Corteva's Maize Update

Key information to support maize growers and advisors as the 2024 season begins.

PACTS results for 2024/25 now available!

We are very pleased to present the latest maize PACTS^® results following a full programme of UK and Ireland trials in 2023. PACTS is an abbreviation for ‘Pioneer^® Accurate Crop Testing System’, 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.

Click here to download the 2024/25 edition of PACTS

(Pioneer Accurate Crop Testing System)

Pioneer maize hybrid highlights for 2024

As the maize 2024 season approaches, we are excited to introduce you to Pioneer’s key hybrids for this season.

P7179 - Extra Early

P7179 combines very good early vigour with extra early maturity and a notably high eyespot resistance score of 8. Across three years of PACTS trials, P7179 has given very high starch contents on both favourable sites (37.9%) and less favourable sites (39.2%). P7179 exhibits fast silk formation of the second ear often leading to more extensive pollination and extra grain set.

P7326 - Extra Early

This hybrid was once again the biggest selling maize hybrid in the UK in 2023 (source: 2023 FarmTrak^™). This extra early maturity flint-dent grain textured hybrid has a great track record of reliability in many conditions. If you are looking for a hybrid with extra cold tolerance that will come to harvest rapidly on favourable sites, or a hybrid that will deliver yield and quality silage even on less favoruable sites, P7326 is proven to perform.

P7034 - Very Early

This dent grain type hybrid has been awarded the M³(pronounced 'M cubed') status due to combining a built-in level of highly rumen degradable starch content along with a proven adaptation to cool UK growing conditions. P7034 can be harvested last, clamped last and fed first therefore, minimising the negative feeding effects often experienced when transitioning to fresh silage made from flint grain textured hybrids that are often very low in rumen degradable starch.

P7948 - Early

Only suitable for favourable sites grown in the open and under film, this hybrid has produced very high dry matter yields with an average starch content of 35.3%. An impressive hybrid for the right locations and situations, for both feeding and gas production.

Two additional hybrids to highlight are P7381 and P7647 which are new for the 2024 season.

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.

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

* Rating derived from PACTS trials and UK Official Trials Results; TBC = To Be Confirmed

**Available only in Ireland

NEW maize herbicides: Principal^® Forte and Dragster^®

Maize growers can benefit from two newly approved and exciting post-emergence herbicides: Principal Forte and Dragster. Both represent new formulations for use on this crop. They can be used on forage and grain maize and deliver high levels of control of a wide range of both grass and broad-leaved weeds with minimal following crop restrictions.

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.

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 into usable nitrogen in the plant. BlueN provides a sustainable, additional source of nitrogen for the plant, ensuring the plant has access to nitrogen all season long.

Increase maize yields by 3.6t/ha with BlueN.

A grower conducted trial in the South West of England showed a 3.6t/ha yield increase with a corresponding increase in digestibility (D) values and metabolisable energy (ME). Increases in D values and ME will show improved ruminant performance i.e. live weight gain/animal/day and increased milk productivity/cow/day.

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

Sustainable Farming Incentive payments for maize growers

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) rewards farmers for farming practices that help produce food sustainably and protect the environment. Below are some basic details on the options that may be appropriate for those growing maize. You can read more about the scheme by visiting farming.campaign.gov.uk.

IPM3: Companion cropping

The aim of this action is to establish a companion crop in order to support an IPM approach, manage nutrient efficiency, protecting the soil and improving its condition.

SAM1: Assess soil, produce a soil management plan and test soil organic matter

The aim of this action is to understand the condition of your soil and effectively plan how to increase the long-term health, productivity and resilience of soil. Anyone who has purchased Pioneer maize seed is eligible for the Pioneer Soil Sample Offer which provides free of charge soil sampling kits. If you are a grower, please contact your maize seed dealer to get further details on this offer.

SAM2: Multi-species winter cover

The aim of this action is to develop a well-established multi-species cover crop over the winter months. The purpose of this is to protect the soil surface and provide root growth to benefit the soil structure, support soil biology and minimise nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff. To be eligible for this payment you must be growing a minimum of two species of brassicas, grass, cereals or legumes. One of the key benefits of this action is that it could potentially provide grazing in the late winter or early spring.

Extra early and early maize varieties are recommended for the SAM2 aims. An earlier harvest ensures that companion crops are left in a good condition and that the land is fit for winter cover crop planting. Pioneer's P7179 is an extra early maturity hybrid well suited for companion cropping. P7179 provides extra early maturity in both, favourable and less favourable locations, it is a tall, early flowering hybrid and provides high starch content silage.

For more information about the payments associated with each action, please visit farming.campaign.gov.uk.

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. Sign up to our e-newsletter here. Make sure to tick the 'monthly prize draw' box to in with a chance of winning Corteva goodies.

Meet the Pioneer team

For all enquiries about our maize hybrids, please contact your local Forage Specialist or Forage and Seed Promoter. Their experience and local advice is available to help you maximise your success.

For technical enquiries concerning Corteva herbicides, biostimulants and nitrogen stabilisers, please contact the hotline team using the contact details below.

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. © 2024 Corteva. Principal^®Forte contains nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, dicamba and isoxadifen. Dragster^®contains rimsulfuron, thifensulfuron and isoxadifen. BlueN^™ contains Methylobacterium symbioticum. Instinct^® contains nitrapyrin.