Seed company Nickerson has rejoined the UK Descriptive List system for forage maize, after pulling out a year ago over plans to change the way the data was to be presented to farmers.
"We do not have any problems with the trials work undertaken by NIAB, which is always of the highest standard," says Nickerson marketing manager Frank Curtis. "But a proposal to split the List by crop maturity, would unfairly disadvantage many productive and useful varieties.
"Crop maturity is just one of several selection criteria farmers should be using when choosing which maize to grow. Yield and nutritional factors are just as important, as are practical considerations such as location, aspect of the fields, and how the crop fits into the overall farm strategy."
"We believe the new List provides a useful starting point for farmers, when considering which varieties to grow next summer," concludes Mr Curtis.
Ross Mitchell, head of regions and forage at NIAB agrees.
"Having most of the forage maize companies represented can only strengthen the Descriptive List system, as it now includes a very large proportion of the maize seed sold in this country," he says. "There is a wide diversity in the varieties available. The List allows farmers to compare their different characteristics, before deciding which ones might best suit their farm situation."
The NIAB Descriptive Lists for Forage Maize 2003/2004 have been published in the NIAB Livestock Crops Pocket Book, priced £15 (discount for multiple purchases), which is available from NIAB in Cambridge, telephone: 01223 276381.
