but this year’s weather means many crops won’t be drilled until end of the month or even into the first week of May.

Later drilling may also help reduce bolter numbers. You should try to drill 100 – 110,000 seeds per hectare, with a view to establish 80 – 100,000 plants per hectare at harvest. Drill widths range from 45-50 cm with seed spacings of 15-20cm. Seedbed conditions are vitally important, with a requirement for a fine, firm seedbed with a soil temperature above 5˚ C.

With rotational options limited in some regions, Fodder beet will allow you to drill barley, or a grass reseed in the spring and also help fill any feed gaps that may have appeared this spring.

CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW FODDER BEET VIDEOS OVER ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

 

Transforming the Digital Presence of Agricultural Brands with Modern Website Design

In this article we’re talking about the impact of digital in our sector. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, even sectors as traditionally rooted as agriculture need to embrace technology and the best web design practices to stay relevant. For agricultural brands and businesses catering to rural markets, having an online presence is essential to meeting the needs of your customers. This global farming insights report highlights this fact. One way to achieve this is through custom digital solutions such as web portals that deliver personalised content to your audiences. Leveraging methodologies like composable architecture and headless website builds can set these brands apart by enhancing user experience, increasing engagement, and ensuring scalability.

The Need for Tailored Digital Experiences in Agriculture

Agricultural businesses often face unique challenges when engaging with their target audiences. Customers in this sector expect easy access to product information, technical support, and educational resources, often from remote or rural locations. Traditional websites may struggle to meet these expectations due to limited customisation options and slower response times.

This is where custom web portals come in. A web portal tailored specifically for an agricultural brand can serve as a central hub where customers access personalised content, including product updates, expert webinars, and how-to guides. The result? A seamless, user-friendly experience that fosters customer loyalty and streamlines their decision-making process.

Embracing Composable Architecture and Headless Website Builds

A key approach to modern website design for agricultural brands is adopting composable architecture and headless builds. These strategies provide several advantages:

 

 

 

A Real-World Example: LG Seeds

To illustrate the effectiveness of these approaches, we can look at LG Seeds’ collaboration with Show + Tell to launch their new, state-of-the-art website. The project aimed to create a robust, user-centric platform where customers could access up-to-date product information and engage with expert-led webinars. By implementing a headless CMS and composable architecture, LG Seeds transformed their online presence into an interactive and highly informative space.

The result has been overwhelmingly positive. Customers can now easily navigate through educational materials, explore detailed product specifications, and register for webinars tailored to their interests. This modernised web experience has not only improved customer satisfaction but has also strengthened LG Seeds’ market position.

For more insights on digital strategies and how your brand can implement similar approaches, check out our digital agency in Yorkshire, Show + Tell’s expertise in digital solutions.

Conclusion

As agriculture continues to embrace technological advancements, brands serving this industry must prioritise a modern, personalised digital presence. Investing in custom web portals with composable architecture and headless builds can dramatically improve the customer experience, ensuring that even the most rurally located businesses stay informed and engaged. By following the example set by innovative brands like LG Seeds, agricultural companies can position themselves for long-term success.

From The Farm Gate

Tony Bambridge of B&C Farming Ltd and Philip Gorringe a Herefordshire farmer who operates 370 hectares share their recent experiences on the farm.

Tony Bambridge, MD for contract farmers, B&C Farming Ltd, handles the day to day operations for the business, producers of high-quality seed potatoes, based in northeast Norfolk, near Aylsham. 

“I left off my last contribution, hoping that the water storage reservoirs would be replenished over the winter; alas, aquifers are still very low, although recent rainfall has meant we have just started to pump again. But water levels remain perilously low and we will need to continue pumping for a while yet. For now, the Environment Agency is working with us and we are managing to continue to pump, but all of this is on a day-to-day basis – so we really are on a knife-edge. Our sugar beet yields were better than anticipated – although still on the low side at 65t/ha – back in August, we thought we would be looking at 40-45t/ha. Considering we break-even at 75t/ha – it’s been quite a knock to margins. The mild winter also brings the threat of aphids and an increased risk of Beet yellows virus, as we look to grow a crop without any neonicotinoid seed treatment this year. Recent BBRO trials have shown yield losses of up to 42% due to infection with BYV. It’s been bitterly disappointing that the UK has not managed to obtain a derogation, as 13 other countries have managed to – despite the UK being at high risk due to our maritime climate. We plan to drill early to avoid the aphids, but we are already seeing reports of aphid flights – so we may have to rethink this. It’s not all doom and gloom, however – the mild and dry winter provided us with a good start to fertiliser applications and early season fungicide sprays, and the spring barley has been drilled into excellent conditions. All we need now is 40 days of rain!”    

Phillip Gorringe farms 370 hectares on a Duchy of Cornwall tenancy, he runs a herd of suckler cows and a racing kart business. His cropping is all grown for seed.

Spring-like conditions in late February continued the trend of a mild winter, and despite some more recent ‘normal’ wet and windy conditions, soils are still in great condition after the dry summer. Drilling some late winter wheat in January conditions was excellent, and there were hints of dust behind the drill – that really is a first! The conditions have really suited the forage rape; good seedbeds meant that most, if not all the seeds ‘took’, and the crop got up and away easily. As a result, we have seen very little Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle (CSFB) damage – it could be third time lucky for us with this crop. We are generally pleased with how our crops are doing, although it’s about now that we wish we had grown more fodder turnip, as fodder crop prices go through the roof. Our local farmer group has been active, as we share thoughts and ideas on how we are going to continue without the use of Redigo Deter seed dressing, and face the loss of many of our commonly used triazole fungicides over the next few years, which will make disease control in grass particularly challenging. We are working with ADAS to look at possible options based on a scientific process. We hope that this will provide us with some good reasons behind alternatives – rather than just taking a scattergun approach, based on hearsay and whims. Another area we hope to gain a better understanding of is how to build yield in a grass crop – one of the challenges in growing grass is how to even out tillering, for easier management. One of the farmer group members is also looking at improving yield mapping of grass. Anything that will help us manage and grow grass as we do for cereals, is a step in the right direction.”