Thomas Lyons 
The Irish farming industry is set to maintain the average area of forage maize grown between 2019 and 2022, which stands at 15,000 hectares, in 2023. This is due to low silage stocks on many livestock farms, which has increased the cost of growing maize significantly over the past two seasons. According to Teagasc’s ‘costs and returns 2023’, the total variable cost of growing maize in the open is €2,246 per hectare, with an additional €600 per hectare for plastic. Maize grown in the open yielding 12t dry matter DM/ha would cost €187/t DM, while maize under plastic yielding 14t DM/ha would cost €203/t DM.
Although growing maize under plastic can aid establishment, improve quality, and offer insurance against poor weather conditions, its benefits are reduced if planting is delayed into May. The market offers both oxo-biodegradable plastic and bioplastics (compliant with single-use plastic directive). The single-use plastic directive prohibits the use of oxo-biodegradable plastic, but farmers are free to use up the old oxo-biodegradable plastic if it was manufactured before the effective date of prohibition (July 2021).
The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) has released their recommended list for 2023, which details varieties that have completed a minimum of three years in trial in Ireland. This year, the department has taken a step forward by pushing a list of varieties grown under uncovered conditions, the first time since 2015. Ambition is provisionally recommended, which delivers high relative yields, good DM, and good starch content. Ambition is a medium-maturing variety. Prospect is also provisionally recommended for 2023, which is a good yielding variety with good starch content and medium maturing options. Lastly, Resolute is a very high yielding variety with moderate starch content, low DM content, and is a late-maturing variety. Resolute has received a provisional recommendation for 2023.
Uncovered trials were discontinued in 2014 but were recommenced by DAFM in 2020 in response to the Single Use Plastic Directive. Up to 20 varieties are assessed annually for their suitability under Irish conditions for DM yield, DM content, starch content, and other traits. The recommended list only contains varieties that have shown excellent performance under Irish conditions, which are accepted as being unique and come with specific challenges to growing the crop successfully.
In conclusion, the Irish farming industry is set to maintain the average area of forage maize grown between 2019 and 2022 in 2023 due to low silage stocks. The cost of growing maize has increased significantly over the past two seasons, with the total variable cost of growing maize in the open at €2,246 per hectare, plus an additional €600 per hectare for plastic. The market offers both oxo-biodegradable plastic and bioplastics, with farmers free to use up old oxo-biodegradable plastic if it was manufactured before the effective date of prohibition. The DAFM’s recommended list for 2023 details varieties that have completed a minimum of three years in trial in Ireland, with Ambition, Prospect, and Resolute provisionally recommended. The recommended list only contains varieties that have shown excellent performance under Irish conditions, which are accepted as being unique and come with specific challenges to growing the crop successfully.
