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Maximising methane output is the primary objective when running an anaerobic digester and, for the Channing family, this means growing the most consistent and high-quality maize feedstock across 405 hectares (1,000 acres). Good advice, on-farm analysis and growing the best varieties all play a part in success.

With maize the mainstay of his forage ration, dairy farmer Jon Bult takes no chances and opts for the best early maturing variety for his needs. An early maize harvest allows him to maximise his use of overwinter cover crops, delivering soil health benefits and the bonus of a Sustainable Farming Incentive payment.

Most maize crops were harvested successfully in 2023, but some growers were caught out by the sudden arrival of heavy rain in October. For those growers whose crops were not harvested before the wet weather arrived, harvesting was hampered by waterlogged conditions and, in the very worst cases, a small area of crops went unharvested.

Farming on heavy clay land at 550 feet means James Wooldridge of Crosspark Farm, North Devon, is constantly fighting against time and the weather to get his arable and maize crops drilled and harvested successfully, with appropriate variety selection critical to his crops’ performance.

Following Brexit, the future of UK maize crops has been in jeopardy due to an impending change in law which would make it illegal to use any seed treatments not registered in the UK. However, an industry-wide political campaign – spearheaded by Limagrain – has secured the availability of three vital bird repellent, fungicide and insecticide treatments.