Northland:

Maize silage harvesting is now virtually completed for the season. Generally yields have been good. Maize grain harvesting continues with yields to date about 2t/ha above average. The lodged crops (caused by strong winds) have now been harvested with pleasing yields of 12t/ha. The better country and longer maturity hybrids are still to be harvested but yields look particularly good in these crops.

Waikato:

Maize silage harvesting has progressed well over the last fortnight as crops underwent a more rapid dry down. About 99% of the crop is now harvested. Yields to date have been in the vicinity of 19 to 23t/ha with dry matter percentages starting to rise rapidly. Leaf diseases, especially common rust and Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB/NLB) continue to be active in the late-planted crops.

Grain harvesting is underway as dry down has been rapid this season (many crops now at or below 20% moisture). FAR suggests that growers be on the lookout for notifiable problem weeds such as Noogoora bur, alligator weed, and velvet leaf during harvest. It is possible that some velvetleaf finds in Waikato may be linked to the use of chicken manure. See below for a full update on velvetleaf in fodder beet crops.

Bay of Plenty:

As in Waikato maize silage harvesting has progressed rapidly and is now completed.

Yields are better than last season and generally range from 20 to 25t/ha. Despite a few weed issues, crops are looking promising due to the excellent radiation and heat, and regular moisture. The warm, wet conditions continue to favour leaf diseases and common rust especially is being noticed more.

Maize grain harvesting has commenced but it is too early to report on yields. Again, growers are advised to be on the lookout for problem weeds while combining.

Gisborne:

Maize grain crops have been slow to dry down and harvesting progress to date has been slow (a lot of crops still at 23% to 24% moisture). The area is now about 5% through the grain harvest.

Some armyworm damage has been observed, particularly up the coast, where grass weeds have not been adequately controlled.

Hawke’s Bay:

High moisture grain (26 to 28% moisture) is being harvested from a number of maize crops but normal grain harvest is still a week away. The dry season has adversely affected unirrigated maize silage crops but yield data is still not available. Soil conditions are now very dry.

Taranaki:

This will be the final report from the area as the last few crops of maize silage will be harvested this week. Yields have generally only been average, around the 18t/ha mark. Many early-planted crops had weed issues and growers are reminded of the FAR Focus 11: Weed Management for Maize, which provides a lot of advice on this issue. The book can be viewed on the FAR website, or a copy may be obtained by contacting FAR.

Manawatu:

Maize silage harvesting is all but completed for the season. Yields have been a little below average at around 18t/ha due to the drier season. Maize grain harvesting has commenced, but it is too early to report on yields.

Wairarapa:

Like Hawkes Bay, the area is very dry. Maize silage harvesting is finished for the season with yields below average due to the dry and averaging 15 to 18tDM/ha. Maize grain harvesting is still a fortnight away as grain moistures are still around 26% moisture.

Canterbury:

Maize silage harvesting has slowed until the later maturing hybrids dry down and dry matter percentages rise, but should speed up in the next fortnight (depending on weather conditions).