New varieties promise quality silage

Two new varieties from LG Seeds for 2023 will appeal to growers looking to fill clamps with high quality forage to help offset higher purchased feed costs.

“This year’s forage season has highlighted the need to focus on forage quality alongside agronomic attributes when selecting varieties,” says LG Seeds maize product manager Tim Richmond.

“For 25 years our breeding programme has been developing varieties that deliver superior feed, and Dignity and Saxon are the latest varieties to become available.”

Dignity is a top quality, high yielding variety which, being very early maturing (FAO 170) with good early vigour means it is ready for an early harvest, easing the establishment of successor crops.  

Mr Richmond says it combines exceptional yield with excellent ME content and high Cell Wall Digestibility to ensure clamps will be full of high quality feed.

Producing high starch yields it is a perfect complement for grass silage in mixed forage diets and compares very well on yield with later maturing varieties, meaning farmers won’t have to compromise yield for superior feed quality.

Also new for 2023 is Saxon which is the highest yielding variety on the new list, making it ideal for all uses including anaerobic digestion.

Saxon combines superb early vigour with good standing power making it perfectly suited for all mainstream maize sites. Improved cell wall digestibility combined with a high starch yield means you are assured of an exceptionally high energy field.

Add this to excellent dry matter yields and Saxon is a variety that will deliver an excellent return on investment, says Mr Richmond.

“LGAN has long been the watchword for maize varieties that deliver what really counts, high yields of high-quality feeds that sustain excellent milk yields.  Dignity and Saxon are the latest examples of the benefit of breeding varieties that deliver in the clamp.”