REPORT: One of the big challenges for those involved in growing and harvesting maize for anaerobic digesters is managing logistics. Having specialist transfer trailers has helped H C Beales reduce road going traffic.
Maize has become in important crop
in recent years for H C Beales, a
family faming partnership based
in Norfolk. Alongside 2,500ha of
cereals, the business grows 2,000-2,500ha of
maize for bioenergy supplier Future Biogas,
including the majority of the company’s crop
in Norfolk.
“I purchased a third share in a forager when
the Methwold AD plant was commissioned,
and our maize enterprise developed from
there,” recalls managing partner, Charles
Saffell.
Now H C Beales is responsible for drilling,
growing and harvesting maize on land which
is rented from local farmers by Future Biogas
alongside one feedstock agreement on its
own land. The season starts with cultivations – Charles suggests that conventional seedbeds
still provide better results than strip-till or
other techniques – before drilling with a
Väderstad Tempo, preferred for its accuracy.
Harvest is carried out by three gangs across
the county operating a Claas Jaguar 870 and
two new John Deere 9700 foragers. Getting
logistics right is key to the efficiency of the
operation. The foragers are supported by
three Dezeure Overload trailers, which unload
on the farm tracks directly into lorries, three
of which are owned by H C Beales.
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