Forage maize crops harvested over recent days on Robert Duncan's south Antrim dairy farm have yielded up to 18t/ac on a fresh weight basis, capping what the Co. Antrim milk producer calls "a tremendous year for maize".

Duncan, who also acts as a Maizetech representative, said the cobs on his farm had reached full maturity before the harvesters moved in. That maturity matters for feed value: final dry matter and starch content values in excess of 30% can be expected from the crop now in the clamp.

"We have sent samples from this year's crop for analysis. We should have the results that we need back within a matter of days," he said.

What do the yields mean for the clamp?

An 18t/ac fresh weight performance at dry matters above 30% puts the Duncan harvest firmly among strong maize outcomes, and the grower points to ground conditions as an equal part of the story.

"Ground conditions have held up very well and are expected to do so over the coming days," Duncan said, a factor that reduces soil damage and lift costs in a season when many growers fear the opposite.

The picture extends beyond his own farm. Duncan reports that a lot of maize has been harvested in Co. Down this week, with growers there "very happy" with the outcome of this year's harvest.

The season was not without its wobble. "Yes we had that period of changeable weather at the beginning of June," Duncan acknowledged. "But the heat that arrived in July and August was exactly what the crops needed."

How will the silage be used?

Maize harvested on the Duncan farm will be allowed to ensile for the next four weeks. That window allows the crop to fully stabilise and ferment, and for all the heat to be out of the crop before feeding begins.

The timing is deliberate. Duncan explained: "The maize silo is opened just before the start of the breeding season for the autumn calving cows. The forage is an excellent source of nutrition for the animals at this critical stage in their productive cycle."

What happens to the stubble next?

Attention on the farm has already turned to the fields the harvesters have left behind. Duncan's concern is compaction from the heavy machinery that crossed the maize fields in recent days.

"The plan now is to get the ground sub-soiled over the coming days," he said. "This will open up the stubble and help ensure that lying water is kept to a minimum over the winter months. It also means that we can make the earliest possible start when it comes to planting next year's maize crop."

The groundwork feeds directly into his anticipation for the spring planting season of 2027.

Is maize still a marginal crop in Ireland?

Not according to Duncan. He is clear that forage maize has moved beyond marginal status in Ireland, and he expects plant breeding developments to keep it there.

"Once farmers grow the crop successfully, they will stick with it. It is an invaluable feed source for dairy and beef cattle," he added.

For growers watching the market, the next data point arrives within days, when the analysis results on Duncan's crop samples confirm the dry matter and starch levels. Sub-soiling on his ground starts over the coming days, and the clamp opens in roughly four weeks, timed to the autumn calving breeding season.