Innovations In Maize

In the EU this includes sales of a range of different maize types to over 17 different countries from breeding programmes that cater for both Southern and Northern Europe.

“We allocate more than 15% of turnover in conventional breeding and research – a substantial investment,” says the company’s Thomas Mallmann, regional director for maize and oilseeds for Germany and N Europe.

“This allows us to run one of the most comprehensive breeding programmes for N Europe, an investment that helps explain why KWS is one if the top three breeders in terms of variety sales in the UK.”

Mr Mallmann points out that a key selection characteristic of KWS hybrids for Northern Europe is an ability to produce early cobs on green stover.“85% of starch comes from the grain, so it is important to maximise cob fill by maintaining plant growth.

“By providing growers with yield stability through improved stress tolerance, we can improve consistency of crop by maximising growth,” he says. “So, in a year like 2006, when some other material senesced too early following early summer drought in the UK, our varieties were generally better able to hold on and make the most of wetter, August and September conditions.”

“In contrast, early grain development as a result of early cob fill is particularly important in a cool wet season,” he says. “This – another key characteristic of KWS material – combined with slow leaf die-back means that the crop won’t go over the top and senesce too quickly.”

UK growers have seen this for themselves in recent years in varieties such as Klifton, Salgado and Kaukas now some of the most consistent, stable high yielding, early types being grown on UK farms.

Thomas Mallmann says that one of the main reasons why growers trust KWS varieties is that they have been properly tested across the UK.