New technology which will hasten the harvest of an important livestock supplement feed crop is very welcome by maize contractors and farmers.

feedTECH, an AgResearch feed analysis service, has developed a quick drymatter test for green fed maize (pre-ensiled), which allows farmers and contractors to harvest crops immediately to make into silage.

The test gives a very accurate indication of moisture content, signalling when the crop is dry enough for harvest. Harvesting it at optimum dryness then helps keeps transport costs down for contractors.

And although its only been available a matter of weeks, there has already been very positive feedback from maize contractors in the industry. The test was developed because of demand from the industry, and feedTECH lab supervisor Dean Corson said contractors welcome the fact that they can react quickly when harvesting weather conditions are most favourable.

Conventional testing methods to check take approximately twenty four hours and can mean large delays at a period when timing is everything.

The procedure the feedTECH team have developed for the new test is unique, and very successfully gets around the problem of trying to process wet samples for analysis.

This sample is then analysed using state-of-the-art Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrophotometers (NIRS), a sophisticated form of technology which allows rapid throughput.

All this allows farmers and contractors to harvest crops less than half an hour after sample submission to the AgResearch laboratory.

The test has proved particularly useful this year for farmers with maize paddocks hit by February’s flooding problem. “It’s helping farmers and contractors in trying to salvage what they can from their maize crops.”
Farmers and contractors will also receive drymatter results by the conventional method the following day to validate previous results, as well as providing reliable documentation for sales and purchase of the particular feeds.

They need to take and send maize samples to the feedTECH laboratory in AgResearch Grasslands in Palmerston North. Farmers wanting to know the specific protocols for taking samples can contact feedTECH.

The maize test is part of a range of comprehensive feed quality testing services offered by feedTECH, which are essential for farmers wanting to optimise livestock feed management. These also include Metabolised Energy and Crude Protein feed analysis.