Maize Under Pressure – Building Resilience into the System

Growing last year’s forage proved challenging, with weather conditions hitting many crops. Maize, in particular, remains highly sensitive to in‑season pressures - yet it continues to offer major advantages when managed well. So what benefits can maize deliver, and how can growers set themselves up for success in 2026? To explore these questions, we're joined by two experts: Ben Lowe, Agrii’s National Forage Manager, and Tom Turner, Regional Sales Manager for KWS.

Podcast summary:

2025 growing season was highly variable, with some regions achieving excellent maize yields while others suffered severe drought and extremely poor performance. Both forage and AD growers faced big inconsistencies.

Resilience and early maturity are key themes for 2026. Experts emphasise strong variety selection, moving to earlier‑maturing genetics, and balancing yield with forage quality to buffer against unpredictable weather. 

Seed rate decisions depend on site conditions — sheltered sites can push 100k–110k seeds/ha, exposed or drought‑prone areas benefit from reduced rates to improve stem strength, moisture availability, and harvest timing.

Modern genetics reduce the need for plastic film in marginal areas. Advances mean ultra‑early varieties can now establish reliably even in cooler or challenging regions without film. 

Top tips from the experts: choose the right variety for your site, prioritise quality as much as yield, ensure good site selection and maturity matching, and avoid reverting to later varieties despite the temptation after drier years. 

View the 2026 maize guide here.