Maize Update 89: On-farm biosecurity: Invasive weeds in maize systems and how to avoid them

Pre-emergence herbicides have been the mainstay of maize weed management. This Maize Update discusses factors affecting pre-emergence herbicide success including application timing, modes of action and soil interactions. 

This Maize Update discusses key issues for consideration in the choice and establishment of over-winter cover crops, along with the results of a five-year trial at FAR’s Northern Crops Research Site which researched the potential for over-winter cover crops to suppress weeds in the following no-till maize grain crop.

This FAR Focus on maize weed management covers research on issues maize growers currently face, including; Herbicide resistance, problem weeds, herbicide options and on-farm biosecurity. 

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a highly invasive plant pest first detected in New Zealand in February 2022. Fall armyworm (FAW) larvae can feed on over 350 plant species and in New Zealand, the crops at most risk are sweetcorn and maize. This update outlines the pest's biology and behaviour and provides tips for identifying and managing fall armyworm in maize and sweet corn crops.

It was great to see 90 people at our NCRS maize field day last week. This day, along with a series of field events across the central North Island, introduced around 150 growers and industry reps to Jon Myhill and Kate Baker from the UK Maize growers Association. 

Booklet covers: UK maize; nitrogen management; changing the maize system; herbicide resistance and maize weeds, combine set up.

Weed related yield losses ranging from 15 % to 56 % for silage and 15 % to 61 % for grain have been observed in New Zealand maize systems. And with herbicide resistance being an ongoing challenge growers need to know if and when to spray to maintain herbicide effectiveness and manage input costs. This update discusses the results of a three-year AgResearch-FAR, post-emergence herbicide trial to evaluate the effects of various herbicide treatments on different weed species at both small and large growth stages.

Find the booklet for the 2024 field day at the Henderson and Jackson maize cover crop and maize establishment trials here. 

Missed the 2024 maize winter workshops? Catch up on the research presented here. 

This AIMI survey of maize growers provides details of the 2024 New Zealand maize grain and silage harvest, along with sowing intentions for the coming year.