The objective of this survey was to determine, as at 31 October, 2016:

• Final figures for the 2016 harvest of maize grain and silage;
• Sales of the 2016 harvest of maize grain since 1 June, 2016;
• Levels of unsold maize grain from the 2016 harvest;
• Sowings and sowing intentions for maize grown for grain and silage.

Data from 66 survey farms who completed all of the last three maize surveys (October 2015 and June and October 2016) were scaled up to the national level using the most recent Agricultural Production Statistics (APS) which provided final 2015 data on harvest hectares of maize grain and maize silage, and harvest tonnes of maize grain. (Maize grown for green feed was not included in this survey. In the final 2015 APS data, maize green feed made up 9% of total harvest hectares of maize, as compared to 65% for maize silage and 26% for maize grain.)

As with all surveys, there is a margin of error which needs to be considered in relation to this report. These figures reflect the position at the 31st October 2016 and there will have been changes since this time.

Key Points

• Final average yields of maize grain (11.9 t/ha) and maize silage (20.9 t DM/ha) for the 2016 harvest were slightly up on last season (at 11.4 t/ha and 19.7 t DM/ha respectively).
• For maize grain, the estimated final total tonnage of 210,200 tonnes was down 7% on last season’s harvest tonnage (226,300 t), as the result of a higher yield (up 4%) from an 11% lower harvest area.  About 96% of the total crop had been sold, leaving 8,900 tonnes unsold as at October 31, 2016 (compared to 48,900 tonnes on June 1, 2016, and 21,200 tonnes on 31 October last year, 2015). Sales under pre-harvest contract were down markedly on the previous year, but this was more than compensated for by a marked increase in sales at a spot/free price.  Spring 2016 sowings and sowing intentions as at 31 October 2016 were an estimated 16% down on last season. Sowing was 84% complete as at 31 October 2016.
• For maize silage, the estimated final total tonnage of 951,400 tonnes DM was down 4% compared to last season’s harvest tonnage (987,600 t), as the result of a higher yield (up 6%) from a reduced harvest area (9% down). Spring 2016 sowings and sowing intentions as at 31 October 2016 were identical to last season. Sowing was 70% complete as at 31 October 2016.
• Many survey respondents commented that sowing had been delayed by wet weather. At 31 October, 2016 about 74% of the total maize crop had been sown, with 15,900 ha of a total 60,500 ha left to sow.
• Since the June 2016 survey, the estimated area to be sown for maize grain has increased by 2,300 ha and the estimated area to be sown for maize silage has increased by 2,900 ha.