Costs of growing maize for silage

See how the cost of maize silage, and maize grown under film, compares to grazed grass and grass silage.   

Back to: Growing and feeding maize silage

In 2017, maize cost in the region of £1300/ha (£550/acre) to grow, including a rental value of £370/ha (£150/acre)*.

Example costings

Table 1. Example costings for maize silage and maize silage under degradable film, compared to grazed grass and grass silage

 

Grazed grass (ten-year ley)

Grass silage
Three cuts (seven-year ley)

Maize silage

Maize silage (degradable film)

Yield of fresh matter (t/ha)

58

50

43

53

Typical dry matter content of crop (%)

18

25

30

30

Yield of dry matter (t/ha)

10.4

12.5

12.9

15.9

Establishment costs (£/ha)

Ploughing

63

63

63

63

Cultivations

90

90

90

90

Sowing

30

30

45

45

Seed

135

130

175

175

Lime

120

120

30

30

Fertiliser1

52

52

180

180

Sprays

26

26

65

65

Fertiliser applications

12

12

24

24

Spraying

14

14

28

28

Additional cost of degradable film

 

 

 

320

Total

542

772

700

1,020

Additional annual costs (£/ha)

Fertiliser1

150

307

0

0

Sprays

10

10

0

0

Fertiliser applications

72

72

0

0

Spray applications

14

14

0

0

Harvest and sheets etc.

0

420

170

170

Rent (£/ha)

370

370

370

370

Total annual cost £ per ha (£/acre)

670 (271)

1,269 (514)

1,240 (502)

1,560 (631)

Cost per tonne of DM (£)

64

102

96

98

1 Purchased fertiliser price assumptions: N=55p/kg, K=61p/kg.

2 Total establishment costs divided by ley duration.

*Figures produced by John Morgan, Creedy Associates. Fertiliser costs provided by Mole Valley Farmers.

Useful links

Download our guide to growing and feeding maize silage

To order a hard copy of the Growing and feeding maize for better returns manual, please contact publications@ahdb.org.uk or call 0247 799 0069.

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