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KWS Maize Insights

Posted: 27 Jan

Looking back and looking forward

Andrew Cook, KWS Maize Product Manager

2025 proved a challenging season for most growers and most crops including maize! Whilst yields have been variable due to localized conditions, maize is still one of the most efficient users of water and nitrogen, producing large quantities of high-quality feed in relatively short growing windows.

One area that has been widely welcomed is an early harvest for livestock and AD producers. Protected healthy soils have allowed great rotation options for autumn sowing. This is being advanced by new genetics delivering ever higher yields from Ultra early and early varieties boosting early harvest performance.

Another area to consider is that crop maturity is king! A crop that has reached target harvest dry matter will store well in clamps and will have completed starch laydown to target values. This will boost ruminant intakes, promote heathy productive stock, and reduce costs of production for milk and meat producers. For the AD and larger growers, choosing a range of maturities allows a spread of drilling and harvest dates to smooth field operations.

Looking forward to 2026, there will be a need to replenish stocks after a testing 2025. Maize in most areas remains the best and favoured option to achieve this. And where land may be limited, there may be an excellent option for the arable farmer to grow a great break crop to mutually benefit them and satisfy local livestock and AD demand.

High-quality home-grown feed is the best route to increasing economic farm performance. Consider the benefits of harvesting your crop in good conditions and optimal maturity to support your future objectives. Choosing your varieties wisely will put you on the right road!

Andrew Cook, KWS Maize Product Manager

 

KWS Maize Options 2026

Our top KWS varietal picks from the Hubbards maize portfolio are well worth a look for those considering maize in the rotation for 2026.

KWS Temprano or Augustus are both good and proven choices for less favourable sites. Temprano being slightly earlier with an FAO of 150 versus Augustus at 160. Temprano delivers class leading dry matter and starch yields within this early sector and is frequently used for forage and AD. Augustus boasts excellent early vigour and is ideal for all dairy and beef finishing TMR systems.

For a slightly longer season where you may be considering Grain options, it’s hard to look further than KWS Autens FAO 170 or KWS Anastasio FAO 180/190. Both score exceptionally well for early vigour on all soil types.

Autens provides an earlier harvest window with fast dry-down, strong standing power and excellent starch and energy, particularly suiting lighter soils. Anastasio builds on this with added yield and starch potential at a later maturity, while retaining good early vigour and broad suitability across forage, grain, CCM and biogas systems.

Where maximising output is the priority, KWS Granturismo and KEOPS offer strong long-season options. Granturismo delivers exceptional dry matter yields with excellent AD credentials, supported by balanced starch and strong early vigour, particularly on lighter soils. KEOPS suits favourable sites, combining rapid early vigour with heavy yield potential and a stay-green habit that helps spread both drilling and harvest timing.

Whichever varieties you decide on for the season ahead, make sure you take a deep dive into the Hubbards Maize Portfolio where you can view varieties from all of the top breeders in one place. And you never know, you might be surprised by the keen pricing from the Hubbards Seeds team.

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR AREA MANAGER TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND REQUEST A QUOTE TODAY.

 

Maize Portfolio

The Hubbards Seeds Maize Portfolio for 2026 brings together leading varieties from all of the top maize breeders, making it easy to compare performance, maturity and end use in one place. Whether you’re growing for forage, grain or AD, explore the portfolio and speak to the Hubbards team for a competitive quote once you’ve shortlisted your options.

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BSPB Forage Maize DL

Alongside the Hubbards portfolio, the BSPB Forage Maize Descriptive List 2026 provides an independent reference for comparing varieties on yield, quality and agronomic performance. Use it to support confident variety selection, then link the data back to the Hubbards range to identify the best-performing options for your system and site.

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Call our friendly team on 01380 729 200 for more information