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Corteva's Maize Update

Key information to support maize growers and advisors as the 2025 season begins.

PACTS results for 2025/26 now available | Pioneer maize hybrid highlights for 2025 | Pioneer brand inoculants | Our expanding maize herbicide portfolio | Instinct: lock in Nitrogen to boost maize yields | Increase maize yields with BlueN | Forage resources | Ways to stay in touch
 
PACTS results for 2025/26 now available!

We are very pleased to present the latest maize PACTS® results following a full programme of UK and Ireland trials in 2024. PACTS is an abbreviation for ‘Pioneer® Accurate Crop Testing System’, and we conduct these multi-location on-farm trials so that we can accurately describe the performance of the Pioneer maize hybrids we offer for sale. Our trials are conducted in the open and under film.
Click here to download the 2025/26 edition of PACTS
PACTS 24/45
 
Pioneer maize hybrid highlights for 2025

As the maize 2025 season approaches, we are excited to introduce you to Pioneer’s key hybrids for this season.

Suitable for growing under film

P8200 - Intermediate Relative Maturity
P8200 has been tested in PACTS trials under the Samco System on 53 locations over 11 years. This hybrid has given consistent results across very different seasons and sites. P8200 is tall and has given very high dry matter yields of silage with good starch content in PACTS trials. P8200 penetrates film well, dries down rapidly at maturity and is intended for favourable sites. 

P7034 - Very Early Relative Maturity
P7034 has now been tested in PACTS trials under film on 29 locations over eight years. It has given good dry matter yields of a very high starch content when grown under film. P7034 is termed a Pioneer M3 (or ‘M cubed’) hybrid due to its ability to produce starch with a very high level of rumen degradability – the highest of any Pioneer hybrid in PACTS trials. 

Suitable for growing under film and in the open

P7326 - Extra Early Relative Maturity
Many growers in the UK and Ireland hold this extra early maturity flint-dent grain textured hybrid in high regard because it has a good record of reliability in many different conditions. For growers looking for a hybrid with extra cold tolerance, that can reach harvest rapidly on favourable sites, and can deliver yield and quality silage even on less favourable sites, P7326 is likely to suit. P7326 has been tested on 39 locations over 11 years under film and proven itself to be a popular choice for growers cultivating on less favourable sites due to its good level of tolerance to cool conditions. It has produced very high starch content silage with good dry matter yields for its maturity. 

P7179 - Extra Early Relative Maturity
P7179 has been tested on 9 sites over three years under film. It has produced silage of a very high starch content forage measured at 36.8% - the highest content of all hybrids tested. It has also given the highest dry matter content of 40.9%. It is a flint grain textured most suitable for sowing on less favourable sites, or where an early harvest is required. 

Detailed agronomic descriptions of each of the hybrids available for sale can be seen below.
The table can also be viewed on page 7 of the PACTS book.
Agronomic Descriptions 2025
Where ratings based on a 1 - 9 scale, higher rating indicates character is shown to a high degree
# Food and Agriculture Organisation; lower number indicates earlier maturity
## Experimental code prior to registration
* Rating derived from PACTS trials and UK Official Trials Results; TBC = To Be Confirmed
**Available only in Ireland
 
Pioneer brand inoculants

Our comprehensive proprietary range of silage inoculants have been developed to reduce dry matter losses and improve silage quality. Applying the most appropriate Pioneer silage inoculant can make a potentially significant difference to your profitability.  
maize silage inoculants
To find out more visit our silage inoculant hub by clicking here.
 
Our expanding maize herbicide portfolio

Principal® Forte: A comprehensive grass and broad-leaved weed herbicide with minimal need for additional herbicide tank mixing. Containing 3 active ingredients to control a wide range of both grass and broad-leaved weeds, Principal Forte is a complete post-emergence solution and will give your maize crop the best chance of success.
  • Dose rate of 480 g/ha delivers 245 g/ha dicamba + 30 g/ha nicosulfuron + 15 g/ha rimsulfuron + 15 g/ha isoxadifen
  • Apply with a 95% MSO
  • Comes in a 2.4kg pack, each pack will treat 5 ha
  • Has few following crop restrictions which should enhance interest given increasing uptake in SFI options such as winter cover crop
Pastor® Trio: A broad spectrum weed control solution which is the preferred solution for mayweeds, thistles and docks. Also good on groundsel and brassica weeds like charlock and mustard. Now approved for tank mixing with nicosulfuron to enable a more comprehensive weed management approach.
 
Instinct®: lock in Nitrogen to boost maize yields

As a crop, maize has traditionally been under-fertilised, and this is largely due to it requiring a significant amount of nitrogen - around half - post flowering. Nitrogen stabilisers slow down the conversion of ammonium to nitrate, preventing nitrogen loss through leaching and denitrification. Trials using Corteva's Instinct have shown a reduction in leaching of around 50%, and a reduction in denitrification through greenhouse gases of approximately 45%. This means nitrogen is kept in the soil for longer, and for a crop such as maize, this has a significant impact on yields, as it is available to the plant when it is needed.  
Ammium to Nitrite
Visual effects of Instinct are unmissable
Instinct treated vs untreated
 
Increase maize yields with BlueN™

BlueN is a nutrient efficiency biostimulant for use in a broad range of crops including maize. It contains Methylobacterium symbioticum, a bacteria found in nature, which fixes nitrogen from the air and converts it to ammonium for the plant.

Increase fresh yield by 5t/ha with BlueN

An independent trial carried out in Warwickshire last season showed a 5t/ha increase in fresh yield and 2.8t/ha increase in dry matter yield, with corresponding improvements in D values and metabolisable energy this was consistent with other BlueN maize trials in the 2024 season.

To find out more about BlueN, watch our short video "How to use Nutrient Efficiency Biostimulant BlueN on maize" here.
BlueN on maize
 
Forage resources

Corteva Forage App
Free and easy to use, the Corteva Forage App is packed with information and tools to help you maximise your grass and maize crops. To download the app click here or search for 'Corteva Forage App' in your Android or iOS store.

Forage Agronomy Update
You can also receive timely, in-season updates for livestock farmers and forage advisors direct to your inbox. To sign up to the Forage Agronomy Update click here and select the ‘Forage Agronomy Update’ newsletter option. Make sure to tick the 'monthly prize draw' box to in with a chance of winning Corteva goodies.
 
Ways to stay in touch

Area Manager and National Technical Manager: Liz Glynn, 00353 (86) 844 5306.
Visit our website www.corteva.ie for product information, labels and advice.

Our hotline team are on hand to answer any queries or concerns you have.


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maize image
USE PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS SAFELY. Always read the label and product information before use. For further information including warning phrases and symbols refer to label.   ®™ Trademarks Corteva Agriscience Limited and its affiliated companies. All other brand names are trademarks of other manufacturers for which proprietary rights may exist. All manufacturers trade names and trademarks are duly acknowledged. © 2025 Corteva. Principal® Forte contains nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, dicamba and isoxadifen. BlueN™ contains Methylobacterium symbioticum. Instinct® contains nitrapyrin.  Pastorr® Trio contains clopyralid, fluroxypyr and flurasulam.