Wholecrop

Wholecrop silage as an alternative forage offers opportunities to farmers keen to maximise production from low cost home grown forage. MGA advice, provided by mailings and our consultants, focuses on agronomy of wholecrop silage as well as providing harvest and additive guidance

Resources: Wholecrop

Groundswell

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

N Predictor Form Paper Copy

Thursday, February 24, 2022

N Predictor Form Excel Version

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Harvest Planning

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Additives for maize and wholecrop silage

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Cover Cropping and Seed Rates

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Weed Control for 2020 Season

Monday, May 11, 2020

Maize Crop Harvest

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Presentation from MGA Chairman, John Jackson, on his experience of harvest this year and what can be learned from this. Introduction to the MGA Conference 2020 on 6th February.

Effects of Weather on Maize Yield

Thursday, July 25, 2019

A technical article from Mike Wilkinson on the effects of different weather patterns on maize yield

Maize Eyespot

Friday, June 14, 2019

A technical note from Simon explaining how to manage maize eyespot

Post-Harvest Cover or Catch Crops

Friday, June 14, 2019

A technical note from John on choosing and implementing cover crops

Silage Additives

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Some background from Mike Wilkinson on the use of silage additives

Nitrogen Predictor Form

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Our N Predictor Data Entry Form has had a revamp - hopefully it is a little more user-friendly and now allows for more options when recording organic nitrogen that has previously been applied.

Please print off or fill in a copy and post or email to Sarah in the office; we will aim to respond to you quickly as we can.

How and Why We Farm the Way We Do Conference Paper 2019

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Take a look at how Gavin Davies of Stowell Farms manages his dairy, sheep, arable and AD enterprises and how maize fits in with each.

Navigating Brexit Conference Paper 2019

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Have a read of the NFU's actions and outlook with regards to Brexit and find out what it all means for farmers with Tori Morgan's presentation.

Costs of production

Monday, August 20, 2018

The latest in the Costs of Forage Production series is based on average yields and quality. Costs of production are assume contractors undertaking establishment and annual management tasks with crop nutrients being supplied by straight inorganic (bagged) fertiliser. No feed out costs or waste are included.

Westerwolds offer a real opportunity

Monday, August 20, 2018

The hot, dry conditions have hit/ obliterated most second and third cut silages, as well as impacting on many maize crops, to the point that many growers are currently short of grazed grass as well as being down on forage stocks for the winter. The likely early harvest of maize this autumn and recent rain does offer some opportunities to fill the forage gaps, as do extending grazing in the autumn and hopefully next spring.

Droughted maize - Don't panic yet

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Wholecrop harvest

Monday, June 25, 2018

As the end of June approaches, wholecrop cereal silage harvest will be on the minds of many. The aim of this technical note is to talk through the practicalities of wholecrop harvest, as well as some of the reasons for harvesting a cereal crop for forage, as opposed to grain.

Costs of Forage Production (June 2018)

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Average growing costs for Grazed Grass, Silage, Maize with and without film, Wholecrop, Fodder Beet, Kale, Stubble Turnips can be viewed and downloaded.

Diets to reduce grenhouse gases

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

In his second article for the MGA, Mike Wilkinson describes ways of reducing livestock greenhouse gas emissions through diet formulation.

Changes in Nutrition

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Members may have picked up from our last mailing that Chris Savery retired from Agriculture and his role as MGA Ruminant Consultant at the end of last month. We wish him well and took the opportunity before his departure to gain his parting views on the industry. Chris’s views were first aired at the MGA Conference in February 2016. We felt that Chris’s observations may be of interest to members more generally and with his permission have produced them here for general reading.

Basic Payment Scheme Soil Management requirements

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

January 1^st 2015 signalled a significant change in Basic payment rules associated with soil management. The new 2015 rules also apply to all agri-environment schemes and the payments received by them.

Changes:

See article attached

MGA Harvest guide

Thursday, August 27, 2015

With harvest activity in mind, we have reviewed and updated where necessary, the MGA Maize Harvesting Guide. We make no apologies for starting this year’s guide with Post Harvest Maize Field Management advice, believing that this area of crop agronomy is vitally important if unhindered maize growing is to continue. As always we would encourage growers to make use of Simon and John to talk through specifics of harvest if required.

Costs of forage production

Friday, April 17, 2015

John Morgan has updated the costs of forage production for 2015

The Common Agricultural Policy Reforms

Thursday, August 28, 2014

The reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will bring about change in many areas of farming in 2015. There will be the transfer from the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), with its new Greening rules, as well as changes to Cross Compliance. While the fine details have yet to be finalised we thought it may be useful to have a summary of what we know so far.

The summary has been produced by Laura Gude who works with John at Creedy Associates. The information presented is to the best of our knowledge correct. That said, we would urge you to seek individual advice to clarify the facts as they relate to your business.

Wholecrop harvesting tips

Monday, July 14, 2014

Now in the middle of July, wholecrop cereal silage harvest will be on the minds of many. The aim of this technical note is to talk through the practicals of wholecrop harvest, as well as some of the reasons for harvesting a cereal crop for forage, as opposed to grain.

Adequate maize till harvest?

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Running out of maize (or cereal wholecrop) is likely to have big implications in any diets fed. With cows now milking well and returns much improved, any upset affects every aspect of production, which is expensive and must be avoided. With careful planning this problem can be averted and intakes / performance maintained.

Clamped Forages - Review & Improve

Friday, April 4, 2014

Chris Savery gives us good advice on improving clamp management and working with your contractor to provide good quality silage for your stock this winter.

Forage Harvested - Now What!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

After a better year for most, in terms of forage production, Chris Savery takes this opportunity to review what we have got and how best it can be used.

From seriously empty clamps this spring, forage stocks have in most, but not all cases been replenished to a considerable extent. Grass silage production has varied considerably, from some very small cuts, to potential embarrassment this autumn. Maize, after a cool, late and slow start has for many done well, but in between those good crops there are too many low yields for various reasons.

Costs of forage production

Monday, March 25, 2013

John Morgan has updated the costs of forage production for grazed grass, grass silage, maize wholecrop, fodder beet kale and Italian ryegrass.

MGA Additive guide 2012

Saturday, July 7, 2012

The primary aim of thisMGAAdditive Data Sheet is to provide members with a current and convenient list of the key facts relating to the crimped grain, maize and wholecrop silage additives available this summer. It has been produced in response to requests by members keen to know what options are out there, how they work and who to contact to learn more.

It is important to highlight that theMGAis not recommending any of the additives, but has simply put together a list of the alternatives available. While endeavouring to cover most of the options, we have undoubtedly missed a few and would urge those involved in ones we have missed to let us know, so that we can update members as to all their options as soon as possible.

The presented Data has been split into three tables. The first focuses on the options available for wholecrop cereal production, the second on the crimped grain options with the third focused on maize silage. In each table the Product Name, Primary Contact and type of additive is listed. Company contact details are listed as an appendix.

Wholecrop

Resources: Wholecrop

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