Shropshire Farming Talk: Don’t delay ordering maize seed
Arable and livestock producers who’ve struggled to get crops in the ground should consider drilling maize – but they need to get their seed order in fast.
![](https://www.shropshirestar.com/resizer/v2/XHXXRJRPX5GVPCCSQVQTAD3MPE.jpg?auth=50d6d1b57a5d94f540eaeaa69a9e7e2bf79551b9880242fc7d7174fd1e53d10f&width=300&height=225)
The continuous wet weather has impacted the drilling of winter and spring crops. Coupled with a shortage of spring cereal seed due to a tricky growing season, many farmers could be turning to maize as a suitable alternative.
However, growers considering maize should not delay in purchasing seed, as there could be a shortage in the market. “We know that autumn planting – particularly of cereals - is way down, and that a proportion of that has failed,” says Simon Pope, crop protection manager at Wynnstay.
“There’s also a real shortage of spring seed because of the wet harvest last year, with crops that didn’t yield as expected or didn’t make the grade,” he adds.