Why you should be considering growing grain maize this spring

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2024 was a challenging year for the grain maize crop. However, crops that were planted in the ‘normal’ planting window once again proved to be reliable, high yielding and produced a gross margin that outperformed most other combinable crops. In addition, as an alternative break crop, grain maize is showing great benefits for spreading workload and giving a very wide window of opportunity to help control Black Grass. It is worth bearing in mind that typically the UK imports 2.8 million tonnes of grain maize every year which shows the opportunity for large expansion of this crop.

In the UK, most maize is harvested with a forager, where the whole plant is cut, chopped, and ensiled once it reaches a minimum dry matter content of 28%. However, the area harvested with a combine harvester has steadily increased in recent years. Instead of cutting the whole plant, only the grain or the grain and parts of the spindle are harvested.

Harvested grain has a much higher dry matter content than silage, typically ranging from 65% to 75% dry matter (25% to 35% moisture), often referred to as ‘high moisture’. The equipment required to harvest maize grain differs slightly from that used for small grain crops like wheat or barley. A specific maize combine header is essential.

Once harvested, the grain can be handled in various ways. Promptly drying it down to 15% moisture ensures no spoilage, allowing the crop to be handled and transported like any dried grain. The grain can then be processed, milled, and included in animal feed rations. If the kernels are of a suitable size and shape, the produce can be micronised or flaked for inclusion in other feed types. PACTS grain trials have been conducted in the UK for many years, with the number of test locations increasing as the area expands.

High moisture grain does not have to be dried. It can be crimped or ground and then ensiled. If crimped and ensiled promptly and correctly after harvesting, the crop can be stored successfully for long periods. Pioneer® silage inoculants, such as Pioneer Brand 11A44, Pioneer Brand 11A44 Rapid React, and Pioneer Brand 11B91 Rapid React, are recommended for application to crimped maize. Each inoculant offers different benefits:

11A44 improves aerobic stability gradually after sealing.
11A44 Rapid React improves aerobic stability from one week after sealing.
11B91 Rapid React improves aerobic stability from one week after ensiling and enhances the efficiency of the initial lactic fermentation.

Maize hybrid highlights

Corteva researchers have been breeding earlier maturity maize hybrids for many years and as the 2025 maize season approaches, we have some key maize hybrids to highlight. Among them is P7179, launched in 2023, which stands out as the earliest maturing hybrid in the Pioneer range. P7179 combines excellent early vigour with extra early maturity and boasts a high eyespot resistance score of 8. In PACTS grain trials over three years and 9 locations P7179 gave a grain yield of 9.59 Tonnes per hectare adjusted to 15% moisture. It’s grain moisture at harvest was a low 31%.

Another notable hybrid is P7326, which was the top-selling maize hybrid in the UK in 2024, according to the 2024 FarmTrak™– Kynetec report. This extra early maturity flint-dent grain textured hybrid is highly regarded by growers in the UK and Ireland for its reliability in various conditions. In PACTS grain trials over 7 years of trials and 20 locations P7326 gave an average grain yield, when adjusted to 15% moisture content, of 8.939 Tonnes per Hectare. At harvest P7326 actual grain moisture was an average of 30.9%.

P7647 is a very early relative maturity hybrid. In grain trials it has given an impressive average yield of 9.665 Tonnes, adjusted to 15% moisture, over 8 locations and three years.

PACTS trials

PACTS grain trials have been conducted in the UK for many years. The number of test locations is increasing as the area increases. The performance of key Pioneer hybrids when harvested for grain can be seen in the multi-year chart below. Also shown are several key paired performance comparisons between selected hybrids.

Selected multiple year paired comparisons

Improvements in earliness have enabled growers in cooler, maritime areas to sow maize with greater confidence of a successful crop every year. This breeding effort has not only led to better maize hybrids for forage production but also to hybrids early enough to be harvested for grain in some of the same areas. Hybrids suitable for both silage and grain production are often described as ‘dual purpose’.