Barenbrug's a-maizeing success

Barenbrug's ability to offer farmers the right forage maize varieties that meet their specific situations has led to an increase in sales this Spring of 20% over the previous year. The principal performers have been the varieties Sheppey and Kommodore which, having proved their quality in the difficult growing conditions encountered early last year, are now being asked for by name.

Sheppey is an astonishingly high performing, early forage maize offering a high dry matter yield and creating silage of considerable starch content and digestibility. Barenbrug UK regard it as the ideal choice for producers seeking quantity as well as quality forage.

Bred specifically for the UK, Sheppey has strong disease resistance and uniformity. In NIAB trials, the variety produced a typical yield of 105%, a dry matter content of 31.9% and a starch content of 33.2%. Sheppey has been nominated as the NIAB's first choice for favourable and less favourable stiles.

Kommodore, also in heavy demand, is an early maturing, classic maize variety that is proven to perform consistently throughout the UK. In trials, it has achieved a starch percentage of 32.8%, a dry matter content of 32.6% and a yield of 103%. Barenbrug recommends Kommodore for all maize-growing areas, in situations where high yields of quality forage are required.

Barenbrug UK report that 80% of last year's maize crop has been fed out and that the remainder will be fed out at grass during the summer months. The quality of the silage produced from Sheppey and Kommodore means that farmers have increased their acreages this spring, and this has led to the 20% rise in demand for the Barenbrug varieties.

Both Sheppey and Kommodore have been developed in partnership between two European maize breeders and Barenbrug's in-house R & D department.