European 2015 Plantings: Corn Should not Drop Out

Pierre Guillaumin,

Director, Economics & Foreign Affairs, FNPSMS (National Federation of Corn and Sorghum Seed Production)

As plantings begin, some initial estimates may be made on planted areas, albeit with caution. Thus despite the down-falling price context initially triggering apprehensions about a sharp decline, corn areas in geographical Europe should see a very slight reduction or even remain stable.

One should however distinguish among developments and trends in specific areas. Thus the most marked decline should be seen in the EU-28, at about -130 000 hectares. The falling trend should mostly concern Western Europe (the former EU-15): down 1.5 percent for all corn types, with grain corn as the most affected (down 2.5 - 3.5 percent). Grain corn areas should therefore go down 3 to 4 percent in important production countries such as France and Italy. Feed corn should remain close to its 2014 levels, save for a slight drop of 1 percent expected in Germany, the leading European feed corn producer, as a result of stocks rebuilding in 2014 and recent German regulatory changes limiting the use of corn for biogas production. The falling trend in the ex-EU-15 should be offset by increases in the EU-28, in some CEE Member States (chiefly Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and even Hungary) as a result of belated 2014 corn harvests and poor winter crop establishments. Otherwise, corn area is expected to continue relatively stable in third Eastern European countries outside the EU, albeit with varying dynamics from a country to another: down in the Ukraine, up in Russia and Serbia, and steady in Belarus.

High-performance Seeds Deliver; Stakes Are High in Ukraine and Russia

Pierre Guillaumin,

Director, Economics & Foreign Affairs – FNPSMS (National Federation of Corn and Sorghum Seed Production)

The 2014 corn seed production year was characterized by good yields in most production regions in the E.U.-28, on a total area of about 200 000 hectares. One may therefore speak of a good supply of high-performance seeds, able to meet a demand that has remained strong in recent years.

However, corn sectors in Ukraine and Russia face significant issues. In both countries, the use of high-tech seed has been trending upwards for the past ten years. Yet the trend will not be confirmed in 2015 unless exports to Russia strengthen and if the local currency depreciations – effectively driving up the price of imported seed – do not hamper the Russian and Ukrainian farmers' buying capabilities. Despite their weakened cash flow, export crop production remains a winning strategy enabling both countries to cash foreign currency against the backdrop of strong local currency devaluation. In Russia, corn is not subject to any export restrictions and the 20.2 million-ton export cap enforced by the Ukraine will not be a limiting factor for its 2015 production. Consequently, export corn production may prove profitable to both Ukrainian and Russian farmers and it requires – among other things –investing in quality seeds.

Optimizing Genetic Performance of Corn: Planting Management (based on the Technical Guide by Arvalis/FNPSMS)

Jean-Paul Renoux,

Technical Advisor, AGPM (General Association of Corn Producers)

Planting is the key element in successful crop establishment and yield achievement. The timing and quality of the planting are decisive factors in getting a good crop.

Sowing date

As is the case for any crop, the sowing date must be chosen to gain benefit from all the features of the climate in the region concerned

• The sowing date is chosen by weighing up the need to make swift and optimal use of the scope of weather to achieve the full potential of the variety chosen.
• The soil must be warm, but not dried out. Maize germinates when the soil temperature is between 6 and 8°C ; in the northern hemisphere, this is usually from April 1st on. It should be noted that soil temperature increases gradually and steadily throughout the spring, regardless of variations in the air temperature. The soil profile must not be allowed to dry out as the seed needs water to germinate, and when a soil surface horizon dries out, emergence will be uneven with a severely negative impact on yield.
• The risk of frost must be taken into consideration, but when seed is sown at the right depth (> 5 cm) in moist soil (with air providing insulation) it is protected from any passing surface frost.
• Soil has a great effect on emergence: in spring, dark soil warms faster than light-coloured soil because of surface absorption of sunlight.
• Depending on the colour of the soil, growth stages in the same field can differ by 2 to 3 leaves, with the discrepancy continuing all the way through to harvest.
• In soil with higher clay content, sowing must not be done with a disc seed drill with a “sculpting” effect (the furrow is not filled in and there is a risk of seed drying out). Preparation (e.g. strip-tillage in autumn or spring) can help produce fine earth along the row and improve establishment.
• To make the most of weather conditions and increasingly warm spring seasons, countries with warm weather in spring (e.g. France, Italy and Portugal) are now bringing their sowing dates forward. This strategy (referred to as “esquive” in France, i.e. bypassing) makes for more stable yield levels.

 Sowing depth and technique

The goal is for quick, even emergence. The seed must be in contact with moisture and have sufficient air for germination to occur. Sowing must:

• be sufficiently deep (≥ 4-5 cm) for protection from frosts, birds and any drying of the soil surface.
• not be too deep (< 9-10 cm) so as not to exhaust the seed's reserves as happens when the coleoptile is elongated, to shorten the period of emergence and to avoid parasites (both animal and vegetable).

Depending on the type of soil and the sowing date, the seed should be sown at a depth of 4 to 7 cm, paying special attention to ensure that:

• the soil is moist
• there is enough fine soil around the seed for proper soilseed contact
• sowing is preferably in surface mounds for friable soil, maize being able to emerge well in cloddy and stony soils
• seed is evenly covered for seedlings to emerge at the same time. An even sowing depth is more important than even seed spacing along the row.

Sowing rate and the effect

• Modern hybrids offer a guarantee of quality seed which is the primary prerequisite for quick, uniform emergence. Successful emergence thus depends, first and foremost, on the farmer.
• Many trials have shown that the rate and efficiency of the seed drill and the soil preparation affect the uniformity of the sowing.
• The same trials have shown that proper, even covering and packing of the soil are the keys to simultaneous emergence: a plant emerging a few days late, and two leaves in growth behind the adjacent plants may lose 30% in yield because of competition from neighbouring plants. A difference in growth between plants in the same row is more critical than a difference between two adjacent rows, although an “edge” effect was still found in the trials.

 source:  www.maizeurop.com