Over the past number of years Shines Agri have identified a number of seed Hybrids best suited to growing under film in Ireland.

Independent research has demonstrated that the Samco system provides the potential for significant yield increases and/ or earlier harvest date in the maize crop. Such effects have been shown to be particularly valuable in marginal areas or seasons with low levels of accumulated heat. The micro climate created by the film increases the ability of the seedling to survive during cold periods where in the open it would die. This in turn helps achieve a high maize plant population and is crucial to achieving maximum silage yields.

They include:

P7179 (FAO 170)

• Shown suitability to both favourable and less favourable sites
• Produced very high starch contents for one of the earliest flowering hybrids
•  Tall hybrid for this maturity
• Early harvest dates and high starch contents achieved under film
• Also suitable for open sowing on favourable sites only
• Eyespot resistance score of 8

P7326 (FAO 180)

• Has given high starch content silage with good whole plant digestibility
• One of the first hybrids to reach maturity on favourable sites
• Very good relative early vigour
• High dry matter and starch contents achieved under film on less favourable sites
• Also suitable for open sowing on favourable sites only
• Eyespot resistance score of 6.2

P7034 (FAO 180)

• Highest rumen degradable starch content of all hybrids (dent grain)
• Good whole plant digestibility test results
• Performed well on favourable and the warmest less favourable sites
• Aim to ensile last and feed first
• Eyespot resistance score of 5.4

P7381 (FAO 185)

• P7381 is a large stature hybrid that was first grown commercially in 2022
• Produced high forage dry matter and starch yields for this maturity
• Performed well on favourable and warmer less favourable open sites
• Good early vigour and very good lodging resistance (stiff strawed)
• Demonstrated fast stover dry down at physiological maturity
• Eyespot resistance score of 6

P7647 (FAO 190)

• Large stature appearance
• Given very high forage dry matter and starch yields on open favourable sites
• Suitable to favourable and selected less favourable sites when grown under film
• Produced a good combination of earliness and high dry matter yield when grown under film
• Eyespot resistance score of 4.8

P8200 (FAO 230)

• Large stature hybrid with intermediate maturity
• High forage fresh and dry matter yields
• Not suitable for sowing on less favourable sites
• Extremely consistent and reliant hybrid over many years of testing
• Eyespot resistance score of 8.2

P8153 (FAO 230)

• Grown commercially in Ireland for the first time in 2024
• A late maturity hybrid with a moderate stover dry down
• Large stature hybrid
• Produced very high forage dry matter yields

 

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