Maize

Maize, or corn, is one of the three most important cereal crops in the world. Maize is high yielding, easy to process, readily digested and cheaper than other cereals. It is also a versatile crop.  Every part of the maize plant has economic value: the grain, leaves, stalk, tassel and cob can all be used to produce a large variety of food and non-food products.

In industrialised countries, maize is largely used as livestock feed and as a raw material for industrial products.  To achieve high yield requires high levels of rainfall.  A considerable portion of cost of production comes in the drying and storage of the crop.

Maize thrives best in a warm climate and is now grown in most of the countries that have suitable climatic conditions. Its growth depends more on high summer temperatures than on a high mean temperature. It will ripen in a short hot summer and will withstand extreme heat. A large amount of water is needed during the growth of the maize. Modern short maturing cultivars make it increasingly possible to grow at fairly high latitudes.

Maize grown in European countries may have to be harvested at over 25% moisture content and requires drying to below 14% for storage.

In the US recent maize production has been driven by the bio-ethanol industry.  Under intensive managementconditions, it can be grown without rotation with other crops.