Key Points
- Winter management options differ for maize grain and maize silage paddocks.
- Late harvest and high residue levels make establishing winter crops difficult in grain paddocks.
- Grazing fallow grain paddocks can increase pugging and N leaching risk.
- Incorporating residue will enhance break down and possibly reduce N leaching risk.
- There is more potential for winter crops in maize silage paddocks.
- Direct drilling winter crops reduces the risk of soil compaction by grazing stock.
- Not grazing winter crops will reduce soil compaction and nitrate leaching and improve structural stability, but may not improve yields of summer crops.